DARK FORTRESS, HELHEIM & VULTURE INDUSTRIES
LONDON PURPLE TURTLE 10/03/08
This was an odd one. The gig had been cancelled and then rescued by a different promoter and moved to a different venue. Then the bands had to battle with really harsh weather to get over, making it in the nick of time to play. Of course the downside with the weather and the fact this was on a Monday night meant that they didn’t really get the audience they deserved down here, which was a shame as it was the debut English show for all 3 bands.
I admit to really being here for the 1st couple both Norwegian groups whose latest albums on Karisma / Dark Essence Records were ones I had really enjoyed. The oddly named Vulture Industries from that hotbed of musical talent Bergen were as bizarre as their name suggests. This was mainly down to the somewhat deranged performance of vocalist Bjørnar Erevik Nilsen, who was barefoot and wearing a tatty suit that literally looked like it had been picked at by vultures. The group comprise of current and former members of Sulphur, Black Hole Generator, Malice In Wonderland, Enslaved (session), Taake (session) and Syrach. Not that this helps describe the music on display here from their album ‘The Dystopia Journals’.
Numbers such as ‘Soulcage’ exude an unhinged menace, rocking out with carnival keyboard peels and avant-garde progressiveness. Vocally they really remind of Arcturus and William Blake era Ulver which really in my opinion is pretty much perfect. It was not all clean vocals though and growls and barks were equally impressive. The bearded guitarists were no bearded ladies but this had a real sideshow feel about it. In fact as the singer had a vocal Shakespearean joust with one of the guitarists I was perversely reminded of Sideshow Bob doing some Gilbert And Sullivan. This ‘Path Of Infamy’ was obviously a bit too much as he suddenly hit the floor as if the opium and absinth had suddenly kicked in. There was certainly twisted genius at work here.
http://www.myspace.com/vultureindustries
Helheim although more straightforward, were absolutely momentous with their chain-mailed Viking black approach. Also from Bergen this lot set out to rape and pillage and send our souls to Ragnarok for good measure. After an atmospheric build up the stock still warriors burst into action, swords and axes practically cleaving. This had an utterly compelling feudal stomp flowing through it and took no prisoners as it galloped off hell for leather (perhaps that is clichéd review speak but by Odin if you were there you would have appreciated such a description). With 2 band members V'gandr and H’grimnir sharing the vocal growls (and gruff and ragged they were) and some scything icy guitar solos they quickly had some audience members head-banging furiously at the front of the stage.
This was the stuff of legends. A slight folk induced fragment broke things up before the heathen furrow ploughed back in. I had no idea that they had been going since 1995 but a song allegedly a ballad (it wasn’t) followed, its heavy flailing tumult ripping through the venue. At times grandiose and sweeping, one intro evolved into a shimmering frosty Enslaved enthused number which completely mesmerised before dropping its anchor with severe gravity, urged along with the Vulture singer joining in. A triumphant debut and one that went down a storm, let’s get this lot back here soon!
http://www.myspace.com/helheimnorway
I may upset here but German black metal has never really done it for me, black thrash and death is another matter completely but the likes of Endstille, Agathodaimon and indeed Dark Fortress have never really blown me away To be fair their exuberant deluge (once they had finally taken the stage and stopped clarting about) was not bad at all. The preceding Norsecore however was much more preferable to my tastes. Corpse painted in a fashion that reminded me a bit of the insectoid appearance of Behemoth they thundered out a hate filled blitzkrieg of devastation.
Actually singer Morean looked like the evil Sadako from The Ring ready to crawl into the audience and bite off heads. In a way I wish he had. There has been a lot of talk about fan-boy worship at gigs but a couple of idiots who were old enough to know better (and looked like marines on a night off) really ruined the show for me. Constantly pointing the horns in front of the singer they made photo taking impossible and acted like idiots. One of them finally got on stage and urged his friend to as well but luckily the band looking more than a little peeved quickly kicked these sad groupies off. Trying to really appreciate the music was difficult and I really thought that Dark Fortress were nothing particularly special. Somewhat undisciplined, but fast and furious, buzzsaw guitars, hammer and nails drumming and keyboards citing a slight air of mystic romanticism, they had it all but there was a spark missing here.
‘I choose death’ rasped the singer and then he thanked us for braving the weather, unfortunately it being a Monday night people were beginning to filter out as time was now against the band and after half an hour I was also forced to make a move. Shame, I think under better circumstances and a pair of garden sheers for those pesky devil horn worshippers, I think I might have enjoyed them more.
http://www.myspace.com/darkfortress
Pete Woods
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