15.06.2023 Orbit Culture

Graspop Metal Meeting

Dessel (Belgium)

From the small Metal Dome tent, the path led straight to the next, larger one, the Marquee. Here, with the Swedish outfit Orbit Culture, things were about to get heavier in sound while still remaining melodic. The band, founded in 2013, kicked off at full speed with “Open Eye” from their 2020 album “Nija”. The consistently dark stage setup fit the mood well, though compared to the elaborate LED animations in the Metal Dome, this performance was noticeably more minimalistic and featured far less action on stage.
In front of the stage, however, there was plenty of action, and the first circle pits opened quickly. Vocalist and guitarist Niklas Karlsson repeatedly fired up the crowd, and they happily obliged. His band mates Richard Hansson on second guitar, Frederik Lennartsson on bass, and Christopher Wallerstedt on drums, held back a bit more. Sure, a mane flew through the air now and then, but that was about it. After working their way through the most recent albums, the band announced that it was time for something new, as their latest record was set to be released later in the year. They offered a solid preview in the form of two new songs: “Alienated” and “Vultures Of The North”. Both showed clearly where the journey was heading and left the audience wanting more. But patience will be required until the final release. After the high of the new songs came the low point, the final track “Saw” from the 2018 EP “Redfog”, which signaled the end of the set. The band then said goodbye to the fairly large crowd amid loud cheers.
After a strong start with Molybaron, things continued just as well. The thrashy elements in their music, the predominantly growled vocals, and the sheer heaviness of the riffs are genuinely impressive. I honestly can’t think of anything quite comparable. Perhaps closest would be Lamb of God, who were also set to appear later at the festival. I personally enjoyed the show a lot, and once again I have to give a recommendation: if the Swedes are ever playing near you, consider stopping by. It’s worth it. Not because of the stage show, which is modest, but because musically they are truly excellent.