Blackbraid

It's been a bit quiet here but I'm returning to the black metal concert game with a real banger. Blackbraid! I wasn't even sure if I want to go and decided last minute to do it. Boy, did I chose well. 

Blackbraid basically is a one man band, with a touring band of course, but everything written and arranged by Jon aka Sgah'gahsowáh. It is black metal but lyrically concerned almost exclusively with native American lore and struggles. Jon also uses some indigenous instruments, mostly the flute that he also brings on stage. There might be others involved in the studio.

Now how to describe this show.. it was phenomenal. Real raw, energetic, in your face black metal, perfectly headbang worthy, absolute fantastic. No talks with the audience, just Jon and his band giving all they have and more! A perfect voice, screams, growls argl!!! Ah I was entranced. This is new fresh blood in black metal and exactly what I needed!! 

Did I right away buy a full sleeve? Yes. Both CDs and a patch? Yes. Did I also linger around to wait for Jon to maybe come out? Oh hell yes!! And it was a pure joy to meet him and thank him for coming all the way from the US to give us this unbelievable night!! 

Now I'm not going to slow down.. in a few days I'm gonna see 1349!! Ahhhhh!! I so hope to see fire breathing Frost!! And in summer I'll go see Alice cooper, floor Jansen and zeal and ardor. Can't wait!! 🖤🤘

Album list 2024

 Album list 2024

this one will be a short one, haha xD 

rotting christ - προ χριστου

rotting christ cannot do anything wrong in my opinion. yes, they have their distinctive style and they are recognisable immediately. but i love where they are going with their music lately and it has become so ritualistic and deep. this is a solid rotting christ album. maybe not as overwhelming like rituals, but still a fantastic listen. 

kawir - κυδοιμος

i love these guys so much!! for me they are, i have said this before, together with rotting christ and aherusia the unholy triarchy of greek black metal. this again sounds so so awesome and i’m happy how they have shaped their sound and still find their inspiration in greek mythology. 

project pitchfork - elysium

oh i was waiting for this so very much! ever since i saw them in leipzig a few years ago i have been in a project pitchfork craze. it’s sometimes ebbing a bit and then it will come crashing in again, haha xD i love this one so much, too. i feel so fortunate to have seen them many years ago in cologne after already having been a fan for years. they are my favourite german band of all times. 

mortiis - crypt of the wizard (live)

ever since mortiis started to return back to his era 1, he has found a new love for this material and it shows. the shows for era 1 are fantastic, i was so lucky to see him once in athens with his era 1 set. and now he also released one of his shows from 2022 as a live album. really love this!!

darkthrone - it beckons us all

i didn’t get the physical copy since bowel of noise had sold them all and were waiting for new copies.. but at least I heard it on spotify and i like it very much!! also darkthrone have now found a distinct sound and for the last few albums they have kept to it. love how the norwegian landscape is formed in your head when you listen to it. 

apocalyptica - plays metallica vol.2

this is the second time i saw apocalyptica with their plays metallica set and it’s just simple perfection!! i cannot say it in any other way. i was waiting for this back to the roots stuff, ever since i had seen them in lindau those many years ago, probably 2001? i had lost interest in them with all the strange stuff they did, but this return to pure cello metal? yes. yes yes yes, sign me up!! 

live shows 2024

Emperor 

this was long awaited, this was a huge surprise and joy. of all the things that i expected, it was thousand times better. ihsahn's voice blew me away. it was a once in a lifetime experience with songs that i have been longing so much to hear live. 

Kawir 

it was so great to see them again!! their set was fantastic and there were so many of their best songs that i love amongst them. xaire bacche in the end was like the highlight of a pagan ritual and it was an experience like you seldom witness. 

Rammstein

i wanted to see them at least once in my life. finally the chance came and i cannot even say how awesome it was. i literally was left with my mouth open, it was something completely capturing. also their love for the fans was everywhere and this surprised me so much! danke, rammstein.

Rotting Christ

and one more time!! one more time! can never get enough of rotting christ. on newly renovated lycabettos hill. a huge party, moshpit, jumping, screaming, celebrating. this never gets old. can do this every year :D they are announced for this years rockwave. need. to. go. xD

Behemoth 

back to my personal black metal roots! they started it all in 2015 when i decided just out of the blue to go see them and i was blown away by this satanic, mystic, ritualistic black mass. this time at release athens, it was very different, but a joy to see them again, i owed them this much since they gave me a whole genre to explore! 

Black Eyed Peas

free live concert during the opening ceremony of the robotics stem competition! how awesome was that! in kallimarmaro as well! this was fantastic. danced throughout their set and had the best of times! 

Heilung 

This band has captured me fully. The concert was an otherworldly experience that cannot be described with words. It was something that felt so real, part of a ritual for nature, for the earth, for our ancestors. the rhythm vibrating through the body, the drum sending one into trance. words cannot really describe it. 

Faun

this was soooo fun!! didn't think faun would be so much humour, so much dancing and singing and laughing, haha! awesome folk music, lovely voices and interesting instruments. so happy i decided to go see them!!

Song of the year 

Heilung - Anoana