Friday December 20, 2013 saw Norwegian metal band Satyricon perform a great gig at Debaser in Stockholm, Sweden. According to singer Satyr it was the last gig for them this year and I think they pushed themselves a bit extra on this gig, delivering a set of blistering black’n roll!
The band seemed to be in a good mood throughout the whole concert, they played flawlessly, the sound was great and the audience was good and enthused. They also played some great songs!
Here follows some of the highlights of the evening, according to me anyway.
The show started with the intro “Voice from Shadows” from the new self-titled album. It’s a good melodic and bombastic intro song that sets an appropriate mood for what’s to come. Then we are suddenly off to the classic track “Hvite Krists død”! The crowd instantly went wild, headbanging and singing along to the antichristian theme. Great song and great performance by the band! And I felt completely satisfied after this. Even with such an amazing start to the show, and also my favourite Satyricon song, I had no problem enjoying the remaining show. Next came “Now Diabolical!” and the black’n roll style took over the show. It’s a great catchy song that fitted perfectly after the first song and the audience had the first of many “sing-along-to-the-chorus-with-fists-in-the-air”-moments. Next followed a good, competent mix of hit songs (see the setlist at the end of the report) and songs from the new album. I must say I was quite impressed by at least two of those songs; “Our world, it rumbles tonight” and “The Infinity of Time and Space” that brings back a healthy dose of epic moments into the band’s music. It’s not epic like in the old days but in a new other way. Also in this song there was some trouble with the bass guitar. The technician changed cables while the basist played but it didn’t help so eventually they had to switch to another bass guitar. And that seemed to do the trick since there were no problem after that. Later came the encores. The first of these songs where “Phoenix”. I understand how this song is appreciated by many but I personally am more reserved towards it. It sure is catchy but also boring, on the verge of being a bit too commercial and I don’t like the singing on the track, done by Sivert Høyem (from Madragura). Unfortunatly he was there, performing with the band at the gig. If only Satyr had sung the track I think it would be at least a bit more interesting. Anyway, the crowd had a great time and then at last came the second song of the old ones; the classic monster “Mother North”! They did a great and powerful version of the song and the crowd gave a massive response. No wonder since it’s such a great song and possibly Satyricon’s first ever hit! Then followed “Fuel for Hatred” and “K.I.N.G” and then the show was over. The band was all sweaty and exhausted, for obvious reasons, and they thanked the crowd and threw some of their stuff at us such as plectrums and drumsticks.
Everyone in the band did a great job on stage performing the songs and playing their respective instruments but I think I should say something about the two persons who were the most impressive, the Satyricons themselves. First Satyr, who not just has a great voice but is also a great performer and a really charismatic person and musician. And don’t forget; he does all the music for Satyricon! Secondly, Frost, the drummer, who not only plays with tight precision but also with a fiery passion. And even though he doesn’t seem to be interested in what he is doing, rare were his facial expressions indeed, I’m sure it’s his way of focusing on the music, getting every little hit on the drums exactly the way he wants. Impressive work.
All in all it was a great show with some great performances. Great songs and great sound. Great evening. I mean, who could possibly ask for more? If you get the chance to see Satyricon live, I think you should!
I am one of those guys who mostly like the old stuff with this band, as you may guess from this review. Dark Medieval Times, Nemesis Divina and I particularly enjoy their second album The Shadowthrone. I like the raw sound, the melodic riffs and the epic music that paints bleak pictures of a Norwegian winter into your mind. And the Voice! Other bands may have more extreme messages, larger spike belts and be more brutal and aggressive in the music. But Satyr has always had a great voice. There’s just something special about how his voice sounds and how he phrases the words. Anyway, I like their newer stuff as well. It’s quite different from the old stuff but definitely has qualities that I like, though some of the songs are bit too catchy and “pop” for me. The voice is still there, and he hasn’t softened it down, not much anyway, which is one of the reasons why I keep listening to this band.
You might ask yourself; why is he babbling about this? The reason for me to talk about Satyricon’s style-change over the years is that it is very apparent in a live situation. The newer style is more commercial and reasonably attracts new listeners and this is ok. I think it’s also a matter of having a groovy and hit oriented style, which makes it easier to play and also suits the live-situation better. The earlier style with more epic contents and more complicated structures is obviously less suitable, no matter if you like that style or not.
Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate that they played “Mother North” and especially “Hvite Krists død” since that is my favourite song and I didn’t really expect that they would do that and I didn’t expect them to do even more of the old stuff. But it really is a shame when a band neglects great parts of their back catalogue! And I think that we in the audience proved that the old songs work! They could have easily slipped in “Du som hater Gud” or “Vikingland” and I’m sure it would have worked fine. Or here’s a crazy thought; something from Rebel Extravaganza album! That would have been cool!
Setlist:
1. “Voice from Shadows” from Satyricon
2. “Hvite Krists død” from The Shadowthrone
3. “Now, Diabolical” from Now, Diabolical
4. “Black Crow on a Tombstone” from The Age of Nero
5. “Our World it Rumbles Tonight” from Satyricon
6. “Nekrohaven” from Satyricon
7. “Repined Bastard Nation” from Volcano
8. “Walker Upon the Wind” from Satyricon
9. “The Infinity of Time and Space” from Satyricon
10. “To the Mountains” from The Age of Nero
11. “The Pentagram Burns” from The Age of Nero
Encores:
12. “Phoenix” from Satyricon
13. “Mother North” from Nemesis Divina
---------
14. “Fuel for Hatred” from Volcano
15. “K.I.N.G” from Now, Diabolical
Personnel:
Satyr – vocals, guitars
Frost – drums
Steinar “Azarak” Gundersen – guitars
Diogo “Yogy” Bastos – guitars
Anders ”Neddo”Odden – bass
Job Bos – keyboards
The original setlist:
The band seemed to be in a good mood throughout the whole concert, they played flawlessly, the sound was great and the audience was good and enthused. They also played some great songs!
Here follows some of the highlights of the evening, according to me anyway.
The show started with the intro “Voice from Shadows” from the new self-titled album. It’s a good melodic and bombastic intro song that sets an appropriate mood for what’s to come. Then we are suddenly off to the classic track “Hvite Krists død”! The crowd instantly went wild, headbanging and singing along to the antichristian theme. Great song and great performance by the band! And I felt completely satisfied after this. Even with such an amazing start to the show, and also my favourite Satyricon song, I had no problem enjoying the remaining show. Next came “Now Diabolical!” and the black’n roll style took over the show. It’s a great catchy song that fitted perfectly after the first song and the audience had the first of many “sing-along-to-the-chorus-with-fists-in-the-air”-moments. Next followed a good, competent mix of hit songs (see the setlist at the end of the report) and songs from the new album. I must say I was quite impressed by at least two of those songs; “Our world, it rumbles tonight” and “The Infinity of Time and Space” that brings back a healthy dose of epic moments into the band’s music. It’s not epic like in the old days but in a new other way. Also in this song there was some trouble with the bass guitar. The technician changed cables while the basist played but it didn’t help so eventually they had to switch to another bass guitar. And that seemed to do the trick since there were no problem after that. Later came the encores. The first of these songs where “Phoenix”. I understand how this song is appreciated by many but I personally am more reserved towards it. It sure is catchy but also boring, on the verge of being a bit too commercial and I don’t like the singing on the track, done by Sivert Høyem (from Madragura). Unfortunatly he was there, performing with the band at the gig. If only Satyr had sung the track I think it would be at least a bit more interesting. Anyway, the crowd had a great time and then at last came the second song of the old ones; the classic monster “Mother North”! They did a great and powerful version of the song and the crowd gave a massive response. No wonder since it’s such a great song and possibly Satyricon’s first ever hit! Then followed “Fuel for Hatred” and “K.I.N.G” and then the show was over. The band was all sweaty and exhausted, for obvious reasons, and they thanked the crowd and threw some of their stuff at us such as plectrums and drumsticks.
Everyone in the band did a great job on stage performing the songs and playing their respective instruments but I think I should say something about the two persons who were the most impressive, the Satyricons themselves. First Satyr, who not just has a great voice but is also a great performer and a really charismatic person and musician. And don’t forget; he does all the music for Satyricon! Secondly, Frost, the drummer, who not only plays with tight precision but also with a fiery passion. And even though he doesn’t seem to be interested in what he is doing, rare were his facial expressions indeed, I’m sure it’s his way of focusing on the music, getting every little hit on the drums exactly the way he wants. Impressive work.
All in all it was a great show with some great performances. Great songs and great sound. Great evening. I mean, who could possibly ask for more? If you get the chance to see Satyricon live, I think you should!
I am one of those guys who mostly like the old stuff with this band, as you may guess from this review. Dark Medieval Times, Nemesis Divina and I particularly enjoy their second album The Shadowthrone. I like the raw sound, the melodic riffs and the epic music that paints bleak pictures of a Norwegian winter into your mind. And the Voice! Other bands may have more extreme messages, larger spike belts and be more brutal and aggressive in the music. But Satyr has always had a great voice. There’s just something special about how his voice sounds and how he phrases the words. Anyway, I like their newer stuff as well. It’s quite different from the old stuff but definitely has qualities that I like, though some of the songs are bit too catchy and “pop” for me. The voice is still there, and he hasn’t softened it down, not much anyway, which is one of the reasons why I keep listening to this band.
You might ask yourself; why is he babbling about this? The reason for me to talk about Satyricon’s style-change over the years is that it is very apparent in a live situation. The newer style is more commercial and reasonably attracts new listeners and this is ok. I think it’s also a matter of having a groovy and hit oriented style, which makes it easier to play and also suits the live-situation better. The earlier style with more epic contents and more complicated structures is obviously less suitable, no matter if you like that style or not.
Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate that they played “Mother North” and especially “Hvite Krists død” since that is my favourite song and I didn’t really expect that they would do that and I didn’t expect them to do even more of the old stuff. But it really is a shame when a band neglects great parts of their back catalogue! And I think that we in the audience proved that the old songs work! They could have easily slipped in “Du som hater Gud” or “Vikingland” and I’m sure it would have worked fine. Or here’s a crazy thought; something from Rebel Extravaganza album! That would have been cool!
Setlist:
1. “Voice from Shadows” from Satyricon
2. “Hvite Krists død” from The Shadowthrone
3. “Now, Diabolical” from Now, Diabolical
4. “Black Crow on a Tombstone” from The Age of Nero
5. “Our World it Rumbles Tonight” from Satyricon
6. “Nekrohaven” from Satyricon
7. “Repined Bastard Nation” from Volcano
8. “Walker Upon the Wind” from Satyricon
9. “The Infinity of Time and Space” from Satyricon
10. “To the Mountains” from The Age of Nero
11. “The Pentagram Burns” from The Age of Nero
Encores:
12. “Phoenix” from Satyricon
13. “Mother North” from Nemesis Divina
---------
14. “Fuel for Hatred” from Volcano
15. “K.I.N.G” from Now, Diabolical
Personnel:
Satyr – vocals, guitars
Frost – drums
Steinar “Azarak” Gundersen – guitars
Diogo “Yogy” Bastos – guitars
Anders ”Neddo”Odden – bass
Job Bos – keyboards
The original setlist:
“Black Crow on a Tombstone”
“Repined Bastard Nation”
“Mother North”
Text by Sunbane
Videos by Sorammala
Photos by Herjann
Videos by Sorammala
Photos by Herjann