Normally, I'm one of those who stand outside the venue at least half an hour before the doors open. Either because the information on the webpage or the ticket are misleading and the doors open when it says concert-start time. Or maybe just because I hate to be late and miss out on bands, no matter if I don't have a clue if they're good or not. This night my train to Stockholm was half an hour delayed and of course the concert started on time so I got to Klubben just to hear ZEBADIAH CROWE kick off their last song. Unfortunate because the little I heard sounded good.

ZONARIA is a band who's name keep popping up a little here and there nowadays. Their atmospheric Black_Death was perhaps not a perfect fit for this line-up but they did a great job. The stage looked nice and clean, side drops always works and more bands should absolutely take on that and their outfits absolutely suited the music. The impression of band absolutely gets stronger with some kind of show and extreme outfits that go well with Goth influenced Black Metal. The lights boosted everything a little more, the cold green and blue lights together with the keyboard spiced music created a really cool atmosphere. Synchronized headbanging though might not work equally well. A little now and then perhaps but ZONARIA used way too much of it. To start with everything sounded alright and I admit to be surprised to have looked passed this band but the longer the concert went the intensity faded and the so strong performance started to feel flat. And I guess this is what separates most of the new bands from the major league; not many new bands have the ability to keep the spirit high throughout the whole gig. But ZONARIA managed to pick up where they started towards the end of the show. I know too little of this band to say but it might be that the old songs don't hold the same standard as the ones from new The Cancer Empire. No matter what ZONARIA started strong, fell in the middle and found the way back in the end so overall it was good.

It's strange when you've seen a band and thought they were really good. Then the next band hit the stage and 10 minutes into their gig you've almost forgotten about the band before. This was one of those occasions because GRAVE completely slaughtered every impression ZONARIA made on me. Old school Swedish Death Metal has always been world class in the genre and those bands that started it still hold today. GRAVE sure created their own sound in this genre even if their debut was recorded in Studio Sunlight by Thomas Skogsberg who put his magic fingers on all important releases in the genre in the early 90's. It was also painfully clear that this type of music is absolutely best when it's peeled off and naked. No massive keyboards or colorful backtracks is needed really, not when a band is this good at least. A matter of taste of course but no matter what, ZONARIA didn't stand a chance towards GRAVE. A really brutal guitar sound, that perhaps was a little too mean to start with, is what it takes. And of course a band that can pull this off too. GRAVE sure as hell were supertight from start to finish. The rather thrifty bunch of people showing up for this event didn't really make an effort to make the bands feel welcome. Ola Lindgren (Guitar, Vocals) waited patiently for some reaction after Bloodpath, the video_song from GRAVE's latest album Dominion VIII. It took a few seconds before the crowd realized what he was waiting for and gave him a little brawl at least. For last song, title track of their debut album Into The Grave original guitar player and also vocalist Jorgen Sandstrom (also in KRUX, VICIOUS ART, ex ENTOMBED and more) was invited up on stage. Having him up there I realized what was missing a bit, some real show. Jorgen sort of took over the show and for that last song was the main attraction. Nothing bad with that, it was just that the others got quite invisible behind him.

But there were of course another band on this night and they would kick every ass possible in their way. VADER knew what's needed to do a good show that's for sure since they've been out on the road for most of their time.

And Klubben's type of stage is the absolute best for them, it's still intimate but gave enough space for them to do some serious headbanging. When you can get as close as you can at Klubben you will feel VADER's extreme intensity. Of course, the volume was extreme in the front and that sure helped. It was way above those allowed 105 decibel by theSwedish National Board Of Health and Welfare for a concert. But apart from that they've taken many steps upwards since I last saw them on Swedish turf. A few members quit since too and were replaced by session musicians, only Piotr Peter Wiwczarek remains in the line-up nowadays. It has perhaps almost always been his project but now, with all session musicians it's no question about it anymore. Full band or not, that absolutely doesn't matter when a band that normally is excellent live steps up a notch and outdo themselves. Then change is a good thing.

Ok, I know I said this type of music is best without any special effects and all, and I stick with that if the band isn't named VADER at least. I've never heard triggered bass-drums groove so much before and that pause music in the tuning breaks sure boosted my curiosity of what was up next. A completely genius move because with that there were always something going on on stage. And that's also strange, VADER don't have to do much to fill the stage, don't have to do much to get a good response from the crowd. It just happens. Somewhere in the second half of the concert -don't remember during what song exactly- Ola Lindgren entered the stage and took over the guitar from Piotr. Even if GRAVE were supertight this song was just most chaotic, not at all in VADER standard. Ola couldn't pull this one off and then the idea with someone visiting the stage felt unnecessary. But then again, after another tuning break with more cool music in the background everything was back to normal. An hour plus felt like a huge workout pass at the gym and again the impressions of the previous bands were sort of erased. It's hard to find the right words to describe VADER. They more and bigger than any band in the genre, again they proved that, but ok they've been practicing for 25 years too and then it shall be good. But VADER is still a little better than the rest.

(photos by Amongst the Ruins Erika)

ZONARIA

GRAVE

VADER