Notredame Productions brought a night of black metal to Lisbon’s RCA Club on July 4, headlined by American black metal act Hulder as they made their long-awaited Portuguese debut.
Opening the evening, Portuguese black metal outfit Gandur, who set the tone with a powerful performance.
Gandur (full gallery below)
With the venue still filling up, Gandur emerged on stage.
Formed in 2023, the band performed with their faces concealed, while vocalist Aodh carried a totem crowned with what appeared to be a goat skull, surrounded by symbolic elements closely associated with pagan rituals.
Far more than a simple stage prop, the totem reflected the visual and conceptual identity at the heart of the band’s artistic vision, immediately establishing the atmosphere that defines both their image and their music.
Bathed in lighting dominated by red tones, they began their set, following a short introduction, with “Call of Cernunnos”, a single released after their debut EP, Heritage. From the very first notes, the band’s musical identity was unmistakable.
Harsh, rasping vocals intertwined with blistering guitar riffs and relentless drumming, while melodic passages and finely crafted solos added depth and texture to the compositions.
The result was a dynamic performance that immediately captured the audience’s attention and showcased the band’s confident and commanding stage presence.
Throughout the set, Gandur balanced previously released material with unreleased songs, including “Oath in the Circle of Fire” and “Into the Teutoburg Forest”. Performed consecutively, the two tracks brought the first half of the performance to a powerful close.
Following a brief interlude, Gandur returned to the stage, embracing the theatrical flair that has long been a hallmark of black metal. With the exception of Aodh, the band stood with their backs to the audience as “A Druid’s Chant” echoed through the venue. As the lighting shifted between deep red and blue hues, the musicians turned to face the crowd and launched into “The Invocation”, one of the standout moments of the set. The track’s intensity, matched by the band’s commanding performance, sparked an enthusiastic response from the audience. Maintaining that momentum, Gandur closed their performance with “The Desolation of Ravens”, bringing a powerful and assured set to a fitting conclusion.
Overall, Gandur delivered a confident and compelling performance. Although the venue was not at full capacity, they had little difficulty winning over those in attendance, maintaining an impressive level of intensity from start to finish. Their assured stage presence and strong musicianship left a lasting impression, firmly establishing them as a band with considerable promise.
Hulder (full gallery below)
Hulder took the stage for their long-awaited Portuguese debut.
Founded in 2018 by American multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Marz, the project has established itself as one of the most compelling names in contemporary black metal.
Firmly rooted in the genre while incorporating subtle folk influences into both its compositions and stage atmosphere, Hulder offers a performance that is as immersive as it is uncompromising. At its centre is Riesterer herself, whose commanding presence and ferocious vocal delivery immediately set the tone, her raw, piercing screams cutting effortlessly through the band’s dense and unrelenting sound.
Even before the first note was played, Hulder’s commitment to atmosphere was unmistakable. Dim lighting, warm amber hues, illustrated backdrops, and microphones entwined with gnarled roots transformed the stage into an immersive, ritualistic setting, perfectly preparing the audience for the dark musical journey that was about to unfold.
The performance wasted no time in making its impact. Atmospheric passages quickly gave way to blistering bursts of speed, a dynamic that would define the entire set and perfectly complement the haunting ambience created by the stage lighting. Launching into “A Beacon from Darkened Skies”, Hulder immediately drew the audience into the band’s bleak and uncompromising sonic world. Razor-sharp riffs, relentless intensity, and Hulder’s commanding vocal delivery established the tone from the very first moments, leaving little doubt about what was to follow.
This interplay between atmosphere and aggression remained a defining feature throughout the set without ever feeling repetitive. Haunting passages would suddenly erupt into blistering blasts, razor-sharp riffs, relentless double-bass drumming, and Hulder’s piercing vocal assault, creating an unyielding wall of sound. As the intensity continued to build, RCA Club was engulfed in the band’s crushing sonic force, with the audience responding enthusiastically from start to finish.
The setlist drew from across Hulder’s discography while also offering a glimpse of what lies ahead. The band introduced several tracks from the forthcoming album Verbolgen, due for release later this year. Among the highlights were the newly unveiled “View From Dementon”, performed early in the set, alongside “Drie Raven” and “…And We Shall Sing”, the latter bringing the evening to a powerful and memorable conclusion.
Although RCA Club was not sold out, it attracted a respectable crowd that responded enthusiastically to both performances throughout the evening. Gandur and Hulder each showcased impressive musicianship, professionalism, and commanding stage presence, delivering a night that more than satisfied the expectations of black metal fans. As the audience filtered out of the venue, cries of “Brutal!”, “That was incredible!”, and countless other words of praise echoed through the crowd, underscoring the success of a concert that marked Hulder’s long-awaited Portuguese debut.
Gandur
Hulder
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