I really enjoy going to Black Metal shows, particularly because you never know what may happen. The crowd, the bands, the venue, the technical difficulties, the type of air one breaths in, etc, everything is simply VERY different at a BM Show. Usually, during metal concerts you get to see things like:
The girlfriend of the tour manager,
the girl that thinks HIM and System of A Down are as heavy as it gets and has a bf that brings her along to shows,
the guys with hair much longer and prettier than yours,
the groupie that is looking for the band members to take a photo,
the groupie that is looking to sleep with the band members,
the crazy Indian guy that likes to mosh at any metal show and enjoys talking to the speakers, the wall, and seems to enjoy throwing himself onto anything that moves [and that does not move] (applicable in Toronto Only... I think)
The skanky girl that see this event as an opportunity to wear close to nothing
The radio diva who thinks metal would be unknown without her
etc
etc
ETC!
Black Metal concerts may portrait some of the above, but the ambiance is VERY different PERIOD. You will see more than one guy wearing a black collar shirt with a suit jacket, the guy wearing corpse paint, a group of Black Metal Skinheads, and old guy wearing khakis, all sorts of pentagrams, all sorts of upside-down crosses, all sorts of tattoos, and all sorts of things that you may not see everyday. One last thing that needs to be clarified: Black Metal followers DO NO SUPPORT moshing during BM shows. Nevertheless, you always have the Indian guy that could be watching Britney Spears (hypothetical example for the sake of the argument) and would still mosh. Black Metal fans simply DO NOT MOSH and that needs to be understood; they like to enjoy the music, bang their head and move their GORGEOUS hair around. Moshing (or slamming), as some people know and acknowledge, has its origins in the 1970s Hardcore movement in the United States. It has been slowly adopted by all metal sub-genres, but still, POINT BEING is that the true BM fan will not mosh. I think that is just rational and wonderful.
Hails to the black metal attitude fur immer und immer. \m/
Anyway, point being is that I got to see the almighty Marduk on Sunday at the Annex Wreck Room in Toronto. Mantic Ritual, Merrimack, Black Anvil and Nachtmystium opened for them. Unfortunately, due to my canon training I missed the first few bands and walked in during Nachtmystium's performance:
Comments:
I have never been a Nachtmystium fan. As a matter of fact, I don't even like them. BUT they put on a really good show. Last time I listened to their music it was full-blast BM, but on Sunday they were really groovy! They have changed their style a lot, and I am really glad that that seems to be working for them. I enjoyed their performance very much and I actually look forward to seeing them again.
Marduk:
Well, well, well... Where to begin... Oh, yes, views about their latest album, Wormwood. I think it is badass! What a great comeback to complement their 2007 Rom 5:!2. Wormwood brings out all the rawness that Marduk has represented throughout the time they have been around.
Back to the concert: Given that this is the first time they could make it to Canadian grounds, I had to go see them! I was really looking forward to it, but by the time they got to their final set of songs, I was bored as fuck! Besides the songs from Panzer Division, it all sounded the same to me. What happened to the old Marduk, the one that was brutal, traditional, RAW OVER ALL? Everything was so monotone and boring! Are we anticipating an early retirement? I can honestly not say anything at the moment. Since this was the first time I saw them live, I have no point of comparison, so maybe they have never been all that Wish-fulfilling while they perform. Oh well, I guess I will stick to playing Baptism by fire, Throne of Rats and Steel Inferno on my ipod.
Still, here is a video of their LIVE performance. I will still bow at Marduk for their trajectory and for their unbelievable music, but I am sort of disappointed about their show. I betcha more than one disagrees with me, but well, let it be...
Conclusions about the show:
I Had a great time at the show. I went with my man, I saw some friends, had a beer, got to play around with the Canon G11, and most importantly, I banged my head to good music. Unfortunately, my expectations were not fully met by the almighty Marduk. Perhaps next time things will be better. So on that note, 'til next time.
MM
The girlfriend of the tour manager,
the girl that thinks HIM and System of A Down are as heavy as it gets and has a bf that brings her along to shows,
the guys with hair much longer and prettier than yours,
the groupie that is looking for the band members to take a photo,
the groupie that is looking to sleep with the band members,
the crazy Indian guy that likes to mosh at any metal show and enjoys talking to the speakers, the wall, and seems to enjoy throwing himself onto anything that moves [and that does not move] (applicable in Toronto Only... I think)
The skanky girl that see this event as an opportunity to wear close to nothing
The radio diva who thinks metal would be unknown without her
etc
etc
ETC!
Black Metal concerts may portrait some of the above, but the ambiance is VERY different PERIOD. You will see more than one guy wearing a black collar shirt with a suit jacket, the guy wearing corpse paint, a group of Black Metal Skinheads, and old guy wearing khakis, all sorts of pentagrams, all sorts of upside-down crosses, all sorts of tattoos, and all sorts of things that you may not see everyday. One last thing that needs to be clarified: Black Metal followers DO NO SUPPORT moshing during BM shows. Nevertheless, you always have the Indian guy that could be watching Britney Spears (hypothetical example for the sake of the argument) and would still mosh. Black Metal fans simply DO NOT MOSH and that needs to be understood; they like to enjoy the music, bang their head and move their GORGEOUS hair around. Moshing (or slamming), as some people know and acknowledge, has its origins in the 1970s Hardcore movement in the United States. It has been slowly adopted by all metal sub-genres, but still, POINT BEING is that the true BM fan will not mosh. I think that is just rational and wonderful.
Hails to the black metal attitude fur immer und immer. \m/
Anyway, point being is that I got to see the almighty Marduk on Sunday at the Annex Wreck Room in Toronto. Mantic Ritual, Merrimack, Black Anvil and Nachtmystium opened for them. Unfortunately, due to my canon training I missed the first few bands and walked in during Nachtmystium's performance:
Comments:
I have never been a Nachtmystium fan. As a matter of fact, I don't even like them. BUT they put on a really good show. Last time I listened to their music it was full-blast BM, but on Sunday they were really groovy! They have changed their style a lot, and I am really glad that that seems to be working for them. I enjoyed their performance very much and I actually look forward to seeing them again.
Marduk:
Well, well, well... Where to begin... Oh, yes, views about their latest album, Wormwood. I think it is badass! What a great comeback to complement their 2007 Rom 5:!2. Wormwood brings out all the rawness that Marduk has represented throughout the time they have been around.
Back to the concert: Given that this is the first time they could make it to Canadian grounds, I had to go see them! I was really looking forward to it, but by the time they got to their final set of songs, I was bored as fuck! Besides the songs from Panzer Division, it all sounded the same to me. What happened to the old Marduk, the one that was brutal, traditional, RAW OVER ALL? Everything was so monotone and boring! Are we anticipating an early retirement? I can honestly not say anything at the moment. Since this was the first time I saw them live, I have no point of comparison, so maybe they have never been all that Wish-fulfilling while they perform. Oh well, I guess I will stick to playing Baptism by fire, Throne of Rats and Steel Inferno on my ipod.
Still, here is a video of their LIVE performance. I will still bow at Marduk for their trajectory and for their unbelievable music, but I am sort of disappointed about their show. I betcha more than one disagrees with me, but well, let it be...
Conclusions about the show:
I Had a great time at the show. I went with my man, I saw some friends, had a beer, got to play around with the Canon G11, and most importantly, I banged my head to good music. Unfortunately, my expectations were not fully met by the almighty Marduk. Perhaps next time things will be better. So on that note, 'til next time.
MM
