On December 5th, 2023, Swedish Deathglam band DEATHSTARS, along with PRIEST and LIV SIN, rocked Hole44 in Berlin as part of their Everything Destroys You Tour.
LIV SIN, a Swedish heavy metal band led by the fantastic Liv Jagrell, opened the show with a dynamic set of tracks from their newest album “KaliYuga.” On stage, the band was incredibly energetic and mobile, delivering an endless flow of energy, amazing solos, and powerful drumming. Liv herself brought accurate heavy metal energy, headbanging with intense passion and singing at the top of her lungs. Their stage attire exuded old-school vibes with a burgundy and black color scheme. Liv concluded the set by venturing into the crowd, singing and interacting with fans.
PRIEST, a Swedish synth-pop project created by former GHOST members, consists of three musicians: Mercury, Salt, and Sulfur. The trio gave off a mixed TIMECOP1983 and BLUTENGEL vibe. The song “Neuromancer” instantly caught my attention as a cyberpunk fan. Their stage presence and music could be described as sexy, mysterious, and lively. The vibrant set included the new single “Burning Love,” and Mercury descended into the crowd, performing a ritual-like act akin to a true priest.
Next up was DEATHSTARS, the Swedish deathglam band that has been around since the early ’00s, offering fans a nostalgic trip down memory lane. The band members received a loud cheer as they appeared on stage before unleashing “Night Electric Night” upon the venue. The set was well-balanced with tracks from their latest release “Midnight Party” and classics. Cat Casino stole much of the show with his jaw-dropping outfit and incredible stage presence, effortlessly rocking high heels and guitars, reminiscent of Lzzy Hale. Skinny Disco swirled his dreadlocks energetically, Nitro licked his drumsticks, and Whiplasher and Nightmare enjoyed their time on stage more passively. However, Whiplasher engaged with the audience extensively—sitting at the ledge of the stage, holding hands with fans, slapping his military hat on a lucky girl, and occasionally extending his mic to the crowd. The absence of a photo pit turned out to be a plus, allowing for heartwarming interactions between Cat Casino and the crowd to be captured. Classic songs like “Cyanide,” “Blitzkrieg,” “Synthetic Generation,” and “Tongues” evoked nostalgia, teleporting everyone 15 years back in time when the grass was greener. New tracks like “Midnight Party” and “This Is” served as a reminder that DEATHSTARS are still here, kicking ass as hard as they used to. Overall, the show was a big midnight party, pun intended.
LIV SIN
PRIEST
DEATHSTARS
Photos by Alexandra Aim
