Gaerea are undeniably in the throes of reinvention, going in a new (and lucrative) direction as a band: ‘Loss,’ even despite its mixed critical reception, seems primed to become the turning point in their discography, with the success of singles ‘Submerged’ and ‘Hellbound’ paving the way for a pivot into full-blown metalcore. Masks and all, the group are playing some of the biggest shows of their career, now embarking on a huge UK tour with Conjurer. Their recent show at Nottingham’s Rescue Rooms had their ambitions on display for the world to see.

Conjurer

Conjurer’s entrance at Nottingham was a little lacking in intensity, mostly because the venue couldn’t seem to turn the house lights off: it was only after the first two songs that the place was finally enveloped in darkness, and the crowd could really get a taste for the band’s unstoppable sludge metal riffs. Regardless of whatever else you might say about them, what cannot be denied is that the group were one of the most fearsome acts to ever come to Rescue Rooms, bringing with them towering walls of sound enough to shake the very walls. In life, there are only three constants— death, taxes, and Conjurer ending every song with a breakdown that sends you straight into the fight-or-flight response. It’s difficult to put into words just how neck-breaking the likes of ‘Let Us Live’ and ‘There Is No Warmth’ were, though you can bet both the band and their audience were feeling the heft on Saturday night.

Deeprose and company were sure to cloak the place in atmosphere along the way, letting Conor Marshall’s rumbling bass tones take centre stage on the ominous post-metal of ‘All Apart:’ Dan Nightingale’s harrowing roars could be heard loud-and-clear even when they stepped away from the mic, making their outpouring of emotion all the more moving to witness. Really though, these moments of tenderness only lulled you into a false sense of security so Conjurer could surprise you, time and time again, with the outright barbaric weight of their heaviest material. The four-piece aren’t really playing the hits on this tour, but you’d be hard-pressed to argue that new record ‘Unself’ doesn’t translate to the stage magnificently. ‘The Searing Glow’ and ‘Hang Them In Your Head’ are as complex as they are dominating, and you can bet your bottom dollar they made for wickedly entertaining moments in this show-stopper of an opening set.

Gaerea

Gaerea are a curious lot, and much of their mystique translates brilliantly to the stage: at Rescue Rooms, they certainly knew how to make an entrance. Few bands have a more striking look to them than this one, with the group’s signature attire (when combined with some bold sighting choices) painting them in silhouette for much of the show— the disorienting visuals behind the band had Gaerea looking truly otherworldly, and that’s not even mentioning the half-graceful, half-eerie movements of frontman Alpha. The momentous tribal build to show opener ‘Luminary’ was really an edge of your seat moment, as was Delta’s angelic singing on ‘LBRNTH’ and the haunting clean bridge of ‘Wilted Flower.’ Whenever the Portuguese crew were indulging in their mysterious side, they were undoubtedly winning us over.

At the same time though, Gaerea’s live show made us more aware of them as people than ever before— even from behind their creepy shrouds, the band exuded character and charisma at Rescue Rooms. This tour, like the album it’s celebrating, makes it clear that Alpha and company want to be a bigger band than they are: the calls for mosh pits and sing-alongs were immediate and inescapable, and tiresome and they could become at times, it was nonetheless thrilling to see an honest-to-god wall of death break out to ‘Hellbound.’ Coming off their most accessible and hook-driven release to date, Gaerea are clearly taking their newfound commercial success and running with it, constantly thanking the audience (which had Rescue Rooms packed out) for their support. The comment that “10 years ago, we could’ve never imagined playing shows like this” was certainly touching.

In light of their recent pivot into metalcore, ‘Loss’ made up the vast majority of the band’s setlist: fans of 2024’s ‘Coma’ would have to wait a whopping seven songs to hear a single track from that record, and as for the post black metal that originally put Gaerea on the map, ‘Laude’ stood alone in that regard. The show was a little single-minded, perhaps, with the band clearly enjoying the response afforded to ‘Submerged’ and ‘Phoenix’— really, it’s difficult to complain when they had you in the palm of their hand, and when they were sounding so incredibly vicious. Alpha’s screams were genuinely blood-curdling, settling into a mix that put power and aggression at its absolute forefront. Even show-closer ‘Stardust,’ which is noticeably light on the album, felt triumphant and powerful on the night, a feat the likes of ‘Hope Shatters’ and ‘World Ablaze’ earned with ease. If ‘Loss’ is up your alley, rest assured that Gaerea play the hell out of it live, on a tour they seem absolutely elated to be headlining.