Der Blutharsch
- Of the Wand and the Moon -
Foresta di Ferro

This venue is excellent in terms of cheap drinks and good transport connections, but the fact that it is located in one of North London's most sleazy, downtrodden and crime-ridden areas is disappointing to say the least. Prior to filing into the large hall at the back of the pub, concert-goers have to endure rubbing shoulders with a variety of dysfunctional individuals, most of whom are engaged in heated marital disputes or embroiled in drug-related conflicts which often end up on the pavement outside. Oh well, it is a Labour Party club after all!

The first band to take the stage, OF THE WAND AND THE MOON, hail from Denmark and thus far have released two excellent CDs: 'Emptiness, Emptiness, Emptiness' and 'Nighttime Nightrhymes'. I had been gleefully immersing myself in OFWATM material for up to two weeks before the gig itself, and had grown to love them. I wasn't to be disappointed by their excellent set, either, which included the brilliant 'Raven Chant', 'Lion, Serpent, Sun' and 'Lost In Emptiness'. Frontman Kim Larson was outstanding, his acoustic strumming accompanied throughout by an electric guitar - using a capo to give his chords that little bit extra with truly harmonious results. Guest star for the evening was the well-known violinist, Matt Howden (DEATH IN JUNE, KNIFELADDER, SIEBEN, SOL INVICTUS), whose energetic and highly animated performance even transcended the one he gave last year when he supported OSTARA, CURRENT 93 and SORROW at the Camden Underworld. The best song of the evening came in the shape of 'I Crave For You', which was preceded with Larson giving the attractive Goth-girl who was filming their set a knowing smile. Mind you, I could see what all the fuss was about!

Next came the mighty DER BLUTHARSCH, featuring the indomitable Albin Julius (formerly of THE MOON LAY HIDDEN BENEATH A CLOUD). As both he and his new female partner took to the stage carrying flaming torches, the drums began to worry the fragile PA system as the dry ice seemed to engulf half the audience. The Austrian was dressed in a leather trench-coat and impressive jodphurs, complete with a riding crop protruding from one of his jackboots. His fraulein accomplice was also clad in militaristic garb, hands clasped behind her long brown skirt as she recited lengthy declarations from a miniature scroll. I must admit that this was one of the best performances that I have ever seen from a group of this nature, with DER BLUTHARSCH sounding far harder and more powerful than their CD offerings have ever done. The rhythmic hammering taking place at the rear of the stage resembled a Nuremburg rally, as the two central figures chanted and yelled their way through classics like 'Vaterland' and 'I Have No Fear'.

Finally, FORESTA DI FERRO arrived and Richard Leviathan (OSTARA, STRENGTH THROUGH JOY) and Marco Deplano (WERTHAM) blitzed their way through a storming set comprised of theological eclecticism, sacrificial sentiment and screaming invocations. As Italian sound-wizard Marco made regular dashes to the jumble of wires and plugs at the side of the stage - head bowed in solemn concentration - images of wartime explosions, kamikaze pilots, Corneliu Codreanu and a white-haired Ernst Junger flashed across the large projector screen behind them. The music was a complex mixture of recitations, urgent shouts and Industrial rumble, some of which contained traces of the Romanian Iron Guard's marching songs. The highlight, however, saw Richard grab an acoustic guitar and strum his way through the brilliant 'Operation Valkrie'. As the show came to an end I managed to grab a few words with Marco, who told me that the new OSTARA album is imminent. Indeed, on the basis of this performance the future looks bright on a number of fronts.