REVIEW: Abbath, Black Anvil, Imperial Triumphant, Final Gasp at Gramercy Theatre | 05.25.2024
Black Metal reigned supreme this past Saturday when Abbath's “Return to the Raven Realms” tour brought an onslaught of brutality to New York City.
It was a tour four years in the making after Abbath's last North American run was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, and this time around the Norwegian outfit had Black Anvil, Imperial Triumphant, and Final Gasp in tow. As the standing-room only crowd at Manhattan's Gramercy Theatre would discover, the show was more than worth the wait.
FINAL GASP
An eerie and brooding intro from Final Gasp gave way to post-hardcore heaviness that was unexpected and more than appreciated. A blend of metal, hardcore and punk, the band was focused on delivering pure rock; no flashiness, no solos, just raw aggression; just the way I like it.
SONG OF THE SET: “Homebound”
IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT
Dark and mysterious are Imperial Triumphant, a golden-masked trio that aren’t afraid to visit the deep nether regions of metal experimentation. Their avant-garde explorations shine through their showmanship and accompanying musicality. Pieced together with vocal narration between songs, the story of Imperial Triumphant was a ride from start to finish.
SONG OF THE SET: “Cosmopolis”
BLACK ANVIL
The brutality of Black Anvil marked an energy shift in the room as the pit began to open and crowd surfers began testing the waters. Riding that momentum was the band as they thrashed their way through a killer set that laid the foundation for what was to come.
SONG OF THE SET: “The Bet”
ABBATH
An influential and trailblazing force in Black Metal, Abbath Doom Occulta showcased in his performance why he's earned that designation. Harkening back to days past, the band played a plenty of Immortal tunes, but Abbath also gave fair share to the catalogue that the band is building together now. The crowd responded as only they knew how by turning up the pit and the crowd surfing a considerable number of notches.
SONG OF THE SET: "Dread Reaver"