Live Show: Wiegedood, Kiva
Place: Temple Club, Athens, Greece
Date: Friday, November 15rd, 2024
Live Correspondent: Giorgos Kolivanos
In an autumn filled with concert abundance, there could hardly be a more fitting conclusion than the first-ever performance of the timelessly high-quality Belgian Black Metallers WIEGEDOOD in Greece. This was one of the most highly anticipated concerts of the year for Athens’ extreme metal crowd, with a band boasting an impressive discography. Their 2022 juggernaut “There Is Always Blood At the End of the Road” served as the backbone for their international performances over the past two years. Opening the night were KIVA, a fresh name in the domestic Post/Sludge Metal scene, with their debut album “An Elegy Of Scars And Past Reflections” released earlier this year.
At 9:15 PM, KIVA took the stage at Temple for a 40-minute set, leaving a strong impression with their meticulously executed Post/Sludge Metal. Dominated by a massive rhythm section and somber guitar melodies, their performance stood out. The interplay of dual male vocals added a cinematic quality to their soundscapes, enriching their layered and atmospheric buildups. They performed their debut album with enthusiasm and professionalism, which was evident not only in their stage presence but also in their nearly flawless sound engineering. They effectively warmed up the crowd for WIEGEDOOD and, without a doubt, left a mark for future attention.
At approximately 10:30 PM, the Belgians stormed the stage, flanked by towering Orange amplifiers, kicking things off with the ferocious “FN SCAR 16.” Its venomous, almost manic riff immediately lodged itself in the mind, carried by galloping drums that swept everything in their path. Next came “And in Old Salamano’s Room, the Dog Whimpered Softly,” with its harrowing closing vocals sending shivers down spines, before the triple-pronged assault concluded with the equally relentless “Until It Is Not” and its triumphant melodies. Minor sound issues at the start were quickly resolved, as demonstrated in the subsequent pair of tracks from the second part of their “De doden hebben het goed” trilogy. These sounded fuller and more robust than their studio versions, seemingly adapted to the sonic direction of their latest release.
As the sound improved, a crucial clarity emerged, balancing the atmospheric and aggressive elements. They bombarded the audience with sharp riffs during the adventurous “Noblesse Oblige Richesse Oblige.” Then came the mesmerizing melodies and throat-singing vocals of the ritualistic and cathartic “Now Will Always Be”, personally the highlight of the evening. The closing “Carousel,” with its equally frenzied riff reminiscent of “FN SCAR 16,” brought the night to a majestic end, completing the circle of relentless momentum.
This marked my second time seeing WIEGEDOOD (the first was at the 2023 Brutal Assault festival in the Czech Republic), and I can confidently say it was the superior and more introspective of the two. The Belgians delivered a masterclass in impassioned Black Metal, devoid of unnecessary pomp, with dynamic compositions and an imposing atmosphere that solidified their status as one of the finest bands in modern extreme metal. Kudos to the organizers for bringing them to Greece, assaulting our senses with a performance that will not soon be forgotten.
Live Correspondent: Giorgos Kolivanos
Translation/Rendering in English language: Vasso Kalogera
Design, Editing & Text Correction: Alexandros Soultatos
Photos: Giorgos Kolivanos
External Links: WIEGEDOOD – Official Page
