Live Show: Ultha, Euphrosyne, Okwaho
Place: An club, Athens, Greece
Date: October 17th, 2024
Live Correspondent: Giorgos Kolivanos
Amidst a concert frenzy and following the recent incredible performance by the great Ulcerate, beloved German Black Metallers ULTHA visited our country for the first time on Thursday at AN Club, accompanied by Athenian bands Euphrosyne and Okwaho. This event offered an appealing, both sonically and ticket-wise, experience for fans of the extreme metal sound.
The crowd began to gather, and at 20:45, OKWAHO impressed for about 30 minutes with their sharp blackened sludge, focusing primarily on last year’s excellent “The Usurper Regime.” With their in-your-face aesthetic, they bombarded us with crushing doom riffs, while the massive and imposing rhythm section, combined with fierce vocals, enriched their dynamic manifesto. Personally, I was captivated by “The Mermaid” with its post-metal touches and the powerful closing with “What a Wonderful Hell.” They also presented a new track from their upcoming release, and I’m confident they’ll continue to captivate us in the future.
Next on stage were Euphrosyne, who have built a solid name in the local underground scene, despite having only released the “Keres” EP. For half an hour, they took us on a journey with their modern sound, which draws from post-metal, blackgaze, doom metal, and more. Compact and well-crafted, they blended melancholic melodic riffs with classic atmospheric elements, while frontwoman Efi Eva’s vocals, with their duality and constant shifts, enhanced the theatricality of their performance. The highlight was “Pale Days,” and it’s clear that their extensive live shows alongside notable names in the scene have given them a confidence I hope to see reflected in their future material.
I’ve always regarded ULTHA as the best representatives outside the U.S. of the sound pioneered by WEAKLING, early WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM, ASH BORER, and FELL VOICES. Their ability to channel the necessary emotional sincerity and intensity into their intricate soundscapes culminated in 2022 with the expansive “All That Has Never Been True” (ATHNBT), one of the top black metal releases of the year. The wait ended at 22:30, with the Germans charging onto the stage amidst an atmospheric setting of smoke and red lighting, with “The Night Took Her Right Before Her Eyes.” Repetitive cyclical patterns and relentless blast beats prevailed before transitioning to the impressive trio of top tracks from ATHNBT.
The intense “Der Alte Feind,” with its menacing riff and bassist Chris Noir’s shrieking vocals (reminiscent of Amenra’s Colin Van Eeckhout), was captivating, followed by the straightforward and trippy “Dispel” before the cinematic and dreamlike post-intro of “Bathed in Lightning, Bathed in Heat” evolved, with corresponding escalating intensity, into a relentless “duel” of the two guitars. The noteworthy and essential use of synths highlighted the riffing and gave a more orchestral dimension to their music, essentially inviting the listener to be swept up in the whirlwind of their compositions, which is clearly evident in the somber “The Avarist (Eyes of a Tragedy).” The communicative and down-to-earth Ralph Schmidt (guitar/vocals) expressed his surprise about the initial approach for the concert just before the end, thanked the organizers, and ULTHA bid us farewell with the monolithic “Fear Lights the Path (Close to Our Hearts),” concluding their debut performance in our country triumphantly.
They played nearly all the quality tracks from their three main full-length releases (I’d have loved an extra treat from the “Belong” EP) and received an ecstatic applause at the end, undoubtedly winning over the audience with their extended setlist and passionate performance. Congratulations to the organizing company, which dared to bring one of the top Black Metal names from the global underground to Greece at the peak of their journey. I’m sure ULTHA will visit us again soon…
Live Correspondent: Giorgos Kolivanos
Translation/Rendering in English language: Vasso Kalogera
Design, Editing & Text Correction: Alexandros Soultatos
Photos: Georgia Pagourtzi – @Joslenss (instagram)
External Links: ULTHA – Facebook Page
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