Heralds Of The Fall
[Dajana] A truly exciting band package has set forth to herald the most beautiful season of the year – the fall. EMPYRIUM alone would make every effort worth it to take to see them playing live. After their resurrection and the release of the stunning The Turn Of The Tides they only played selected events. Now they finally embark on a full club tour yet with a surprising old school set, consisting of classics from the first two albums only, and the very first demo. And EMPYRIUM tour in excellent companion!
HELRUNAR have not hit stages for a long time, except for a few festivals. But the Black Metal luminaries have just released a new album, a perfect chance to reach out for the fans in European clubs again.
To make the trek perfect, SUN OF THE SLEEPLESS joined, musically as well personally perfectly suiting. So, let’s hit the road towards a wonderful evening full of melancholy and autumnal mysticism.
[Psycho] Indeed, a superb package for connoisseurs of atmospheric Black Metal. I have seen HELRUNAR and SUN OF THE SLEEPLESS playing live in spring, never mind, it is a high-level concert evening tonight I did not want to miss.
:: pics :: SUN OF THE SLEEPLESS ::
[Dajana] The evening started unusual early. Doors opened at 6 pm, a half hour later :: SUN OF THE SLEEPLESS :: already hit the stage. We were a bit late due to an unexpected road blocking causing a long traffic. Breathless we stumbled into a packed and crowded :: Turock ::, which was close to be sold out.
[Psycho] Yep, the drive was a bit nerve wrecking. Luckily, we only missed the intro and the first song. SUN OF THE SLEEPLESS is a project that quasi covers the harsh and dark side of Ulf Theodor Schwadorfs work yet still offers characteristics trademarks one might know from his other bands: the crispy riffwork and well-balanced quiet passages, which in combination result in a sinister atmosphere. The clean singing was acceptable too, so everything was fine. Only point of criticism (if at all) would be the ongoing repeat of the same setlist. Maybe it is due to the guest musicians?
Setlist: Intro, Motions, The Owl, Where In My Childhood Lived A Witch, In The Realm Of The Bark, Phoenix Rise
:: pics :: HELRUNAR ::
[Dajana] Short break to get a drink and socialize, then :: HELRUNAR :: kicked off with SATVRNVS, a song from the brand new album Vanitas Vanitatvm, which was released on September 28.
[Psycho] And to which one I already was listening several times.
[Dajana] I did not yet. Perfect chance to get a first impression live on stage ;)
[Psycho] To be honest with you, I was not fully enthused. Sól caught me much more emotionally and Niederkunfft was catchier. Live, there was no qualitative difference between the old and new songs. They all sounded like all of a piece and were well received by the audience. I like HELRUNAR most when they reduce pace and/or play acoustic passages. To my pleasure they did. Another plus is the fact that you can still understand the lyrics when singer Skald Draugirs screams - no matter of course in the metal scene. Additionally, Skald Draugir scored with some witty and funny banter. He, among others, made clear what he thinks of Viking Metal Pop songs. You know who you are!
HELRUNAR also delivered a surprise. Before they played the obligatory encore Älter als das Kreuz, full-throated responded by the crowd, they played Landsknecht, a song from the Niederkunfft bonus CD. Great! An awesome show. HELRUNAR would also have cut a fine figure as headliner.
[Dajana] I totally agree. Nothing more to say ;)
Setlist: SATVRNVS, Devils Devils Everywhere!, Als die Welt zur Nacht sich wandt, Nebelspinne, Blutmond, Raune mit der Tiefe, Da brachen aus böse Blattern am Menschen und am Vieh, Magdeburg brennt!, Landsknecht // Älter als das Kreuz
:: pics :: EMPYRIUM ::
[Psycho] Phew, it was a long time ago that :: EMPYRIUM :: made it into my extended list of all-time faves. I also cannot say if I liked the Black Metal-like stuff or the acoustic stuff more. Then I lost sight of them, or discovered The Vision Bleak respectively.
Well, tonight we somehow got the same line-up of latter band on stage, Allen B. Konstanz on drums and Schwadorf on guitar.
EMPYRIUM took us on a journey into the darkest past, musically beautiful and, compared to many other stuff from the same time (end of 90s, early 2000), with songs much more elegantly aged. The band took much time for each song, where especially the solemn parts benefitted from. The band’s sophomore, Songs Of Moors & Misty Fields, was almost completely played, no wonder, this record is surely the best-known EMPYRIUM work.
Despite a tight timetable, the band overran its playing time by 10 minutes for an encore. The fans loved it and I’m sure, they would have loved even more.
[Dajana] Yep. The playing time was way too short, especially on this evening at the Turock. The club had to be cleared at 10 pm. So every band had to shorten the setlist. They were not happy about it, neither was the audience.
I also have to confess that EMPYRIUMs early work (in form of the signed A Retrospective... boxset) did not find its way into my player for a long, long time. As for that I was highly pleased by the chance to get the classics performed live. Even more, since EMPYRIUM played a song from the first demo ...der wie ein Blitz vom Himmel fiel....
Thomas Helm did not partake in this tour and I missed his charismatic voice. There was no cello either, a reduced ensemble, so to say, with Aline Deinert on violin, Dornenreichs Eviga on second guitar and, as already mentioned, Allen B. Konstanz on drums. Multi-talented bassist Martin Falkenstein (also in The Vision Bleak, Sun Of The Sleepless, and now in Nachtmystium too) replaced Les Discret‘s Fursy Teyssier. There was not much to see from him, except hair, but his various incense flowed through the club and spread a mystic fragrancy.
Apropos… I wish the band would have set up more decoration. Band and music would be predestinated for such. But there were only two candleholders. Maybe not enough time. And, after all, EMPYRIUMs music does not need any decoration. The music fascinates and captivates in every way.
All three bands got an enthusiastic feedback by the crowd, EMPYRIUM were almost frenetically celebrated. A fantastic evening of great music and atmosphere.
[Psycho] Yes, that was an awesome concert night of sophisticated music and, despite the links between the bands, much diversified musically. Such excellent band packages could be sent out on tour more frequently.
Setlist: Intro, Mourners, The Blue Mists Of Night, The Franconian Woods In Winter's Silence, Lover's Grief, Under Dreamskies, The Ensemble Of Silence, My Nocturnal Queen // Ode To Melancholy, A Gentle Grieving Farewell Kiss
|
