“Incessant wheel of time, dawn’s bodies, formless waves frozen in night.”
On 15th April 2024, we headed to the Dome in London for a night of pure chaos, noise, and visceral intensity displayed by support bands, Knoll and Esoteric, as well as the highly awaited headliners, Bell Witch. From hellish grindcore to droning funeral doom, the line-up was filled with sounds and styles from every corner of the metal genre.
Words by Emily Cole, photography by Dobbin T.
Knoll
With both their music and stage presence, Knoll presented the crowd with a truly terrifying experience. The band played an intense variety of tracks from their discography, including the title track of their latest album As Spoken. I can certainly say that their studio work greatly misrepresents the sheer terror that is displayed throughout the band’s live performances. In fact, the description of abrasive doesn’t even get close to describing their sound and style. The stage was filled with an immensely dark atmosphere, paired with an antique motif that could be seen throughout their set-up. This included an absurd sound board that was filled with unknown pedals and noise instruments, all of which were violently used to create some horrific and eerie sounds. It’s safe to say that Knoll truly showed everyone what extreme music is all about.
Esoteric
Significantly slowing down the tempo, Birmingham-based doom band, Esoteric, took the stage with their unique style that merges sonic aspects of classic doom metal with psychedelic and droning elements. Each guitarist used a multitude of pedals, ranging from time-based and modulation effects to multiple wah’s for the extended sustain needed in such music. This was paired with deep and brutal vocals styles exhibited by Esoteric frontman, Greg Chandler, captured by his stylish headset microphone. The band relentlessly powered through their extensive and complex songs, including tracks from their well-loved album, The Maniacal Veil. They’re clearly experienced in what they do and really know how to achieve the sound that they’re aiming for – both in the studio and live environments. An amazing band and a perfect lead into Bell Witch.
Bell Witch
Bell Witch’s performance truly transcended a purely musical experience. The impressive duo played their latest release, The Clandestine Gate, which features an abundance of intricate timings and melodies – generated by a plethora of pedals, synthesisers, and even a gong. This piece was truly moving, taking you on a sonic journey filled with waves of emotion and fuzzy walls of sound – the music as heavy as its emotional response. Evidently, their funeral doom style was effectively portrayed through their excellent use of contrasting musical ideas and tonalities, comprising of thick distorted low-end and hard-hitting drums, as well as atmospheric synth chords and light melodies. With every drum hit and bass note; you could feel the heaviness and weight of the sound waves oscillating through every part of your body. Additionally, this unique audio experience was paired perfectly with beautifully constructed visuals, consisting of greyscale videos of waves, candles, and other artistic imagery.
Although many individuals may be repelled by the idea of Bell Witch’s extended musical work, I truly believe that experiencing their music live is something that no one should pass up on. It offers an entirely new and immersive adventure, in which you experience the music much more deeply, and even physically. Furthermore, the pure skill and relentless musicianship that exudes from the duo is an amazing sight. Overall, I couldn’t recommend seeing Bell Witch enough.
Check out our recent interview with Bell Witch here.