The announcement of this concert had hit like a bomb. It was a long-awaited event for the city, as the last time they visited the country, 20 years ago, the concert in Thessaloniki had been cancelled at the last minute.

Years passed, but the dedication to the band remained. I was fortunate to see them  two weeks before the Thessaloniki concert and knew what to expect. Carpathian Forest is at their best, the only difference being that the previous time I saw them was in their home country on the main stage of Inferno, while now I was going to see them in a club show at the most historic venue in Thessaloniki.

The moment we all were waiting for had arrived. The concert was opened by a very important band from the Greek black metal scene of the 90s, the Order of the Ebon Hand. The venue had filled early, and the Order of the Ebon Hand turned Eightball into a temple.

Throughout their performance, they built a very dark ritualistic atmosphere, where everyone was captivated by the incredible theatricality of Merkaal, the band’s frontman, known also from his recent involvement with Yoth Iria and previously with Nocternity.

The band was mesmerizing and took us on dark paths throughout their set. Thus, the crowd was properly prepared for what was to come. The lights went out, and only the familiar CF logo was visible on the projector.

The band took the stage, and everything turned blue. Last to take the stage was Nattefrost with a supermarket bag. The crowd cheered for him, and after a few push-ups, he kicked off the chaotic Norwegian rock ‘n’ roll.

The live show began with a classic like the entire tour, starting with “Vi åpner porten til helvete.” The crowd went wild from the first song. As usual in this venue, concerts by such names are accompanied by a lot of moshing, headbanging, and stage diving.

It brought a vibe straight from the 90s. The same happened here. The crowd went crazy, especially since the band was giving their best with a set-list of their greatest songs.

At one point, Nattefrost started handing out Norwegian flags and champagne to the people in the front. The crowd became one with the band, literally, as Atle Brekke took his bass and went into the crowd, reaching the bar at the other end of the venue.

The highlight was none other than the cover of “All my friends are dead” by Turbonegro. Overall, the concert was sick. It was one of the best performances by a Norwegian BM group in the city. Best of the best

Review and Photos Sotiris Zikas