Storm Claudia made the trip to Wolverhampton feel more like a test than a night out. Sheets of rain hammered the car, streets were turning into fords, and yet the queue for KK’s Steelmill snaked out into the weather; dedicated fans stood hooded and determined, undeterred by the downpour. That alone said everything. This was going to be an awesome night for metal fans who show up no matter what.
Atlas (7) opened the night with the kind of confidence you only get from a band who knows exactly what they’re there to do. Their “northcore” style isn’t quite my thing, but credit where it’s due: they hit the ground running, kicking off with the newer track Tower with big energy and tight playing. Their set balanced older material from Ukko with more recent singles including Salt & Sulfur and I Whisper Your Name Like A Curse.
Atlas (7) opened the night with the kind of confidence you only get from a band who knows exactly what they’re there to do. Their “northcore” style isn’t quite my thing, but credit where it’s due: they hit the ground running, kicking off with the newer track Tower with big energy and tight playing. Their set balanced older material from Ukko with more recent singles including Salt & Sulfur and I Whisper Your Name Like A Curse.
The atmosphere was heavy and brooding; strobing lights and an ambient noise intro hovered as the band carved out enough space to warm the crowd. Visually, they had a strong sense of identity. Leevi, on guitar, was almost theatrical in his movements — sweeping gestures, sharp turns, and a presence that suited the band’s artistic, almost gothic aesthetic. Patrik’s mic stand was wrapped with flowers, which added to the atmosphere and tied in well with the emotional weight of the songs.
At the end of their set, Leevi gently lifted the garland from the stand and passed it to a fan at the barrier. A small moment, but a kind one, and it showed the band’s connection with the people in the room. The emotional highlight was “Anodyne”, a doom-tinged, post-metal track that pulls your attention in even if you weren’t convinced at first. The shift in the room was obvious: Atlas made their job look easy, but warming up a crowd this devoted to the headliner is no small feat. They did it well.
Gaerea (10) were the standout of the night, no question. As soon as the lights dropped, the energy in the room changed. Their stage setup was visually striking: the band’s sigil split in two across the backline, framing the drum kit like a ritual space. Under cold, narrow beams of light, the masked members emerged and dove straight into Hellbound and Submerged. From there, they pushed into deeper cuts from Coma and Mirage, including Wilted Flower and Mirage, both of which sounded enormous inside the Steelmill. Every section felt intentional, every movement choreographed without losing spontaneity, Guilherme can really throw some shapes and the crowd responded to all of it.
Gaerea (10) were the standout of the night, no question. As soon as the lights dropped, the energy in the room changed. Their stage setup was visually striking: the band’s sigil split in two across the backline, framing the drum kit like a ritual space. Under cold, narrow beams of light, the masked members emerged and dove straight into Hellbound and Submerged. From there, they pushed into deeper cuts from Coma and Mirage, including Wilted Flower and Mirage, both of which sounded enormous inside the Steelmill. Every section felt intentional, every movement choreographed without losing spontaneity, Guilherme can really throw some shapes and the crowd responded to all of it.
Mid-set, Gaerea thanked the audience for what they called an unexpectedly warm welcome and it felt genuine, humble, and heartfelt. There was an element of surprise in the way Guilherme said it, a kind of shock at how quickly Wolverhampton embraced them. Not long after, he stepped off the stage, jumped down to the barrier and hugged fans, singing with them shoulder-to-shoulder. Seeing him stand right at the barrier, breaking that wall between frontman and crowd, was an unexpected moment, incredibly human, and completely at odds with their shadowed, mysterious image.
Near the end, they asked the crowd to lift their phone torches. Some laughed, some called it cheesy, and even Gaerea joked it was their “Taylor Swift moment.” But when the lights rose, the venue looked beautiful. It was an unguarded, sincere moment, and the band earned it completely. At one point, the sheer immensity of the performance seemed to overwhelm people, I noticed a few in the crowd wiping away tears. There was a strange beauty in the chaos, something raw and emotional that hit in a way you don’t often see at shows this heavy. Flawless, immersive, and in total command of the room, Gaerea delivered the performance of the night.
By the time Orbit Culture (10) walked out, the room felt twice as full as it had at the start. You could feel the devotion before the first note landed; that deep, rumbling anticipation only a dedicated fanbase creates. It’s not quite Sleep Token levels of mythos, but the commitment is absolutely there. They opened with Death Above Life, which hit like thunder and set the tone immediately. That ran straight into The Storm (a fitting choice given the weather outside) and Tales Of War. The room was fully locked in by the time North Star Of Nija began, the front rows lit up and the crowd surfers were hauled over the barrier.
By the time Orbit Culture (10) walked out, the room felt twice as full as it had at the start. You could feel the devotion before the first note landed; that deep, rumbling anticipation only a dedicated fanbase creates. It’s not quite Sleep Token levels of mythos, but the commitment is absolutely there. They opened with Death Above Life, which hit like thunder and set the tone immediately. That ran straight into The Storm (a fitting choice given the weather outside) and Tales Of War. The room was fully locked in by the time North Star Of Nija began, the front rows lit up and the crowd surfers were hauled over the barrier.
The middle of the set delivered some of the night’s heavier emotional punches: I, The Wolf, From The Inside, and The Shadowing added darker, dramatic depth. The vocals were sharp, the guitars cut through cleanly, and the audience didn’t hold back once, every chorus shouted back, every moment fed straight into the band’s momentum. At one point, a fan crushed against the barrier and besieged by crowdsurfers caught Fredrik’s attention. After the set, he came over and handed them his set list, a small gesture, but a thoughtful one. Not long after, Richard appeared by the stage curtain, fist-bumping anyone and everyone within reach. It was a simple moment, but full of warmth, and it showed how aware the band were of the people right up front taking the brunt of the chaos. Niklas was in a playful, provocative mood between songs. He teased the crowd, compared them to the “psychos” in Birmingham, and challenged them to out-shout Leeds, earning a wall of theatrical boos that seemed to please him even more.
The closing run of Hydra into Vultures Of North gave the venue its final surge of energy. Arms were raised, voices were hoarse, and the last chorus landed with real weight. It felt like the perfect ending to the night. Orbit Culture didn’t just headline a stacked bill; they delivered a tight, confident set that felt completely connected to the audience. A band who know exactly what their fans want, and deliver it with heart.
Three very different bands, one storm-soaked Friday night, and a room full of people who refused to let the weather win. Atlas set the table, Gaerea stole the show, and Orbit Culture closed it out with power and passion. An altogether brilliant night in Wolverhampton.
Three very different bands, one storm-soaked Friday night, and a room full of people who refused to let the weather win. Atlas set the table, Gaerea stole the show, and Orbit Culture closed it out with power and passion. An altogether brilliant night in Wolverhampton.
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