Dissection / Watain
14 December 2004
The Scala, Kings Cross, London
The mid 90`s saw a veritable Scandinavian onslaught of quality extreme metal, with the melodic-death of At The Gates` Slaughter of The Soul and In Flames` The Jester Race, and black metal making its mark with Emperor`s In the Nightside Eclipse and Satyricon`s Nemesis Divina. Carving their own niche somewhere between those two genre`s, Dissection were riding the crest of a wave with the classic albums The Somberlain & Storm Of The Light`s Bane. However, the rug was pulled from under Dissection`s feet in December 1997 with mainman Jon Nödtveidt`s arrest and subsequent incarceration.
Having served his term, Nödtveidt has put together a new line-up for Dissection and there`s an impressive turn out at The Scala tonight for the band`s return to British shores. Having spoken to a few familiar faces beforehand, who had never actually heard anything by the band, it is apparent that there is a certain curiosity factor about the gig which has drawn a few people.
First tonight however was fellow Swede`s Watain. The onstage inverted crosses with chains linking the drum riser to the side of the stage and indecipherable band logo backdrop was enough of a clue for those who weren`t aware that they were about to be assaulted with some primal black metal.
Dressed in ripped clothing, studs a plenty and with smeared corpse paint, the band took the stage to their intro tape with vocalist Erik Danielsson centre stage, arms outstretched. Walls Of Life Ruptured from debut album Rabid Death`s Curse blasted to life, quickly followed by The Limb Crucifix after Danielsson had first checked "London, are you ready to die?".
Watain build walls of noise with melodies buried deep within and the immense sound created was very impressive given they only have one guitar player. Visiting latest album Casus Luciferi with I Am The Earth, Watain cheekily wrapped the song up with the familiar closing of Metallica`s The Call Of Ktulu.
Stand out track of the set was Black Salvation, with a mid paced introduction getting a few heads banging before the blast beats took over.
I`m not entirely sure who was playing bass tonight. Watain tend to do things the underground way with information hard to find. I suspect it was Mörk, also of Malign, as the band played an unfamiliar song called Fireborn, with Malign having penned a song of that name.
Closing with On Horns Impaled, Watain`s relentless attack can become a bit monotonous, but this short support set was about the right length to have kept my attention.
Watain set list:
Walls Of Life Ruptured / The Limb Crucifix / I Am The Earth / The Golden Horns Of Darash / Black Salvation / Rabid Death`s Curse / Fireborn / On Horns Impaled
H Jonsson of Watain`s drum kit looked positively tiny as it was removed to reveal the impressive kit of Dissection`s new drummer Thomas Asklund, once of Dark Funeral. The Rebirth of Dissection backdrop was exposed, consisting of a bat winged hooded skull under a scythe and large inverted crucifix shaped icon`s, hosting three sixes, were positioned either side of the stage.
Finally the familiar intro of At The Fathomless Depths commenced with shadowing figures taking their places on stage in the dark. Centre stage the shaven headed Nödtveidt raised his muscular tattooed arms aloft to be met with a chant of DI-SSEC-TION!
Nine years of listening to the band`s last studio album, Storm Of The Light`s Bane, trains your ear to Night`s Blood coming next, however the band commence with Black Horizon. This epic, with its long instrumental introductory passage, showed off that although the Dissection sound is extreme it contains melodies, time changes and guitar interplay.
Dissection is Nödtveidt`s baby and it`s clear he cares passionately for it by the energy he puts into his performance. Often being singer and guitarist can chain a frontman to the microphone stand, but the long instrumental passages of Dissection`s material sees Nödtveidt roaming the stage, raising his black Les Paul above the heads of the front row of fans.
It`s not a solo show however and whilst the rest of the band let Nödtveidt take the limelight, their tightness as a unit is impressive given how long they have been playing together. Set Teitan`s guitar work entwines with Nödtveidt`s, whilst bassist Brice Leclercq and drummer Thomas Asklund provide a solid rhythm section.
When Night`s Blood does arrive the crowds response seems to move up a gear, though there is respectful consideration for the only new song of the evening Maha Kali. Whilst still sounding like Dissection, this song moves in a different direction, being less intense with more stop start riffing.
It`s apparent that the Storm Of The Light`s Bane material is favoured by the crowd, so playing everything else off the album in a block of six songs is well received. Technical problems with Leclercq`s bass amp during Where Dead Angel`s Lie do not detract from what is perhaps Dissection`s catchiest song and the delay following offers a chance for Nödtveidt to introduce his new band.
Straying from their two full length albums, a cover of Tormentor`s Elizabeth Bathory, from the Where Dead Angels Lie EP, breaks things up, though I have to say my preference is for Dissection`s own material.
Three tracks from The Somberlain close proceedings and it`s interesting that a set with all but one song old material, sounded so fresh. Tonight`s performance confirmed that Dissection are back and mean business.
Dissection set list:
At the Fathomless Depths / Black Horizons / Frozen / Night`s Blood / Maha Kali / Soulreaper / No Dreams Breed in Breathless Sleep / Where Dead Angels Lie / Retribution… Storm of the Light`s Bane / Unhallowed / Thorns of Crimson Death / Elizabeth Bathory / Heaven`s Damnation / The Somberlain / A Land Forlorn
LINKS:
Dissection
Watain
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