Gig Review: Frostbitten with Spectral Wound in London
Venue: The Dome
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Date: Oct 24, 2024
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Location: London, UK
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Venue: The Dome | Date: Oct 24, 2024 | Location: London, UK |
Bonjour!! On October 24th 2024, the walls of The Dome in London bore witness to a night of darkness brought forth by Spectral Wound. Your poutine-filled reviewers, Chort and Chern, dragged themselves from their citadel to see this stunning spectacle… The Quebecois quintet delivered a set that was as relentless as it was raw, channeling the epicurean black metal (Chern got himself a wine opener at the merch booth!) straight from Montreal’s harsh winters. Spectral Wound’s live presence carried an intensity few could match, drawing a crowd of devotees and curious wanderers alike, all seeking to be enveloped by the band’s aura. And they got what they came for: unfiltered, frostbitten black metal that cut through the air like an icy wind.
Emerging from Montreal’s underground scene in 2014-2015, Spectral Wound has become a powerful presence in the Black Metal world. Known for capturing the chilling atmosphere of nature’s harshest elements, they have grown over the years into a band that demands attention. Their early work, raw and uncompromising, set the stage for their latest album, Songs of Blood and Mire.
Canada’s Frozen Despair Takes Centre Stage
As they took the stage at The Dome, the crowd braced itself for the onslaught. The opening notes of “Fevers and Suffering” ripped through the venue, setting the atmosphere for what would be an unyielding performance - albeit much too short overall for our liking! Look, we've seen our share of extreme metal, but DAMN – Illusory's inhuman blast beats were like getting hit with an avalanche of pure northern hatred. The way that snare cut through the mix? *chef's kiss* Absolute perfection. The guitar work was razor-sharp black metal excellence, carving out tremolo-picked passages that are a staple of their sound. And then there's Jonah's vocals. The man sounds like he's gargling with liquid nitrogen while channeling pure fucking misery through his vocal cords. It's a shame this was a bit lost in the mix in the second half of the set.
The crowd, equally fervent, moved like a tempest as the band tore through their setlist. “Woods from Which the Spirits Once So Loudly Howled” followed, carrying the essence of spectral, haunted landscapes with it. The track’s mid-tempo sections allowed just enough breathing room before diving back into the relentless riffs and drum patterns. It was clear that Spectral Wound understood how to play with dynamics, using moments of restraint to build tension, only to release it as the crowd got wound up.
Then came “Aristocratic Suicidal Black Metal (ASBM)” - a personal favourite and a top notch slogan, this track that stood out for its oppressive atmosphere and intricate guitar work. The dual guitars blended melody with aggression, creating a soundscape that felt paradoxically cold and vibrant. Their mastery of contrast was on full display here, taking the audience on a journey through both torment and transcendence. Then some fucking orc behind me tried to form a mosh pit, but I just wanted to groove to the sound, man. So, I just held out my elbow at neck height and waited for the idiot to take one in the jugular. Moshing at a Spectral Wound show?! You idiot! This isn’t Death Metal! Everybody knows you cross your arms and gently bob your head at a Black Metal gig!
The set continued with “Frigid and Spellbound”, hitting like a freight train of ice and razorblades. It was the kind of song that encapsulated everything Spectral Wound represents: black metal with an undercurrent of haunting beauty (kinda like wearing black leather gloves!). This was a crowd favourite.
“Imperial Thanatosis” brought the set to its darkest point. This track, a visceral homage to decay and death, its crushing riffs pulling us into an abyss of nihilism. The band’s synergy was palpable, with each member perfectly in tune with the others. Spectral Wound’s performance here felt almost ritualistic, a communion of darkness that left everyone in attendance awestruck.
The ferocity of “Less and Less Human, O Savage Spirit” followed, a track that juxtaposed violent aggression with chilling atmospherics. The crowd was transfixed, as if spellbound by the sheer force of the music. There was no respite, no mercy—only the relentless drive of black metal at its most primal and unforgiving.
Setlist
1. Fevers and Suffering
2. Woods from Which the Spirits Once So Loudly Howled
3. ASBM
4. Frigid and Spellbound
5. Imperial Thanatosis
6. Less and Less Human, O Savage Spirit
7. A Coin Upon The Tongue
8. Imperial Saison Noire
Melancholy, Brutality, and the Janitor’s Cold Stare: A True Black Metal Baptism
As the night wore on, Spectral Wound delivered “A Coin Upon The Tongue”, a track that, despite its unyielding brutality, evoked a sense of melancholy. Jonah’s screams seemed to carry the weight of lifetimes, each note a testament to the power of endurance and defiance in the face of despair. Having said that I barely made out the vocals for the last two songs, something I told the engineer at the Dome, to which I later found out was the janitor.
The show culminated with “Imperial Saison Noire”, a song that encapsulates the spirit of Quebec’s black metal. As the final notes echoed through the venue, the we were left wanting MORE. It was a fitting end to a night of catharsis, as though the band had opened a portal to another world and then, just as suddenly, closed it, leaving only echoes of darkness (and some beer glasses on the floor).
For anyone who seeks the true spirit of black metal, Spectral Wound is a band that DEMANDS your attention, and if you haven’t listened to them already it’s too late for you. The world will end in 2026 and you’ve little time to catch up. Their live show is a baptism by fire—or, in this case, by ice. They remind us that black metal, at its core, is about confronting the darkness within and embracing it.
Their latest album, Songs of Blood and Mire, is a vital triumph of modern black metal, and if their live performance is any indication, this is a band on the rise, destined for legendary status. Head to online merch table, pick up a record, grab a shirt, and bring a piece of their darkness home with you. Spectral Wound is a band that doesn’t just play black metal—they live it, and they invite you to join them in their dark, frostbitten world.
Check out Spectral Wound’s latest album and merch here. Support these future legends, now!
Written by: Chort the Crop Infestor
“Hi, I’m Chort I infest crops and listen to Black Metal. I’ve currently invested most of my life savings into Andrew Tate’s latest crypto coin: $Daddy Tate (DADDY). I recommend reaching out to me for more literature on the matter.”
