Having just released their latest EP Nocturnal Womb and with three critically acclaimed albums under his belt, a headlining tour in the UK by Blackbraid was long overdue.
The musical project by Native American Sgah’gahsowáh has been gaining momentum since his first release in 2022, Blackbraid I, an album that combines black metal with indigenous music. Perfectioning this combination with every release, it’s a project that has quickly gained attention from fans and media.
As The Garage, which is sold out for the evening, slowly fills up, Noctem kick things off. The Black Consecration and its ritualistic drums get everyone in the right mood for the evening. Frontman Beleth knows how to keep the crowd’s attention with the “As above, so below” poses and shrieking vocals. It’s a short set, but the closer A Cruce Salus, with its blastbeats, drum, and incredible guitar solo, is a great way to get the crowd ready for the rest of the evening.
Having released their ninth studio album The Unyielding Season last month, Winterfylleth is a very well-known name in the UK black metal scene. Their latest release is already one of our favourite albums of this year and has some remarkable atmospheric moments, brutal riffs, and beautiful acoustic moments.
The set is comprised mostly of songs from the last two albums, and the frantic opening riff of Heroes of a Hundred Fields is the perfect starter and has everyone headbanging. Echoes in the After is another highlight of the evening and it’s executed flawlessly by Chris Naughton and the band. The classic Whisper of the Elements wraps up the set and gets a huge reaction from the crowd. Honestly, we’re hoping for a headline tour from Winterfylleth in the near future.
Finally, Blackbraid crashes the stage with the great and chaotic Celestial Bloodlust. The insanely fast riffs combined with his desperate screams and shrieks set the bar for the rest of the set, that follows with Wardrums at Dawn on the Day of My Death and The Spirit Returns. Sgah’gahsowáh puts on an incredible and energetic performance, always moving around and headbanging, and the band is also always interacting and making faces at the crowd. As the Creek Flows Softly By is the only quiet time of the evening with the beautiful flute and serene atmosphere. Barefoot Ghost Dance on Blood Soaked Soil closes the set and we hope that it doesn’t take a long time before Blackbraid is back with another tour.
