Gig Review: Zustand Null, Sworn, Andakt in Oslo, Norway
Revolver, Oslo, Norway
T’was the evening of the 25th of May as the famed Revolver in Oslo transformed into a cauldron of darkness, riffs, and sheer black metal ferocity as Screaming Skull Records presented an unforgettable lineup. The evening promised a trinity of black metal acts, each bringing their unique brand of malevolence to the stage. With Zustand Null, Sworn, and the debut of Andakt, the crowd was treated to a night that will be etched in fried brain for at least two weeks! I reached out to Erlend from Screaming Skull Records several weeks to enquire about the event and he was kind enough to invite yours truly to witness the carnage first hand. So, I hopped on a plane and away I went to one of Black Metal’s holiest lands.
As I got to Oslo I was shocked at the prices of beer and the amount of sun there was, so I quickly got a bank loan to pay for my six pack of beer and headed to Revolver for the show. When I arrived I could feel the air was rich with black metalness and drunken Scandinavians that I either couldn’t understand or who didn’t speak two words. I knew I was in the right place!
So I got myself another beer, did a cute selfie video where several people turned down interviews and asked me who the fuck I was, and got ready to witness the brutality of the evening. Kicking off the night was Andakt, the one-man black metal project turned live spectacle. Hailing from Enebakk, Savarak, the sinister mind behind Andakt, assembled a live band to bring his blasphemous creations to life for the first time. The air was thick with anticipation as the lights dimmed and the eerie intro set the tone.
As the opening notes of “Andakt” reverberated through Revolver, the crowd was immediately engulfed in something really amazing and bone-crushingly addictive. Savarak’s presence was commanding, his vocals a guttural invocation that seemed to summon the very spirits he sang about. The transition into “Mørkets Kosmos” was seamless, a journey into the dark cosmos that had everyone mesmerised. For a band playing their first live show they were very on point and you couldn’t ask for much more. Clean mix of vocals and guitar work, there was definitely a synergy as the drumming and riffs interplayed wonderful. The acoustics of the Revolver were also surprisingly good, elevating the tone of the band to an even better level. By the time they closed with “Ritual of Angzhar,” the audience was left in a state of dark euphoria.
For a debut, Andakt’s performance was nothing short of exceptional, setting a high bar for the evening. I would later meet with Savarak and discuss his band, carpentry and he would he even show and gift me one of the wooden, handcrafted shields he made for the show. So, thank you brother for the hospitality and I urge everyone to give Ritual of Angzhar a listen and I’m not just saying that because he’s an epic fucking dude, but because I literally became an even bigger fan after the live show! - P.S. I recommend Nomadic Slavery on repeat!
Following brutal attack from Andakt was Sworn, the melodic black metal torchbearers from Bergen. With a reputation that precedes them, Sworn’s rare live appearances are always a treat. The crowd, already warmed up by Andakt, was more than ready for what was to come. From the first riffs of “A Godless Domain,” Sworn enveloped Revolver in their signature cold, melodic sound. I also loved how they played MY favourite song right from the start. It set the mood for the rest of the setlist, honestly.
The interplay between the guitars and the atmospheric keyboards was nothing short of sublime, super tight, each note perfectly crafted to transport the audience to a godless domain indeed. “Visions of Fire” and “Mot Stupet” were highlights, as well, as the former’s blazing riffs and the latter’s melancholic melodies showcased the band’s range. These guys are basically the Daniel-Day-Lewis’ of Bergen!
The performance of “Monumental” was exactly that – a monumental moment that solidified Sworn’s place as one of the most essential acts in the black metal underground and one that I personally think is highly underrated. Closing with “Calamity Sea,” the band left the stage amidst roaring applause, the crowd’s voices merging into one united scream of appreciation. If you missed Sworn at Revolver, prepare to regret it for a lifetime.
Headlining the night were Zustand Null, the Oslo-based quartet known for their dissonant and haunting blend of black and death metal. Their debut album, “Beyond the Limit of Sanity,” has been making waves, and their live performances as well. The dark, atmospheric intro set the stage, and as Zustand Null launched into “Existence Nihil,” the crowd was thrust into a maelstrom of dissonance and despair. Each track was a journey deeper into madness, with “Ocean of Nightmares” and “Coma Vigil” delivering a one-two punch that left the audience reeling.
Sworn taking a cute photo with Chort!
“Mirror Maze” was a highlight, its labyrinthine riffs and haunting melodies that left me wanting more. “The Fall (pt. I Eigengrau)” was performed with such intensity that it felt like the very walls of Revolver were closing in. The vocals were insane though, I think one image that will never leave me is Matthew just screaming with his black eyes at me as though we were falling through a wormhole into the underworld. Or maybe I just lost myself in his magical gaze…I dunno…but I certainly loved it!
The debut of their new song, “Stranger than Myself,” hinted at even darker things to come, a tantalizing taste of the future of Zustand Null. Closing with “Walls of Life,” the band delivered a performance that was both brutal and beautiful, a fitting end to a night that explored the furthest reaches of black metal’s potential.
Revolver, with its intimate yet electrifying atmosphere, proved to be the perfect venue for this night of black metal majesty. The sound was impeccable, the crowd fervent, and each band delivered performances that will be talked about in hushed, reverent tones for years to come.
In a genre where authenticity and passion reign supreme, Zustand Null, Sworn, and Andakt showed exactly why black metal continues to thrive in the underground. Each band brought their unique vision to the stage, creating a night that was as diverse as it was unified in its dedication to the dark arts.
When I wasn’t getting my eardrum pummelled by being directly next to the speakers I managed to talk to many of the band members, Max from Sworn, Jan and Savarak, and even some old and new fans of the bands. Some lovely blokes even bought me Sworn merch as I couldn’t set up the goddamn Vipps app and the bands didn’t take PayPal, so I had to thank them all in beer. And so we drank and chatted long into the night (11 pm because I’m a sleepy boy) about the performances and Norway’s current black metal scene, and of course Silencer, the greatest band in the world.
Thanks to everyone who was at the show and so welcoming. Thank you to the bands and of course Screaming Skull for putting on such a wicked event for us heathens. Oslo is fucking amazing and you Norwegians will forever have a special place in my heart, right next to Sweden and above Denmark.
If you wanna see our cute little concert reel check out our Instagram page here.
Onlyfans page coming soon!
Check out the setlist below:
Andakt
1. Intro
2. Andakt
3. Calling upon The Dark Spirits (intro)
4. Mørkets Kosmos
5. Ritual of Angzhar
Sworn
1. A Godless Domain
2. Grand Eclipse
3. Prophecies from the Land of Lost Voices
4. Visions of Fire
5. Mot Stupet
6. The Dreadful
7. Monumental
8. Calamity Sea
Zustand Null
1. Intro
2. Existence Nihil
3. Ocean of Nightmares
4. Coma Vigil
5. Mirror Maze
6. Intro
7. The Fall (pt. I Eigengrau)
8. At the Limit of Sanity
9. Stranger than Myself (new song)
10. Intro
11. Walls of Life
