After performing at this year’s Evil Live Festival, Gaerea returned home to close their European tour with two scheduled dates. The band performed at Hard Club in Porto on December 4 and at LAV – Lisboa Ao Vivo on December 5, with Portuguese group Apotheus opening both nights.
Apotheus: concept and precision in full alignment
Apotheus, a progressive metal band with a strong narrative approach, hail from Paços de Ferreira and were formed in 2008. Their music combines heavy riffs with complex rhythmic structures, blending clean and guttural vocals to create a dense and layered sound.
On a stage covered in smoke, framed by blue lighting and red spotlights in the background, “Prelude” from the 2019 album The Far Star Mission could be heard, setting the tone for the performance. This track is also featured in the audiobook written by the band to accompany their two albums, narrated by vocalist Miguel Andrade.
“Caves of Steel”, from the same album (Chapter I of the audiobook), followed, with the lyrics projected on the screen, immediately triggering intense headbanging. As the smoke thickened, “Firewall” from Ergo Atlas (Chapter III of the audiobook) took over, driven by strong drumming from Albano Von Hammer and intricate guitar riffs that firmly captured the audience’s attention. The band then moved on to “Shape and Geometry”, also from Ergo Atlas (Chapter I of the audiobook). As the tempo slowed, the audience clapped along to the rhythm, while Apotheus responded by pushing the dynamic even further.
Returning to their first album, the opening guitar lines of “The Pull of Plexus” (Chapter V) echoed through the venue, as Miguel Andrade shouted “Lisbon!”, prompting the audience to raise their fists and clap in unison. “The Unification Project” from Ergo Atlas (Chapter II) was announced next, followed by words of thanks addressed to the audience, Gaerea, LAV and Hélio from the sound crew. The band then introduced the surprise of the night, “Boundaries of Perception”, a new song set to appear on their upcoming album. Applause filled the room as the performance concluded with “A New Beginning”, from The Far Star Mission (Chapter X). The concert ran smoothly and was met with a consistently positive response from the audience throughout.
It was another strong performance at LAV and, for many in attendance who were unfamiliar with the band, Apotheus left a positive impression and clear anticipation for their next release.
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Gaerea: a body of sound where sorrow finds form
In a nearly sold-out LAV, Gaerea were welcomed by a diverse audience fully prepared for what was to come, aware that the experience would be multisensory. The Porto-based band took the stage wearing their characteristic masks, this time presented in a notably brighter variation. The opening chords immediately transported the room into a melancholic atmosphere, as “Hellbound” began, accompanied by warm lighting evoking imagery of fire, followed by “Submerged”, bathed in blue tones reminiscent of the sea. These two tracks are the lead singles from the forthcoming album Loss, scheduled for release in March 2026.
“Good evening, Lisbon!” Alpha greeted the audience before the band moved on to Coma (2024), performing “Hope Shatters” and “World Ablaze” consecutively, with drummer Xi making effective use of the double bass. “Salve”, from the 2022 album Mirage, followed, with Alpha calling out “Lisbon” and inviting the audience to shout “HEY HEY HEY HEY” in unison, fists raised across the venue. After a brief pause, the band returned with two more songs from Coma.
“The Poet’s Ballet” stood out, with Alpha stepping in front of Xi to sing the introduction in a soft voice, accompanied by delicate guitar lines and restrained movements, before breaking the calm with a call to the crowd: “Make some noise, Lisbon!” The response was immediate and enthusiastic.
“Unknown” began with the audience clapping along as Alpha called for the first wall of death of the night, instructing the crowd to split to the left and right. Fast riffs encouraged a mosh pit, while repeated calls to jump kept the energy high. The band then returned to Mirage with the title track, during which Alpha thanked the audience before resuming his theatrical movements with the microphone stand.
The set continued with the only song from Limbo (2020), “Urge”, as the crowd chanted “HEY, HEY, HEY” in unison while Xi drove the rhythm on double bass and Delta and Beta delivered heavy guitar riffs, inviting a brief moment of crowd surfing. “Are you ready to free your soul, Lisbon?” Alpha asked, introducing “Laude” from Mirage. He then addressed the audience with humour, inviting everyone to light up their phones, turning the venue into a sea of lights for the introduction of “Wilted Flower” from Coma.
As the band said goodbye, the audience remained visibly moved by the performance they had just witnessed. “We are Gaerea from Portugal,” Alpha declared, before stepping down to embrace fans in the front row. The crowd responded with sustained applause and chants of the band’s name, continuing even after Gaerea had left the stage.
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Special thanks to Prime Artists.
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