It is not often that heavy metal bands make it to the UK, largely due to rising costs and the challenges that have followed Brexit. However when they do, bands are welcomed with opened arms. Fortunately The Night Eternal are one of the bands and one who I saw a couple of years a go supporting Blind Guardian which turned out to be an incredible show. The venue was Academy 1 and one of the larger venues here in Manchester (before you get the arenas.) However this time around the band are playing one of Manchesters metal venues – Rebellion with a 300 cap, which creates a more intimate and sweaty atmosphere. On this tour they are supporting the band Messa of whom I am not to familiar with but from my understanding blend Traditional and atmospheric doom metal with rock and heavy metal. Either way I was excited for lay ahead.
The Night Eternal
I got to the venue pretty much at opening and luckily was at the front of a line that wrapped around the venue. When i got in, I grabbed a beer before I went about perusing the bands merch! A pretty decent collection of t-shirts and the bands newest album on both CD and Vinyl were available. Being the fan I am and a believer of supporting bands I grabbed one of their shirts!
I waited in the venue for about an hour before the band took to the stage! I was heavily impressed by the packed turnout in the venue so I knew the band had the crowd they deserved. They kicked of their 45 minute set with a track straight of their brand new album “Cold Velvet” known as “The Veins Of Time.” This is a hard hitting, dreamy track with calm chorus vocals and dark undertones. A great set opener that also has a killer music video.
Next up was my favourite track off the new album and it was the powerful “Don’t Look Back.” In my opinion this is the ‘Stars Guide My Way” of the bands new chapter. This is one of those tracks full of energy, 16th notes, and driving vocals that make you want to shout out the chorus lyrics with all your heart. By this time the band were already warmed up moving about on stage and showing what they are made of.
Turning the clock back to the “Fatale” era, the band unleashed the haunting “Prince of Darkness”. As one of the most formidable tracks in their arsenal and a firm fixture of their live shows, it was a genuine pleasure to hear it make an appearance. The performance was absolutely electrifying, with the band delivering a thunderous rendition that captivated the crowd from start to finish.
The set shifted back towards the band’s latest release, “Cold Velvet”, with the menacing “The Watcher of the Burning Veil.” Fuelled by dynamic tempo changes and an underlying pulse that never lets up, the track showcased exactly why it stands among the album’s highlights. Ricardo delivered a commanding performance as frontman, directing the crowd with ease, while Rob complemented him with an array of strong guitar poses. The song’s anthemic “woah-oh” passages were met with an enthusiastic response, with the audience more than willing to become part of the performance.
Now next up was one of favourite tracks from the new album, which is fiery “Where This World Ends.” If you love uptempo songs injected with adrenaline then this is for you! The shroud is there hovering over the music, while the thunderous sounds come at you with force. All while weaving emotion and feelings pulled from the depths of the heart. I am really happy they included this in the set and certainly a highlight for me!
We hit the point in the set where we travelled back in time to the bands first album “Moonlit Cross” with the eerie and chilling track “Elysion.” One thing I have to note is that it is amazing to see how much the band have evolved since the first record. The sound has grown in maturity, the writing has become more intricate and darker in tone and I love that each era in the bands history is not the same. So after hearing this I felt it brought balance to the set.
We then jumped forward to another standout from “Cold Velvet”, the magnificent “Caught In A Spell”. From the very first notes, the intro paints a vivid picture in my mind of a barren desert bathed in moonlight, creating an atmosphere that is both haunting and captivating. Operating at a measured mid-tempo pace, the song thrives on its dynamics, allowing every rise and fall in the vocal delivery to land with maximum impact. It is the kind of track that encourages you to absorb every word, every note and every emotion woven into its fabric.
One thing this band consistently excels at is drawing listeners deep into a world of melancholy without ever losing its sense of beauty. Their songwriting has an uncanny ability to stir genuine emotion, and “Caught In A Spell” is a perfect example of that strength. The vocal lines in particular felt deeply personal, carrying the weight of reflection and soul-searching, as though every lyric had been lived before it was ever sung. The result was one of the most emotionally resonant moments of the evening.
Finally we reached the end of the set and the bands closer for the night was their first albums title track and that was “Moonlit Cross.” I loved how the band came around full circle jumping back to the album that started it all for the band. A song that packs a punch and a worthy song to finish out a set.
Conclusion
For me, this was a truly outstanding set and a genuine highlight of the year. Hearing material from “Cold Velvet” performed live for the first time was a real treat, and the band more than did the songs justice, delivering each one with passion, power and absolute conviction. From the opening notes to the final moments, they balanced energy, atmosphere and emotion in a way that kept the audience fully engaged throughout.
If there was one disappointment, it was that the set had to end. I could have happily listened to another 45 minutes, particularly if it meant squeezing in a few more favourites from “Fatale”. That, however, is the sign of a great performance. No matter how much they played, you were always left wanting more. As a showcase for “Cold Velvet” and a reminder of the strength of their back catalogue, the band delivered on every level, leaving no doubt that they remain one of the most captivating live acts on the circuit today.
