Lack of traditional attributes of "black metal image" stroked with sincerity, especially in contrast with Big Moscow Clownery, aka Exhibition of New Rocks and Vinyl Panties. Phantom, new vocalist of the band, participant of cult Russian Black Metal formation DAEMONOLATREIA (Samara) deserves separate mention.
Music: Mourn of overworld graves. Dixi.

Then there was almost one-and-a-half-an-hour break, before the Swedes' performance. As the matter of fact it wasn't on schedule, but was carried off by public listening of the latest masterpiece of ITHDABQUTH QLIPHOTH. Some technical problems occurred during scene decoration; as WATAIN are known for wide visualization of their ideological doctrine, they could leave it aside for such an exclusive and substandard Event. Fortunately for the venue owners, due to incompetence of local cattle slaughter authorities, headliners couldn't use blood, declared in rider, and intended for spilling all over the scene and the hall. Nonetheless, four impaled pig heads, coupled with chains, crosses and torches fully compensated such a heavy loss. It should me mentioned, that instead of "permanent" session bassist, who couldn't attend an arrangement, Mr. Set Teitan (ex-ABORYM member and present guitarist of reborn Death/Black Metal legend DISSECTION) came along with the band. Special feature of Russian WATAIN performance was sound engineering, done by Mr. Tore Stjerna (aka Necromorbus), the personality, who needs to be introduced only for poor in spirit. Concerning certain characteristics of Russian rock clubs, he did everything possible to create adequate vision of The Ritual.

Despite the fact that sound of first two songs was far from ideal, he, unlike other visitant "maestro" repaired a situation, as the result, the following material was accepted well enough, even by those, who heard it for the first time. Describing headliners' stage performance is a hard job to do. Moreover, the photo gallery, given hereby, reflects spirit and atmosphere of the event poorly. Possessed act participants were syncretic nearly-anthropomorphic organism, thrusting maddening, destructive, darkest energy of Orthodox Black Metal. Traditional BM of Swedish School, with slight touches of early MAYHEM & DISSECTION, sounded like an insight, with all the sincerity of the beginning of 90-ties - totally unlike many nowadays "BM authorities". WATAIN were playing material from both longplays, as well as 2 exclusive tracks - "My Fists Are Him" (available in studio version only on 7" split with DIABOLICUM) and cover version on VON classical composition, which, in fact, has given WATAIN its name. The only reason of frustration for enlightened part of the audience was a lack of magnificent track - "Casus Luciferi", though it was to sound live for much more involved audience.

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