Kataklysm / KK’s Steelmill / Wolverhampton
A trip from the East to West midlands and to the brilliant KK’s Steelmill in Wolverhampton, to check out some of the best death metal from around the world, headlined by Kataklysm on their ‘Freedom or Death’ UK and EU tour.
First up on stage is a real treat, Norwegian death metallers Blood Red Throne. Formed in Kristiansand, back in 1998 by former Satyricon live guitarist Daniel "Død" Olaisen. Pre-show there’s a real buzz about seeing Blood Red Throne tonight, known for their more pure form of detah metal and energetic live performances.
Daniel "Død" Olaisen (guitar) is the only founding member left but he is joined by Sindre Wathne Johnsen (vocals), Ivan "Meathook" Gujic (guitar), Stian "Gunner" Gundersen (bass), and Freddy Bolsø (drums).
They’ve released twelve albums so far from their 2001 debut “Monument of Death” to 2025’s “Siltskin”.
And Blood Red Throne did not disappoint the eager Wolverhampton crowd ! The energy levels were insane and the sound was thunderous, driven by fast, relentless drums and gritty intense guitar riffs. The bass speakers pounded from under the stage, sending vibrations through our rib cages. Ivan "Meathook" Gujic was a beast on guitar, prowling the stage with boundless energy as they ripped through tracks such as Unleashing Hell, Every Silent Plea, Vermicular Heritage and Smite like a juggernaut on collision course.
The sound was crisp and clear, allowing each element to reach out of the mix for us to savour, Stian "Gunner" Gundersen’s bass being a highlight.
Blood Red Throne brought the noise, and the crowd responded with horns in the air, and heads banging right along the front row. A powerful and thoroughly enjoyable set to start off the night.
Next up we’re in the company of Polish death metal royalty, in the form of Vader. Formed in 1983 in Olsztyn, Vader was founded by then-bassist Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek and guitarist Zbigniew "Vika" Wróblewski. Vader have gone through a number of line up changes over the years with Wiwczarek the only constant. The current line up consists of Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek (vocals & guitar), Marek "Spider" Pająk (guitar), Tomasz "Hal" Halicki (bass), Michał Andrzejczyk (drums) and Maurycy "Mauser" Stefanowicz (guitar).
Vader have gone through a number of style changes too over the years, starting off as a more traditional heavy metal band, evolving into thrash metal before settling on a death metal style in the late ‘80’s. Releasing three demo albums “Live in Decay” (1986), “Necrolust” (1989), and “Morbid Reich” (1990), Vader then signed with Earache Records dropping their first studio album “The Ultimate Incantation” in 1992. They released their twelfth and most recent album “Solitude in Madness” in 2020.
The mist swirled round the stage and the lights dimmed and turned eerier green as Vader stepped out on to the stage.
Piotr took every opportunity to chat to the crowd between the songs and despite the high energy levels during the tracks, the crowd seemed muted and quiet on their interactions, drawing comment from Piotr about the lack of energy in the home of metal. This didn’t last long though and as the set built, the atmosphere ramped up level after level, and it didn’t take the Wolverhampton crowd long to get into the groove as we enjoyed a setlist packed with their greatest tracks such as Sothis, Fractal Light, Wings and Cold Demons.
Whilst Blood Red Throne are like a cannonball to the chest, Vader are more clinical, and the contrast in styles worked well as we built up to the headline set. The sound was crushing as they ripped through This Is The War and Dark Agebefore the set came to a close with the magnificent anthemic Helleluyah!!! (God Is Dead). Vader lined up and bowed as the crowd chanted their name.
Once again Vader showed they remain a live force.
The stage is cleared, the guitars plugged in and one last tune. Microphones tested, and mics precisely re-positioned around the drums in readiness for the arrival of Canadians Kataklysm.
Since forming in 1991, Kataklysm have released fifteen studio albums, form their 1995 debut “Sorcery” to 2023’s “Goliath’. Kataklysm are Maurizio Iacono (vocals), Jean-François Dagenais (guitar), Stephane Barbe (bass) and James Payne (drums).
Running out onto the stage, they waste no time in blasting into opening track Soul Destroyer and you can feel the atmosphere rise. Next is the equally intense Thy Serpents Tongue with it’s Slayer-esque solo guitar intro, before the complex drum rhythms are layered on, and an almost Sepultura vocal performance. It leads into more power and aggression with Goliath with its unrelenting power riffs.
Maurizio is on fire on vocals tonight and is clearly enjoying being back on tour in the UK after so long. Maybe my highlight track is Rabbit Hole their recent 2025 single with its pounding rhythmic intensity. Slower and not as intense at some of the other tracks, it delivers in terms of depth and darkness. A fantastic more mellow moment, made for head banging along to. It builds and builds to a riotous conclusion. The intense drums and vocals remind me somewhat of Kanonenfiber, so what’s not to love !
We enjoy a powerful drum solo from James which leads us into The Resurrected. The set just seems to build and get better and better, and perhaps the highlight is an amazing version of In Shadows & Dust. It’s introduced with the ominous words “Ultimately, we’re all dead men…..” which ring out from the speakers as the iconic and doom laden spoken word passage leads us into the intro proper and the crowd go wild. Its raw, guttural, and intense and we’re lapping it up, with Maurizio’s screams ripping through the venue.
From here the intensity just doesn’t drop once as we race through the huge grooves of As I Slither and Bringer Of Vengeance, which is followed by the incessant rhythmic pounding of Crippled & Broken. The set is well constructed and just delivers banger after banger, and finally things come to a glorious conclusion with Elevate from 2013’s “Wating for the End to Come”. A behemoth of a track, anthemic in it’s scale and energy. Fans are moshing, horns raised and voices loud as they celebrate at the alter of Kataklysm.
It’s been worth the wait to see Kataklysm and they certainly delivered a set to remember. Vader were as solid as ever and Blood Red Throne were the perfect opener. A night to remember.
Setlist
Soul Destroyer
Thy Serpents Tongue
Goliath
Die as a King
Prevail
Taking the World by Storm
The Rabbit Hole
Blood on the Swans
The Resurrected
In Shadows & Dust
As I Slither
Bringer of Vengeance
Crippled & Broken
Narcissist
The Black Sheep
Elevate
