NEPHYLIM Sets a Sympathetic Tone (Image Credits: Pixabay)
Munich, Germany – April 17, 2026 – The Backstage Halle pulsed with energy as Danish-Faroese titans IOTUNN headlined a sold-out show, upgraded from a smaller venue due to overwhelming demand. Support acts IN VAIN and NEPHYLIM delivered compelling sets that primed the crowd for the main event. Fans filled the hall to capacity, turning a Thursday night into a metal milestone after just two studio albums from the headliners.
NEPHYLIM Sets a Sympathetic Tone
NEPHYLIM from the Netherlands opened the evening with an approachable vibe that quickly won over the audience. Frontman Tijn Bosters greeted fans not with a traditional gesture but by raising a thermos flask, his war paint and stern expression contrasting the humble moment. This unpretentious start paired perfectly with their melodic death metal assault.
The band shook off initial jitters to deliver a tight performance full of fist-pumping riffs and swirling hair. Bosters read the room expertly, opting for headbanging unity over mosh pits in the set closer “Fractured Existence.” A brief clean vocal break in “Withered” added variety, but the core remained powerful and melodic, making NEPHYLIM the ideal opener for the night.
- Travail Pt. I – Anima (Intro)
- Travail Pt. II – Animus
- Amaranth
- Withered
- Fractured Existence
- Inner Paradigm
- Grand Denial
IN VAIN Ignites the Full House
By the time IN VAIN took the stage, the Backstage Halle brimmed with anticipation. The Norwegian outfit’s blend of melodic black and progressive death metal created an immediate hypnotic pull, starting strong with “Shadows Flap Their Black Wings.” Their setup rivaled the headliners’, signaling equal billing in spirit.
Frontman Kjetil Alver Lund’s eccentric presence and multi-layered clean vocals elevated tracks like “Blood We Shed” and “Hymne Til Havet.” Rock solos disrupted grooves effectively, while “Captivating Solitude” sparked raised fists that Lund high-fived one by one. Even a brief circle pit emerged during “Seekers Of The Truth,” though the crowd largely offered reverent engagement. Over 60 minutes, IN VAIN maintained relentless momentum with intricate arrangements in songs such as “Season Of Unrest” and “Against The Grain.”
- Shadows Flap Their Black Wings
- Blood We Shed
- Hymne Til Havet
- Season Of Unrest
- Captivating Solitude
- Seekers Of The Truth
- At The Going Down Of The Sun
- Image Of Time
- Against The Grain
IOTUNN Delivers Theatrical Majesty
IOTUNN arrived as conquering heroes, their prior Munich appearance supporting Dark Tranquillity now a distant memory. Singer Jón Aldará, absent last year due to personal reasons, returned with commanding theatricality. A hooded figure scanning the darkness with a mounted flashlight on his mic stand set a dramatic tone from the outset.
The band’s precision shone through in sprawling epics like “The Tower Of Cosmic Nihility,” bolstered by the synchronized guitar work and headbanging of brothers Jesper and another Gräs, alongside drummer Bjørn Wind Andersen’s spot-on rhythms. Aldará’s deep, voluminous vocals anchored crowd favorites “Mistland” and “I Feel The Night,” though a slight hoarseness surfaced in high notes and banter. Theatrical flourishes, such as spotlighting Jesper Gräs’ solo in “Laihem’s Golden Pits,” kept the audience captivated. Tracks like “Safe Across The Endless Night” and “The Anguished Ethereal” gained live grandeur, proving IOTUNN’s songwriting clockwork tight yet emotive.
Key Moments: Aldará’s flashlight theatrics, synchronized twin guitars, and epic builds that filled the hall with awe.
- Twilight
- Mistland
- Safe Across The Endless Night
- I Feel The Night
- Kinship Elegiac
- Earth To Sky
- The Tower Of Cosmic Nihility
- The Anguished Ethereal
- Laihem’s Golden Pits
A Golden Era Dawns for Underground Metal
The evening’s affordable 35-euro entry belied its high-caliber lineup, drawing scene enthusiasts who packed every corner. Post-show, merchandise lines testified to the lasting impact, with satisfied faces everywhere. IOTUNN’s 90-minute set flew by, leaving fans reluctant to leave.
Despite minor vocal strain from Aldará, the performance underscored the band’s rising stature. With only two albums, they already command upgrades and full houses. This Munich triumph signals more packed venues ahead, cementing IOTUNN’s path to metal prominence. Photos by Tatjana Braun.
