MARDUK VADER
THE GARAGE, LONDON Titans of their genres, death and black metal behemoths Vader and Marduk have descended upon London for their aptly named United Titans tour. By the time VADER take to the stage, the crowd has swelled to pack the venue and the atmosphere is charged with anticipation. Peals of thunder and applause herald their arrival and they launch into a storming Dark Age. Every roar and squealing guitar solo is crystal clear and each song is greeted with rabid enthusiasm, testament to their many years penning consistently great death metal. Silent Empire, What Colour Is Your Blood? and Sothis all elicit huge cheers befitting the Poles’ iconic status. Besides lights and fog machines, there are no big production tricks, no gimmicks, just an hour-plus of death metal might. Bringing the evening to a close with their frostbitten, battle-primed fury, MARDUK are every bit the black metal masters. The opening salvo of Werwolf and The Hangman Of Prague and a mid-set Bleached Bones whip the crowd into a frenzy, Mortuus commanding them with the sheer force of his presence. Even a droning buzz throughout their set can’t detract from their profane majesty.