The Night Eternal were a band I discovered in early 2023 and instantly became one of favourite bands especially with their latest helping in the form of “Fatale.” The album is a scorcher and ended up becoming one of my top 10 albums for 2023! And so when I discovered they would be supporting Blind Guardian on their UK/ European tour I got just a bit excited!

If you’re unfamiliar with them, their interpretation of heavy metal is undeniably distinctive, weaving together eerie, haunting melodies with timeless guitar riffs and emotive vocals. It conjures a sense of enchantment and intrigue.

I could not believe the line to get into the venue on the day which snaked all the way around the student union. It is unquestionable that headliners Blind Guardian have a massive following but I did expect the crowd for the venue to be that big.

Nevertheless, I managed to get into the venue not long before the one band I had been waiting to see for so long was finally about to the stage. Conjurers of mystifying heavy metal, the one and only The Night Eternal!

They kicked of their set with the thundering “Between the Worlds.” I was left with a huge smile on face as soon as they went into this song and they certainly put on a powerful performance. Hearing something on a cd or online is one thing but sometimes you need to hear a band live to really to appreciate the music and that is what I got from this! And the song it’s self is definitely one of the strong contenders from “Fatale.” A great song to start a set off with!

Next up the band played one of the lead singles from “Fatale” which was the truly dark and haunting “In Tartarus.” It did not take long before the crowd were clapping along led by the direction of lead vocalist Ricardo! Once again this a song that truly highlights their dark and atmospheric musical style. And if you have not already, go and read the lyrics to truly submerge yourself in the music. Another great performance indeed!

Deadly as a Scythe took listeners back to the bands album “Moonlit Cross” which personally was not an album I was too familiar with considering I only discovered the band in early 2023! This certainly had eerie elements to it, especially in the guitar work it but you could see how their latest album had taken an even more darker and dusky path. Even though i had only heard the sing a handful of times, I was pleased to see it in the set!

Shadow’s Servants was another track lifted from “Moonlit Cross” and the mid set number that continued to deliver more opportunities for audience participation with its stomping drum patterns and pacing. It has this raw and punchy vibe to it and its mid tempo pacing makes it a great choice for a mid set number.

Soon enough the echoes and smoky, mysterious tones of “Prince of Darkness” swept across the venue settling on everyones ears. By this point in the set it seemed that the crowd were more warmed up. You could see heads jerking about and hands in the air. And the band certainly loving every minute of it! Ricardos presence literally illuminated the stage as he moved around and sung his heart out!

For the band Elysion (Take Me Over) was that song where the crowd joined in on the chorus words of “Take Me Over.” Rob and Henry on guitars took this opportunity to really play to the crowd and once again delivered an amazing performance. I can see why this is fan favourite from “Moonlit Cross!”

“Stars Guide My Way” is one of my favourite tracks from “Fatale” and so when this was announced I was overcome with happiness and excitement! The pounding drums broke the air before things sped up and the music ripped the room apart. You can easily see why this one of their stand out tracks on “Fatale.” With Aleister and Jones on drums and bass they seem to see be a fiery powerhouse and this shows on the last moments of the song. Such a powerful song and worth the wait to see live!

Soon enough the band reached their final song of the evening which was “Moonlit Cross.” By this time everyone was waving their hair about and really getting into things. And so I could see why they chose to end with this song! I had gone closer to the front to take some pictures and from there I was able to appreciate the energy and passion they gave off in a different way! Mesmerising!

Conclusion

Considering the majority of people that were at the academy were there for Blind Guardian, The Night Eternal delivered an electric performance that left the audience truly warmed up and for me with a spike of serotonin rushing through my body! I truly loved their whole performance and having been mesmerised by their latest album “Fatale” (which made my top 10 albums of 2023) their stage show matched the quality and finesse of their recorded music.

I would love to see them at a heavy metal festival or on a tour of their own where people are there just for them. Because if this performance was anything to go by I can not imagine what they like in their ‘natural environment’ as such. Surrounded by new wave fans who know their songs word for word. Fingers crossed they come back to the Uk soon, or maybe I will catch them in mainland Europe somewhere who knows?

On a different note I was fortunate enough to meet the whole band both at the venue and a local pub where we chatted and had a drink together. After hanging out for a while, I could tell not only how friendly they were but also how super passionate they were about their music and the genre in general.

I love talking to bands and supporting the scene and when I get to meet the artists and have a great connection It always makes things even more worth while. So for me this was an extra special night and certainly of my year so far!

So, If you have never seen The Night Eternal live then I would strongly suggest doing so. They are band with exceptional talent and have a lot of potential to go really far! I honestly can not wait for them to return to UK shores again soon!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenighteternal

REVIEW: THE NIGHT ETERNAL ‘FATALE’