Draconian, Harakiri For The Sky & Sojourner // 21.1.2019 / Stengade, Copenhagen (LIVE REVIEW)

By Xenia Kromann

The Sovereign Arsonists Tour MMXIV arrived yesterday in Copenhagen where Draconian, Harakiri for the Sky and Sojourner was gathered to play for us at Stengade. With a tour that almost just started, they had their fourth stop in the heart of Copenhagen and with twelve more stops on their tour.

This was something that I had been looking forward to for a while now, especially Sojourner since they only had been playing live together such a small amount of times. I have been listening to them for some time now and for me, it is a sensitive genre to put out there in a live version. Since there are so many elements that are just made for soundscaping and with that touch of magic it is almost impossible to get the sound live. There are so many precious things within the sound that can be ruined by going the live direction for these kinds of bands.

For the first time, Sojourner was here in Copenhagen with their atmospheric black metal. Early last year they released their second album “The Shadowed Road” where we had the pleasure of hearing them play ‘Titan’ which sadly was the only song that was listenable this witching hour. All the instrument's sound ruined everything because it was so out of tact besides both vocals from Chloe and Emilio. I really hoped that they would have brought Jenny Messenger on flute to give that extra feeling but sadly they had it on playback. You could tell that they loved being on that stage to perform their music but the sound did just not tell that. This kind of music should not be played at venues like Stengade or any closed, small, dark or claustrophobic places because it ruins everything that was even there to begin with. I hope to catch them at some festival or some other place that really catches the spirit and magic that is created within the music.

Congratulations on signing Napalm Records!

Suddenly the venue got extremely hot and it was almost not possible to be there without being naked. The second band was Harakiri for the Sky that was back at Stengade for the second time since 2017. Last year they released their fourth album “Arson” which they wrapped around a few songs. Last month I had the opportunity to grab them at Eindhoven Metal Meeting and that was an energetic show that was hard to forget compared to this one. They started out with a couple of songs and it seemed like they needed to gather some courage or get warmed up cause it was spiritless like the sound. As the show grew so did they, the vocals was now full of life and so was everybody on that stage, it was a great mix of songs, and they should make a playlist! Harakiri for the Sky was the best act for the night and even to the point where the audience was also filled with the most efficiency.

Headliners for the show was Swedish gothic/ doom metallers Draconian and from one second to another the stage was filled with more people than before even if you did not think it was possible. From the crowd rumors of the frontman Anders Jacobsson being sick was going around and therefore the show was going to be shorter. Nothing seemed to be leading in that dirrection and his spirit was full of life. Though their frontwoman Heike Langhans that had cuttet her long beautiful hair off seemed a little off. The mood was set and if you werent in it the music would not be speaking to you at all. Due to the extreme hot situation, it was unbearable to be at the venue and one's concentration disappeared very quickly. They played a good handfull of songs from all around their latest albums.

We are sorry about the pictures but we could not use any we took with our camera. Here is some of Harakiri for the Sky at Eindhoven Metal Meeting 2018 (From December).