Marduk
The Asylum, Birmingham
29 January 2010

If you’ve just got rid of a hangover, a black metal gig in a miserable reject of Birmingham city centre is a definite way to motivate another one.

Zebadiah Crowe, possibly the world’s most directionless band, punctually opened tonight. They definitely had good riffs here and there, and were competent musicians, but what they were trying to accomplish was beyond anyone present. They attempted being darkly-theatrical, which they might have pulled off if they could write songs.

Artisian followed, who were the very essence of stereotypically miserable black metallers. Their insistence on this persona (or lack thereof) really killed any sort of presence. And while it wasn’t a bad set, it certainly wasn’t boundary-breaking. Sure, that might be a high expectation, but they sadly fell too neatly into the oft-mocked black metal stereotype.

Suddenly jumping into a different level of quality, Anaal Nathrakh began. Any comments on a Nathrakh set could have easily been said before, but it can’t be stated enough that they are always epic. They’re able to turn a grey factory in the arsehole of Birmingham into a truely powerful display of hatred. Dave Hunt’s presence is seriously imposing, and is brilliantly upfront in a way that’s neither arrogant or irritating. Anaal Nathrakh are far more than just a black metal band. Simple as.

Finally, Marduk came on after some wait, and despite the hype, and generally how good Marduk are anyway, there was an odd sense of stagnation. It was a perfectly executed set, and undeniably powerful, but started to drag, perhaps overshadowed by Anaal Nathrakh and wounded by the build-up. It was all well and good, and a good mix of old and new, but was oddly tiresome. But the hangover-motivation arrived strongly, and I’m currently working on curing another one. Thank you, black metal.

Review by Sam Hunt