“As black metal as it gets”: Behemoth, Dimmu Borgir and Dark Funeral in London

I’ll admit it, I’m not a big fan of O2 Academy Brixton. The crowd builds up long before you reach the venue, and the walk around the block takes away some of the fun, although you always end up meeting interesting people while you wait. A Saturday line-up like this, though, is not one you can easily miss, and since it was the only UK stop of the tour, I was desperate to be there. With a bill this unique, people went above and beyond with their outfits, and judging by the reactions of those walking past in Brixton, we made an impression.

Behemoth and Dimmu Borgir were co-headlining the In League With Satan tour, with Dark Funeral joining them as special guests. Both headliners had new records to show off: “Grand Serpent Rising” for Dimmu Borgir in May and “I, Scvlptor” for Behemoth in September.

Dark Funeral

1. Unchain My Soul
2. The Arrival of Satan’s Empire
3. The Secrets of the Black Arts
4. Let the Devil In
5. Where Shadows Forever Reign

Dark Funeral were on stage at 7pm, and I hate seeing good bands open early only to get a short set. The sound was a bit muffled for the first three songs. The room was only about 70% full when they started, as people were still queuing outside while security checked everyone one by one, perhaps a little too thoroughly. Around me, people were talking about never having seen the band before or even heard of them, which surprised me. At the last few shows I’ve seen them play, the Nosferatu banners were on stage, but not this time. Those shows centred on their 2022 album, “We Are the Apocalypse”, but for this one around, they went for their iconic logo.

Dark Funeral are one of the many bands on my list that never disappoint, and I think I’ve written this before, but when musicianship meets professionalism, it’s pure bliss. They walked on and did their job with no fuss. They are just brutal, and their guitar and drum work is always on point.

I personally loved that they kept the drum solo in the set, opening “Let the Devil In”. It’s one of the all-time highlights of their shows. Heljarmadr didn’t need many words to make a statement. His presence was all anyone who had never seen them live needed to understand the calibre of this band. Unfortunately they only played five songs, so I was a bit sad to have missed a few of my old favourites. But let’s be honest, how can you get great musicians to play only five songs? I’m hoping to see them soon for a full hour.

Dimmu Borgir

1. Ulvgjeld & Blodsodel
2. Mourning Palace
3. Kings of the Carnival Creation
4. Council of Wolves and Snakes
5. Ætheric
6. Ascent
7. Cataclysm Children
8. The Serpentine Offering
9. Puritania
10. Gateways
11. Progenies of the Great Apocalypse

Whoever designed the stage props and the set-up deserves a proper reward. I was impressed by how much preparation went into the show. The gargoyles, the lights coming through, the super detailed backdrop and the pyro made it as much a pleasure to see as to hear. The new songs hit differently from the rest, and the opening track, “Ulvgjeld & Blodsodel”, had people going nuts. With “Mourning Palace” and “Kings of the Carnival Creation”, the crowdsurfers started.

The set was studied down to the last detail, and I found myself struggling to pick one place to look, with the band moving around the stage, but it was never overwhelming, only exciting.

My favourite moment was “Council of Wolves and Snakes”, which Shagrath introduced on a drum while Daray marked the rhythm on his cymbals. The lighting and the scene had just as much care behind them, and it all landed. My only wish was to hear more keyboard, and at times the backing track was louder than the voice. Even so, they closed with “Progenies of the Great Apocalypse”, and of course they did, how could they not?

I had waited a long time to see Dimmu Borgir live again, and it was worth the wait. The whole theatrical experience was breathtaking, and it was the highlight of the night for me. I know it’s only October, but it will be hard for another show to reach this level before the year ends.

Behemoth

1. Daimonos
2. Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer
3. Thy Becoming Eternal
4. The Shit ov God
5. Conquer All
6. Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel
7. I, Scvlptor
8. Ov Fire and the Void
9. To Drown the Svn in Wine
10. Bartzabel
11. In League With Satan (Venom cover)
12. Chant for Eschaton 2000
13. O Father O Satan O Sun!

“This night is as black metal as it gets,” Nergal’s words echoed through O2 Academy Brixton as the set unfolded through some of the tunes that made Behemoth who they are today. I agree, and last year’s line-up, with Satyricon and Rotting Christ, in this very same venue, was just as black metal; for me, that show was iconic.

If you’ve seen Behemoth before, you know the costumes, make-up and pyro are coming, but the opening was a different set-up from last year. This time a video played on the curtain, showing a bare-chested Nergal and Inferno in black and white, like one of those shorts you see in a contemporary art museum.

The videos are something I’ve been seeing more and more in their shows, and I like how they introduce the songs between specific parts of the set, from the opening song to the much-anticipated “I, Scvlptor”. The video and “Daimonos” made a good start, though not as strong as “Conquer All” or “Ov Fire and the Void” later on.

The stage setup had a bit of an upgrade too. If you look closely, you’ll spot a few changes that made a big difference, starting with the central stage and the raised platforms on the left and right, which were not at the front this time around. I appreciate that they take care to make things different all the time, and I can’t say I’ve seen the same set-up on different tours.

I loved the moment when Nergal stood in front of the drum right before “The Shit ov God”, with all the spotlights hitting him, almost like stabbing. It was a fantastic artistic touch. “Conquer All” followed and hit harder. Then came the fire: it died down along the staircase right before Orion and Seth walked down it, just ahead of “Ov Fire and the Void”, and it couldn’t have been more brutal. The crowdsurfers were on fire too, which isn’t normally a thing at a black metal show, but people were going crazy.

The sound was pristine throughout. I’ve never complained about the sound at a Behemoth show, and this was no different. During “Bartzabel”, I got goosebumps because the clean sound felt so unreal. Like last year’s, this show was pure greatness.

Overall, Dark Funeral was brutal and far too brief, Dimmu Borgir was worth the wait, and Behemoth was as great as ever. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.