Samhain Antwerp
Samhain Antwerp
29-30th March 2025
Trix, Antwerp, Belgium
Live Review by Oli Gonzalez
“Dragged Into Sunlight AND Suffocation on the same day? Are we getting out of this alive, lad?”
My friend asked, me being unsure if this was genuine anxiety or sarcasm. We did make it through what was a phenomenal weekend though in what was my first visit to the city of Antwerp, and the nation of Belgium. Those local to the area will already know of its indulgent cuisine, and glorious architecture. As well as the host venue for this weekend’s festivities, Trix. Though those from the UK, like myself, may not know of what is truly a hidden gem here in central Europe. Speaking of hidden gems, Samhain Festival may not be the most well known name amongst the big European festivals. Although with line ups like what we saw this weekend, it sure has the capacity to become a major disruptor in the festival circuit! Those who know me will know of my anxieties surrounding travel and have only left my country twice since 2012. Each time, though, has been for Samhain Festival, and I’d like to recap my highlights of what has truly been a life changing experience, one that I’m still processing as I write this.
Day One
First impressions of the venue, Trix. Firstly, this was ridiculously easy to get to with a two minute walk to the tram stop from my hotel, a short 10 minute ride, and a further 3 minutes walk to the venue! The venue itself consists of 3 ‘rooms’. The smallest ‘Cafe’, the upstairs mid sized ‘Club’ and the main stage. Main stage bands would play in isolation whilst other bands would then play simultaneously on Club and Cafe on a rotational basis. As we walked around the venue to get our bearings, we met festival organiser Ben. Ever the gentleman, he seemed genuinely grateful for us both making the journey from separate countries and given the planned public transport strikes had offered to take us both personally to Charleroi (an offer we nearly had to take him up on). He excused himself as he had to arrange a replacement for the very late withdrawal of Anaal Nathrakh (more on this later) but with such generosity is just one of many reasons I’ll continue to support this amazing festival.
We continued our orientation and made a trip to the merch stand (RIP bank account). The venue featured plenty of seating areas and places to relax in between bands which was invaluable for the over 30s like me. Plenty of food vendors meant you didn’t need to leave the venue for your catering needs. I may have eaten a few too many portions of fries and curry ketchup though, something we need in the UK! Speaking of things in the UK, the main stage featured a simple yet brilliant idea; a tiered standing area. Essentially, the room was split into approximately 6 levels meaning it was possible to get an adequate viewing spot from pretty much anywhere here for the bands, whilst it also served as a makeshift seating area in between (or even during) bands. We waited here for a short period whilst Ahab sound checked, the first band of the festival for us…
Ahab
Having missed their set at Damnation 2024, this was my opportunity to set eyes on a seminal funeral doom metal band and one I truly admire. It felt strange to see a band of this calibre on so early yet this speaks to the quality of the lineup as a whole. The room was packing out nicely as the German act flattened the room with wave after crushing wave of raw primitive nautical doom heaviness! Yet there was a melodic undertone to this savagery lurking beneath the surface that gives Ahab a much rounded and deep sound that demands to be heard live and in the flesh.
https://www.facebook.com/AhabDoom
The Ruins Of Beverast
After a blistering Damnation 2024 performance, this was another major draw for me given their infrequent visits to the UK. Their sound lies somewhere between the unholy trinity of death, doom and black metal. Despite not belonging to any one obvious genre, their visceral and unapologetic intensity on stage is another that must be seen in the flesh to be fully appreciated and understood! They were playing a full “Unlock The Shrine” album set which I honestly not sold on listening to it on record but found it to be much more enjoyable live. Though a 100 minute set was challenging to maintain my attention for the full duration, especially towards the latter stages, especially with little to no crowd interaction from the band. Though make no mistake, this performance did not let me down at all.
https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Ruins-Of-Beverast-100050277618207
Cult Of Fire
I can now say I’ve seen, NO- I have had the privilege of having seen Cult Of Fire 3 times within the space of 6 months now. You’d think I’d be bored ? Nope. Within seconds of the curtains opening for their set, the crowd roared upon the reveal of the band’s brand new stage attire coinciding with the release of their latest album “The One, Who Is Made Of Smoke”. The band already had a loyal dedicated following owing to their impressive and elaborate live show. They’ll have won new fans over as they churned out another high end performance and when combining new songs from this record with older classics, you have to admire their constant commitment to continuous improvement.
“I’ve never seen production like that, I’m impressed” my friend commented after never having seen the band before. Need I say more ?
https://www.facebook.com/cultoffireofficial
Now this would have been the chance to see Anaal Nathrakh again. However, a very late withdrawal meant that some changes to the lineup and a replacement were needed. As luck would have it, ⅔ of Doodswen were already on site so they quickly drafted in their third member and took a very late Club stage slot. Talk about clutch problem solving! Though the vacated main stage slot had to be filled…
Thy Light
Originally billed to headline the Club stage, the main stage void was filled by the atmospheric black metal act originating from Brazil. An act who’s deeply emotional assault on the senses fills a void in you that you didn’t know existed. All you need to do is listen to vocalist Paulo’s voice and the primitive and agonal gasps of sorrow to be reminded of a bleaker and darker side of the human psyche. A side only Thy Light’s music can tap into. I had remembered the band being a 4 piece when seeing them at Fortress 2024. Acting as a power trio meant that the sound was much crisper and sharper tonight, and not sacrificing any of their intensity. Or maybe this was due to the phenomenal acoustics in that main stage. In either case, Thy Light delivered.
https://www.facebook.com/officialthylight
After this, I needed to quickly make my way upstairs to the Club stage to see the next band. However, a very generous 10 minute gap between bands starting and finishing meant that this was much smoother and stress free. This meant I also had the opportunity to secure a prime viewing spot right up front for the next band on my list.
The Great Old Ones
A new band for me this evening, I had been drawn to the band’s solid live performance via the power of YouTube. I was getting very tired at this point, my feet aching and part of me was thinking “should I just rest? I’ll see them at Fortress Festival”. Well, I would have regretted it had I not. I had some reservations about being so close, especially as the band uses a three guitar and bass assault on the senses. However, this meant I got to become more immersed and engrossed in this glorious post and progressive spin on black metal! I’ll need to see them again at the upcoming Fortress Festival and listen to more of their new release “Kadath”.
https://www.facebook.com/thegreatoldones
Enslaved
Time for progressive death metallers and headline act hailing all the way from Norway. Their performance is always polished and refined on this the fifth time I have seen it in the flesh and for the first time outside of Manchester. I did wonder if this felt too polished at times as there didn’t seem to be any major efforts gone into the stage production, especially when compared to the other bands. Though this may just be me nitpicking. After all, Enslaved were all business on stage. Despite having utterly complex sound and compositional structures, it’s remarkable how they remained so sharp and in time with one another with no note ever out of place. Grutle seemed genuinely grateful and happy to be there and seemed moved by the fans shouting for their favourite songs from their extensive back catalogue. A well rounded show and fitting for a line up of this quality.
https://www.facebook.com/enslaved
Day Two
After some shuteye, some brief sightseeing and breakfast from the local market, it was time to do it all again. The tram ride felt so much easier this time and added a sense of comfort knowing how efficient getting to and from the venue could be. Upon arriving and another pilgrimage to the merch stand, we made a beeline for the main stage…
Vemod
The Norwegian progressive black metallers were on my must watch list, hence occupying a prime viewing spot at the barrier. A few minutes into the set and I felt anxious; the drums felt overpowering and the levels all wrong. “This is going to be a long day” I thought. Well, some magic dust was sprinkled onto the sound desk and everything started to click. The atmospheric qualities, the melodic focal points, as well as the blistering heavier vocals intertwined with the ethereal and haunting cleans. This adds that ‘progressive’ element into black metal and a statement of their commitment to writing music in the genre on their terms. Please keep doing this!
https://www.facebook.com/vemodmusic
Pothamus
There’s post metal bands who break conventions and do things differently. Then there’s bands who completely tear up the rule books. Then there’s Pothamus! More of a ritual than a live show, there was something hypnotic and all consuming about this performance. Maybe it was the drummer’s nonconventional tribalesque drumming patterns. Maybe it was the contrasting calmer ambient passages that transitioned to overwhelming and crushing soundscapes. Maybe it was the fully animated movement of the musicians on stage making you really feel and believe their performance. In either case this was sublime and the late move to the main stage was definitely a smart move as they’re a band who deserve that level of respect.
https://www.facebook.com/Pothamus
Hellripper
Arguably Scotland’s fastest rising metal band, there’s been a huge buzz about the blackened thrash metal act. One that in all honesty I just didn’t understand prior to the show. Though I’ve been proven wrong multiple times and wanted to see this live. Their faster thrash approach certainly made them stand out but for all the right reasons, adding a much welcome injection of energy into the stage. Short sharp bursts of songs were something different indeed. The crowd certainly felt it as I saw the first pits of the weekend and even a crowd surfer! Whilst this may not go on my Spotify playlist, I certainly admire what they brought to the event and can only really think of positives.
https://www.facebook.com/Hellripper1
Dragged Into Sunlight
The main event and perhaps the biggest draw of the evening. Many had camped out in the main stage after Hellripper had finished, myself included. This speaks to how highly anticipated their appearance was, the first time the band had played in Belgium since…well a very long time ago! Just seeing the stage backline being dismantled and the sheer quantity of amplifiers being assembled served as an ominous sign for the destruction of the senses that was about to take place. Lemme tell you, my senses were obliterated on this night. Being at the barrier meant there was nowhere to hide from the strobe lighting assault, and wave after wave of the most visceral and primitive death metal ever conjured up from the minds of the most sadistic composers. This will be overwhelming for many, and certainly not for the faint of heart. But I feel honoured to say that I’ve seen “Hatred For Mankind” played in full twice now, as this may never happen again.
https://www.facebook.com/draggedintosunlight
That was going to take some getting over and some time for my senses to return to some semblance of normality! Though I would have to quickly make a beeline to Club again for another of my unmissables for the weekend…
Groza
Coming to the final furlong. Now matter how tired mentally or physically I was, I couldn’t miss Groza as I had many tracks from their latest record “Nadir” heavy on my rotation in the weeks leading to the festival. I’ve admired their approach to black metal for some time; a more primitive hardcore edge blended with aesthetic and warm memories. I got to feel all of this in full live and enjoyed having a good old sing along to the likes of ‘Elegence Of Irony’ and ‘Dysthemian Dreams’. An experience I’m unsure that I’ll get to experience in the UK given how infrequently they play here so I’m glad to have seen this tonight.
https://www.facebook.com/grozaband
Suffocation
A seminal death metal act now deep into their third decade as a band, Suffocation’s impact on the metal scene as a whole cannot be underestimated. They showed us how death metal should be done in a clinical performance that relied on crushing technique and mastery of the instruments rather than pointless down tuning and breakdowns. Ricky Myers will never be Frank Mullen. Though he has done remarkably well to fill this cavernous gap in the band staying true to Frank’s iconic vocal style yet still feeling authentic. Speaking of vocalists, a spontaneous cameo from Andrew’s Carcosa on vocals was a pleasant surprise! The band’s intensity woke up a tiring crowd as they erupted into multiple circle pits. The band seemed to be tiring as this was the final leg of a grueling European tour. They still gave a solid effort and certainly cannot be accused of half-assing anything. I’m glad to have finally ticked off this band from my bucket list, as they closed out the main stage.
https://www.facebook.com/suffocation
Austere
Alongside Fuming Mouth playing in Cafe, Austere were the final act of the weekend. Their slower and melodic approach to black metal acted as a palette cleanser and a chance for some respite. They opened their set with ‘Thrall’, something I was very pleased about given that it was amongst my favourites of 2024. Unfortunately the crowd was beginning to thin. Especially with so many tiring feet and sore heads. I sadly was one of them and had to leave 30 minutes into this set. With this being said, I’ll be sure to catch them again.
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialAustere
A national strike and unplanned day and night in Charleroi may have been a somewhat anticlimactic end to this weekend. However, this gave me time to slowly begin processing the events of the weekend. The date for next year’s edition has been published. Mark it in your calendars and make a trip to Antwerp. With the wonderful local cuisine, stunning architecture (Het Steen castle is a must see), and efficient public transport, this offers something other trips to Europe cannot. You won’t regret it!
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Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Oli Gonzalez, and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
