Concert Review – Naugrim (Blue Mountains, Australia)

The night was opened by the band Naugrim, a hybrid Metalcore, Black, and Deathcore act from the Blue Mountains, Australia. The show, marked by its intensity and brevity, kicked off with an unreleased track not present in their short discography, which consists of only a single and an EP. The song’s introduction was reminiscent of the atmosphere in Wings for Marie (Pt. 1) by Tool, creating a tense and engaging buildup before dropping into a slow-paced death metal section, alternating between deep growls and screamed vocals—a signature of the band’s style.

The band then seamlessly transitioned into the second track, maintaining the same intensity and energy from the start. Afterward, the vocalist took a moment to thank the audience, acknowledging their limited time on stage. They proceeded with “Desolation”, one of the more impactful tracks of the performance, immediately followed by “From the Ashes”, keeping the momentum going without any major interruptions or speeches.

Before continuing, the vocalist once again addressed the crowd, thanking those who arrived early to support them. He announced “The Hatred” (as far as I could understand) and then introduced another song that will likely appear on the band’s next album. The show, lasting 30 minutes, ended quickly but left an impression of power and direction, despite its brief duration.

With a direct and no-frills setlist, Naugrim managed to convey their musical proposal effectively, standing out for their fusion of styles and their energy on stage. There is anticipation for the band’s future, as they undoubtedly have the potential to grow further with their aggressive and technical approach.

Concert Review – Eye of the Enemy (Melbourne, Australia)

The second band of the night was the veteran Death Metal act Eye of the Enemy, with over 15 years of experience in the Australian underground scene. The show began with two tracks from their most recent EP, “Only Equals Negotiate”, released in 2024: “Lorem Ipsum” and “[Redacted]”, showcasing the band’s continued commitment to delivering technical and melodic death metal.

The vocalist Mitch Alexander, in a relaxed and friendly manner, thanked the crowd for their support, helping to create a warm and engaging atmosphere. Eye of the Enemy played a highly technical brand of death metal with a melodic edge, reminiscent of some of the iconic Gothenburg bands—a style they’ve honed over the years.

Next, the band launched into “Clay”, the opening track from their 2019 album Titan, continuing with heavy, well-crafted riffs. Two tracks from their 2014 album The Vengeance Paradox also made an appearance: “The Vengeance Paradox” and “The March”, followed by “The Shift”, maintaining the technical prowess and intensity of their performance.

The show reached its peak with “Paradigm of Penance”, concluding their 30-minute set with high energy and enthusiasm. The band was warmly applauded by the audience, which clearly had a strong familiarity with their work.

With a solid and well-executed performance, Eye of the Enemy demonstrated their mastery of technical and melodic death metal, winning over not only long-time fans but also leaving a positive impression on those experiencing them for the first time.

Concert Review – Dark Tranquillity (Gothenburg, Sweden)

The headliner of the night was the Swedish metal veterans Dark Tranquillity, who took the stage at the legendary Crowbar around 10:15 p.m. The show kicked off with two tracks from their latest album, Endtime Signals, released in 2024. The first, “The Last Imagination”, brought a melancholic atmosphere, followed by “Nothing to No One”, keeping the crowd engaged and energized from the very start.

Vocalist Mikael Stanne, always sporting his trademark smile, thanked the audience and expressed his happiness to be back in the country after more than 10 years away. He mentioned that the absence wasn’t due to a lack of desire and promised an unforgettable night. He then asked if the crowd was ready for more Death Metal and immediately launched into “Hours Passed in Exile” from the 2002 album Damage Done, followed by the new track “Unforgivable” and “Atoma”, the title track from their 2016 album. During “Atoma”, Stanne encouraged the audience to clap along with the rhythm, which they did with great enthusiasm.

The night continued with one of the band’s most well-known songs, “Terminus (Where Death Is Most Alive)”, featuring huge crowd participation, as fans sang along and fully immersed themselves in the energy of the track. After this, Stanne announced that they would be playing a rare, “obscure” track that hadn’t been performed in years, “Cathode Ray Sunshine”, which was warmly received by the fans.

Without prior announcement, the band jumped to “Not Nothing”. Stanne then shared an interesting story about a song they recorded years ago, “Empty Me”, which sounded incredible in the studio but didn’t have the same impact live due to its technical difficulty. It had never been performed live until that moment, but thanks to the incredible musicians on stage, it was finally played, receiving applause from the audience. The set continued with “Phantom Days” from their 2020 album Moment.

Next up was one of the band’s most iconic tracks, “ThereIn”, with the crowd singing along to the chorus, creating a powerful connection between the band and the fans. The band took a brief pause, during which the crowd chanted for more songs. Returning to the stage, Stanne excitedly announced the classic “The Wonders at Your Feet” from their 2000 album Haven. He took a moment to thank the audience once again for their warm reception and promised not to take so long to return to the country.

The performance continued with the heavy “Lost to Apathy” from the 2005 album Character, played with the full force and energy that defines the band. To close the show, Stanne thanked the audience once again for their ongoing support over the years and announced that there was one last song to be played. “Misery’s Crown”, one of the band’s most celebrated tracks, ended the night with a small choir of fans accompanying the keyboard lines and singing the lyrics during the chorus.

The show wrapped up after just over an hour and ten minutes of flawless performance, leaving the audience in awe and reaffirming Dark Tranquillity as one of the most influential and respected bands in melodic death metal.

 

Review: Thiago Matos – Photos: Marília Cuenca