CONCERT REVIEW: Enslaved - Insomnium - Black Anvil Live at Saint Andrew’s Hall

It was a typical, quiet Monday evening last week in downtown Detroit. Except at the city’s treasured music venue, Saint Andrew’s Hall. There was a bit of a hullabaloo happening at the preferred concert spot because metal titans, Enslaved and Insomnium brought their North American co-headlining tour to town. Both of these acts are experts in their respective genres and both of them are on the road to promote their newest full-length albums that have come out earlier this year. The place was buzzing with anticipation as metal fans of all sorts filed in to hear the new tunes.

The opening act strolled in and struck their strings with an authority that caught everyone’s attention. Black Anvil had venom and loud visuals. They bit with speed, screams, and howling riffs. Unlike most bands in their genre, they used lights to help express their dark ideas and were quite animated in their devilish delivery. The white frontman Paul Delaney’s eyes stood out through his smeared, black corpse paint when he opened them wide and spewed out the band’s hate-filled themes. His bullet belt jiggled and jewelry swung as he threw his whole body into his bass. The crunchy, calculated, and competent playing from each member had the audience fully engaged. Clean vocals chanted, the guitar’s hooked, and the overall drama of the band showed off their dynamic abilities. It is always a pleasant surprise when the first band of any show puts on such an entertaining set.

The first headliner of the evening sprung onto the stage with a spark and spirit. Insomnium was welcomed with warm cheers and hearty applause. It has been several years since this Finnish band’s last appearance in the USA and they have been greatly missed. They struck up the title track off of their recent release, 1696 (Century Media Records) while their long hair swept the floor as they banged their heads up and down. Frontman Niilo Sevanen’s gripping gutturals bellowed forth with a sincere urgency and intent enthusiasm. The strings of guitarist Markus Vanhala sang with a keen intensity that carried the crowd deep into the band’s heavy-hearted earnestness. They played a lot of their new material like ‘Godforsaken’, ‘Lilian’, and ‘The Witch Hunter’. They also threw in some fan favorites like ‘While We Sleep’ and ‘Heart Like a Grave’. Each number was projected in a way that flawlessly captured the band’s succulently somber and severe sound. The looks on people’s faces held a genuine joy as the emotional substance of the music weighed down on them. The newest member, Jani Liimatainen belted out his cleans with a passionate clarity that showcased the band’s remarkable ability to couple heavy with melody. Horns were held high and the circle pit moved with speed. They played eleven songs and it did not feel like nearly enough.

The metal masters, Enslaved, graced the audience with their presence next. The fog rolled in, the lights dimmed, and the mayhem began. They burst forth with a number off the album, Utgard (Nuclear Blast), and the enthusiastic multitudes were ambushed with the bombasticness that is this Viking-themed band. Their Norse influences were exhibited with fervency and flair. Each member conjured a rage that boomed out so you could feel it in your belly. Grutle Kjellson’s screams seethed and permeated through the senses. Though the absence of Ivar Bjørnson was felt, the gusto and girth from guitarist Arve Isdal (also of Audrey Horne) lessened the blow. They selected songs from all over their discography, including two numbers off their 2004 album Isa (Tabu Recordings). They played with a decadent density and depth on every number. The intricate work done by drummer Iver Sandoy supported the diversity of the band’s sound. Every piece had so many movements and moods that they took you on a breathtaking journey. The electronic elements, group vocals, and keys add such intrigue to their tales of magic and mythology. The numbers from their recently released album, Heimdal (Nuclear Blast) were warmly received by the avid audience. The evening flew by and many hung around hoping for an encore. Yet all were thankful for what we were given and await when these metal masters return to our shores.