MOONSPELL with Insomnium
@ The Underworld, Camden
23rd April 2013
Review and photography by Sabrina Dersel
It has been a sunny day for once in London and the queue to get in The Underworld venue tonight goes around the block. Insomnium and Moonspell are here and fans are waiting already even if the doors open in thirty minutes.When I get in Moonspell is doing a signing session at their merch stand, as well as taking photos with their fans.
It is with no surprise to see the venue nearly at full capacity when the Finnish members of Insomnium comes on stage at 8pm. The melodic death metal four piece always starts their set with the instrumental track “Inertia” , which is the opening song of “One For Sorrow”, their latest album, and tonight is no change to this tradition.
- Insomnium
After seeing them supporting previous acts in the very same place, it is obvious to see how much they are loved and respected by the London scene. They are strongly cheered as they get onstage and play very neatly their setlist, including the very good “Unsung”, “Through The Shadows and “Weather The Storm”.
Niilo Sevänen is a natural frontman playing bass and unleashing his roar effortlessly, Ville Friman and Markus Vanhala are very good technical guitarists, all supported by the never missing the energy to pound the drums Markus Hirvonen.
One of the best moment of their show is surely the trio windmill executed on time of their doom sound. At some point,as to let the sweaty audience takes its breath back, Niilo is introducing us to his “Commercial break : if you want to help us poor Finnish band, buy all the cds and merch at the back” he says with a smile!
Insomnium then continues their success with “Only One Who Waits”. As you are watching them, you can hardly believe you are witnessing a support band, those guys should and will headline their own show in the near future. “Thanks London we will be back”, and the wait cannot be short enough.
Setlist
Inertia
Where The Last Wave Broke
Unsung
Down with The Sun
Through The Shadows
Change Of Heart
Only one Who Waits
Weather The Storm
One For Sorrow
After a little break and a need to step outside for a breath of fresh air, Moonspell gets on stage and will stay on for 1H45.
They have returned to headline London for the first time since 2007.
The Portuguese heavy metal band formed in 1992 quickly gained status when they released their first album “Wolfheart” .
The Underworld is packed, there is hardly space to move around, and when Vocalist Fernando Ribeiro (Langsuyar) appears he is wearing a shiny silver gladiator helmet! Ok, this could look like an old arena and we are the animals waiting to be slaughtered by the savageness of Moonspell and the steaminess of the place!
They open their setlist wih ‘Axis Mundi’ from last year’s ‘Alpha Noir’ release.
The reaction of the crowd is instant,cheering and singing along straight away.Taking his helmet off he pursues with “Finisterra”. He is constantly engaging the crowd to sing with him,raising his fist to them.
With the addition of Pedro Paixão’s keyboard on stage, the space on stage is very limited but Moonspell are far from lifeless. Pedro’s transition from guitar to keyboard and back throughout the evening is impressive. Miguel Gaspar on drums keeps the darkness alive by pounding relentlessly, while Ricardo Amorim guitar and Aires Pereira on bass back up the energy of their frontman.
Fans of the “Alpha Noir” album are very pleased by the wide selection of tracks included in tonight’s setlist, not forgetting the favourites that are “’Vampyra’, “AnErotic Alchemy’ ,” Ataegina “ and “Scorpion Flower” describe by Ribeiro as defining the essence of Moonspell.
The encore sees the back to back tracks of Woflshade/Mephisto/Full Moon Madness, giving the audience their last chance at headbanging,fists raised in the air.We are left completely drained,what a successful performance,let s hope the wait to have them again headlining in London will not take many years again.
Setlist
Axis Mundi
Alpha Noir
Finisterra
Night Eternal
Opium
Awake!
Abysmo
Scorpion Flower
Lickanthrope
Love Is Blasphemy
Em Nome Do Medo
Vampiria
Trebaruna
Alma Mater
Woflshade/Mephisto/Full Moon Madness
