In support of their sixteenth album, Norweigan’s purveyors of progressive black metal, Enslaved, have embarked once more on a pilgrimage of the Americas. However, fans should know that the invading horde will be a Viking short. A last-minute family urgency has led to guitarist Ivar Bjørnson’s decision to remain home and tend to undisclosed personal issues.
Naturally, family comes first and foremost, and I wish him and his family the best of health and luck. With the decision coming so soon to the beginning of the tour, the band wasn’t able to round up a suitable session guitarist in time for the tour. As such – and according to a roadie that is on the tour, Enslaved will instead be performing as a three-piece with the solo remaining guitar of Arve Isdal played through both sides of the stage set-up.
But before that took place, New York’s Black Anvil took their place on stage and put on a rather solid performance. Already one of my preferred American black metal acts, Black Anvil more than likely won over anyone in the audience that might not have been familiar with them. Although the lighting was annoyingly glum, presumably for the purposes of atmosphere (which doesn’t work, I should add – as I frequently do), the band still shone.
At times melodic, and at times not – Black Anvil have a way of bringing qualities to their sound that might not regularly be found in the genre. Inspirations or influences, I suppose, is the apt terminology for it. Nuances maybe. Whatever the case, Black Anvil are skilled at keeping their music fresh and interesting without straying too far outside the box. When it comes to genres like black metal, straying too far will earn you a shunning as a great percentage of the scene are purists, and sadly, anything less than purity is often scrutinized.
Tonight’s set was largely comprised of material from their newest recording, Regenesis – which serves a purpose but denies older fans the chance to hear selections from As Was, which I consider their greatest album to date. Luckily, I had the chance to see those tracks performed while they were touring for that record.
Finland’s Insomnium were up next, featuring one of my favourite guitarists in extreme metal – Markus Vanhala. Not only is Vanhala incredibly talented and responsible for some formidable riff work, he always performs as if he is having the greatest day of his life. I’ve paid attention to his mannerisms a few times, most recently earlier this year while he was in town on tour with his other band, Omnium Gatherum.
He watches the crowd intently and always seems to be thrilled with the reaction he gets. He always plays his guitar in a manner that seeks crowd participation, as if he is showing them his riffs as he plays them. Sometimes with his guitar slumped over his knee, or others with it raised high above his head, he is hellbent on making sure his audience is right there alongside him, and tonight was no different.
Of course, when you play in fantastic bands such as Insomnium and Omnium Gatherum, you already have the crowd’s attention. Tonight, Insomnium were by far the best band of the three, which isn’t to take away from either Black Anvil or Enslaved but to show just how great Insomnium are. They craft heavy songs that are rich in emotional passages that are at the same time highly energetic and thoroughly entertaining. I’ll stop gushing now, shall I?
The gap left by Bjørnson’s absence is immediately felt – and seen. Enslaved are here when many other bands might not have been. Down a vital member and key part of the band. A situation that surely isn’t easy for anyone. From the moment I heard that Bjørnson wouldn’t be present, I wondered how Enslaved would pull off such intricate pieces.
Truth is, and this again comes through conversation with one of their road crew (no names, of course), that the band had changed up their setlist for the night to make the absence of Bjørnson less prominent, which of course, is done by changing the songs that are to be played. That means that some of the numbers that were to be played now wouldn’t be, but I applaud the band for acknowledging the situation and adjusting to it.
Isdal should be praised for doing such a great job under such a difficult scenario. The songs did lack a certain something, but that was always going to be the case when such a key component is removed, especially in such short notice. For the most part, the only way to tell that Isdal was alone on guitar duties was the huge gaping empty space on the right of the stage. Although, the band covered that up by playing in a giant and annoying puff of smoke and a severe lack of light.
Having praised Enslaved, I am now going to criticize them a little bit. We are in a time when crooks like Ticketmaster are robbing music lovers blind with extremely inflated ticket prices and hidden fees atop of hidden fees – so it is on the artists on stage to make sure that they provide a form of entertainment worthy of the money it takes to see them. Playing in the pitch dark, swallowed up by smoke isn’t it?
Fans could sit home in the dark and play your albums that they more than likely already own and smoke cigarettes and see as much – or as little, as the case is, as they can from being in the same room as the band. That’s not right. Artists need to provide their audience with something for them to look at. It doesn’t have to be as immense as an Amon Amarth or Ghost gig – look at what Insomnium did a half-hour before you played and take pointers from that. Be seen. Move. Do something!
And don’t worry; I still have nothing but love for you, Enslaved!
Review – Kieron Yates
Photos – Ryan Rumpel
