Today’s show was opened by local Sludge and Doom metal band Kaligoh. This Eindhoven-based quartet played only their third show in the current line-up, but they certainly played it well. The rhythmic screaming by bass player and vocalist Dirk Snelders mixed in very well with the dark atmosphere created by the band. They made good use of vocals on tape, which along with the minimalist but well-timed lighting, only added to the tension in the music. They were an excellent opening act for Cult of Luna, and in my opinion they are worthy of a performance at the Roadburn festival.
The second band to hit the stage was Izah, a band from Tilburg who play a mixture of sludge, hardcore, and post-rock. Their opening song was very impressive and up-tempo, with amazing drum riffs straight off the bat. Their sound was quite full, and they seemed to be a promising follow-up for Kaligoh. However, from the second song onwards, they got their own way with the lighting, which meant there was none. It was very disappointing to have to watch a show that could have been very good, but which wasn’t due to a poor decision on the band’s part. The lack of light really detracted from the show, as we could not see any facial expressions, nor do I have any idea what the band looked like, nor even which of the guitars was the bass. Musically this band is great, but you’d be better off listening to an album in the comfort of your own sofa than standing in front of the stage wondering what is going on.
Then it was time for the headliner, Cult Of Luna. This Swedish post-metal band released their sixth studio album, Vertikal, in January this year. With two drummers, three guitarists, a bass, and a synth player, this band really fills the stage, and all these instruments together create a wonderfully full sound. Their music has an almost physical intensity when being played live, and standing still turned out to be quite impossible. Cult of Luna plays an amazing mixture of post-rock and metal with doom, and they sure know how to perform. The band has an amazing energy up on stage, which was felt deep into the audience. They used a light show timed to perfection to lay emphasis on the music, and functioned as yet another part of rhythm section. Thomas Hedlund’s drumming was simply spectacular, and Magnus Lindberg on percussion just added that much more. Percussions together with Anders Teglund on synths led to a much more alive feeling than a simple sampling track could ever have done. Johannes Persson has incredible charisma and an impressive raw voice, while Fredrik Kihlberg impressed with his sensitive clean vocals on ‘Passing Through’, a beautiful slow song featured on Vertikal. Just how good this band is became clear when despite technical difficulties such as broken guitar strings and falling pieces of drum equipment, the show never once halted or felt forced. Simply an astounding performance, and I recommend this band with all my heart.
Cult of Luna, Kaligoh And Izah
Eindhoven, Effenaar
August 14th
Lorraine Lysen
Photography: Susanne Maathuis