Saturnus

SATURNUS

The elegy at its finest expression

By Carlos Zaldívar

The stage at the Rockstar Burger

It is not merely a matter of composing music; these geniuses, birthed by the Universe itself, erect monuments to pain, memory, and the most human form of resignation. They are prodigies escaped from HELL itself—figures whom not even Dante could hold back.

Saturnus balances the crushing, visceral power of their low-tuned riffs with acoustic passages of heart-wrenching—truly heart-wrenching—delicacy. Some lyrics cause pain; others evoke melancholy or nostalgia; some spark happiness; yet all of them compel us to reflect.

Thomas’s deep, cavernous growls do not seek to instil fear, but rather to convey the absolute weight of the human soul, interspersed with spoken-word passages that make the skin crawl. Every track—from classic anthems like "The Storm Within" and "Empty Handed," through "Inflame Thy Heart" and "Embraced by Darkness," to the majestic, monumental atmospheres of "I Long" and "Christ Goodbye"—feels like a procession beneath an apocalyptic sky.

It is melancholic metal at its finest: cathartic, sublime, and deeply poetic—a damn fine band that delivers such intense pleasure it borders on a mental orgasm.

A band to be loved for eternity. Then came the news that struck a blow to my heart, mind, and soul: SATURNUS was coming to MEXICO. But—damn it—October 1st was tricky, as was the 3rd. And on October 2nd, IRON MAIDEN was playing in Mexico City.

So, I decided to see IRON MAIDEN at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles a week earlier, and then be in Querétaro on October 2nd—though, at the last minute, the venue was switched to León. It didn't matter; I would go see Saturnus in hell itself if I had to.

And the countdown began.

What took place this past Friday, October 2nd, in León—at Rockstar Burger at the Fair—was no ordinary concert: it was a true mass of shadows and collective catharsis.

Eddie at the entrance of the Rockstar Burger.

The atmosphere was already electric thanks to two stellar local bands, VOIDGAZER and MATALOBOS, and Colombia’s ESHTADUR; they set the stage by immersing the venue in a perfect, dense wall of sound.

Then Saturnus took the stage, and the atmosphere transformed completely.

From the very first chords, the vibration of the bass and the slow, solemn drumbeats resonated deep within the chest. Thomas Jensen commanded the stage with a presence that was imposing yet incredibly approachable, instantly connecting with a Mexican audience that was captivated from the very first second. The guitar work was masterful—haunting solos, sustained to the limit, slicing through the night air with surgical precision... no, not almost surgical—completely surgical.

Fists raised high and "devil horns" held aloft confirmed why the band inspires such devotion. They unleashed crushing melodic blows where every note weighed a ton of metal, and every silence in the music left a suffocating void.

I was eagerly awaiting "I Long"—the song that touches my soul the deepest, stirring up memories within me; the track that brings tears to my eyes and makes my heart ache. My partner was right there beside me, and she witnessed it all.

With Thomas

With Mika

With Julio

It was a devastating yet comforting spectacle—the kind of show that leaves you exhausted but with clear mind and goosebumps all over.

Ah, but there was still the cherry on top: the encore. They bade us farewell with "Christ Goodbye," leaving us with a case of post-Saturnus depression as vast as the Universe itself.

It was a memorable night in the Bajio region, proving that Nordic melancholy finds one of its most passionate sanctuaries on Mexican soil. It was one of those concerts you never want to end.

Afterward, we simply walked through the city, reflecting on and processing what had just unfolded in our lives.

See you soon, Saturnus!