On November 29th, 2025, our most anticipated tour hit the town as the Danish/Swedish quartet VOLA stopped by the Markthalle in Hamburg to promote their new album, “Friend Of A Phantom,” which was released on the 2nd of November, 2024, via Mascot Label Group.
It is anything but irrelevant or old news that VOLA’s most recent full-length effort, “Friend Of A Phantom,” is one of the most significant releases of 2024. The band embarked on a European tour to support the album’s release, taking along Dutch singer Charlotte Wessels with her band THE OBSESSION, as well as the German quartet THE INTERSPHERE, as support acts.
THE INTERSPHERE opened the evening, playing to a half-packed Markthalle that filled up for the most part by the middle of their set. The quartet delivered an interesting blend of progressive and alternative rock. What stood out most were the pleasant math-rock elements sprinkled throughout their compositions and the overall accessibility of many passages in their songs, despite the complexity of their musicianship. Their music is elevated by the pleasant vocal performance of singer and guitarist Christoph Hessler, whose vocal melodies take the songs to the next level. A perfect example of this was the evening’s opener, “Wanderer,” from their album of the same name, released back in May 2023.
As the venue filled to what seemed to be a full house, Charlotte Wessels and her band took the stage, greeted by a cheering crowd. Known for her previous work with the band DELAIN, Wessels is joined in this venture by her former bandmate, guitarist Timo Somers, as well as other talented musicians: Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije on bass, Joey Marin de Boer on drums, and Sophia Vernikov on keys. Vernikov’s contributions, in particular, skillfully accentuate the band’s compositions. The quintet offers a modern take on symphonic metal, complemented with progressive elements, yet it still remains accessible to the listener.
The lights dimmed, and the stage gradually illuminated with the distinctive LED light-bar setup characteristic of VOLA’s live shows.Frontman Asger Mygind kicked off with a new song, “I Don’t Know How We Got Here,” as the rest of the band joined him on stage.
It was fascinating to see how their new material blended seamlessly with older tracks. One of VOLA’s greatest accomplishments with “Friend Of A Phantom” is their ability to refine their complex style into a cohesive sound that remains consistent throughout the album. Whatever their formula for stellar compositions was before, they’ve perfected it now and aren’t afraid to use it. This is also something evident in their overall stage presence, as their comfort while performing is clearly visible.
Reflecting on the concert, an interesting aspect emerged: once you’re familiar with the newer material, songs from earlier albums don’t feel out of place. In progressive music, it’s common for the earlier works of bands that have evolved significantly to feel “unripe” in comparison. However, that’s not the case with VOLA. If anything, their older material now feels like a different facet of their style. Tracks like “Starburn” from “Inmazes” or “Alien Shivers” from “Applause of a Distant Crowd” serve as reminders of their versatility within their well-established signature sound.
One of their most critically acclaimed singles couldn’t be left out. For “Cannibal”, originally performed featuring Anders Fridén of IN FLAMES, the band had been inviting different singers on stage for the growling duties. In Hamburg, frontman David Mertens from the band REST IN BEEF delivered a solid performance that blended seamlessly with the original style of the song.The band was celebrated by the crowd throughout their set, with the energy in the room only increasing as the concert progressed. A massive mosh pit even broke out during “Bleed Out,” played toward the end of their set. Considering the last time I attended one of their club shows was back in 2022, at a venue with a capacity of 400, this time around VOLA performed to what appeared to be a full house at the Markthalle, with a capacity of 1,000. Let this be a testament to the power of their music.
Text and Photos by Michelle R.
