The “Sulphur Over Europe” Tour
On the night of April 23rd, 2025, Sala Silikona in Madrid was consumed by an atmosphere of arcane intensity as three black metal entities — Malphas (Switzerland), Kawir (Greece), and Merrimack (France) — brought their distinct sonic philosophies to life. It was a ritualistic offering to the black arts, blending esoteric tradition with modern extremity.
Malphas (Switzerland): Celestial Chaos from the Alps
Opening the night, Malphas made an immediate impression with a set that was both cosmic and visceral. Formed in 2015, the Swiss band has cultivated a style that fuses traditional black metal with progressive and atmospheric elements. Their new full-length "Extinct" embarking on a new chapter filled with chaos and untamed aggression, the band unleashes its most venomous assault on the world to date. Infused with thrash-driven riffs and relentless energy, the album manages to preserve the band's signature sound while seamlessly weaving in moments of melancholy and fragility. It's a sledgehammer of Swedish-inspired black metal—raw, dynamic, and unpredictable—rising and crashing in waves of sorrow and fury. This is the band's most diverse release yet, a sonic declaration of despair and destruction aimed squarely at the ears of the world.
Live, Malphas balanced a tight, technically intricate performance with raw energy. Their layered guitar work and textured soundscapes created a trance-like effect — a perfect opening invocation. For a support act, they commanded the room with the confidence of headliners.
Kawir (Greece): The Pagan Flame Burns Eternal
Next came Kawir, one of Greece’s longest-standing black metal institutions. Since 1993, Kawir have carried the torch of Hellenic pagan black metal, using their music to reanimate ancient Greek mythology and pre-Christian ritualism. Unlike many of their peers, they emphasize melodic grandeur and historical fidelity over chaos — and that shined through in Madrid.
Performing tracks from their latest "Κυδοιμός", Kawir painted vast epic landscapes, full of thunderous battles and divine wrath. If "Κυδοιμός” were translated into an image, it would be a stark black-and-white snapshot of a battle cry frozen in time—as Kawir, with their ninth album, plunge deep into the pitch-black depths of their sound, determined to extinguish even the faintest glimmer of light. The Greek black metal scene remains a wellspring of constant surprises and creativity—an unending force that flourishes in all directions year after year. It was Kawir’s moment to channel the power, march into battle, and emerge victorious.
Merrimack (France): Transcendence into Darkness
Headliners Merrimack brought the night to a climax with their cerebral and unrelenting brand of black metal. Active since the mid-1990s, they are deeply rooted in the French orthodox black metal scene, sharing aesthetic and sonic similarities with acts like Aosoth and Antaeus. But Merrimack stands out for their sophisticated blend of atmosphere, dissonance, and ritualistic theatrics. Since their inception, Merrimack has emerged as an aural entity exploring the shadowy realms where spirituality converges. The very name Merrimack, signifying infinite depth and abyss, serves as a harbinger of the boundless journey of the black metal they craft.
Touring in support of their latest record "Of Grace and Gravity", their Madrid set felt like a tightly controlled descent into the abyss. Immaculately dressed in ceremonial garb, they delivered an oppressive, trance-inducing performance marked by razor-sharp musicianship and unwavering focus. At the heart of it all stood the vocalist Vestal—fiercely expressive, his presence transcended the confines of the stage. Every scream, every chant seemed to possess him completely, as if he lived and suffered through each note, channeling something far beyond performance.
"Of Grace and Gravity" tears at the seams of reality, where fleeting glimpses of truth collide with the elusive divine spark. A return to a primal Luciferian defiance, resonating with Antonin Artaud’s stark declaration: “We are the microbes of God.” In a landscape saturated with hollow Satanic theatrics, Merrimack rises above the noise, offering a deeply introspective journey into faith, rebellion, and the human condition. Across seven haunting compositions, the listener is drawn into a sonic pilgrimage that transcends black metal’s traditional boundaries. "Of Grace and Gravity" is a testament to the genre’s capacity to disturb, enlighten, and awaken. Step into the void—Merrimack is your guide through the realms where divine ruin and eternal chaos entwine.
As a side note, I’d like to mention a rather interesting interview I did with guitarist Johannes Climacus (A.K.) — I encourage you to give it a read!
Conclusion: A Night of Triple Invocation
The Sulphur Over Europe Tour brought together three very different yet spiritually aligned forces of black metal. From Malphas' celestial chaos, through Kawir's mythic grandeur, to Merrimack's ritualistic sophistication, the night covered the full spectrum of what black metal can be — raw yet refined, historical yet forward-looking. Madrid’s underground scene responded with fire — ecstatic faces bore witness to the enduring power of darkness.
