Arriving at The Forum thinking I would miss out on Triptykon its clear that normal set times are not an obstacle this evening, the final song of Morbus Chron‘s set ring out as the band deliver a good enough show, but down to the lack of sound much of their doom laden riffs are lost, after their simple exit the stage is set for the return of Triptykon.
The lights dim and Tom G. Warrior et al saunter out on the stage, opening up their set with the fantastically gloomy “Goetia” the crowd is sizeable and sure to be down to Warrior’s previous band and the hope they will play some choice cuts. The crowd erupts as the band launch into a re imagining of the Celtic Frost classic “Circle Of The Tyrant“. Although it doesn’t do much for me, throughout the show the sound winds in and out creating much of the feedback reliant metal to essentially become slow and loud noise. It also seems to be the case the Warrior is very much massaging his own ego, with his bellow being heard right the way throughout Kentish Town the music the band have been creating is very insistent upon itself.
After the glacial pace set by Triptykon the banner drops and our real act are revealed. After being treated to most songs of Black Sabbath’s eponymous first album on the house PA and a lengthier than usual sound check the lights are killed. The philosophical spanish musings of “El Altar De Los Dios Desconcidos” trickles out of the speakers to lead into a blast packed “Death And Labyrinth“. When At The Gates launch into their absolute classic “Slaughter Of The Soul” as their second track the place turns into uproar followed after wards by the masterclass “Cold“, with much of the crowd being older than the average gig goer its clear that after not releasing any music for nineteen years there are some adolescent dreams to be filled here.
Boy are they fulfilled, blasting through their set showcasing the different era’s of At The Gates, “Terminal Spirit Disease” our well learned goblin Tomas Lindberg howls throughout the night, with the crowd firmly in the palm of his hands. Moving into their latest work, the sound of anvil announces the arrival of title track “At War With Reality” much of tonight’s setlist consists of Slaughter Of The Soul meets At War With Reality along with some select songs “Raped By The Light Of Christ” to their 1992 debut The Red In The Sky Is Ours with “Windows” where the real Gothenburg sound was birthed.
Although the choice of the set list is absolutely stellar, the sound alas was not. With certain inconsistencies and a big no no being that the rhythm guitar is louder than the lead, meaning much of the melancholic lines are lost in the mix forcing it to be drowned out. Not a patch on the band themselves however, delivering a ferocious “World Of Lies” and the rumble of “Under A Serpent’s Sun“. The arrival of the loading of a shotgun “Suicide Nation” explodes out into The Forum met with wide eyed glee from the entire band, its clear that they are well and truly happy to be back in the swing of things. “The Book Of Sand (The Abomination” is our final track before the band come on to the abrasive metal clangs of the quintessential “Blinded By Fear“. Lindberg then asks “Are you ready for some death fucking metal!” to which the crowd give a resounding yes as an incedary “Kingdom (Fucking) Gone” begins.
To top the night off the band exit the stage to their epic final track from the new album “The Night Eternal” the song shakes our venue through its very profound foundations, yet to my surprise The Forum is half empty. Many of the fans missing out on one of the bands best songs off the new record and a neat bow to tie the night up, its a small reminder that metalhead’s like what metalhead’s like. Slaughter Of The Soul was a clear winner this evening and with a record as scathing as their new opus even then its a hard act to follow. They may not have been around for nineteen years but they haven’t lost a step.
