THE DEVILS NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2025 with BELPHEGOR, ARKONA, VALE OF PNATH, and ANCESTOR OF KAO at SWAN DIVE LV

I believe it’s been 9 years since I last saw BELPHEGOR, so as soon as I saw this show was coming I knew I had to go and see what's new with this amazing band. I have not seen the three openers either, and was ready to see and hear some new hard and heavy bands, especially at The Swan Dive music venue, who has really been hosting some heavy hitters this year.

Pulsar Presents once again brought another brutal show. ANCESTOR OF KAOS started off the evening, formed in Cuba back in 2005and are a band that is visual and has a black thrash metal sound. Frontman Jorge Hellfire was sensational with his singing and stage antics, wearing huge spiked armbands and black and white face paint, with Jorge Zalazar on guitar, Luis Bosque on bass, and Alcides Rodriguez on drums.

On “Death by Hanging” Jorge brings out a heavy rope noose holding it high while singing, truly frightening! I LOVED seeing this band and check out the video HERE. Keep up with what the band on their youtube page HERE. and FB HERE.

VALE OF PNATH's was like a wall of sound coming straight at you from the stage. Lots of controversy about this current lineup and the band's new sound, but I can honestly say I totally loved what they brought to the stage.

Out front is former Abigail Williams vocalist Ken Sorceron, along with Vance Valenzuela (who happens to be the only original member) on guitar, Austin Rolla on bass and Gabe Seeber on drums. To see what this band is all about check out their single “Silent Prayers” HERE- More on this terrific band on their FB HERE

I was not prepared for this next band and what I was about to witness. ARKONA, who hail all the way from Russia and was making their Vegas debut, absolutely stunned me with a performance I never expected. Lead singer Masha Scream is in a different category than the many other female singers, she is so intense with a vocal range from guttural deep vocals to melodic folk vocals, and is backed by a thunderous band that includes Sergei "Lazar" Atrashkevich on guitars, Ruslan "Kniaz" Rosomaherov on bass and Alexander "Noff" Smirnov on drums. With a stage bathed in baby blue lighting and smoke, it gave the venue an eerie feeling like something evil was going to happen.

I really loved that the band's songs were long, which highlighted Masha’s vocal range. She literally gave me chills and made the hair on my arm standup, I knew I was witnessing something special. As their set closed out, the intensity changed, as the band reverted back to their folk metal sound where you could witness Masha’s vocal ability tp go from deep growls to a softer, more mellow sound.

You can check out the bands song "Ugasaya" HERE. But my favorite video from the band is "KOB" the title track from their most recent 2023 album on Napalm Records, which you can check out HERE - this song really showcases the direction this band has taken. To see what Arkona is up to go to their facebook page HERE.

Considered by many to be one of the most evil bands on the planet, black metal BELPHEGOR once again graced the Vegas stage. The start of this tour was a bit rocky, as Belphegor had visa issues and had to cancel their first US date - I was told that they were not allowed to bring the bones they use onstage as props into the country, so they put out a call to their USA fans asking if they could help them out and bring them some bones!

Belphegor is down right scary onstage, and when lead vocalist Helmuth Lehner looks at you from the stage you get pretty nervous. Helmuth with his hair pulled back, white face paint and blood streaks running off his head is an imposing figure. The band's stage has those bones scattered and hung up everywhere, and crosses with horns on them and really presents a morbid aura. Even with all their controversy and outside distractions, Belphegor is a very entertaining band that gives the fan's their money's worth. The tour features tracks from the band's release and tour namesake The Devils, and the title video

is one of the creepiest videos you will ever see - check it out HERE. I highly recommended you check out the song "Virtus Asinaria - Prayer" . Keep up with all things Belphegor on their website HERE -

From start to finish this show was a highlight this year so far - thanks to Patrick Pulsar and Pulsar Events for bringing us these black metal shows, and to The Swan Dive for being such an amazing host.

Belphegor Photos by Harold Mountain / JustAFanPhotos