Thantifaxath hit the stage next donning hooded robes and played a set of no nonsense black metal. Heavy and brutal, these « demonic monks » wasted no time in letting the crowd know who they were and what their intent was – to destroy! Holding the audience’s attention, Thantifaxath pummeled through song after song with a very « mechanical delivery ». Although the performance was tight, their stage presence could have used a bit of movement. Static for most, if not the entire set, the three-piece did show signs of musical variety on some numbers as songs slowed to a threatening crawl allowing for the momentum to build once more. Lapping it up, the audience certainly happy with the performance, Thantifaxath left the stage exhausted, HOT (no thanks to their robes) and triumphant!
Quebec local heroes, Chasse-Galerie stepped into the lime light with great exuberance, maintaining the night’s darkened aura! Seasoned performers, the group instilled headbanging bliss in the audience and appeared to have more energy to spare than Thantifaxath before them. Extremely catchy songs of blackened death showcased their knack for blending rhythmic speed and melodic twists which succeeded in moving the audience. Clearly adept at live performances, vocalist Blanc Feu, howled his way through songs with finesse and confidence while tearing through blistering guitar solos that could have been slightly higher in the mix, at least mid-way through the set. However, somehow they become clear during their last song as Blanc Feu’s solo mesmerizes, proving why Chasse Galerie are so important to Quebec’s Metal culture.
As the lights dimmed for the fourth time this evening, Sombres Forêts took to the stage in dark, neutral looking, ominous masks. Annatar, the sole member and multi-instrumentalist, embraced the darkness with a chilling cello intro., marking what would be a truly unique experience. Aided by four other session musicians, the group garnered themselves the biggest crowd response yet! Emotional, anguished playing, Sombres Forêts demanded patience from the listener, ever conscious of the power of music! Song ideas and arrangements can only be described as « movements » in a symphony. Never stopping for a breath, Sombres Forêts performed the entire set without any breaks, playing from song to song and transitioning seamlessly between mid-paced, blackened showgaze to outright frenetic chaos. Annatar also impressed with his ability to jump from cello to guitar to keyboard piano, all with such flawless confidence. Completely enthralled by the experience, the crowd remained utterly silent as Annatar tuned his guitar towards the set’s finale – you could hear a pin drop! A truly mesmerizing set, Sombres Forêts on record does not do them justice. Seeing them live is not just a « gig », not just a « show » but a ceremony, a ritual, an observation of the sublime….
