Live Report: Satyricon (Floyd Live Music Venue

The stature of a band is not always a matter of subjective judgment, personal opinion, or social media numbers. There are bands that have earned their place through their discography, their history and, above all, their enduring presence on stage. SATYRICON undoubtedly belong to this category. Whether one loves their music or not, their influence and importance within black metal cannot be disputed.

Considering that it had been several years since they last visited our country, the sold-out show was hardly unexpected. In fact, the announcement came only a few hours before the show. The queue outside Floyd was already long from early on, while the venue had filled up well before the band’s scheduled appearance. The absence of a support act has become almost standard at Floyd shows, so a few minutes after 10 p.m., the members of the band began making their way onto the stage, led, of course, by their legendary frontman and leader, Satyr, aka Sigurd Wongraven. Accompanied by the sounds of “Midnight Serpent” and the first chants of “Satyricon, Satyricon” from the crowd, the almost two-hour ritual began.

A quick look at the extensive setlist made it clear that SATYRICON were determined to honour almost their entire discography, reaching as far as their penultimate album, “Deep Calleth Upon Deep”.

Those who had seen them live in the past had prepared me for a flawless performance, and they certainly lived up to their reputation. The band moved across the stage like a well-oiled machine, with Satyr firmly holding the reins. The headbanging was synchronized and relentless, to the point where I was tempted to throw some muscle relaxant pills onto the stage. Things were hardly calmer in front of it either, with crowdsurfing and a few small moshpits breaking out throughout the show.

I think it is unnecessary to talk about highlights or standout moments, since the intensity from both the band and the audience remained undiminished throughout the entire performance. My personal favourites, however, included the ominous “Black Crow on a Tombstone”, “Now, Diabolical”, one of their best-known songs, the distinctive “Hvite Krists Dodger”, which showcases their folk side, and, of course, the magnificent “Mother North” from “Nemesis Divina”. Thirty years after its release, this album continues to have a powerful impact on younger generations.

One of the moments that will certainly remain etched in everyone’s memory was Satyr’s speech about black metal. In a truly honourable moment for the Greek black metal scene, Satyr referred to legendary Greek bands such as VARATHRON, while he made special mention of NECROMANTIA. As he explained, discovering NECROMANTIA’s music helped him fully understand what Euronymous had been telling him about his vision for the Norwegian black metal scene. According to Euronymous, the essence is not simply about writing good songs or making good albums, but about ensuring that every album has its own identity and does not sound like any other.

It was precisely this philosophy that SATYRICON embraced as they built their own legend, a legacy they continue to preserve through their image and attitude. An attitude that projects a unique sense of grandeur and confidence on stage, while at the same time reflecting humility in everything else, as well as a certain detachment from current trends and fashions.

The ritual came to an end, as expected, with “K.I.N.G.”, a song many in the audience had been eagerly waiting for. It was almost midnight by then, yet very few people left as soon as the song ended. First, there had to be one final ovation, another chant — this time in full football-stadium fashion — followed, of course, by the band’s sincere thanks to the Greek audience.

I only hope it won’t take another eight years before we see them back in our part of the world.

Setlist