GAEREA Conquers Istanbul!

GAEREA met their audience at IF Performance Hall Beşiktaş on the evening of August 6th as part of “The Undying Mirage Over Europe” tour. It was the band’s first concert in Turkey, and although I’ve listened to their music and watched live performances online, I had no idea what to expect in terms of the atmosphere. So, I set off from Eskişehir to find out.

Before I dive into what was an epic night for me, let’s talk a bit about their albums. Their music is both distant from and close to traditional black metal. No listener in 2023 expects vocals and instruments to be recorded on a single microphone. The only thing about the band that’s exceptionally clean is their recordings, thanks to their label, Season of Mist, for the fantastic work. There’s another aspect of traditional black metal I want to touch on, but you’ll have to wait a few more lines.

Returning to the night itself, I observed a dedicated and sizable audience for a band visiting Turkey for the first time and not yet mainstream. They took the stage as if they were one of us, embodying humanity itself, without hiding behind individual identities. There was no “corpse paint,” a staple in traditional black metal. But their stage presence and outfits perfectly aligned with the black metal theme, echoing the spirit of the ’80s and ’90s black metal era.

Most of the setlist consisted of tracks from their latest album, “Mirage.” Right from the start, they conveyed a sense of control, making us feel, “we are here, and we are in control.” One track I want to highlight is “Salve,” which was like a preview of the power they possess. They also played tracks from the “Limbo” album. “Conspiranoia,” a piece I consider a true compositional product, was performed. These songs, with hints of other metal genres, were another highlight of the concert.

After the title track “Mirage,” the night moved on to the song I had been eagerly awaiting. “Laude,” a beautiful ballad and another masterpiece from the album, took the atmosphere to another level. When they shouted, “We are Gaerea,” I felt possessed by otherworldly forces until I stepped out for fresh air. We were captivated by the shadows growing and bleeding on stage.

The sound sometimes deviated due to the high, fast blast beats dominating the performance, but overall, I listened to the entire concert clearly. Although it ended sooner than I expected, it allowed me more time to talk with the band during the meet & greet session. Meeting these extraordinary guys face-to-face, beyond just their music, was an unforgettable experience.

In conclusion, I feel lucky to have experienced such a unique band live in such an intimate setting. My heartfelt thanks go to Duality and Vera. And with that, I leave you with my raw emotions from the night. Once again, “WE ARE GAEREA!”