Enthroned gig report. 06.02.09
ENTHRONED was awaited in Russia for a long dozen of years that's why the difference with the date of enthronement of new leader of Russian orthodox church does not count and the events are blasphemously concurred. After long history of metamorphoses in the lineup the band was reborn few years ago that added respect for their glorious name.
On the 5th of February our small crew of AD Concerts left to the airport to meet Belgium delegacy leaving all problems behind. This time we have no business with Portugal jerk-off, so everything went smooth and after getting acquainted with Moscow traffic jams the band arrived to the living place. After short rest the horde went sightseeing to suffer the cruel (for Europeans) Russian frost, vastness of Russian soils and Russian people's love in overcrowded Moscow underground in rush hour. Surely there was a Red Square roaming, taking pictures near Mausoleum and having dinner with local beers, during which avant-garde artists from Sect Metastasis joined the whole company. Thus the day of tourism was finished.

The next day's morning the PSEUDOGOD division arrived on one of the Moscow train stations and the TEITANFYRE coven to the other - everything to meet in the well-known Plan-B club carrying the stench of blood and sulfur from the previous events. Hours of sound check, short walk around the club draining energies from frosty air. The promenade went too calm and completely incognito, cause Russian metalloid-fans do not care to recognize musicians they gonna see the same evening. Special hails goes to hairy dumbass asking Nornagest about his plans on visiting gig in clear Russian, probably to drink with cool looking old metalhead. Who cares anyway..

At 6 o'clock p.m. on the 6th day of February, year 2009 Anno Bastardi, the doors of club opened for the fanatical hordes. The actual amount of humans attended had just exceeded usual two hundred heads. To be a bit warmed-up they could have a nice shopping from huge distros of two Black Metal labels with good range of audio, printed and textiles stuff (including ENTHRONED shirts of titanic XL size. For those who plan to bring some merch to Russia - M & L and girlies are fine, XL are WAY too large!). Some artifacts of Russian Black Metal underground deserve special words, they are: PSEUDOGOD/BLAZE OF  PERDITION cd being without any doubts a milestone of Russian (and not only) Black Metal, tape with august '08 live set of TEITANFYRE for analog maniacs and PSALMS OF MOLESTATION #2 zine with outstanding interviews, lots of info and GOOD English without any "old-school" gibberish. Out sincere hails to everyone connected to these Black Art Manifestations!

The heat was growing and TEITANFYRE appeared on stage shining with their shaved skulls. This time there were only four of them - bass-player Nazg was missing and vocalist Dementor took bass duty and done it pretty nice. In the most dramatic moment he even didn't forget to raise the traditional fourth skull above his one. The rising quality of live performances of the band is for sure and the sound of Plan-B club is a usual killer that was clear since the first moments. The result is totally untrendy music with memorable stage-performance.

Without losing a second of precise time the scene was occupied with BLACKWINGED performing for the first time with the session drummer. The missing by the fail of sound-engineer intro made attack sudden and live drummer added power, energy and drive to the band. The performance was one of the best ones in the history of the band - with very heavy but distinct sound never heard before, powerful performance and echoes roaming the hall repeating the hymns and curses from every corner. The set was a bit shortened, but consisted of the best hymns and of course the audience got their awaited "All Hails.." form CORPUS CHRISTII".

The latest Russian band this night was awaited by some fans even more then Belgium horde. But those wanted to be completely devastated be Perm maniacs were disappointed cause of technical problems and long pause before the real start of performance. Though they got full-blown massacre with baneful storm from Hammer's drum kit, coordinated work of string trio and deadly howling of ISKH. The sound was ambiguously clean and distinct that allowed to listen a bit more to music, but to the prejudice of traditional to previous gigs rawness and horror of burning tar streams.

Minutes of rest after BEHERIT cover were of much use to relax a bit and to prepare for the headliners who appeared with sounds of gloomy intro with Nornagest opening with magic gestures. Without being in a hurry, ENTHRONED started with mi-tempo Ingressus Regnum Spiritum with great power to involve the audience into performance. An continued with almost the whole Tetra Karcist, with very intense sounding Through the Cortex and Tellum Scorpionis, as long as some old killers like At the Sound of the Millennium Black Bells and The Ultimate Horde Fights. Of course, almost every fan at the hall was waiting for Evil Church, but received only a straight to the point "Fuck you" from Nornagest at the middle of the show. The most suitable anchor for the evening was a monumental opus Vortex of Confusion, sounding as a great final of the feast. To conclude the above written sentences, the gig of ENTHRONED of year 2009 is an intense, ravishing and powerful performance with some old-style metal hails to the audience and jokes to "one French cunt". Still no stupid metal brotherhood, clownery and similar bullshit. The high level of musicians allows them to manipulate with energies and atmosphere without giving a fuck to their instruments.

Leaving aside the after-gig experience the several things are to be mentioned. The event appeared to be showing some trends around Black Metal - good old veterans stand strong and are conquering new positions, young bands from deep underground up their level with every performance and are able to give a massive support for headliner. It is a good snapshot of the situation in Russian (and not only) Black Metal "scene" loosing the attention of outward eyes and giving birth to new talented and devoted hordes. Special hails to those fanatics arrived from distant parts of the world, your rows near the stages and total support cannot me overestimated. Thanks!

TEITANFYRE

BLACKWINGED

PSEUDOGOD

ENTHRONED