Gig Review: Deitus
Venue: The Boston Music Room
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Date: Aug 5, 2023
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Location: London, UK
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Venue: The Boston Music Room | Date: Aug 5, 2023 | Location: London, UK |
In the shadowed corridors of London's underworld, on a night when the moon's glow was eclipsed by the dark rituals of the black metal congregation, Deitus, the heralds of the abyss, prepared to unleash their latest opus, "Irreversible", upon the unsuspecting souls at The Boston Music Room. The very same unholy ground where Havukruunu had previously summoned their dark arts in 2022. The atmosphere was thick, not just with the scent of anticipation, but with the very essence of the netherworld. Chort, in his usual cryptic manner, whispered of sensing a "sexual voodoo" in the air. But, in truth, it was the fervent anticipation of both seasoned disciples and new acolytes, thirsting for the malevolence of Deitus' "Irreversible".
Before the ritual began, Chort and I, like true warriors of the night, fortified ourselves with the dark nectar of the gods (beer). The unholy merch table beckoned, adorned with relics that would make even the Grim Reaper envious. I was immediately ensnared by the massive skull and blade pins, symbols of power and defiance. The limited edition vinyl of “Irreversible”, bathed in satanic red, was a must-have for my collection of forbidden artifacts.
Chort, on the other hand, was entranced by the Deitus “Acta Non Verba” t-shirt, bearing the emblem of a skull and noose, which he eventually bought later, mid-show, like a putz!
As the summoning began, we positioned ourselves at the very altar of chaos, the stage. Amongst the crowd was a bald, frenzied disciple, that looked like a sweat-drenched Rasputin off his fucking rocker. After witnessing him down what seemed like the elixir of madness (or just vodka and probably a few rails of Charlie) and dance to the ghostly echoes of the pre-show music of The Doors, we braced ourselves for a night of pandemonium and generally worried about our wellbeing.
But then, the true lords of the night, Deitus, emerged from the shadows. With the haunting strains of "Incursion" enveloping the room, it was clear that this was no ordinary gig. This was a summoning, a ritual, a descent into the very heart of darkness. LDN, their enigmatic frontman, led the charge, his voice a cacophony of anguish and rebellion. The band was five strong that night (but only two permanent members, according to the gospel of Encyclopedia Metallum).
With the drumming of BDS becoming almost like a hypnotic call to satan himself around the two-minute mark, Chort and I began banging our heads. Just then, we found ourselves amidst "Straight For Your Throat". LDN began roaring his raw vocals as the guitarists and bassist started shredding and shouting at the crowd. The change-up around the two-minute mark made the whole crowd move rhythmically, like a putrid cult of lepers! The track highlighted Deitus' shamanistic prowess for creating intense and melodically captivating ear food. As the song ended, shouts and horns were draped unto the unholy, damned souls of the band.
But, as with all rituals, there were moments of chaos. As "A Scar For Serenity" began to skull-crush the crowd, the wide-eyed bald, sweaty Rasputin from earlier, decided to offer his own tribute to the band, as he proceeded to get up and close to the band, putting his face so close to the guitarist's crotch that, at one point, I thought he was going to blow him. A pretty rowdy mosh-pit started breaking out with this track due to its frantic pace and absolutely killer vocals. The guitar solo was also an epic highlight as we circled this shredtacular ritual.
Chort’s Acta Non Verba shirt
It, unfortunately, went by too quickly though, and "Lightbearer" quickly chimed in, which was a track off their 2016 release, “Acta Non Verba”. With a somewhat slower initial pace, you would've thought the crowd would mellow somewhat, but you're dead wrong. I believe it was around this time that bald Rasputin was at it again. He got so amped up that he thought jumping up on stage and playing a jig would be a good idea. However, LDN made quick work of him and kicked him right back off stage as a member of the venue came around.
Security tried kicking him out, but some of the other heathens on the ground managed to calm the situation down….for about 30 minutes, after which point, he accidentally kept head-butting people and overstayed his welcome. He was eventually marched to the gallows of the unknown (politely shown the door), but he didn't leave before showing security a bloody wrath of objection (a highly aggressive finger-wagging). That'll show 'em!
But the night only got better as Deitus continued on and played "Atonement", "Malaise", "Irreversible", and "Manifest". Between the music, the high-octane performances, the crowd's energy, and all the unholy background action, it was a night of epic metal mayhem. The enigmatic frontman LDN continued to deliver a wild-eyed performance, channelling the raw energy and unpredictability reminiscent of GG Allin. This influence was unmistakably clear, especially when the band launched into a cover of GG Allin's "Bite It You Scum" to close the show. It was also during this cover that LDN proceeded to violently bash his skull, repeatedly with the microphone that made it sound like a literal skull was being cracked open. He did save us from more scatological acts of GG Allin though, which we were all thankful for. Speaking with LDN after the show, I saw massive bruises on his skull as he smiled enthusiastically.
The entire night was a great eye-opener into the skills of the band. The rhythm section was tight, and we were right up to one of the guitarists, basically seeing up their nostrils as we watched in awe of the fingering wizardry. Deitus' sound has always been characterised by its thrashing riffcraft, and this night was no exception. Their performance was exceptional, with every song feeling meticulously created and delivered with passion. The mix of their older classics with the new tracks from "Irreversible" showcased the band's growth, while staying true to their roots.
The event was also an important one for the band as it marked Sheyan's last performance with Deitus as their guitarist. In a memorable moment, fuelled by the manic energy of the night, he took a daring leap into the crowd, creating a piranha situation with fans swarming all around him like putrid locusts as he shredded.
As the night drew to a close, it was evident that Deitus had not only successfully launched "Irreversible" but had also solidified their place in the blackened hearts of their fans - their newest ones being Chort and Chern. Their performance was a reminder of the raw and unbridled power of black metal, and also a reminder to not take too much Charlie and jump up on stage like a lunatic.
To sum it up, dear Citadelians, Deitus' gig in London was more than just an album launch; it was a celebration of their ominous journey, their unholy growth, and their unwavering commitment to delivering music that resonates deeply with their fans. If this performance is anything to go by, the future looks incredibly bright for Deitus.
We want you to go and support these English heathens, now! So, head over to their Bandcamp and get a sexy patch, a sweet vinyl slip mat, or the digital copy of “Irreversible” as all the vinyl is already sold out.
Hails to you Deitus!
Written by: Chernoglav The Hero With The Silver Moustache
Sporting more than just a moustache under his hood, Chernoglav loves underground Metal, but also listens to a dynamic range of other sub-genres like Power. He’s also never had a moustache.
