Live Report: Dark Funeral, W.E.B.
Place: Gagarin 205 Live Music Space, Athens, Greece
Date: September 22nd, 2024
Live Correspondent: Kostas Boudoukos

After many summer festivals and numerous outdoor events, its time to return back to the indoor Metal concerts. On Tuesday, September 22nd 2024, the Athenian crowd had the opportunity to experience three hours of extreme sound, hours which will be remembered for a long time…

The show begun with the awesome and mighty W.E.B. for a special performance since, as Sakis Prekas (voice and guitar) informed us, their set was recorded and videotaped in order to be released later as a live CD/DVD. So, it could be considered significant for their career which, in any case, is marked by several important milestones. The band members gave 100% on stage and the audience followed, without asking for any special motivation, since W.E.B. almost tore down Gagarin. The audience was already enough (although not packed), which allowed us to enjoy the show better. Hel Pyre had the role of the motivator and when she asked for a wall of death, everybody willingly followed her proposal. Also, her backing vocals reminded us that Metal is not only a man’s job. The new drummer Vasilis Nanos reminded me of a sprinter in high speed mode moving his hands up and down, while the other-also new guitarist Gojko “Shemhamforaesh” M. had a significant presence on stage. I kind of lost track of time (this is a really good sign) and when they were done, I found myself wanting for more. Guys, next time make a headlining show please…

Setlist

1. Pentalpha
2. Dark Web
3. Into Hell Fire We Burn
4. Murder of Crows
5. Necrology
6. Morphine For Saints
7. Dragona
8. Eligos

After a break for chitchatting , hugs and kisses with fellow metalheads (the friends you only see in lives but you feel like you know so well) the time came for the legendary DARK FUNERAL. At 10 exactly the lights dimmed, an imposing music filled the air and, one by one, the band members were introduced with the help of a blazing light. Since I had seen the band recently at the Rockstadt Extreme Festival, I knew that the atmosphere they create is unique, even if they didn’t have the full background set they present at the big festivals (candles, chandeliers, etc.). After all, their music has a ritualistic tone that requires a certain background. Even so, plain and simple, the fact that we had in front of us really impressive musicians overshadowed everything. Singer Heljarmadr gives the impression that you listen to a studio recording, the soul and founder of the band Lord Ahriman was imposing on the stage like the rest of the musicians. I think it is one of the few times in my life that I felt so overwhelmed by the atmosphere that created. A black, gloomy, frozen atmosphere that fitted the music we were listening to.

Setlist

1. Nosferatu
2. Ravenna Strigoi Mortii
3. My Funeral
4. When I’m Gone
5. As One We Shall Conquer
6. The Arrival Of Satan’s Empire
7. Unchain My Soul
8. Open The Gates
9. Shadows Over Transylvania
10. My Dark Desires
11. Let The Devil In
12. Where Shadows Forever Reign

When the musicians are of such great class, you can’t help but admire them and be captivated by the performance. The closer you were to the stage, the more intense was the Black Metal energy that catrured your soul! Thanks to both bands, all of us who were lucky enough to be at Gagarin that night, we experienced something unique. We hope for similar events in the future, with even more people attending the show!

Live Correspondent: Kostas Boudoukos
Translation/Rendering in English language: Kostas Boudoukos
Design, Editing & Text Correction: Alexandros Soultatos
Photographs : Sofia Bali
External Links: DARK FUNERAL – Official Page
W.E.B. – Official Page
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