Okay this is the fourth gig I went to in four weeks. This time the French doom/death band Ataraxie was playing in the smallest hall of the 013 club. And it was pretty full especially for a doom gig.

When I arrived – I was a bit late due to traffic issues where I didn’t expect them really – the German Ophis was about to start. And opening with the song “GodForsaken” off their debut album is quite excellent really. Their doom/death style is really bleak, yet very crushing. The new song that was played next, to be on the forthcoming split EP with Officium Triste was an excellent example of this so I am anticipating this release a lot. With all these long songs they closed their set after three songs with Earth Expired of the latest release. Excellent band and excellent gig really. I’d like to see them do a longer set some time.

Next was the CD release show of the local Faal. I saw them with diSEMBOWELMENT a few weeks ago and like then, they played their new album in its entirety. Except with a bit of a twist, as they played a longer and more experimental version of the title track – The Clouds are Burning. The electronics parts reminded me a bit of the mighty Esoteric. Also the bass player played some parts with a bow – something I hadn’t seen before.

Finally, Ataraxie was playing in the Netherlands again since some time. This time with a guest drummer, as their original drummer couldn’t come. It didn’t seem to matter as the drums sounded quite good really and the rest of the band was in fine shape too. Starting with L’Ataraxie of the debut album – which I prefer over their Anhedonie album of which they played the rather long title track. And I guess not much shorter was the song they played next, to be appearing on a a not yet recorded, but forthcoming new album. Stylewise it wasn’t very different from their latest. They had to break it up after a short wihle, as they had some technical problems. When that was fixed, and they restarted it went a lot better. And there was a fourth track for which I didn’t quite recognise which one it was. A very solid gig I must say.