Less than two years after their last Paris concert opening for Cannibal Corpse, Swedish Black Metal legends Dark Funeral have returned to plunge the City of Lights into eternal darkness with their infernal sounds and furious compositions. Guitarist Lord Ahriman has been the sole original member of the band for quite some time now, but rhythm guitarist Chaq Mol has been part of the fold for over two decades, and vocalist Heljarmadr has commanded the microphone for more than ten years. Regardless of lineup changes, Dark Funeral remains one of the most authentic Black Metal bands on the circuit.
Following a ferocious opening set by Fleshgod Apocalypse, the five ghoulish figures of Dark Funeral took the stage, clad in corpse paint, leather, and spikes. They unleashed a veritable blizzard of sonic terror upon their devoted minions. It was a performance of apocalyptic proportions: short (about an hour) but devastatingly intense. The band's signature sound—a maelstrom of blistering tremolo riffs, thunderous blast beats, and chilling vocals—saturated the venue, leaving no escape from their unholy wrath.
The setlist leaned heavily on material from 2016's Where Shadows Forever Reign and their latest release, 2022's We Are The Apocalypse. The true highlight for old-school fans, however, was the full performance of their 1994 debut EP In The Sign... in sequence. While the band’s songwriting has evolved over the years, the primitive rawness of those early tracks perfectly encapsulates the dark essence of true Black Metal. The audience’s reaction was electric, split between those thrashing in chaotic abandon and others listening with near-cultish reverence.
More than 30 years since its inception, Dark Funeral remains an unapologetically bloodthirsty entity, channeling the spirit of its Svear Viking ancestors as it continues to pillage and plunder cities across Europe. With every show, it leaves behind a trail of scorched earth and devastation, proving that its legacy in Black Metal remains unshaken and eternal.
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SETLIST:
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