On May 11th, 2023, the city of Leipzig in Eastern Germany saw a warm sunny afternoon that didn’t necessarily invite people to a concert hall, considering the light outside, but also the indoor temperature. Nevertheless, more than a couple hundred people made their way to the outskirts of the city into the venue Hellraiser to experience DARK FORTRESS for the very last time.
The opener, ASPHAGOR, a black metal outlet from Tyrol, Austria, have been around since 2007. The first demo released during the same year was followed by four full-length albums up to this day, with “Pyrogenesis” being their latest release. In comparison to the other three albums, one could say “Pyrogenesis” is less atmospheric but far more energetic than its predecessors. This is something that was instantly clear in the live set, as more than half of the set was dedicated to this new album, with songs like, “Ex Cathedra,” “Ghost of Aphelion,” “Nine Moons,” and “The Great Erosion,” rounded out with three songs from “The Cleansing.” This formed a well-balanced setlist with lots of highlights and a great opportunity for fans to get immersed into the newer songs. Something that is immediately recognizable in their live show is how driven the band is, especially vocalist Morgoth, whose character shines through his vocals and overall spirited performance.
Next in line were Saarbrücken-based black/death metal act THE SPIRIT, whose last full-length, “Of Clarity and Galactic Structures,” dates back to 2022 and even reached the German charts; impressive for an extreme metal band. The setlist, consistent of nine songs, dedicated a lot of its time to that last full-length. The grim atmosphere was already set by the first notes of opener “Repugnant Human Scum.” Having a beautifully balanced setlist between their three releases, this allowed for a lots of dynamic, hard-hitting songs like “Of Clarity and Galactic Structures” and “Pillars of Doom.”
The thing about THE SPIRIT is that – far more than only being great executors of their craft – their live performances will take you through an immersive journey of self-exploration. If you are familiar with their lyrics, it is near to impossible to not close your eyes to their sound and dive deep into the realms of introspection, adding to the progressive aspect of their compositions. It’s worth keeping track of their touring schedule.
By this point, the crowd got louder between bands and because of the high temperatures inside, they all went outside during the interlude to catch a breath of fresh air. With it, the anticipation for the headliner rose. The time had finally come for the city of Leipzig to see DARK FORTRESS for the very last time. They were greeted with a loud roar and so the show started.
DARK FORTRESS have been around since 1994, so it is safe to say that, not only are they a staple within the black metal scene, but they have had the time to find their signature sound. To say DARK FORTRESS is just another black metal band is to not appreciate their music in its full glory. There is a reason why this band has been around for so long and released nine full-length albums. Fans and audiences across the globe have been appreciative of their music for a long time now, as their atmospheric yet fast-paced music still takes melody gracefully into consideration. I had the pleasure of seeing them for the very first time in 2015 and I vividly remember how songs like “Baphomet” had me instantly hooked. It’s no surprise that many of these compositions stood the test of time, which makes it even more difficult to wrap your head around the fact that this is the end for the band.
The band entered the stage to an atmospheric intro, setting the mood for the performance and soon switched into second gear with “Catawomb.” The band’s simultaneous headbanging illustrated how surprisingly groovy this track is. Many of the fans were stuck in their own headspace, gently headbanging along. While this song was a more atmospheric experience, they treated more extreme territories with the faster “The Silver Gate.” After the song, vocalist Morean had a short speech, thanking the crowd for being present at their final outing in Leipzig.
In the span of a little over an hour, the band managed to make their way through their entire discography (with the exception of “Profane Genocidal Creations”) and gave a perfect overview of their entire career. While they had eye for a lot of their classics, it was also a good opportunity to finally hear some of the newer songs, like from the 2020 release, “Spectres from the Old World.” We were happy to hear songs like “Isa,” “Ylem,” and “Baphomet” – all songs that belong to the list of black metal super-hits – for the last time.
The encore included perhaps the best of the band’s work, starting off with a song they hadn’t played in a couple of years: “Insomnia.” The trio of “Insomnia,” “Evenfall,” and the obligatory “Baphomet,” provided a wonderful send-off to a black metal legacy with perhaps some of the show’s most intense moments. Given the fact that the audience was particularly loud in between the songs, it’s clear that this is perhaps the band’s most beloved material. Ending with a bang, the band really gave their all during the very last performance, and while it’s a shame to see them go, we were happy to have had them around for all these years and to have witnessed one very amazing last time that will definitely go into the books of legendary black metal performances!
Photos by Michelle Rosales
Written by Michelle Rosales & Laureline Tilkin
Setlist
- Intro
- Catawomb
- The Silver Gate
- Isa
- Pulled at Threads
- Crimson Tears
- Cohorror
- Self Mutilation Chrysalis
- Ylem
- Insomnia
- Evenfall
- Baphomet
