Forgotten Tomb / Ereb Altor / Isole

Upstairs at the Garage, London on Mon 6th May 2013

What better way to celebrate an unpredictable sunny bank holiday in London than cramming yourself inside a 150 capacity venue to endure a barrage of crushing doom metal? Such is the order of the day for these black-clad metalheads gathered outside the upstairs room of Highbury's Garage, eager to catch Forgotten Tomb's first UK appearance.

Initially, the UK's native Gallow God were to open the event but they had to cancel, leaving Swedish doomsters Isole to whet the appetites of the crowd. Clearly influenced by fellow countrymen Candlemass, the four-piece paint the venue with epic compositions, dipping into the melodic and even the progressive without abandoning the levels of heaviness that doom metal can attain. The vintage vibe is complimented by a variety of rich textures with both growls and clean vocals employed. Their stage presence is commanding and the performance is a solid one, somewhat too good for an opener.

Despite being composed of members of Isole, Ereb Altor are a different beast entirely. Formed in 1990 but releasing their demo in 2003, the three-piece play Viking metal in the spirit of later–era Bathory, although there is the odd traditional doom metal moment. The focus on rhythms and the typical Viking metal pride-swelled vocals translate very laudably live. Lengthy tracks mean not many individual songs are performed but the quality of music is consistently high as the band serves up offerings from their latest album 'Gastrike', with 'The Mistress of Wisdom' being a particular highlight. Despite not qualifying as a strict doom metal band, the audience reacts strongly to Ereb Altor with a fair dose of headbanging present. The set feels too brief and it seems the bar is raised for the headliners to top.

Opening with the title track from their latest album '...And Don't Deliver Us from Evil', Forgotten Tomb pile on the melancholia in a gothic/doom metal vein with a strong black metal influence. Formed in 1999, the Italians began life as a suicidal black metal act (before it was even named so) with plenty of depressive melodies. Although they have since musically broadened their sound, the four harvesters of sadness give old time fans two tracks from the pure black metal sophomore album 'Springtime Depression' – 'Daylight Obsession' and 'Todestrieb'.

Squashed on to the tiny stage, the band delivers a dynamic stage presence that focuses all attentions on them. The sounds of their bleak compositions suit the tiny, cave-like venue. Given the length of Forgotten Tomb's songs, it is expected that the setlist would be shorter than a standard band but the set time is less than an hour (possibly due to the Garage's weekday curfew?), which feels disappointing for a band with their history. Only an additional full song comes from '...And Don't Deliver Us from Evil' - 'Deprived' - unusual for a release that came out last year. In an effort to include more of their discography into the show, the quartet conceived a closing medley from the debut full-length 'Songs to Leave' tracks 'Disheartenment' and 'Steal My Corpse' with 'Loves Burial Ground' song 'Alone'. No encore is given to the audience but the show is a success, despite the short set time and Gallow God's cancellation. The crowd reaction ensures that Forgotten Tomb would definitely be welcomed if they decide to return to London.

article by: Elena Francis

published: 08/05/2013 16:53



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