Winterfylleth, Agrona and Levitas at The Exchange, Bristol
With a number of gigs to choose from, what swung this for me was the opportunity to catch the Welsh hordes Agrona on a bigger stage than we often get to see them. So with apologies to Bloodshot Dawn who were playing in Fuel on the same night, the Ed and I headed across the bridge to summon our demons for a night of darkness.
With all three bands familiar, it was a chance to enjoy the larger stage that The Exchange offers. What they also tend to provide is a decent sound and it was a joy to catch M2TM finalists Levitas (8) once more. We’ve seen the band many times now, but their gloomy, post-black metal storm never fails to impress. With drummer Sam Heffernan pulling a double shift, you could have almost expected him to have eased through the set but no, this was full out hammering of the kit. Using his favoured pedals, he anchored a 30 minute set which showcased why we hold the band in high esteem. The roaring vocals, the intense riffing and the deafening bass lines bludgeon but then caress in equal measure. Levitas tread the path between light and dark with care, and captivate with their no-nonsense approach. Tracks from their Charnal Sky Ep drew warm applause from the early crowd whilst the sound certainly allowed for improved listening enjoyment. With few words between songs, Levitas simply deliver the music. We’ve raved about them before here; they won’t be to everyone’s tastes but their live show deserves more attention.
Harrowing howls and screams pierced the air as the Welsh Horde Agrona (8) warmed their pipes. It didn’t take long for the band to then increase the temperature with a five-song set that filled their allocated 30 minutes. Agrona are a slick machine these days, the corpse paint always applied early and their sound check usually swift and accurate. Once more we were treated to decent sound, although this may have only been applicable to the audience by all accounts. Regardless, Agrona’s set verged once more on epic, featuring predominantly songs from debut album Realm Of The Fallen. Opening with I Chose To Burn, delivered with harrowing lyrics from singer Adara, the band raced through a blistering Storm’s End before wrapping things up with Summoning The Void. Musically tight, the band have an admirable and professional work ethic, and this was in evidence again. With the band using continuous atmospheric loops to great effect, the twin guitar attack from Arawn and Aeron cut through the thunderous din that Ankou and Kreulon were cooking up. The tormenting screams of duel vocalists Taranis and Adara completed the ghastly scene. Short but sweet it may have been, Agrona continue to impress. You should also purchase one of their fantastic new hoodies which are top quality.
When it comes to the UK black metal scene, few bands get near Winterfylleth (8). It’s been a while since I’d seen the Mancunian outfit but they rarely disappoint. Thankfully there weren’t too many musical gremlins plaguing the band’s sound on this occasion, something that very often happens to the band. Opening with The Divination Of Antiquity this was a stellar set which focused very much on the earlier music with three from The Mercian Sphere including the rarely heard The Honour Of Good Men On The Path To Glory. The band’s 70 minute set flew by, with the occasional smile puncturing the grimaces and frowns that are part of the band’s style as they tremolo riffed their way towards the magnificent closing song Mam Tor (The Shivering Mountain) from 2008’s The Ghost Of Heritage. Clad completely in black, the band focused intently on delivering a solid show which deserved to have more punters in attendance. Still, those that did responded well, with applause, roars and even the outbreak of some minor scuffling pits towards the end of the set. Winterfylleth remain an essential band in the UK metal scene and it’s always a treat to catch them live. This was no different.
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