Satyricon
4/30/2004 @ Roseland Theatre in Portland, OR
By Marc Halverson
I arrived at the Roseland Theatre early and prepared myself to watch one of the elite Black Metal bands from Norway, Satyricon. According to Satyr, lead singer of Satyricon, "the music is rock based but more extreme; it is black metal pushing the boundaries that began with bands like Venom and Bathory, reinventing ourselves based on a foundation of rock oriented Black Metal is our philosophy." Therefore, with that being said, I waited in anticipation for Satyricon to storm onto the stage and take over the venue.
As soon as the lights were turned down, the crowd fought themselves up to the front of the stage and awaited the arrival of the Black Metal gods. Satyr and the rest of the band took the stage and immediately ripped into the track "Possessed," which is off of their new album "Volcano". Even though it was early and the crowd was still growing, the pit was violent and heads were banging as fast and hard as the double-kick drumming executed by Trym (drummer from Zyklon who was filling in for Frost). Next, they played "Repined Bastard Nation" (off of Volcano), and the energy of the band transcended through the crowd and continued to grow. Moving right along, they played "Filthgrinder" (off of Rebel Extravaganza), and "Angstridden" (off of Volcano); and now the crowd was ready to explode. They set the place off by playing their newest single off of Volcano, "Fuel for Hatred" (which they received an Alarm Award for "Song of the Year). Finally, they closed their powerful set with the track "Mother North" off of their 1996 album "Nemesis Divina".
Satyricon was nothing short of impressive throughout their set-list. They were the opening band for Suffocation and Morbid Angel (headliner), and I cannot recall a better opening performance. After their set, I was able to sit down with Satyr and ask him a few questions about himself and the band; and I must admit that he was one the most laid back and down to earth individuals I have ever spoken with. Satyricon has been around for more than a decade and the fact that they are at the top of the Black Metal genre; the sky is truly the limit for them in the present and the future.
Current (Live) Line-Up for North American Tour:
Satyr – Vocals
Trym (filling in for Frost) – Battery
Steinar Gunderson – Lead Guitar
Lars Norberg – Bass
A.O. Gronbech – Rhythm Guitar
Jonna Nikula – Electronics
Also read another live review written by Mike Vanek. Click Here!
