Devastation on the Nation Tour ‘22: Rotting Christ, Borknagar, Abigail Williams, Ghost Bath, Vale of Pnath, & Stormruler Invade The Masquerade!
Devastation on the Nation this year features my Greek brethren Rotting Christ, Borknagar, Abigail Williams, Ghost Bath, Vale of Pnath, and Stormruler. Many of you may remember that this tour was to take place in 2020 with Rotting Christ, Borknagar, Wolfheart, Abigail Williams, and Imperial Triumphant… well we know how that played out. Then the following year they tried again with the same line up but once again had to cancel due to the pandemic. Many issues plagued this and many tours during this dark time. Fast forward to present day and a little lineup adjustment, these bands have been waiting a few years to come stateside and melt faces! Finally, the time had come for this tour to make its way through Atlanta and play The Masquerade so I can be with my Greek brothers in metal once again!
Rotting Christ is a black/gothic metal that originated from Athens, Greece back in 1987. Over their career, they have released thirteen (13) LPs, one (1) EP, and numerous demos, singles, and DVDs material. The band consists of Sakis Tolis (lead vocals/rhythm guitar/keyboards/bass (studio only), Themis Tolis (drums), Kostas “Spades” Heliotis (bass/backing vocals), and Kostis Foukarakis (lead guitar/backing vocals). Rotting Christ, without a doubt, are regarded as one of the founders of the Greek black metal scene and to this day carry a faithful following across the globe. After years of listening to them, my first time seeing Rotting Christ live was in 2015 when they opened for Mayhem and Wattain at the original Masquerade in Atlanta.
I remember first hearing Non Serviam in 1996, which was a few years past its release in 1994, and then finding out that Rotting Christ was a Greek band. Without hesitation, I delved into what I could find on this band and have not stopped ever since! Now, six and a half (6 ½) years later I am lucky enough to be behind the lens watching them slay it for the faithful people in attendance at The Masquerade! Seeing the crowd react to the exuberance displayed by Rotting Christ while performing proved that I was not the only one waiting patiently for this tour to hit Atlanta. The crowd seemed in-sync with the band as they played some great tracks from their lengthy discography during this tour stop.
Want to hear some of Rotting Christ’s music? Head over to their Official Rotting Christ Bandcamp page today and give them some support!
Borknagar is a heavy metal band from Norway that began back in 1995 by Oystein Garnes Brun. The band has released eleven (11) LPs since their inception. The band consists of Oystein Garnes Brun (rhythm/lead guitars), ICS Vortex aka Simen Hestnaes (lead/backing vocals/bass), Lazare aka Lars A. Nedland (keyboard/backing vocals/lead vocals), Bjorn Dugstad Ronnow (drums), and Jostein Thomassen (lead/rhythm guitar). Here is Borknagar’s set list from this tour stop:
· “The Fire That Burns”
· “Frostbite”
· “The Rhymes of the Mountain”
· “Up North”
· “Voices”
· “Colossus”
· “Ruins of the Future”
· “Winter Thrice”
You can follow this link to Borknagar’s Official Bandcamp page today and see what they are about!
Abigail Williams is a black metal band from Phoenix, Arizona that formed back in 2004. The band has released five (5) LPs and two (2) EPs. The band consists of Ken “Sorceron” Bergeron (guitars/vocals), John Porada (bass), Vance Valenzuela (guitars), and Gabe Seeber (drums). This is the setlist for Abigail Williams at The Masquerade:
· “I Will Depart”
· “Sun and Moon”
· “Ever So Bold”
· “Black Waves”
· “Into the Sleep”
· “The Final Failure”
Curious about Abigail Williams? No worries. Follow this link to Abigail William’s Official Bandcamp page today and give them a listen!
Ghost Bath (Blackgaze/post-metal/black metal), from Minot, North Dakota and consists of Dennis Mikula (vocals), Tim Church, John Olivier, Josh Jaye, and Jason Hirt. Ghost Bath has released four (4) LPs and one (1) EP since forming as a band in 2012.
Check out their setlist below:
· “Convince Me to Bleed”
· “Sanguine Mask”
· “Shrines of Bone”
· “Hide from the Sun”
· “Flickering Wicks of Black”
· “A Crystal Lattice”
Just like the bands previously mentioned, follow this link to Ghost Bath’s Official Bandcamp page so you can hear their music!
Vale of Pnath (technical death metal), from Denver, Colorado, formed as a band back in 2006 and has released two (2) LPs and two (2) EPs. Currently, the band consists of Ken Sorceron (vocals), Andy Torres (bass), Eric W. Brown (drums), and Vance Valenzuela (guitars). The name is a reference to a vast pit in H.P. Lovecraft’s underworld. In his writings, the “vale is filled with a mountain-sized heap of bones and Night-gaunts often carry helpless victims to the vale, where they are left to die”. Here is the set list from this night at The Masquerade:
· “The Darkest Gate”
· ‘Spectre of Bone”
· New song unknown
· New song unknown
· “Accursed”
Head over to Vale of Pnath’s Official Bandcamp page and give them a listen!
Stormruler (black metal), from St. Louis, Missouri, consists of Jason Asberry (vocals/guitars), Dave Palenske (guitars), and Jesse Schobel (drums). They have released one (1) LP: Under the Burning Eclipse (2021) since forming as a band in 2019. Check out the setlist from this night below:
· “Reign of the Winged Duke”
· “Blood of the Old Wolf”
· “Sacred Rites & Black Magic”
· New song unknown
· “Of Hollowed Souls & Distant Flame”
Finally, head over to Stormruler’s Official Bandcamp page and give them some love!
FYI, there are still some dates left to catch the Devastation on the Nation Tour:
May 17, 2022 - Haltom Theater Haltom City, TX
May 18, 2022 - Come and Take It Live Austin, TX
May 20, 2022 - The Nile Theater Mesa, AZ
May 21, 2022 - Brick by Brick San Diego, CA
May 22, 2022 - Church of the 8th Day Los Angeles, CA
Curious about Concerthopper? You can find more music related articles, interviews, various photo galleries, indie music reviews, our very own ‘Bars & Bites’ section, our exclusive “She Said, She Said” column, or become a Concerthopper at www.concerthopper.com. Sign up for our monthly newsletter by following this link: The Setlist! Please ‘Like’ our page on Facebook and follow us on Instagram to stay up to date in 2022 on all music related events/festivals such as: Moon River Music Festival, Riverbend Festival, AmericanaFest 2022, East of the Sun Tour w/STS9 at The Eastern, Knocked Loose: Live at Town Ballroom (Buffalo), The Chaos & Carnage Tour ’22 @ The Masquerade, Alice Cooper: Live at Trivoli Theatre – Walker Theatre - Memorial Auditorium, bauhaus: Live at Tabernacle, Motion City Soundtrack: Live at Town Ballroom (Buffalo), Motionless in White: Live at Buffalo Riverworks, North America 2022: Elder/Ruby the Hatchet/Dreadnought (The Earl-Atlanta), Bonobo Fragments Live Tour at The Eastern, & Jungle: Live at The Eastern by following us on all social media formats: Concerthopper on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Also, you can follow my personal concert hopping on Facebook and Instagram for even more photos not available on Concerthopper.com.