ASAGRAUM FORMICARIUS/MØRKTAR
THE MACBETH, LONDON
Dutch black metal coven cast a spell over East London
IS THERE A better way to spend a wintry Saturday night than in a dimly lit English pub wallowing in the dread, assaulting elegies of blackened metal? Dutch black metallers Asagraum have been summoning quite a storm in the heavy metal underground, and the selfproclaimed coven of corpsepainted sorceresses are tonight conjuring up tormented sounds in celebration of the launch of their second studio album, Dawn Of Infinite Fire.
Kicking off tonight’s melancholic massacre are misanthropic black metallers MØRKTÅR (Norwegian for ‘dark year’) with an odd, shambolic entrance through the front of the crowd and ensuing performance that could do with some finetuning.
They are followed by main support, native nasties, FORMICARIUS. The London-based quintet are also commemorating the release of their latest record, and they thoroughly warm up the crowd to a somewhat hellish degree with their energetic proficiency – although the heat could also be attributed to the high density of sweaty bodies, all clambering to
be able to catch a glimpse of the stage around the side of the Macbeth’s principal feature: a gigantic bar. This venue is clearly not built for gigs, but its awkward stage location is forgiven thanks to its tall ceilings and antiquated charm. And within what seems like no time, it’s the main event: Dawn Of Infinite Fire in full. While the supports have set the mood more than adequately, the sheer ferocity of intro They Crawl From The Broken Circle solidifies ASAGRAUM’S status as headliners. This little Hoxton pub is set alight, a gargantuan entity is invoked and the crushingly brutal blastbeats and bloodcurdling wails of the Satanic sorority obliterate the unassuming establishment. The front row is most enthusiastic, a line of delighted devotees thrust against the stage of the crammed saloon, basking in the waves of sharp, old-school riffage. Asagraum have no need for gimmicks – they ignite a feral spirit that, unlike the vast majority of fog-shrouded black metal heavyweights, just isn’t intended to lurk in the shadows.
ALICE PATTILLO