Au-THOR: Nayia K.Rose
On May 14 I had the luck to experience one of the impressive acts I've seen until today,making it to my Top 3 Live Shows I would really want to see again and again and again.I had the luck to experience one of the WATAIN Shows, as I went to see their live in Athens at Gagarin 205 and even though I had the luck to meet the band after the show-as they decided and WELL DONE to them,to sell their merch outside of the venue due to the extraordinary big amount of fees and taxes the venues in Greece were asking for...What was I saying?Ao,yeah.Even though I had the luck to meet the band at the merching area (at the parking where their bus was) and take some pictures with Erik Danielsson,I didn't have the guts to tell them how happy I was that not only we come from the same country,mama Sweden,but we also come from the same grounds,from the same city,from Uppsala,the home of Odin's and Thor's temples!An I didn't tell them not because my Swedish is terrible,because I was raised in the Balcans,but because I didn't wanna humiliate my self as I can't pronounce Uppsala correctly.Yes,I cannot pronounce my home town correctly,no matter how many years I've tried,my accent is terrible and everyone laughs at me every time I try.That because in the Balcans they pronounce the name of "Uppsala" in a different way.So I didn't want to humiliate my self to WATAIN,but I leave it here for everyone to see.Along with them.I said it.
End of the Monologue,
Begining Of The Review...
.jpg "WATAIN live in Athens May 14,2023 photo ny Nayia K.Rose") |
| WATAIN live in Athens May 14,2023/photo by Nayia K.Rose |
It all started when I entered delayed,as always, the venue.We were lucky as WATAIN brought with them two very entertaining bands,Concrete Winds and Bølzer.
Concrete Winds had us all metalheads vibing well and headbanging and the night started very well as I always say The heavier the Music,The better the people . First time listening to the band and it was a good start.I am not going to write any details about each song seperatelly,I never do that,I always like to talk about the feeling a show gave me.Because this is why I go to see someone playing live.It's about the feeling,otherwise it would be an album review-unless the band is theatrical and there are different stuff going on depending on the song.Concrete Winds,Vibe Check.Tick!Next!
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| Concrete Winds live in Athens May 14,2023/photo by Nayia K.Rose |
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| Concrete Winds Live in Athens May 14,2023 |
Bølzer.Different feeling from the first opening act.Hard sound,but more emotional.I liked it.We all did.Ma dudes were doing their own sound check for a few minutes and then they left the instruments down and walked to the backstage and greeks started teasing them yelling "Was that it?".It was funny.But the band returned on stage with a very good performance that had even more people gathering and headbanging and screaming...Nice nice.
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| Bølzer live in Athens May 14,2023 photo by Nayia K.Rose |
And just like that we are moving to the main chapter of the night,WATAIN.The crew started lighing the flames on the magical stands which were decorated with bones and skulls of dead animals-at least that's what I think,that it was animal bones,but to be honest I don't really mind it even if it was human bones,I'm vegetarian anyway,I love animals more.So we are all there waiting under red lights and flames for the ritual.And the ritual begins!The band entered the stage and Erik carries the fire torch,he lifgts the upside down crosses and handed it to the crowd.
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| WATAIN live in Athens 2023 photo by Nayia K.Rose |
These guys are Satanic and Iconic!The sound was hard,the light show was amazing as it looked like lightning strikes!The set up,which I read somewhere that it's DIY,it's made by the band, was magnificent and I can ceep going with the compliments,but the best thing of the night for me was the crowd,so respectful and so dedicated,seeing metalheads being so peaceful and so happy having fun all together was the best part.I'm gonna say it again The heavier the music,The nicest the people.
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| WATAIN live in Athens 2023,photo by Nayia K.Rose |
The ritual kept going,they did the blood from the skull thing/cup,which I didn't know about,I saw Erik getting off stage giving something to the crowd from the skull he was holding while singing.I am really thankful I was not in the front row,cause I am sensitive and I wound have fainted by the time I would have realised what it is.My personal/inner Demon protects me from stuff like that,as it seems.Interesting act though.Very dark.Glad I didn't put my hand in there withought knowing what it is though,cause I would have spent the rest of the night in the venue's bathroom trying to wash it off again and again-you can laugh at me,I am squeamish-and I would have lost a very very good show.Again,interesting,dark,satanic,black metal at it's finest!
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| WATAIN live in Athens 2023,photo by Nayia K.Rose |
The ritual ended,just like it started,with Erik praying on his altar and I blowing out the candles that were lighted in the begining of the ritual,making a perfect cycle.
In conclusion,I liked the show,let's do that again,hopefully soon.I really wanted to ask Watain to have a quick interview with us for Heavy Metal Satan,but as I already mentioned in the begining,I didn't say much when I met them,being very scard of what was gonna come out of this god damned mouth. Maybe next time.
The thing is that I cannot transfer you the whole sound and the image of the show,but you have time as the band is still on tour and you can get your tickets experience the black metal madness.
As always,I got with me my old broken camera and got some pictures for ya all.
WATAIN PHOTO GALLERY:
Photographer: Nayia K.Rose (instagram : my_chemical_photographer / twitter : https://twitter.com/NayiaKanavou )
(You can use the photos just credit the photographer.Thank you.)
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.jpg "WATAIN live in Athens May 14,2023 photo ny Nayia K.Rose")
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