Heavy Metal Meltdown: Night One Highlights in Aalborg

Friday night at the festival saw an array of heavy metal acts taking the stage, bringing intense energy and packed crowds. Each band left its unique mark from Thus’s much-anticipated performance after their Wacken Metal Battle win to Livløs’s rhythmic brutality, and from Afsky’s melancholic black metal to Illdisposed’s crowd-commanding groove. Closing out the night, Vltimas, a supergroup of extreme metal legends, ended the evening with a heavy, haunting performance that combined technical prowess with dark showmanship. Here’s a rundown of each set and what made this night unforgettable.

Thus

Thus Aarhus has gained a lot of hype over the last year and even won Wacken Metal Battle 2024, so I was quite excited to finally get to see them. The venue was packed, and the crowd was enthusiastic; even those in the back were visibly energized. This is the third time they’ve played in Aalborg this year alone, and as the lead singer mentioned, they’ll be back in a month to play at this same venue. There’s no doubt that the band is gaining a lot of traction and attracting many fans. Perhaps all the hype led me to expect more, but unfortunately, I found the music to be fairly typical death metal. There were some touches of melodic death and thrash here and there, but beyond that, nothing felt particularly original or inspired.

To be fair, they’re good at what they do, with especially well-executed vocals. They bring some variety in their tracks’ tempo and play a music style that many people grew up with. However, I can’t help but wonder if nostalgia and hype are large parts of why they’re becoming so popular so quickly, and whether that will last. They’re certainly a charming bunch, and it’s not that they lack stage presence, though they tried twice to get the crowd to form a circle pit with little success. There’s a lot of room for improvement if they want to stand out for the long haul.

Livløs

Livløs (‘Lifeless’ in English) is another death metal band from Aarhus that managed to fill the venue. Since their formation nearly 10 years ago, they’ve established themselves as a well-known name in the metal scene, not only for their musical prowess but also as a band that keeps improving. They’ve refined their sound from album to album, and their latest release, “The Crescent King,” released just a month ago, maybe their best yet. Their sound is a bit slower, more rhythmic, and heavy, yet still brutal and raw. The vocals focus a little less on intense gutturals and more on melancholic screams, and although the sound isn’t the same throughout, they manage to transition seamlessly between songs.

Livløs has a lot of stage experience, having played both small venues and larger stages like Copenhell, and it shows. They command the crowd, telling them to ‘hold it’ before launching into a circle pit that doesn’t end until the lead singer decides to crowd-surf while still singing. The show ends with “The Purest Black” from their 2021 album, drawing great applause and a sea of raised horns.

Afsky

Afsky (‘Disgust’ in English) delivers classic black metal with a melodic twist. Founded by Danish black metal veteran Ole Luk in 2015, the band has several albums and EPs and is already an established force in Scandinavian black metal circles. Their sound has less drone than some contemporaries and leans more towards haunting melancholy. One thing that sets them apart is the lack of long-winded intros or build-ups; many songs launch straight into furious blast beats, tremolo picking, and high-pitched vocals before transitioning into a more controlled, subdued tone.

The stage show has a lo-fi vibe with fewer lights and more smoke than usual, complementing the melancholic atmosphere of the music. Two torches in the background add a bit of extra flair. Unfortunately, the instruments sometimes drowned out the vocals, which needed adjustments more than once throughout the show. The venue was pretty full, but the band didn’t quite fill the room the way the previous two did. However, those in attendance were thrilled to see them, with plenty of support and devil horns raised after each song.

Illdisposed

Illdisposed is not only a band with a long-running history, having been formed nearly 30 years ago in 1991, but they’re practically the house band for this festival. Their sound is heavily influenced by the music of that era, and although it hasn’t been stagnant over the years, it still maintains that core of brutal groove with a lot of melody and deep guttural growls delivered by frontman Bo Summer. Having released 16 albums and played countless venues, they’re seasoned pros who love being on stage, demonstrated by their ability to engage the crowd in a self-deprecating manner—such as having people flip off the band while shouting ‘play Vimmersvej, you fat pigs.’

The show drew a large crowd, not only because it’s a tradition but because it’s consistently a party. People know what to expect and love it. It didn’t take long to spot the first crowd surfers in the front, with fans in the back rows headbanging along.

Vltimas

Closing the stage on the first night, Vltimas brought a trio of legends for the final show. Vltimas consists of lead singer David Vincent (Morbid Angel / I Am Morbid), former Mayhem guitarist Rune ‘Blasphemer’ Eriksen, and Cryptopsy drummer Flo Mounier. Together, they’ve formed a group that blends each member’s talents and distinct styles to create a unique mix of death, black, and extreme metal. Technically, both the guitar and drums are impressive, and coupled with Vincent’s sinister vocals and natural showmanship, they create a complex and heavy sound that still manages to maintain a sense of melody and rhythm that resonates well with the crowd.

Showmanship is a key part of their performance. Not only did they close off the room to guests until the very last minute, but Vincent appeared dressed in what resembled an undertaker’s outfit and shared stories or anecdotes between each song. Unfortunately, much of the audience had left by the time they made their explosive finish, but those who remained were captivated and gave a huge ovation at the end.

Photos (c) Morten Holmsgaard Kristensen