The first metal concert of the year is usually a crowded affair and given Inquisition's current position as favourites across the black metal scene, tonight's show at the Underworld is sold out, a first for this black metal pair.
Opening tonight are Sweden's Ondskapt, communicating orthodox Scandinavian Satanic black metal since 2000. Hate-bearing riffs channel 'De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas'era Mayhem with expulsions of fury expressedas double bass drumming almost acting as a skeleton for the flesh of the music to hang off. When blasts are not employed, the songs evolve into rhythmically-concerned passages that see heads banging in the crowd. The Swedes' stage presence is an austere one with vocalist Acerbus striking an almost mythical figure in a hooded velvet cape and corpsepaint. A rare sight in the UK, Ondskapt did an admirable job at whetting the appetites for the remainder of the line up.
The last time bestial black metal horde Archgoat were sighted in the capital was in support of Black Witchery in 2007. With two blasphemous full-length under their bullet belts since then, the anticipation in the air is almost physical for one of the most highly revered war metal acts. The intro tape submits to a highlight of the brand new 'The Apocalytpic Triumphator' album, namely 'Nuns, Cunts and Darkness', bookending a brooding and foreboding Beherit-esque guitar meandering and thoughtful drumming with a tide of merciless blastbeats. Unfortunately, the sound of the guitars is underwhelming but the Finnish trinity's music still bears teeth.
A fair representation of their discography is emitted to the Underworld with the gritty 'Blessed Vulva', 'The Light Devouring Darkness' and 'Dawn of the Black Light' being key points of such well-poised chaos but the slower 'Lord of the Void' and 'The Goat and the Moon' are definitive highlights, taking the tempo down to a strangling crawl with sinister drumming. Throughout the set, some vicious mosh pits unfurl as Archgoat watch the havoc unfurl below. Closer 'Hammer of Satan' concludes the aural assault and the headliners will have their work cut out attempting to top such a savage performance, infrequently seen in London.
Columbian two-piece Inquisition waste no time diving into the opener of their most recent recorded full-length, 'Force of the Floating Tomb', brimming with not just the aversion signature to black metal but unusual angular guitar meandering with an almost other-worldly sound. Frontman Dagon effortlessly handles guitar and idiosyncratic growls simultaneously, while striding to either side of the stage where a microphone rests, and drummer Incubus batters the drum skins into oblivion when not supporting the more intricate quieter passages in the metal. Perhaps not traditionally eyed as a moshing band opportunity, this does not deter the congregation from slamming their forms into each other fairly unswervingly throughout the set.
Inquisition's catapult into the more casual black metal listener's consciousness encircles the releases of their last two albums so unsurprisingly, the lion's share of
the setlist is drawn from 'Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosms' and 'Obscure Verses for the Multiverse'. It is hard not to marvel at the likes of 'Infinite Interstellar Genocide', 'Astral Path to Supreme Majesties' and 'Master of the Cosmological Black Cauldron', atmospheric although not in the traditional way. For those whose loyalty to the headliners lies beyond the last two full-lengths, the duo serve up 'Ancient Monumental War Hymn', 'Dark Mutilation Rites' and 'Those of the Night'. The eldest Inquisition music features slightly rawer guitar sound compared to the newly spawned and satisfy the sweaty crowd just as much.
Time sprints by and before long, the two-piece vacate the stage to a roar of ovation. As the attendees begin to disperse towards the exit, Inquisition take the stage again, armed with the crushing 'Kill the Jewish Prophet', a surge of violence erupting one final time for what is surely one of these Columbians' superlative songs and therefore a robust and emphatic way to conclude the night.
Despite only being one month into 2015, this could possibly be one of the best black metal shows in the capital. Achgoat's wanton savagery twinned with Inquisition's cosmic belligerence are cemented positively into the minds of all the attendees tonight and for good reason. It will never be too soon before either of these acts return.
FUTURE GIGS
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