Wardruna at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus

 I have seen wardruna once before. Also then it was a magical experience, something out of this world and time. The rhythmic music has a trance like effect, some real connection to the earth and land.

Now they would play underneath the Acropolis. What a huge honour, what an achievement for any band to play in such a historical place, where memories of times past vibrate everywhere you step! Absolutely fantastic. I got my ticket early on because there was no way I'd miss it. The place was sold out and packed. 

The band came on and first played without break or speaking between songs. The atmosphere was overwhelming!! These songs fit so well into this place. It doesn't matter which language and where they are from. This is songs with meanings, older than our memories, with roots deep in some ancient and primal themes. You could simply close your eyes and get swept away. 

And then kvitravn spoke to us and his words were the most beautiful company to the songs. He explained what this means to them and what the simple act of singing means and that it is something that is about to die out and we need to keep it in our lives. The daily singing. How right he was!! And he dropped a few great anecdotes, too 😁 I found a whole new appreciation to his art. 

This was a remarkable night. My only third time in this ancient place (once with my pethera for songs of refugees from asia Minor and once with Jessie for the ballet Giselle) and it was a true highlight for me, something that will stay in my memories forever. Thank you wardruna for this unforgettable night!! 

Ghost / Rotting Christ / Candlemass

Oh man.. it's been a while!! I went to see Nightwish with insomnium and in flames and that was pretty awesome. Some other cool shows that I couldn't attend because this year I focused a lot on crazy ass long trail runs haha!! It definitely took away much of my free time but I loved it. Now this summer is killer. Too many good festivals in Athens! There are many bands I'd love to see, but I had to pick just the ones I MUST see. And one of them was ghost. 

saw them once in Manchester with my sister and it was a dream come true. It was magnificent!! Now they were announced in Athens with doom metal veterans candlemass! How freaking awesome. Had a ticket right away, haha!! 

So I arrived in time for 3/4 of the candlemass set. Very solid performance, enjoyed it immensely. When "die in solitude" was played, it was just an unforgettable moment. 

Rotting Christ were announced quite late. They dropped into the festival like a fiery bomb. I did not expect that!! I was freaking out with joy! Haven't seen them last year because they only played with Manowar, I think, and they don't interest me. So I skipped them last year. They came on and it was as always a party. And I mean a headbanging circle pit party!! A small circle pit opened up in front of me twice and it's been a while since I've been involved in something like that haha!! Oh man, it was pure joy. Screaming along, sending my neck to the hospital, pure bliss!! Non serviam as always was a highlight. Societas satanas had everyone freaking out. Perfection!! 

and then it was time for ghost. The stage was just fantastic. We all went to church tonight, haha!!  Papa was in a great mood, speaking a bit Greek, joking, giving us a magnificent show. Heavy guitars and bass, songs to headbang, dance and scream along to. Everything was there!! Loved of course year zero as a singalong, and had tears in my eyes during cirice. Another awesome highlight was square hammer and danse macabre. 

they also had glitter cannons and blasted Papa Dollars out into the night. A guy next to me caught one and gave it to me. That was so so nice 

all in all a night to remember. Three very entertaining bands, lots of moshing and dancing. Screaming my lungs out, too. Pure bliss!! Next one up is something completely different which will not be featured in this black metal blog.. Florence and the machine next Sunday!! Yay!! 

by the way, I also got tickets for wardruna in September and emperor next year. Fuck yes!! 🖤🤘

-Daedin

Dungeon synth - the rebirth of the legend

 I am so happy i got my hands on this one. I got this from levykauppa X, shipping was really cheap. this as a tip to all european buyers! 

I was most interested in this, mostly for mortiis, of course. but did i think that i would explore so many names in there, find out about so many legendary albums and artists?? it was a real joy to delve into this book. 

The book was originally self released by Ruslan, the new edition has been released by cult never dies. what a great find! the whole book is a feast for the eyes and it features many pictures, beautiful illustrations and art. absolutely recommended!

I also want to point out how Ruslan conducts his interviews, with very relevant, interesting and thought provoking questions. you clearly see how much Ruslan loves this music style and felt the need to fill the gap that exists there with no documentation of this branch available. 

And you might ask here, this is not really black metal, why feature it here? true. but most pioneers of this music come from a black metal background and as many artists told us in their interviews, the feeling, the atmosphere and the emotions of both music art forms are very much related. 

for everyone interested in dungeon synth, this is a true must!!

Album list 2022

 this year was quite different. i did not listen to many new albums. but the ones i listened to, i got absolutely obsessed with. i surely missed many new albums but what can you do, that's ok. here we go then!

sakis tolis-  amongst the fires of hell

his first solo album! enjoyed this one a lot. it does remind very much of rotting christ. but that's ok! it's fantastic. and during the lockdown he could work much faster alone than with the whole band. so this is just so awesome to have now before anything new from rotting christ comes out. 

ghost - impera

oh, he is a genius. he is such a genius! his formula works, it works so so well. it is SO Ghost, and it is perfect. love it very much. some of the songs are crazily catchy. 

abbath - dread reaver

another album from this wacko, haha! and it's really good! had enjoyed his first and second solo album very much, and this one is just as good. still stoked i saw him live and even met him :) 

darkthrone - astral fortress

aahhh fenriz!! i can't but love this guy. love him so much! he is the most knowledgeable, most true, most integer and most super cool black metal dude. and right now all of his newest albums are SO much to my liking. absolutely my kind of black metal. freaking awesome. 

aherusia - bacchus

yessss!! oh man, i have been waiting for this one so much. and it does not disappoint at all. what a perfect disc! this is what aherusia is about and i love it so very much. i could listen to the whole aherusia back catalogue on repeat. not one song dull, not one song to skip. all of them perfect.

kalmankantaja - metsäuhri/waiennut

not one, but two albums! wow. i only managed to listen to them for a bit and then they were removed from bandcamp... at least there is spotify! kalmankantaja are the finns that need to be here!

diamanda galas - broken gargoyles

yea, this is not easy listening and it never is with diamanda! but that's why i love her, too. what a trippy album, with a lot of german spoken parts. very interesting. very disturbing, too.

EP

kawir - gigantomaxia 

this EP was released to help therthonax financially, who suffers from long covid. i really hope there will be a whole album in the works, because this is the kawir that we all love! awesome songs, need more of this!

mortiis - cobw exclusives

as always, mortiis. there are several things in the works and we get glimpses of the progress. this is awesome and i cannot express how happy i am that i am part of the club and get those updates. cannot wait for some work, hope this year something comes out. 

live shows 

mortiis/mayhem

oh good lord. what can i say. i had never seen mortiis with era 1. now it was time for it! this was fantastic. the addition of drummer tim made it a pretty ritualistic experience. fantastic stuff there. enjoyed it from start to end. it did not hurt that i had a backstage pass and could meet mortiis basically throughout the whole mayhem concert. so sorry mayhem, but i did not hear much, was busy exchanging news with håvard and tim :)

within temptation 

i was never really a big fan. but there are two songs i love so much, it's insane. mother earth and ice queen. so i decided to go with giota, because all the other bands during the summer festivals did not interest me much. so we went and it was breathtaking! wow. this woman is just phenomenal! fantastic show, both of my favourite songs came during the encore and i went wild, haha!

batushka

oh how awesome was that!! yes, there are two batushkas now. yes, i don't know about their paths now, and i don't care. all i know is that from the last time i saw them, this was a step up the ladder. the whole stage was just woah. the production, just blew me away! the choir was the best thing. it was like a true black mass and it was a ritualistic, cleansing, inspiring experience. 

project pitchfork 

yea, no metal. but when i was in leipzig, we found out two days prior, that project pitchfork are coming. i saw them only once before with my sis and now we went, even with my daughter! and what can i say.. it was just awesome. oh the memories, oh the songs! i loved every second of it. my little one tired after one hour, but i am just so grateful for what we got. 

aherusia

this was the release show for bacchus. i had only seen their theatre, never really live. so i could not wait for this one. i am so happy i made it! what a great show. two hours full of magic. i was swept away by the womens voices. i was swept away by the beat and the rage and everything! it has been years since i headbanged so much. was sore two days. was in first row, was offered wine, too. oh heavens! perfect experience. 

under the quarry metal festival 

this must be the third time we went? great free metal festival. absolutely recommended. loved bent by sorrow. very cool band. 

find of the year 

whole project pitchfork back catalogue 

yep.. the concert inspired me to listen to the whole back catalogue. i was listening to only project pitchfork for weeks on end. i cannot stop!! it's just.. i am so in love again. bought some merchandise, too and love it!!