Where
02 Forum, Kentish Town, London
The London audience are advised to hold on tight or get blown away as Abbath visit The Forum this winter. One of the most anticipated comebacks to date in the black metal scene, Abbath, returns with a new band and the new album Abbath in the bag. All is set for Abbath to once more take over the black metal world.
When the easily recognisable front man Abbath announced leaving the legendary black metal band Immortal in 2015, effectively laying the band to rest, it shook the foundations of the metal world. Abbath is now ready to once more give the audience a harsh blow of trademark Bergen-based Black Metal, with his eponymous band, where bass player King (known from Gorgoroth) and drummer Creature join him, as does an additional guitarist for live shows. Those who find their way to The Forum at 23 January, must expect to be met by massively dense material, delivered by a band eager to conquer the black metal scene once more.
On their concert at The Forum, Norwegian Black Metal band Abbath will play material from their new album. Photo: Ester Segarra
The aggressiveness and cold expression that Abbath is known for in his earlier work is still prominent on his new album Abbath. However, the new album bears witness of a band that is also capable of writing material leaning heavily on more catchy and melodic heavy metal, listing inspiration from bands such as Bathory and Motörhead, and even Kiss.
As well as plenty from the new album, due to be released January 22nd but already available for streaming via Metal Hammer, Abbath will also be playing classic Immortal material and gems from his impressive catalogue spanning over the last two decades. Metal Wani has reviewed the album, which they call “refreshing”, and write that the band has “captured what is essentially black metal with ease”. Further, the production quality of the album is highlighted as a finding of a “sweet spot in production quality that can set trends in time to come”.
Added to the line-up are also Ireland’s Primordial, the US’ The Black Dahlia Murder and France’s Benighted. Metal Hammer DJs Alexander Milas and Jonathan Selzer set the scene with a suitable soundtrack to the evening. As a warm up to the London concert, which is most likely to be an event with explosive energy – check out Abbath’s crushing live act of Fenrir Hunts below.
