Listening to their show from tonight, I sure think they`ve listened well to bands like Kreator, Slayer and Morbid Angel. It`s not that original, but the songs from Stigmatheist are performed very tight indeed and with a lot of energy. I heard that this band wants to change their name into INRI soon and that they`ll be recording another full length CD this year. Interested? Contact: Gerben, tel. 06-55166023.

With support act Gardenian having cancelled the show, next up were Swedish deaththrash outfit Darkane.

Even though the new album is quite a change, and perhaps a hard pill to swallow for the fanatics of the first album, the people who showed up tonight didn`t seem to mind the change.

Darkane started their blazing set with "Calamitas" and "Third", immediately proving the versatility of the new songs and once more affirming the capabilities of vocalist Andreas, who handled the screams, growls, gnars and the clean vocals with ease. Especially with the beginning tones of "July 1999" from the Rusted Angel album, one can hear that this band is not a collection of individuals, rather one tightly oiled machine.

Peter Wildoers sounds like a drum computer on speed, proving to be one of Scandinavian`s finest, but the twin melodies of Klas and Christofer backed by Jorgen`s bass slide through the songs like a razor through a wrist. And the audience agrees: even though the concert hall isn`t sold out, the atmosphere is all the better. And so follows the inevitable encore, including an incredible hommage to Slayer called "War In Blood", a perfect hybrid between "Reign In Blood" and "War Ensamble". Tonight`s gig must`ve convinced anyone who doubted Darkane`s capabilities or their new album. This is hardcore deaththrash at it`s finest...

(Review & Pics: Xander Hoose)