LIVE FROM THE PIT: Behemoth, Satyricon, Rotting Christ

The long anticipated ‘Unholy Trinity’ tour visited their one UK stop in the O2 Brixton and to say it was spectacular would be an understatement. The eternal queue was full of fans painting each other's faces and showing off their jackets, it truly seemed like a perfect place to meet new people before the unholy ceremony. 

Rotting Christ being the first on the bill began the trinity in the unholiest way possible: glorious head banging and celestial lighting whilst referencing the reformer statue. 

This angelic performance livened the crowd for a night of sin, the cheers were as electric as the guitar as each member showed off their devotion. 

Playing classics such as “Like father, Like son” and 666 they were a perfect stater to the much anticipated night. With a 45 minute set, Saki Tolis commanded the audiences devotion with an atmosphere steeped in shadowy mystique and relentless darkness as they responded fists in air. The crowd erupted in cheers and chants, not a single fist wasn’t pounding up high, Rotting Christ once again proved they know how to start a show. 

Having not played the uk since the early 2000, having played in Brixton last supporting Pantera, it was a long awaited return for the Norwegian legends that are Satyricon. Satyr joked that the last time he was in Brixton, audience members on the balcony beside him kept demanding he sit down, he encouraged the balcony to stand up and bang their heads. 

It was during Satyricon we saw the crowd increase as many were still queuing during Rotting Christ, they played in front of a backdrop of dark birds in a stormy sky which set the stage for this dark and majestic set.

Satyricon immediately captured the crowd with their 9 song set featuring classics such as Mother North and The pentagram burns. Each song took a new life and engaged the audience, the mystic green lighting truly brought everyone to a fantasy world.

The crowd banged their heads as Satyricon played K.I.N.G, the second song featured on the album ‘Now, Diabolical’, as it approaches its 20th anniversary it’s clear that it’s truly a staple album in black metal history. 

The lights dimmed as the audience roared, it was time for the infamous Polish band Behemoth. As usual with Behemoth tours there was yet another petition against their ‘satanic nature’, this dark and mystical band were about to bring the heat (literally) to Brixton.

The stage was hidden by a white sheet which displayed visuals such as a wolf running through a forest, as soon as the sheet dropped it was time. The band black metal legends began their set with a new song ‘The Shadow Elite’, already from the vibe of just this one song alone it was clear it was going to be an audio and visual spectacle.

The set list continued on into the new songs including the title track ‘The shit ov God’, with roaring flames shooting from either side, there wasn’t a single person on the barrier not sweating whilst banging their head. Behemoth is a band which has great audience interaction, with each member arising onto platforms at various parts and leaning into the audience, you truly feel alive and part of the worship.

Mid-set the vibes shifted and slowed to the beautifully eerie tune that is Bartzabel, as the lights became brighter, illuminating Nergal’s painted faces, he lifted his hand, perfectly encapsulating the essence of a renaissance painting. 

Whilst Behemoth kept to primarily recent releases there truly was a song for everyone, Cursed of Doom notoriously being a classic, causing the audience to roar upon the first note. the crowd was vibrant, the visuals were stunning and everyone could see how iconic this band has truly become. Many audience members came with their father, it was clear to see a vibrant rise in a new era of black metal in the making. 

Words and photos: Lizzie Jones