Reaper Agency have made a name for themselves booking black metal in the UK, bringing over a number of overseas acts for exclusive shows as well as promoting the best of British. They promote the Fortress Festival in Scarborough which has become the premier destination each year for cult black metal acts, and they have garnered a real reputation for championing underground black metal. The last few years have seen them put on a series of all dayers here at Rebellion with some exclusive sets, and this year the festival has been expanded to two days. Day one was yesterday but with it being Valentine's Day, there was no chance I was going to be able to come. Today is much more to my liking though, featuring an exclusive anniversary set from Abduction and The Spirit flying in from Germany for an exclusive show.
Aberdeen's Dreich are the first band I manage to catch. They play black metal which is heavy on the atmospherics with plenty of slower, windswept builds that sometimes leads to icy blasting but often doesn't. They are happy to keep up a deliberate pace, slowly ratcheting up the tension. There isn't always a payoff to the build but it's a pleasant journey nonetheless. The vocals are pretty inaudible except when the cloaked Elegy from Vestia joins them onstage and takes to the mic. There actually seems to be more direction and purpose when he is onstage too.
The brand of black metal practiced by Cardiff's Ofnus is pretty progressive. The songs are pretty lengthy with multiple parts, and the vocals switch from gruff to high pitched screams to a more operatic clean voice. The sound is pretty good although the vocals could be louder. The bass is clearly defined and this allows you to hear all the neat little Steve Harris-esque bass runs the bassist adds. Their songs are complex but they are dynamic and, looking at the crowd, there are plenty of heads banging. The singer is stocky and imposing although he does look more like he should be the singer of a metalcore band. He has a really impressive range though. This is winding, epic black metal which is vaguely reminiscent of Winterfylleth. The final track is particularly epic, building fantastically with a number of catchy, fist pumping parts.
Blood Countess are a completely different proposition, playing fast and furious old school black metal in the vein of early Immortal. At its core, this is classic '80s metal riffs just played about three times faster. I even thought I heard a few nods to the goofy thrash of Anthrax at a couple of points. There is light and shade as there are a few slower passages before the blasting starts again. It would work without these slower parts, such is the vigour with which they play but the few spaces we have to breathe help to give the faster moments greater impact. They are a tight musical unit and The Cuntess has some voice on her. Darianth on bass windmills impressively whilst The Cuntess is a dynamic force of nature stalking the stage and you just can't take your eyes off her. Hugely impressive.
Hecate Enthroned are another old school act although these veterans have been going since the nineties. The vocals are much deeper than many of the acts today which adds a deathly edge although there are plenty of earpiercing shrieks too. They bring on former vocalist Dean Seddon for a guest spot on the blackened death leaning 'The Crimson Thorns (My Immortal Dreams)'. Another old track has a Maiden-esque beginning before building in a more measured manner before destroying with some focused blasting. They have much more power when not playing lightning fast though. A new track has an atmospheric start before picking up the intensity. It is powerful and driving, and bodes well for the new album. They are playing without a keyboard player as he is on holiday, and although that symphonic style isn't really my style, tracks such as 'The Spell Of The Winter Forest' seem to be missing something and come off as a bit pedestrian until they hit the fast part. I can still hear some keyboards in the backing track but it's probably less prominent than usual. It's all a bit hit and miss, to be honest.
Abduction's adventurous take on black metal usually impresses but it seems like something is missing tonight as it seems flatter than usual. They come across more like standard black metal and that is much to their detriment. When they hit that lovely rolling groove it is powerful as hell but the faster parts often translate as nondescript blasting. The frontman A|V looks like a supervillain with his cloak, mask and spike. He has real presence, like a scarier Doctor Doom. Elegy from Vestia makes his second guest appearance of the day to provide vocals for a powerful track which has an almost post-metal build. I loved the last couple of Abduction albums and they have been magical when I've seen them in the past but I feel pretty disappointed tonight.
I start to feel a little unwell during Abduction's set so I decide to call it a day before The Spirit's set. There has been a couple of stand out performances today but overall, I've been a bit underwhelmed by the event.
Abduction ***
Hecate Enthoned ***
Blood Countess ****
Ofnus ****
Dreich ***
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