Enslaved (w/ WITTR, Myrkur) @ Royale (Boston, MA) on February 17, 2018 [Photos & Show Review]

The Decibel Magazine Tour featuring Norway’s Enslaved, Wolves In The Throne Room, Myrkur, and Khemmis is currently in full swing. Fans packed into Boston’s Royale for an early show (5pm to 9:30!). Unfortunately, due to traffic and the line to get in, I missed opening act, Khemmis.

But thankfully, I was in time to catch Myrkur, the black metal project of Danish mastermind Amalie Bruun. Bruun plays all of the instruments herself on her albums, but for the live show, she has a backing band of touring musicians whose identities were obscured by cowls. Their set began with “The Serpent,” and “Ulvinde.” Bruun’s haunting, melodic voice soared over the cacophony of dissonant tremolo-picked guitars and thundering drums, transitioning into shrieks every now and then. Their performance would go on to include another newer track, “Måneblôt,” as well as “Onde børn” from 2015’s M. The set ended with Bruun sporting an animal skin drum for “Elleskudt.” This was my first Myrkur live experience–I plan to do everything in my power to make sure it’s not the last!

Wolves In The Throne Room were up next. Before their set, they seemed to perform some sort of ritual involving mutterings and the burning of gratuitous amounts of pungent incense. After this, the pacific northwestern black metallers took to the stage to put on an amazing performance that captivated and–with the combination of the incense, droning guitars, driving double bass blast beats, and gutturals-transported the audience to another realm. The set began with the melodic opening chords from “Born From The Serpent’s Eye,” from their latest release Thrice Woven. This was followed by “The Old Ones Are With Us,” and “Angrboda” both of which are also off the new album. They closed with older fan-favorite “I Will Lay Down My Bones Among the Rocks and Roots.”

Last but not least, Enslaved emerged, shrouded in a dense stage fog and backlit by blinding red lights, they launched straight into set-opener “Storm Son,” from their latest album E. They would go on to also play “Sacred Horse,” from this same record. Otherwise the set consisted of older material, such as “Isa,” from their 2004 album of the same name, and “Vetrarnótt” off of their 1994 self-titled record. Frontman Grutle Kjellson’s growls over the frenetic guitars and drums created a vibrant soundscape that conjured up visions of harsh winters, and Norse gods. Although their set was shortened due to the venue having double booked the tour with a club night, the 6 songs they played were amazing, especially the deeper cuts. You can catch the Decibel Magazine Tour through March 10th, the remaining dates are below!

Remaining Tour Dates:

03/02 – Calgary, AB – MacEwan Ballroom
03/03 – Edmonton, BC – The Starlite Ballroom
03/05 – Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theater
03/06 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
03/07 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater
03/09 – San Francisco, CA – Regency Ballroom
03/10 – Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory