Live Show: Marduk, Winter Eternal
Place: Temple Club, Athens, Greece
Date: November 3rd, 2024
Live Correspondent: Alexandros Soultatos
MARDUK’s gig at Temple Club on Sunday, November 3rd, 2024, was the second consecutive performance by the Swedish Black Metal band in Athens. The previous night, Saturday, was marred by embarrassing events reminiscent of a witch-hunt era in the middle ages. Specifically, after MARDUK’s show at Temple club, distressing acts of intimidation and physical assault took place against attendees, by groups of aggressors. Some women were even chased by helmeted mobs simply for wearing MARDUK t-shirts. These actions bear no connection to Democracy, Freedom of Expression, Individual Choice, or any Ideals of music. We are talking about a disturbingly primitive mindset here. Such acts of vigilantism, bullying, and violence need to be combated by every legal means.
Moving on to the music now… Following the cancelled MARDUK concerts in 2019 and twelve years since their last appearance in Greece, it was finally time to enjoy the Swedish band in two consecutive shows in Athens. Those concerts marked the second leg of their European tour promoting last year’s acclaimed album, “Memento Mori” (see our album review at THE GALLERY Web Magazine, HERE). Each show had its own unique setlist, adding even more interest to their performance.
On Sunday, November 3rd, 2024, the concert kicked off around 21:00 with the Greek Melodic Black Metal act WINTER ETERNAL, who performed their first-ever live show. They were truly outstanding, showing none of the nerves you might expect and having had only one full rehearsal before the live! The band took us on a musical journey, primarily through their latest album “Echoes of Primordial Gnosis” (with standout tracks like the title song and “Two Heavens As One”), as well as older pieces like “Palace of Despair” and “Futile Quest”, rounding off their 45-minute set. The crowd was warm enough, with an enthusiastic applause for each track, setting a great tone for the headliners.
The atmosphere was “electric” and Temple club was packed with Black Metal fans of all ages. MARDUK took the stage just after 22:00 with “The Levelling Dust”, plunging the crowd into the dark soundscapes of Black Metal. Their setlist included timeless classics such as “The Hangman of Prague”, “Of Hell’s Fire”, “With Satan and Victorious Weapons”, and “Warschau”, played crisply, precisely, and true to their studio versions, with the Swedes delivering a raw Black Metal experience to the crowd.
The band had a minimalistic stage presence, dressed in black with corpse-paint and chains. The low lighting combined with heavy smoke created a dark, oppressive setting that perfectly matched their style. The sound quality was surprisingly good given the venue’s limitations, likely thanks to the band’s dedicated sound engineer. Clearly, this kind of professionalism is expected by serious acts that respect their fans!
The final songs of the evening were the most intense, with the crowd forming a mosh pit during “Materialized in Stone”, and the timeless “Panzer Division Marduk” in the encore, sending all metalheads into a frenzy. The band’s interaction with the crowd was minimal and nearly aloof. Their appearance at the Temple Club reminded us why MARDUK holds such a special place in the heart of the Black Metal community. It was an uncompromising, pure musical experience.
Set list Marduk:
01. The Levelling Dust
02. The Hangman of Prague
03. The Sun Has Failed
04. Of Hell’s Fire
05. Imago mortis
06. With Satan and Victorious Weapons
07. Blood of the Funeral
08. Deathmarch
09. The Blond Beast
10. Warschau
11. To the Death’s Head True
12. Souls for Belial
13. Wolves
Encore:
14. Materialized in Stone
15. Panzer Division Marduk
Fortunately, the time when we will be required to know in advance the criminal record and political beliefs of every artist, in order to be allowed to go to its concert, HAS NOT COME YET. I want to remind to some people out there, that those of us who go to concerts of ANYONE who believes ANYTHING, this does not mean that we are devotees of their beliefs, nor that we agree with ANYTHING they do in their personal life! We attend a live show just to enjoy the music, and nothing more! And we have every constitutional right to do so! Let’s hope Democracy is upheld in Greece, the birthplace of Democracy itself!
Live Correspondent: Alexandros Soultatos
Translation/Rendering in English language: Vasso Kalogera
Design, Editing & Text Correction: Alexandros Soultatos
Photos: Alexandros Soultatos
Videos: Alexandros Soultatos
External Links: MARDUK – Official Page
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