Supports: Cold Union Location: Willemeen, Arnhem (Netherlands) She Past Away is on tour and played Willemeen, Arnhem this night.
Cold Union
Cold Union opened the evening with a haunting, tightly-wound set that immediately set a moody tone for the night.
The Polish duo (Julie & Charles Morose), now based in the Netherlands, came on stage and began the set with their signature blend of post-punk melancholy and icy synth textures.
Vocals were restrained yet emotionally raw and threaded through the songs like a quiet confession. Their stage presence was minimal in theatrics, but strong in feeling: the two seemed deeply attuned to the mood they were crafting, exchanging glances, riding tension rather than pushing for big moments — which, in this genre, is often more compelling. The way they used the lights to strengthen the atmosphere was contributing to the show significantly.
Musically, the set had well-chosen dynamics. As the set progressed, more of the electronic underbelly came forward, with heavier bass, more echo or delay, building to a climactic last part.
Perhaps the only criticism is that some of the transitions between songs felt slight; Some tracks could have benefited from more contrast or more distinct pacing shifts. Still, as a support act, Cold Union more than succeeded in warming up the room, seeing how many people were dancing to their tunes.
She Past Away
When She Past Away took over, the room seemed to pulse with expectation. The Turkish dark-wave formation brought their signature sound: sharp, piercing guitars drenched in chorus and reverb; basslines that are both propulsive and brooding; drum machines that kick with purpose. Their minimalism isn’t emptiness but rather a kind of precise sculpting of space, letting every detail matter.
The lighting played also a key role with them: low contrast, with occasional strobes or sudden brighter washes to accentuate climactic peaks, but mostly shrouded in shadows. The crowd was dancing well to the tunes. Turkish lyrics added to the sense of mystique; even for non-Turkish speakers, the emotional delivery transcended language.
Mid-set, they stepped up the intensity: guitar solos more pronounced, the rhythm section (synth + bass + drum machines) locking in tighter, creating a groove that drove forward even in their more melancholic moments.
One of the strengths of She Past Away came through in their setlist: balancing fan favorites and deeper cuts, maintaining both ritualistic darkness and melodic hooks.
In terms of performance, the band was confident, focused. There was minimal crowd interaction — not because of lack of warmth, but because this music (and the audience) seems to prefer letting the music speak.
