16-09-2010 Liturgy

Supports: Andy Moor & Christine Sehnaoui; Venue: OT301, Amsterdam (Netherlands)
By: Sabine van Gameren

The evening was maybe not the most expectable ones when going for the Black Metal act Liturgy and finding some different sort of supports on the menu as well. In Amsterdam this venue called OT301 had them together and however it might not be the most likely match, the acts seem to fit together better than expected.

All different sorts of lamps above the bar, dusty discoballs and a remarkable clean floor was there to find. A real stage was nowhere to be found but it didn’t seem to matter. At the first act, Andy Moor the experimental guitarist and Christine Sehnaoui a maybe even more experimental saxophonist a lot of people simply went sitting down on the floor to watch it full tension. It was interesting to see how quiet it was and how careful people bothered to listen to this. Interesting duo to see, though they did not play very long.
Up next a dj had its turn, but he could not really interest me. A couple of people went to watch him, but an equal amount of people found their way to the bar.

A bit more than a year ago the band Liturgy coming from New York, USA released their album “Renihilation” and on Tempelores we could have nothing but good comments on them (review). That brings up with quite some expectations for this evening live, but the Americans seem to deal with it quite well.

The seemed quite timid, hardly looking into the crowd, rather forgetting that they are there than speaking much or make that connection on another way, but they let the music do the work for them. Most of their music is instrumental orientated. Vocals here and there added but it is that melodic storm of guitars coming to you that strikes you. Drums are smartly placed in the moment and even though this is Black Metal, the artistic crowd that came to this place could find their pleasure in listening to the band as well. It seems like Liturgy started to built some bridges and attract a wide audience as some typical metal fans were in the crowd as well. This audience really wanted the band to play some more after the set which they gave into.
What’s left for them is to built on their personality, to become that charismatic band that with just a look to the persons up there makes you feel like listening even before they had started playing.