As soon as I found out that I would finally have the opportunity to see the Ukrainian band White Ward live, I marked the date in my calendar early on to ensure my presence at this performance. Since the release of their brilliant album “False Light” in 2022, I had been eagerly anticipating their live shows, although it had been challenging to make it happen due to canceled concerts, mainly resulting from the difficulties Ukrainian musicians faced leaving the country.
The April concert drew a large crowd, with the Voo Doo club bursting at the seams. It was evident that a significant portion of the audience consisted of the Belarusian and Ukrainian diaspora. While the club may not have been the best in terms of space and ventilation, considering the excellent lineup of the concert, I had no intention of complaining.
The evening kicked off with the Belarusian band Dymna Lotva. Combining elements of doom, post-black metal, and at times depressive black metal and folk influences, Dymna Lotva’s unique style, often characterized as “documentary metal,” captivated the audience. Formed as a studio project by composer Jauhien Czarkasaw and vocalist Katsiaryna Mankievich in Minsk, Belarus, in 2015, Dymna Lotva evolved into one of the most active metal bands in the country. The band openly supported protests against Alexander Lukashenko’s dictatorship in 2020, leading to the banning of their concerts in Belarus in 2021. Despite facing adversity, the band’s latest album, “The Land Under The Black Wings: Blood,” serves as a poignant conceptual piece about war and occupation.
Dymna Lotva’s performance was haunting and filled with sorrow and bitterness. The somber, trance-inducing melodies resonated deeply, and the vocalist, adorned in traditional attire, impressed with her vocal range—from clean vocals to hysterical screams. Their compositions held up live, immersing the audience in a specific mood that left no one indifferent to their performance.
Next up was Las Trumien, a band that, in my opinion, wasn’t the ideal choice for the event as they stylistically diverged significantly and played for what I felt was too long. While the doom/sludge sound Las Trumien presented might have suited different circumstances, the band from Silesia demonstrated solid technicality and sound quality. The Polish lyrics and relatively lighthearted nature of their music contrasted with the reflective repertoire of the Eastern European bands, yet Las Trumien managed to garner substantial approval from the audience, who cheered them on enthusiastically until the end of their set.
The main highlight of the evening was the performance by White Ward from Odessa, Ukraine. Integrating classic instrumentation with saxophone parts, White Ward’s live ensemble notably includes a permanent saxophonist. However, on this occasion, the saxophonist was absent as he had been called to the front lines in the fight against the Russian occupiers, with his parts replaced by samples. While I was disappointed by the lack of live saxophone during White Ward’s set, the situation was entirely understandable, and it was challenging to fault the band for it.
Apart from the absence of the saxophone, White Ward delivered a brilliant performance. Tracks from “False Light” and their earlier albums were flawlessly executed with precision. Undeniably skilled instrumentalists, White Ward had mastered their material to perfection. I particularly enjoyed the warm bass tones and the drummer’s dynamism, seamlessly transitioning between blast beats and more melancholic, slow passages. The guitarists complemented each other beautifully, and the sampled saxophone parts underscored its essential role in the band’s music.
White Ward showcased pieces like “Leviathan,” “Love Exchange Failure,” “Phoenix,” “Stillborn Knowledge,” “Cronus,” and “Dead Heart Confession.” While the audience may not have engaged in wild, enthusiastic antics during White Ward’s performance, their emotional investment in the music was palpable. Cheers of enthusiasm punctuated the breaks between songs, and after the concert, the band members were surrounded by attendees seeking autographs or a brief exchange of words.
In conclusion, the concert was a standout experience, with each band deserving full support. White Ward definitively proved they are currently one of the most intriguing representatives of European metal.
