Dark Buddha Rising (7/10)
Start 19:30 / End 20:25
Dark Buddha Rising, from Finland, started the performance punctually, opening with an ancestral mantra that, after only few minutes, showed how those guys have grown up eating “bread and Neurosis” since their birth. Thank God, I’d like to add, or better thank Satan, seen the dark and evil atmosphere the band created for the whole show. Dark Buddha Rising offered us almost an hour of Doom and Ambient Drone, warming up our ears while waiting for the Masters. Although not that original, Dark Buddha Rising embraced the audience with its black Psychedelia and, with some parts reminding to the gods SUNN O))) and the low and cold light on the stage took it to hell. The frontman ended the concert with his naked chest fully covered of blood, after screaming and growling all show long. Something worth a listen.
Neurosis (9/10)
Start 21:15 / End 22:55
Terrorizer Magazine described Neurosis as “arguably the most influential band of the past two decades”. And I challenge everyone to deny this statement. Since 1985, when Neurosis started with Hardcore, it has been a crucial band first, and the referring one in the Post-Metal scene then. Leaving Hardcore behind, Neurosis has passed through Doom, Ambient and Industrial influences, until getting to today’s sound, where the Dark Folk components are stronger, and the band keeps its central place in the scene. Although I will try to describe the gig in a objective way, I can’t hide I have been a Neurosis fan for almost 20 years now, and I can only view and feel this event with a biased point of view. The light effects were minimal, total absence of scenic design and of the renown visuals, no encore at the end. Neurosis came on stage and slapped the audience directly in the face, proposing just hardcore sludge hits of the 90s for almost one hour. The band looked at its top and created a wall of sound, which literally destroyed all around it. That sound screamed only desperation and suffering: it is that sound which makes you feel as if you are followed by a giant flood, or a huge landslip, while running away with all your strength, although you know inside there is no hope. But then again, in that suffering it comes relief, the catharsis.
This is how I felt yesterday at the concert, and I’m sure I wasn’t alone. All of the audience seemed as hypnotized by the Californian Masters as I was, even when the band played songs of the last production. Who was there yesterday knows well he was witnessing something special and unique. It’s hard to describe the intensity and power of such a show: you kept on moving your head back and forth, as the doom demon possessed you. Neurosis. Amen.
Venue: SO36
Price: 29,70€ at TixforGis
Setlist: Neurosis
Berlin, 24.06.2013
I love this band with all my heart, but “At the Well” was a bit of a drag. Also, I’m pretty sure they had set out to play “Given to the Rising” before the last song, but Scott called it off. Man, these guys are old people now! Everything else was fantastic, though.
[…] (10/10) Start 21:05 / End 22:50 Just one year ago Neurosis smashed the ears of the Berlin fans at SO36, and who attended that show, knows already that every Neurosis show is a must, even if the band […]