For we shall own the night with Dark Funeral – live report of their show at the O2 Academy Islington in London

The report is by Sabrina Schiavinato – a huge thank you to Tim and Arne of Nuclear Blast Records for hosting us!

Are you feeling a bit tired of people asking about your Christmas? I hope you are not here to read about any religious celebration! If you do want to stay, leave your God at the door because tonight is about darkness.

After the last event in the UK in 2023, co-headlining with Cannibal Corpse, Dark Funeral has been somewhat active, touring extensively in South America lately, so we truly appreciate the emphasis on a European trip after that. The band heads out on their “Let The Devil In European Winter Tour 2025,” kicking off the first show in Belgium and stopping by the UK capital too.

Joining them are Canadian symphonic death metalers Ex Deo and Italian opera metal five-piece Fleshgod Apocalypse. Support for opening the three acts came from the French melodic deathcore Kami No Ikari.

Kami No Ikari

Prepare yourselves for divine judgment. Kami No Ikari, which translates to “wrath of the gods” in Japanese, is a French melodic deathcore band that channels the wrath of the gods through their frenetic performance, which combines brutal intensity with melodic complexity and enormous orchestral arrangement. Since they performed at 18 o’clock, which happened to be a little bit too early for the London standard, only a small number of people arrived just in time to watch their act. To tell you the truth, it was a shame because they truly established the mood for the evening.

Ex-Deo

1. Imperator
2. Cato Major: Carthago delenda est!
3. The Rise of Hannibal
4. Vespasian
5. Suavetaurilia drum (Intermezzo)
6. The Fall of Claudius
7. I, Caligula
8. Romulus

The Canadian death metal band brought their unique blend of historical-inspired lyrics and brutal riffs to the stage. In addition to Kataklysm, Iacono has established the band as a formidable musical force.

In case you are not familiar with the band, Ex Deo performs songs that depict the rise and fall of historical characters from the Roman Empire. Onstage, the band dressed up as Roman soldiers and incorporated theatrical aspects of the history of this great civilisation. However, even though their songs generated a great deal of energy, the performance was not as powerful, and the sound seemed somewhat muffled. Additionally, the entire stage appearance seemed to be a little neglected, with band members appearing to be fairly remote from each other and the crowd. After being away from the country for eight years, we were anticipating a higher level of enthusiasm from the band; nonetheless, the slightly shorter setlist did not help bring them to their full potential.

Photo: Peterson Marti.

Fleshgod Apocalypse

1. Ode to Art (de’ Sepolcri)
2. I Can Never Die
3. Healing Through War
4. Sugar
5. Minotaur (The Wrath of Poseidon)
6. Bloodclock
7. The Fool
8. Pendulum
9. The Violation

It turned out that the reason for what appeared to be a significant delay in the appearance of Fleshgod Apocalypse on stage was a problem with the piano. But have no fear! Veronica Bordacchini’s entrance put an end to all of the rumours that had been prevalent. The vocal extensions of her opera voice caused everyone at the Islington Venue to drop their jaws as she began the set with “Ode to Art (De’ Sepolcri).” Everybody was amazed. As the intensity of her chords increased, her voice echoed throughout the venue, which heightened the audience’s attention and anticipation for what was to come. By performing songs such as “I Can Never Die” and “Healing Through War,” the band was able to captivate the audience with its ferocious and soaring melodies, simultaneously erasing the delay that had occurred previously.

As soon as they went onto the stage, it was instantly evident that this was going to be a night that would go down in history. This was going to be a night as memorable as any other: from the lights to the theatrical sets and costumes, we had the impression that their presentation had a certain degree of density. Perhaps it was the presence of Veronica’s voice, who accompanied several of the songs, or the talented pianist, Francesco Ferrini, who added a layer of pomposity and elegance to the entire experience by jumping at the front of the stage and interacting with the crowd. There was a fantastic deal to take in, which made them practically the highlight of the evening.

Photo: Peterson Marti.

Dark Funeral

1. Nosferatu
2. Atrum Regina
3. To Carve Another Wound
4. The Arrival of Satan’s Empire
5. When I’m Gone
6. As One We Shall Conquer
7. Unchain My Soul
8. Open the Gates
9. Shadows Over Transylvania
10. My Dark Desires
11. In the Sign of the Horns
12. Let the Devil In
13. Where Shadows Forever Reign

Once again, Dark Funeral delivered their trademark style of Swedish black metal to London. The band gave a performance that was full of intensity and displayed their dark and sinister soundscapes as well as their theatrical stage presence.

The band took a stand as they entered the stage by situating themselves in various places on the stage, nearly drawing a pentagram. I adore how much attention to detail they pay to everything.

“God is Not Here Today,” the recorded voice of what seemed like Satan in person yelled to the crowd just before the act began. As expected, the band was intimidating from the moment they took the stage to the moment they left.

There was obviously no relation to the most recent film, but they opened the performance with “Nosferatu,” and we heard “When I’m Gone” and “Let the Devil In” from the most recent album.

Vocalist Heljarmadr captivated the audience with his piercing gaze and commanding vocals, urging the crowd to chant “Hail Satan” just before guitarists Chaq Mol and Lord Ahriman unleashed their heavy riffs to kick off “The Arrival of Satan’s Empire.”

Dark Funeral played highlights from their extensive discography, including “Open the Gates” and “In the Sign of the Horns,” closing with their classic signature “Where Shadows Forever Reign.” Each track showcased their mastery of black metal’s raw energy.

Overall, Dark Funeral demonstrated their enduring impact on extreme metal after three decades. Their London show showcased their lasting strength and capacity to provide relentless, fierce metal to loyal fans, solidifying their status as one of the many extreme bands that consistently put on an impressive and intricate performance.

Photo: Peterson Marti.