The Gagarin Club is a great venue for Black Metal evenings as it is dark and densely cave-like. At first it may seem as a club too small for a Metal concert but it's actually quite pleasant and adds to the abysmal atmosphere required to properly enjoy such malicious sprouting music blasting towards you.

AZAZEL made their comeback performance after a while of not being on the road or at the studio at all. They're a band well known in the Israeli Metal sphere and they've been enjoying a solid reputation for quite a few years, being awesome and evil and all. So I would best describe their performance as a very warm opening by practical family members of the local scene. AZAZEL was embraced by an audience that's been waiting a while to catch them live again and you could tell how well the crowd responds to old hits like "Call Upon Immortal Flame", "A Blaze of Light Throughout Vast Forests" and "Ride Through the Horizon". Asaf Einav, guitarist and vocalist, engaged with the crowd  coming off as well energized, throwing in a few jokes saying the band should hurry and quickly leave since he's got a wedding tomorrow and he doesn't want to over sleep. So the family like atmosphere is often sensed and shared in smaller social circles such as the Black-Metal Israeli niche and it's profound and well present. They rocked the shit out of the infamous THIN LIZZY cover they've been doing for years, "Emerald", and finally handed a taste into new material, the fast and roaring "Tortured".
 

So.. NAGLFAR!

Ok, this band plays an important role for me personally, depicting an important aspect of the BlackDeath-Metal sound and culture that emerged from early 90's Sweden. Alongside other monsters of the region, naming MARDUK, DISSECTION, SHINING, and even early IN FLAMES, NAGLFAR is an important piece of the puzzle that best describes the type of Black-Metal that emerged from Sweden in particular and Scandinavia in general. While relying heavily on the world of symbols, images and sounds born long ago by BATHORY and VENOM from the 1^st wave; mastered and maximized in Norway by the 2^nd wave cannons; NAGLFAR adds to this complex structure of art and force its own elements just as much as tightening those that already existed and at times "needed" reinforcing. All this adds up to an important value – NAGLFAR are masters of the art they somewhat helped shape, since they stick to the general codes as well as adding up a modern touch of their own, at times even reminding the sound and perfectionism found in the likes of BEHEMOTH and such. Their music is tight and complex, vicious, ruthless and  fierce, and if I choose to be so blunt I'd say NAGLFAR are endlessly certified by the elitist circles in metal since they perfect and highlight so much of the genre's natural elements. Grim and evil-sounding maniacs, that write excellent music.
 

It's important to add we wanted an encore but there was none. The sound was quite good and the lightning effects the Gagarin delivered were excellent. The production seemed like everything's going smooth and NAGLFAR mentioned they were well satisfied with how well they've been treated. To our enjoyment, they said they were eager to perform in Israel for over ten years and how happy they were it finally happened.