Date: Friday September 16th, 2005
Location: Elbo Room in San Francisco, California
Other Bands:
Well it's been over a month (nearly 2 months actually) since I have been to show, that's rare but this one was well worth the wait. Black Metal bands and then some. Although Nachtmystium was not the headliner, they were one of the bands that I really wanted to see with Asunder being the other, and neither disappointed me, so that is why I have these bands listed first. Sabbat was the main attraction and it showed. My first time to the Elbo Room in San Francisco. As usual with all venues that host shows like this, not a big place and the stage was upstairs with a bar area downstairs for other guests of the place. I will tell you now that I was not feeling well this night. I was starting to come down with a bad cold and as the night progressed it got worse. Eventually I could not stand anymore and with attacks of hot and cold spells on a regular basis I had to leave. Unfortunately I left before Bone Awl came on the stage. There was only 15 minutes between each band and this made it difficult for most of the bands to be ready when it was there turn to start. Another night where I had my camera and so I took some photo's, so please check them out by using the link below.
Here is the link to the photo's: 
Asunder was actually on stage when we arrived as we arrived later than planned. I have seen this band before and they play doom metal. We only got to hear one song, but with there set being only 20 minutes (like most of the other local opening bands), I believe they played just one song. Asunder started the night of good and got everyone ready for more great music to come. If you get a chance to Asunder you will like their doom metal approach.
Black Goat on stage next. I actually did not like this band, I guess it was because the guitarists were not in sync with each other and were not paying attention to the drummer who was trying to get them to stay in sync. And besides, the guitarists were not good either, nothing special in what they did. But the drummer (Tony Reuben) definitely knew how to play and I hope he finds another band so his talent is not wasted.
Slough Feg. I was told before this band started, that this is the band of the night. The person telling me this was a young woman that I found out later is 'in' with the band (if you know what I mean). Of course I knew that before I had proof and I knew this was not the band of the night. Well enough said, this band sucked. Talk about going back in time and ripping off other metal bands from the 80's. She told me it was like taking a trip back in time and she was not wrong. Only problem is that I do not live in the past. Today, the only bands I will listen to that sound like they came from the 80's are bands that I listened to in the 80's (i.e. Iron Maiden).
Nachtmystium. Now this was the band of the night!!! They hail from Illinois and it is great that they made it out to the west coast. I have been in contact with Zion of the band, who is also in Disinter, prior to this show and was looking forward to hearing them and meeting the band. Unfortunately I did not get a chance to hook-up with Zion during the show, maybe next time dude, but I did get a chance to talk to the other members of the band and thank them for stopping by. I have Nachtmystium's 'Demise' album and I love it. It was a stab in the dark when I bought it but it was a good stab. The band definitely knows how to have presence on the stage and how to get the crowd to notice them. Very energetic and of course great music. Absolutely amazing band!!! Black Metal with a lot of darkness, hatred and antichristian, exactly the perfect blend for a great night of music. They had a small problem during there set with equipment, but other than that it was a great performance. The last time I saw energy like this was when I saw Ceremonial Castings. Although I was sick I did stay up front for the entire set and got some great photo's (don't forget to check them out). If this band ever comes around again I will be there and so should you!
Sabbat as the headliner finally took the stage. A Black Metal band from Japan that has been around since 1984. I had never heard there music before this night and actually I did not care for it. They are suppose to be the Venom of Japan. OK, music wise maybe, but lyrical definitely not. I could not stand how they sang. Maybe I missing something here, but I am not really a nostalgic person. If I don't like a band I don't like them, no matter where they are from, what they have done etc. Any way, they had plenty of fans enjoying there music while I stood in the back.
Morbosidad on after the long set by Sabbat. Another local band from the bay area that plays Black/Death metal but I actually found them to have some hardcore influence. The music was pretty damn good but the singing was what I did not like at times. There were moments where it sounded more hardcore. I am up in the air about this band. I sought of like them but I am not 100% sure I should add them to my list of bands. I will have to give it more thought and listening, besides at this point I was really sick and left before they stopped playing so I am not too sure how they actually sounded live.
Bone Awl. Well sorry but I did not see this band as I was already in my friends truck hoping to make it home alive. Next time OK.
Well the night was over and I was terribly sick. To be honest I did not write this review for over a week later as it took that long before I had the energy (and time) to write it. But it was another great night although I thought some of the other bands would have been better than what they were. It should have been a night of all Black Metal bands, that would have been great. Don't forget to check out my photo's.
Written by: Steven Ansell