VARATHRON

DESTROYING QUERETARO



ARES was our ally and finally allowed the slam, almost at the end.


VARATHRONE

Talking about VARATHRON is not talking about any commercial BLACK METAL band and much less from Greece. Contemporaries to ROTTING CHRIST in time, but not in scene, because they are very different. Of course, both are extraordinary.

A band formed in Athens, in 1988 but that I unfortunately met until 2004 with CROWSREIGN, and I say unfortunate, because unlike Rotting Christ, I have enjoyed every damn second of every song on all their albums. But I'm up to date now.

VARATHRON is the band that has been concerned with cleaning, shaking, accommodating and giving a first-class aesthetic to Black Metal in the Hellenic scene; and for the same reason, it is an Atmospheric Black Metal, based mainly on its Greek culture and mythology.

Stefanos

Their lyrics range from epic and totally melodic passages, and show some very atmospheric and mystical keyboards, which accompany them live.

We experienced mythology and occultism just last Saturday night in the Bernardo Quintana venue, called “Barra Habana” that despite their assholes pseudo sound engineers, the band gave a tremendous lesson on why they are one of the best exponents of Black Metal worldwide.

At eight o'clock at night, the band went on stage to present stories of gods, heroes, ancient rituals; and of course, about occultism, ancient history and an excellent mythology of their native Greece.



And with just seven albums of great power, they have shown the world an excellent level of composition and lyrics that not every band has. They are deep lyrics, so that we can really appreciate them and ride at a fast pace like knights of the apocalypse, or as Ares would do attacking every human being, under total destruction.

We were few fans, and the power was unleashed at the end, because the “SLAM” arrived late under the stage. And there, right at that moment, was the orgasm we needed, to feel that complacency and pleasure of listening to a pure, total and absolute BLACK METAL of enormous quality.

I was fascinated by TENEBROUS and the great UNHOLY FUNERAL, of course, leaving “GENESIS OF APOCRYPHAL DESIRE” for the end.

Achilleas


Thirsty for much more black metal, but after Haris Kokkinos threw a drumstick into the audience, the damn nostalgia and sadness began, because it was the end. On this occasion my long arms did not help much and I was left wanting to have that drumstick.

This tour is for their recent album, from 2023, “THE CRIMSON TEMPLE” which demonstrates and confirms the reason for being classified as one of the best bands in the scene of this genre, which is music for the soul and the heart.

Sotiris


An album that explores the concept of sacred and profane spaces, using the image of temples and rituals to delve into themes of spirituality and transcendence. A must-have for any record collection.

Today, a day later, there is that nostalgic and melancholic feeling of wanting to go back in time, and be back in front of the stage enjoying these Greeks.

But I hope they return soon and I can be there with them again.

Achilleas (Pic by:  Brenda Elianne)


An extraordinary evening, and a thousand thanks to my fellow Headbangers, Brenda and Ricardo.

 


Amen

 

Carlos, Ricardo, Brenda & Marco.

contacto@liveheadbangers.com

 

HULDER

BLOWING UP QUERÉTARO

Black Metal, clear, dense and deep.

"In the darkness of pain, violence whispers and despair screams"













About to turn 30 years old, Marliese “Marz” Beeuwsaert, born in Belgium, is the character behind the North American band HULDER. A young woman, who started at the end of 2015 with the band BLEEDER and in 2018 is a fundamental part of the first one.

A BLACK METAL band out of the ordinary, because bands of this genre abound in the world, but is it just the perfect sound?

It is, without a doubt, the feminine touch that Marz gives to the band, and it is not easy, because few bands have done it (Ana Carolina does it with MOURNING SUN) and I repeat, it is not easy.

Marz, a multi-instrumentalist, with a perfect voice is responsible for the HULDER project, and only in 2024 we have seen the birth of her second masterpiece: VERSES IN OATH.

An album that has on the cover another work by MUHAMAD CANDRA “MFA XII”, and is surrounded by great musicians for this sublime work, including her husband, Sam “Necreon” Osborne, among others.

VERSES IN OATH, has a more violent concept than her previous work, “GODSLASTERING: HYMNS OF A FORLORN PEASANTRY”, because its medieval lyrics with themes of torture and it shows to be very gloomy; a concept that was felt last night at the “Barra Habana” forum in Querétaro. A superb album that covers concepts (in my interpretation of the lyrics, music and images) about death, destruction, darkness; between despair and a very high level of anxiety, that is to say: perfect.

This is how Black Metal should be: strong, direct, violent and tender, peaceful, to meditate and to hit your head against the wall.

But Marz's voice, which guides you, has a symbolism that connects the spiritual with the religious, without falling into fundamentalisms; a connection between the blasphemous and the sacred.













Last night, at seven o'clock sharp, Marz and his entourage arrived to take possession of the stage, and the lights turned blood red, accompanied by a mass of artificial fog.

Six seconds were enough for HULDER to wait with their backs turned for the intro of “AN ELEGY”, then turn around, wait for the tremendous intro to end with the crows in the background music, and… they blew up Bernardo Quintana's venue. And what a way to blow it up!



AN ELEGY was obviously followed by BOUGHS ABLAZE and HEARKEN THE END, and then I knew that… VERSES IN OATH would make me happy.

Marz's voice, so soft and so powerful that it is difficult to get it out of your mind after having heard and enjoyed it.

An excellent mass in tribute to the worst nightmare you could have, especially with BESTIAL FORM OF HUMANITY.



The perception, in front of the stage, is to take us directly to the centre of hell, admiring Satan himself, dressed as a woman, with long and beautiful hair, wearing black leather pants and high boots; with makeup so beautiful that you will end up praising him.

Perfect moments that were recorded in my mind, for all eternity.

They closed with VESSEL OF SUFFERING and VEIL OF PENITENCE, and then, I felt my soul fade, and I would begin to miss Marz. I know they will return and I will be back at the front of the stage.

Amen.

contacto@liveheadbangers.com