Live report ALCEST, SVALBARD & DOODSESKADER, Gruenspan, Hamburg – December 3rd, 2024

A package of three bands started a European tour in Zagreb, Croatia on October 21, 2024, and it is 1.5 months later when Alcest and support bands stop at Gruenspan, Hamburg. It is a typical Hamburg evening – dark and wet – when a long queue of fans line up in front of the venue waiting for the doors to open.

The first band on stage tonight is Doodseskader, which means ‘death squad’. I haven’t heard of the band before and what the duo delivers is overwhelming. You can like or dislike the fusion of sludge, hardcore and metal, but the power that Tim de Gieter and Sigfried Burroughs produce is impressive. With almost manic ecstasy the duo plays songs that cover everything from mellow tones to raging outbursts. Supported by a projection on the backdrop, including all the lyrics of the songs, Doodseskader’s show becomes a multimedia event. It’s like witnessing a dystopian fever dream with pounding drums, roaring bass and two musicians sharing the vocals. All in all the band started the evening in a good way.

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It takes a while until Svalbard begin their show. Although the stage change doesn’t take too long, the fans have to wait quite a while before the quartet hammers the first riff into the room. Since the projection is still on, some guys even use the time for some shadow theater activities.

Finally, the band from Bristol opens with “Eternal Spirits”, which is the starting point for 45 minutes of post-hardcore with a massive crust punk touch. The guys have a bit of a rough start as the vocals almost disappear in the first minutes, but the problem is solved during the first song. It’s a wild and furious show with Serena Cherry barking out vocals while the high pitched screams of Liam Phelan are a dynamic counterpart. Despite the rough vocals, the band also includes some melodic guitar lines and the fans in the front row are really excited about what they are about to hear.

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Getting the stage ready for Alcest also takes some time. The band puts a lot of effort into combining the music and the visual impact to create a holistic experience for their fans. This includes some grass on both sides of the stage as well as extra lighting and two large carpets that cover the stage floor.
When Neige and Winterhalter, along with their two touring musicians (Pierre “Zero” Corson on guitar and Indria Saray on bass), start the show, a special magic fills the room. “Komorebi” is the first song on the setlist and establishes the mood for the evening. The song is taken from the latest album “Les Chants de l’aurore” and is one of five tunes that fans can enjoy from this longplayer.

Tonight’s set includes songs that span the entire musical history of the band, as we also go back in time to 2007 with “Souvenirs d’un autre monde”.

Regardless of whether you listen to the newer songs or some classics from the early days, it is this strong emotional impact that ties these songs together into a whole. In the 90 minute playing time Alcest create a special mood. Melancholy and wistfulness are part of this emotional rollercoaster that also serves as an escape into a dream world. It’s a very atmospheric moment at Gruenspan and you can see the fascination in the faces of the audience.

Alcest release excellent albums, but at the same time it’s the live shows that leave a mark. Not only are Alcest able to reproduce on stage what they have recorded for an album. The intensity of the live show is even stronger. After having played quite a few shows on this tour, there are no signs of tiredness or routine tonight. Especially Alcest seem to live in the moment and are deep in their own music. This show is worth checking out.