LIVE FROM THE PIT: Banshee, Faunea and Mallavora
- Mary Horner
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Lightning and thunder rumblings reverberated throughout the room. The crowd was jolted to attention. Awaking from the hazy slumber of queuing in the sunshine earlier that day, the crowd was ready. All eyes focused as three figures filled the stage, hands waiting in silence for their lead singer. MALLAVORA had arrived. With a single metronome sound leaving the audience on tenterhooks, lead singer Jessica Douek’s hymn-like vocals started off their set as she took centre stage. Energy ignited as the drums kicked in and Douek transitioned to the loud, raw, hard-hitting vocals of Smile, the second song from their debut album, only released two weeks prior.
The high energy from the band was infectious. The whole room came together to carry the beat. Hearty claps, cheers and headbangs were kindling to the intensifying, fiery sound of the next track, before it erupted into deep growls, smash of cymbals and short, sharp guitar riffs.
Moving through the set, fans couldn’t help but scream back the ‘I will not obey!’ chant to vocalist Douek. Dedicating the song to “anyone who feels different - we can be fucking different together”, the beat thrashing tune Skin united the room.
If the crowd wasn't hyped up enough already for the main event, the introduction of BANSHEE to the stage turned the air electric. The short, sharp hook of Lilith & Esther
beautifully complimented Douek and BANSHEE’s oscillation from light warbles to powerful yells. The set was tight and the fast, uptempo pace was constant throughout. As the band took their final bow and left the stage, the air was magnetic and the crowd were charged. The night had begun.
Armed with just an acoustic guitar, FAUNEA was next to take to the stage. We were treated with an all acoustic set from the electro-pop Scandinavian singer. Velvety, raspy and controlled, FAUNEA’s gentleness cocooned the crowd. At times the chatter from the outdoor smoking section echoed into the main hall, taking us momentarily out of the magic of the set. Unbothered and unperturbed, FAUNEA deliberately took the time to introduce each song, addressing the crowd as if we were longtime friends. Her mythicalness, her ability to balance silky vocals with guitar sustains quickly refocused listeners.
When the lights faded from warm amber to a colder emerald, the emotions of the set took a new hold on the room. Explaining to onlookers that Reach, her next song, emerged from the chaos of a breakup, she “never thought [Reach] would see the light of day”. It felt like a precious invite inside her thoughts. We were all there alongside her, reliving the heartbreak collectively. There was power in the simplicity of a stripped back set, FAUNEA’s delicately placed vocals and soft strumming a graceful performance to witness.
As the lights came up, solo gig goers and groups of friends alike were bubbling with anticipation. BANSHEE’s impact on the metal scene in providing a safe space was evident before she even arrived on stage. Overhearing conversations from how empowered people felt by her lyrics, to one fan exclaiming that she’d waited five years for this moment, excitement was rippling through the room. Eagerly awaiting fans erupted into cheers as the techo-pop beats of Fawnheart blasted through moss-adorned speakers. BANSHEE wasted no time, delivering dreamy, fairy-like lines before quickly switching to hearty growls. An epic and vibrant introduction to songs from her latest album, The Secrets of Altering Reality.
We were transported to another world. Symbolic of the mythical banshee creatures, warners of death, her piercing screams cut through the crowd. Not needing a prompt or any sort of encouragement, the audience vehemently screamed along. With her unbound, long, flowing hair, BANSHEE glided across the stage, never taking a moment of silence or stillness. As the room glowed a blood red, she turned the concert into a club dancefloor as the pulsating electro beat of POSSESS ME, from her 2022 release FAIRY PHONK, captured the space.
Taking a moment mid-set, BANSHEE stated jokingly that her favourite metal artist is LANA DEL REY, before jumping into a fairy-metal cover of High By The Beach. Well received under the flashing blue and purple lights, the room swayed in time to the siren harmonies and cries.
As a self-producing artist, BANSHEE has full control of her work. Explicit and open, the topics of abuse and misogyny were prevalent in her set, and hit a chord with the crowd. Cheering to the confession that Fuck With a Witch provided a process of healing, and yelling along to the lyrics ‘This is the last time’, a full sense of catharsis was reached when BANSHEE hit the final note of Daughter of Eve.
But the crowd wasn't done yet. After a hasty exit stage leave, chants of ‘one more song’ and ‘encore’ were almost deafening, but the call was received. Sweeping back on stage with the same vigour as her entrance,BANSHEE launched into You are what you fear in me.
Watching BANSHEE perform felt like stepping into a mythical wilderness. Untamed, up-tempo and full of force, the night became a place of refuge for the heartbroken, hurt and outcast. BANSHEE has a clear talent for crafting songs that enchant you with her angelic voice and piercing cries that exalt your anger.
Words: Mary Horner
Photos: Amy Lynch
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