Live review: Darvaza + Arkhaeth + Sætaier @Sala Wolf, Barcelona (February 2nd, 2024)

It is never late if happiness is good. A few days ago Darvaza visited Barcelona with his spectacular album Ascending Into Perdition under his arm, one of the best black metal albums that have been made in recent years and that we really wanted to enjoy live. The truth is that I did not expect the concert to go so well due to the influx of people who normally attend these events in Barcelona, ​​but the result was much more than gratifying.

If we also add the visit of photographer C. Dean, alias Necroshorns on his social networks, all of this becomes a more than obligatory event for all those who want to get fully closer to black metal culture since the photographer has accompanied over the years and presented a very interesting exhibition of his snapshots in addition to having a merchandising stand where you could also get a copy of one of his spectacular photo books.

The evening started with a performance by locals Sætaier who left their mark from the first moment of the night with their dark and sinister black metal. This was their second performance since their formation after having debuted the night before in the capital and they made it very clear that their proposal is a solid combination of black metal with some touches of death in which their members perform with great ease. The band is currently made up of drummer Labelua (ex-Atrexial, ex-Ered) and guitarist Endead (Endeathed, ex-Demolittion Trippa) in 2023, who would later be joined by Sanguinem (Endeathed, Bloodhymns) as vocalist, Morkar (Udûn, Mitrofanx) on bass and Sorath on guitar. Until the date of the concert we had only been able to listen to the only preview published by Sætaier whose title is Chaos Serpent, although it is clear that his debut album promises a lot.

After Sætaier‘s black metal discharge, it was the turn of Arkhaeth, another black metal band from Tarragona formed in 2014 under the name Mørknatt that in 2021 changed its name and had also been presenting its debut album as Arkhaeth entitled Profound Lore Of The Ashen Specters. The trio from Tarragona presented a dirty and biting live performance, an authentic discharge of dark energy in which its members Cruonox (drums), Febo (vocalist) and Kzanhagr (bassist/guitar) covered in darkness with skill and total dedication Sala Wolf in Barcelona.

Finally the moment of truth arrived, when Darvaza came out on stage to present his debut album Ascending Into Perdition, which will be released in 2022 through Terratur Possessions. It should be said that the band did not base their setlist on said album and did a fairly extensive review of their career to date, from The Downward Descent, from which they wisely chose Derelict Of Passion and The Barren Earth, to Darkness In Turmoil from which they performed Fearless Unfeard He Slept and Towards The Darkest Mystery. From their debut album we were able to listen to Mother Of Harlots and This Hungry Triumphant Darkness, the latter was also the first single they released from Ascending Into Perdition.

Darvaza has a cold and cutting live performance, an explosive combination of sounds that together with its scruffy and dirty aesthetics form a perfectly oiled set that many bands would kill to possess today. The total dedication of its members, highlighting the imposing attitude and presence of its vocalist Wraath, make Darvaza one of the most authentic bands on the underground music scene and elevates its proposal to that of a cult band that one should follow closely in the coming years. The public reacted in the same way to their brutal live performance with an almost full Sala Wolf that many of us will remember due to the great drawing power of the bands that performed that night.

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