Primordial
Metaldays - 2018
Text: Tobias Nilsson Photo: Lunah Lauridsen
Primordial was the true final name on Metaldays billing in 2018, closing the festival down with a dose of their very personal black metal on the second stage.
“Welcome to the graveyard shift.”
- A.A. Nemtheanga (vocals)
Talk about saving the best for last! Primordial delivered just the type of festival ender that Children Of Bodom had so sorely failed at over at the main stage earlier.
After a calm and moody intro, we moved straight into Nail Their Tongues, the opener of the band’s brand new album, Exile Among The Ruins. Well, I guess the intro was part of the song, but the band didn’t move in until the distortion kicked in. And what a way to move in - the band was on top, giving a lively and intense show straight off the bat. Nemtheanga moved effortlessly between stage and the speakers in front of it, all the while giving his signature performance and presence all it had. His plagued screams flew over the harsh soundscape of the melodious music, as his bandmates kicked in with their own vitality to strengthen the show even further.
We only had to wait till the second song of the night, before we were in well known live territory when it came to the setlist, as No Grave Deep Enough and Gods To The Godless followed Nail Their Tongue, and for the rest of the night we got a good mix of new material coupled with time-tested favourites.
“Please, no beachballs. We’re not fucking Alestorm.”
- Nemtheanga (vocals)
Even though we were at the much smaller stage, Primordial had drawn a huge crowd, and the effect of the band was clear to see on it. People were cheering, applauding, singing and shouting. They were jumping and moshing, headbanging and shaking their horns.
Nemtheanga was very good at keeping the party lively, but the question is how much extra work he really needed to put into it. The performance in itself was inviting enough to make the crowd go wild. A stand-out point was the expected sing-along section of As Rome Burns, where the Slovenian mountains resounded with thousands of voices chanting “Sing, sing, sing to the slaves. Sing to the slaves as Rome burns.” - it gave me goosebumps to feel the intensity and the nearly crackling atmosphere that lay thick over the festival at this point.
The fantastic response did not go unrewarded, as Primordial gave us a true encore. What I mean by this, is that it wasn’t the usual planned song or songs that’s basically expected from every show, but here the band had actually left the stage with the intent of not coming back, but the beckoning voices of the fans compelled them to return, and dust off another song. Fittingly, they chose to go with Heathen Tribes, something we probably all felt a part of at this time.
“”You calling me a cunt? You’re probably right.”
- Nemtheanga (vocals)
If you haven’t guessed it by now, Primordial’s show was spectacular. I said it in the start, and I’ll say it again - this is how you end a festival!
Metaldays had given us quite a few good concert experiences this year, but none of them could even hold a candle to what Primordial delivered that late Friday night.
Setlist:
Nail Their Tongues
No Grave Deep Enough
Gods To The Godless
Upon Our Spiritual Deathbed
To Hell Or The Hangman
As Rome Burns
Stolen Years
The Coffin Ships
Empire Falls
Encore:
Heathen Tribe
“Welcome to the graveyard shift.”
- A.A. Nemtheanga (vocals)
Talk about saving the best for last! Primordial delivered just the type of festival ender that Children Of Bodom had so sorely failed at over at the main stage earlier.
After a calm and moody intro, we moved straight into Nail Their Tongues, the opener of the band’s brand new album, Exile Among The Ruins. Well, I guess the intro was part of the song, but the band didn’t move in until the distortion kicked in. And what a way to move in - the band was on top, giving a lively and intense show straight off the bat. Nemtheanga moved effortlessly between stage and the speakers in front of it, all the while giving his signature performance and presence all it had. His plagued screams flew over the harsh soundscape of the melodious music, as his bandmates kicked in with their own vitality to strengthen the show even further.
We only had to wait till the second song of the night, before we were in well known live territory when it came to the setlist, as No Grave Deep Enough and Gods To The Godless followed Nail Their Tongue, and for the rest of the night we got a good mix of new material coupled with time-tested favourites.
“Please, no beachballs. We’re not fucking Alestorm.”
- Nemtheanga (vocals)
Even though we were at the much smaller stage, Primordial had drawn a huge crowd, and the effect of the band was clear to see on it. People were cheering, applauding, singing and shouting. They were jumping and moshing, headbanging and shaking their horns.
Nemtheanga was very good at keeping the party lively, but the question is how much extra work he really needed to put into it. The performance in itself was inviting enough to make the crowd go wild. A stand-out point was the expected sing-along section of As Rome Burns, where the Slovenian mountains resounded with thousands of voices chanting “Sing, sing, sing to the slaves. Sing to the slaves as Rome burns.” - it gave me goosebumps to feel the intensity and the nearly crackling atmosphere that lay thick over the festival at this point.
The fantastic response did not go unrewarded, as Primordial gave us a true encore. What I mean by this, is that it wasn’t the usual planned song or songs that’s basically expected from every show, but here the band had actually left the stage with the intent of not coming back, but the beckoning voices of the fans compelled them to return, and dust off another song. Fittingly, they chose to go with Heathen Tribes, something we probably all felt a part of at this time.
“”You calling me a cunt? You’re probably right.”
- Nemtheanga (vocals)
If you haven’t guessed it by now, Primordial’s show was spectacular. I said it in the start, and I’ll say it again - this is how you end a festival!
Metaldays had given us quite a few good concert experiences this year, but none of them could even hold a candle to what Primordial delivered that late Friday night.
Setlist:
Nail Their Tongues
No Grave Deep Enough
Gods To The Godless
Upon Our Spiritual Deathbed
To Hell Or The Hangman
As Rome Burns
Stolen Years
The Coffin Ships
Empire Falls
Encore:
Heathen Tribe
Primordial
