On the second week of February, PERSEFONE embarked on a European tour in support of their latest EP “Lingua Ignota I.” As special guests, the avant-garde French band HYPNO5E joined them, followed by the promising act STELLAR CIRCUITS and the progressive instrumentalists from LAMPR3A. This lineup proved to work brilliantly live, keeping the spectators engaged through the versatility of all bands for the duration of the entire evening during our visit to the legendary Logo in Hamburg on February 27th, 2024.
The crowd greeted LAMPR3A with warm applause. The Basque trio made their entry with an ethereal intro playing in the background, which concluded in a progressive rock outburst. For the most part, one can say that this description best fits their music, as the band fuses dreamlike melodies that transition into heavy passages with a higher technical demand. The instrumental approach, without accompanying vocals, works adequately for their style.
Second in line were the U.S.-American band STELLAR CIRCUITS. Among the many notable aspects of their performance, their musical prowess stands out. Their music offers a modern blend of groovy progressive rock and metal, with a fresh twist provided by the pleasant vocal tone that characterizes singer Ben Beddick. His voice can transition from clean singing to growling and many variations in between, depending on the emotional demands of the lyrics, the musical landscape painted by guitarist Jared Stamey‘s melodies, and the thoughtful accentuation of the bass and drums. This dynamic ultimately crafts the unique style of the band. If we were to offer a reference to help you conceptualize what this band could offer, we might compare them to a heavier, more complex version of INCUBUS, though feel free to disagree with us.
We were at halftime when the lights went off, signaling the time for HYPNO5E to hit the stage. Luckily, we are no strangers to their music, but we were pleasantly surprised by this specific set, which felt like a rollercoaster, somewhat heavier than usual. The atmosphere was established by the thick fog surrounding the stage, with just enough light to help differentiate one band member from another. HYPNO5E‘s avant-garde style is something that always stands out, gently carrying the listener on clouds at times, just as it can let them fall on the hard floor with its heftiness.
Finally, the long-awaited headliner of the evening, the unique progressive metal outlet PERSEFONE from Andorra, hit the stage with the opener “Sounds and Vessels” from their latest EP. If it wasn’t clear from the first spins at home how moving this track can be, then believe us when we tell you it will sweep you off your feet live.
After a highly energetic entrance and a couple of warm-up tracks, guitarist Filipe Baldaia stepped down from the stage to join the growing mosh pit in the middle of the floor. The energy that this band transfers to the crowd, through their own performance in addition to the heavy yet atmospheric music, is truly something special. We have to wonder how many times it is that a band’s live performance has surpassed the recorded album experience post-concert.
A week before embarking on the tour, PERSEFONE did warn us in an interview about all the elements that make their newest material different from previous efforts. For everyone out there wondering what to expect in a live setting, know for sure that you are in for a treat.
Check our photo gallery featuring LAMPR3A, STELLAR CIRCUITS, HYPNO5E, and PERSEFONE here…
Lampr3a
Stellar Circuits
Hypno5e
Persefone
Text and photos by Michelle R.
