It was one of those nights at Electric Brixton, where the audience enjoyed a set of performances singular and unrepeatable in their succession and fitting together. Joined by Doodseskader, Svalbard, and headliners Alcest, the lineup promised a lot!
Doodseskader kicked off the night, which was as lit as their words, with light effects displaying the lyrics over the band’s performance at specific times. With a sore throat, Tim de Gieter did a great job together with the co-vocalist Sigfried Burroughs. The band’s sound was still engaging, reminding me of industrial sludge, with very raw sounds and heavy lyrics. This was my first time seeing them, and their music, so this left an impression. A strong presence, minimal setting, and an appreciative audience that respected the work of those on stage.
Then, of course, there was Svalbard – a band I’d seen once before and was hyped to see again. They took to the stage with all vigour possible, with heavy headbanging and hair flying from Serena and Matt Francis, just track after track of heavy melodic goodness.
Serena Cherry was great, with a powerful voice and so sincere in her emotions, smiling to the crowd between the songs. She was having a great time, and so was the crowd. Being a photographer, I was not really sure about how the visuals of this band were going to work with the logo showing, but it actually added to the atmosphere.
Finally, Alcest: I had been looking forward to this all night, and it was great. Their new album Les Chants de l’Aurore was among my favorite albums this year, so my expectations were high. The stage did look nice complementing the cover of the album: tall grass and two herons with soft dreamy lights; it quickly plunged you into their world before they even started to play.
The description of Alcest’s music is impossible to describe easily. It’s heavy but emotional, haunted yet soothing. They started things off with “Komorebi” and flowed into a smooth set of the top tracks off of their albums such as “Sapphire,” “Protection,” and “Écailles de Lune – Part 2”. Every track was a journey within the blend of soft melodies and heavy outbursts. Neige’s vocals were ever so soft and heartfelt against the intricate music of the band. The encore was a fine way to close out the evening: “Autre Temps” was warmly embraced by the audience, while “L’Adieu” concluded it with a reflective tone, Neige disappearing alone on stage as the song faded away. Simple but symbolic, it was an apt finish to a show that came across as particularly personal. Alcest took us utterly somewhere else for 90 minutes. Rarely does such a combination of sound and visuals strike the eye as an emotional adventure: for both the long-time fan and the first-time viewer, this was a night to remember.
GALLERY: Alcest, Doodseskader and Svalbard at Electric Brixton in London, UK (December 11, 2024)
