Zeal & Ardor Invade The Vogue Theatre in Indianapolis, Indiana [Photos]

On a cold and snowy Monday night in December, three European bands stormed into The Vogue Theatre in Indianapolis, Indiana. Swiss avant-garde metal band Zeal & Ardor headlined the night, with support from Portugal’s Gaerea and Zetra from London. The opening acts were complementary to the headliner’s eclectic style. This was each band’s first performance in the state. The historic vibe of the 86-year-old Vogue Theatre felt appropriate for their Indiana debuts. Fans trickled in slowly after doors opened, with an expected crowd of over 400 slated to show up.

Zetra took the stage first to open up the night. The duo dawned corpse-painted faces and were dressed down in black and metal. However, their sound was a combination of gothic metal and shoegaze mixed with synth-rock. And the audience was receptive to the groovy, ethereal, and dramatic sounds. In support of their self-titled debut album, released in September 2024, this was their first tour throughout North America. During the final track, “Sacred Song,” the venue’s disco ball lit up the venue with its light reflections. The band’s lore and connection with their fans through social media makes them an act to watch as they grow.

Gaerea opened up a vortex with their own mysterious tone. Also dressed in all black but with a business casual vibe with button-down shirts and suspenders. Except for the black shrouds with their insignia covering their faces, as if they were headed to the gallows. And their arms painted black for complete anonymity. Their sound was a pummeling brand of black metal with blistering speed and power.

The energy from the crowd turned up real quick, with a mosh pit and wall of death early. The lead vocalist was on every side of the stage and on the barricade. Getting up close and personal with the front row of fans. For added theatrics, they also set off smoke columns throughout the set. The ability to connect with the crowd and encourage involvement without eye contact is a testament to their stage presence. Their latest album, Coma, was released in October 2024.

It’s been two years since Zeal & Ardor’s last trek through North America. The anticipation was growing for the headline act. Touring to support their latest release, Grief, the band has always experimented with a range of genres. Nonetheless, the new material jams when played live. Their set included cuts from the entire discography and the fans were enthused through it all. From the packed floor up to those up in the balcony.

“We can’t quite put in words how special it is for us to be here and have people appear for our silly shit,” lead vocalist and founder Manuel Gagneux told the audience. Gagneux encouraged the crowd to sing along because his voice was “kinda fucked,” but they already had that covered. As far as his voice, it was still full of the emotion and range of the records. He pushed through the performance, causing it to feel more raw and authentic.

The rest of the band brought their own intensity to the stage and was aided by the dynamic lighting for each song. While the themes of the music are quite heavy, literally and figuratively, they were obviously having a ton of fun up on stage. Whether it was thrashing around, dancing, or playing off of each other. From the three-part vocal harmonies, black metal-esque screams, bluesy melodies and commanding stage presence, new and old fans of Zeal & Ardor should take any opportunity they have to experience them live.

Zeal & Ardor (w/ zetra & GAEREA) @ The Vogue (Indianapolis, IN) on December 2nd, 2024

43 photos