With Dark Funeral, Dimmu Borgir and Behemoth sharing the bill, Brixton Academy hosted a night celebrating three major names in extreme metal. Each band brought a different character to the show, from Dark Funeral’s relentless Swedish black metal to Dimmu Borgir’s grander sound and Behemoth’s theatrical headline production. With plenty of fire, striking visuals and a special guest appearance still to come, there was a lot to take in across the evening.
Dark Funeral
Dark Funeral opened proceedings with their trademark blend of speed, aggression and razor-sharp riffs. Their relentless drumming and raw intensity made them a fitting choice to start the night, setting the mood before Dimmu Borgir took over.
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu brought a different atmosphere to the stage, combining black metal aggression with the expansive, dramatic sound that has become their signature. Their set moved through “Ulvgjeld & Blodsodel,” “Mourning Palace,” “Kings of the Carnival Creation” and “Council of Wolves and Snakes,” followed by “Ætheric,” “Ascent” and “Cataclysm Children.” “The Serpentine Offering,” “Puritania,” “Gateways” and “Progenies of the Great Apocalypse” completed a set that offered a strong contrast to the band that would follow.
Behemoth
Behemoth’s headline performance brought a heavier, more theatrical atmosphere to Brixton Academy. Opening with “Daimonos,” the band immediately established their presence, with Nergal leading from the front as the riffs filled the venue. Pyrotechnics played a major role throughout the set, with flames regularly shooting into the air and adding to the intensity of the performance. The production was dramatic, but the music remained at the centre of it all, as Behemoth worked through a set that balanced their more direct, punishing material with darker and more atmospheric moments.
“Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer” and “Thy Becoming Eternal” kept the momentum going before “The Shit ov God” and “Conquer All” brought further weight to the performance. After “Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel,” the curtains were raised again before dropping for “I, Scvlptor,” revealing the band standing on raised platforms high above the crowd. It was a striking sight, with the elevated positions making the band appear even more imposing against the lighting and bursts of fire. From there, “Ov Fire and the Void,” “To Drown the Svn in Wine” and “Bartzabel” continued the set, showing the range of Behemoth’s sound while maintaining the intensity of their headline performance.
One of the night’s most memorable moments came with Venom’s “In League With Satan,” featuring Dimmu Borgir frontman Shagrath joining Behemoth on stage. Following the recent passing of Cronos, the performance carried particular significance. As one of the central figures behind Venom, Cronos helped shape the sound, imagery and attitude that influenced the development of black metal and inspired generations of extreme metal bands. Venom’s impact reaches far beyond their own catalogue, and their place in the history of the genre remains undeniable. As the opening of the song rang out, devil horns went up across Brixton Academy and the entire venue joined in, singing along to a track that helped lay the foundations for the scene. With Shagrath alongside Behemoth, it became more than a guest appearance or a familiar cover; it was a celebration of Cronos and the legacy he leaves behind. Hearing the crowd singing together made it a genuinely special moment and a fitting tribute to an icon of extreme metal.
“Chant for Eschaton 2000” brought the main set towards its conclusion before Behemoth returned for “O Father O Satan O Sun!” to close the night. It was a suitably grand finish to a performance built around heavy music, dramatic staging and a constant barrage of pyrotechnics. Across the bill, Dark Funeral delivered speed and aggression, Dimmu Borgir offered scale and atmosphere, and Behemoth brought the theatrical spectacle expected of a headline set. The raised platforms during “I, Scvlptor” made a lasting visual impression, but the strongest memory was the whole venue singing “In League With Satan,” devil horns raised, in tribute to Cronos and Venom’s enduring influence on black metal.