I haven’t been to the LKA Longhorn since pre-covid times. So returning here after such a long time especially to see a lineup containing some of my favorite bands got me filled to the brim with excitement. So much so, that I arrived almost two hours before the doors of this iconic venue would open. Much to my surprise, I’m not the first to arrive but am greeted by a handful of other fans as well as some crew members instead. A passionate exchange with both fills the freezing cold waiting period and to keep ourselves warm, we are even invited to help the crew move the merchandise trailer.
Still, getting inside the repurposed industrial warehouse building with proper heating infrastructure feels even better. With a capacity of approximately 1.500 people, the LKA is one of the most well-known non-stadium event locations in the surrounding area. Beyond that, the architecture accommodates quite a few different types of fans.
There’s enough space in front of the stage for a proper circle pit. But there’s also some space next to the stage for the people who love to see the show without getting too involved with the crowd. Not to mention a platform behind the light and sound tech, that allows one to overlook the entire venue and have an undisrupted view of the stage. A bar built along the entire side of the hall is easily accessible from everywhere and a gallery above it even allows the other artists to enjoy the shows of their tour companions.
Ghosts of Atlantis
Opener of this fantastic evening is Ghosts of Atlantis. The guests who entered the venue early might’ve met them at the restroom sink already, putting the final touches on their stage makeup.
Ghosts of Atlantis is a band I’ve not heard of before, but I’ll certainly keep my eyes on. The Extreme Metal formation from Suffolk, England brings a mixture of darker elements intermixed with symphonic arrangements and rhythms even akin to early Metalcore influences.
The phrase “Extreme Metal from Suffolk” might ring a bell for some of you. It’s been five years since I’ve last been to the LKA Longhorn. Back then I had the pleasure of seeing the Cradle of Filth “Cryptoriana World Tour”. Thanks to Ghosts of Atlantis I feel thrown back in time to this wonderful evening, as not only are they from the same area, but their influence can definitely also be found in both their visual appearance and their soundscape. Not to mention, guitarist Colin Parks is a member of Devilment as well, another musical gem by Cradle of Filth mastermind Dani Filth.
Make no mistake though, while there may be some similarities and common influences, Ghosts of Atlantis don’t need to hide behind their fellow countrymen at all. With a set of very capable and skilled musicians as well as their own unique twist, they really blow me away tonight. While I didn’t know them before, this is a very nice surprise and gets me as well as many other people in the audience hot for more.
Ignea
Accompanied by the dark, atmospheric instrumentals of “Téoura”, Ignea enters the stage and strikes the crowd with a mixture of awe, respect, and fear.
But we are only allowed a brief moment of captivated paralysis before the spotlights break through the mist and the relatively calm intro transitions into a sandstorm called “Dunes”. A great mixture quite representative of Igneas style. Orientally sounding melodies have us imagining a hot desert landscape as a storm of harsh vocals blows through it. The unique and enchanting clean voice presented by frontwoman Helle Bogdanova balances it to a fantastic mix.
Beyond that soundscape, the Ukrainian band also reminds us of the chaos of war happening in their country and many other places right now, appealing to the end of the conflict. We are quite lucky, that they are granted the opportunity to be a cultural ambassador to their country and stand on stage today.
Thankfully, Ignea play quite a long slot this evening, so we can enjoy several parts of their discography before they hand over the mic to the Butcher Babies. (Read more about Ignea in our interview with vocalist Helle as well as in our previous article primarily focussing on their part of the tour.)
Butcher Babies
Next up is one of my all-time favorite bands, one which I’m extremely excited to be able to finally cover here as well. The Butcher Babies are a mixture of groovy riffs, rough Metalcore rhythms, but also some softer, more emotional melodies. Beyond their more than obviously very skilled instrumentalists, many probably know them, especially for the extraordinary vocalist power duo Heidi Shepherd and Carla Harvey fronting the band’s lineup. The two of them usually provide a mindblowing mixture of harsh and clean vocals, making them one of the most unique and iconic representatives of their genre.
Unfortunately, on this European leg of the “Disruptour”, only Heidi can perform, whereas Carla recently had to undergo an urgent procedure and recover from it. While that is surely a bit of a disappointment for some fans, I wish her that she gets back to full health and can join her bandmates on stage again. Usually, Heidi and Carla have quite an enjoyable dynamic between them and run half a marathon on stage during their show. You’d expect the show to be lacking some of that energy now, of course. However, Heidi surely uses the additional space to fully make up for her counterpart’s absence by running and jumping around even more. I was concerned, about how the temporary change in lineup would affect the experience, but I can surely tell you, that this show is quite as awesome as any other of theirs I had the honor of seeing before.
Some highlights worth mentioning are Heidi joining the audience as the center of a circle pit, her constant engagement with the crowd as well as her heartfelt introduction of “Last December”, with her strongly emphasizing that the relationship with her fans has literally saved her life.
On a personal note, finally shooting one of my favorite bands turns out to be equally joyful and demanding. I’ve rarely seen a band that moves so fast and is visually so fun to experience. They surely bring me to my limit and challenge me to become an even better photographer. Trust me, Butcher Babies, I’m coming for you again and next time I’ll keep up with you, despite your band members seemingly not being bound by the laws of physics.
Fear Factory
Finally, we are blessed with Thrash Metal legend Fear Factory entering the stage. While they have been an integral part of their scene for over three decades by now, they also bring some young and fresh energy with them. And that energy goes by the name of new vocalist Milo Silvestro. But make no mistake, while he is the newest addition to the lineup, he perfectly presents the band’s iconic material like second nature.
For those unfamiliar with Fear Factory’s sound, they deliver a very unique soundscape. While you could assume, that they are influenced by bands from all kinds of genres, including but not limited to Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Metalcore, and Nu Metal, their fans surely know, that they have been a distinct brand for many years and can hardly be compared to other bands. In some places, they reminded me of Machine Head. But even that comparison feels off when listening to their entire set.
An element that they are especially famous for is their specific mix of almost disharmonic vocals and layered vocal effects. Which is why they seem to be in the “love em or hate em” drawer. The by-now jam-packed venue singing along to every single line definitely shows a lot of well-deserved love.
Also, their instrumental style stands out from many bands that are usually associated with them. Classical Thrash rhythms but also more modern, groovy riffs, even sharing resemblance to some Djentcore soundscapes come together. In a way, they present a perfect mix of new and old. Ancient legend and bleeding edge sound.
While I was on the fence about their music in the beginning as well, they got better and better with every song. It reminded me of listening to their studio recordings for the first time and making a similar realization. Their music stands out in many ways, some of which require a bit of getting used to. Another reason, that made their long setlist all the more exciting.
About halfway through the set, “Archetype”, one of my personal favorites, ultimately sets the place on fire with the whole crowd chanting “open your eyes” in unison. Finally, we have another pleasurable highlight for fans of both Butcher Babies and Fear Factory. Heidi Shepherd joins the guys on stage to perform “Martyr” together. And honestly, it’s hard to pick, which one of the vocalists is better. They are both such technically skilled and versatile talents within their own respective domain. Then again, the metal scene thankfully doesn’t speak the language of competition but only that of friends and respected colleagues.
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Visit the official homepages of Fear Factory, Butcher Babies, Ignea and Ghosts of Atlantis
Photography and Article by Cat Maverick