Alright, so the dust has settled, the lights have dimmed, and it’s time to talk about what went down at Quantic Club on December 12. Samael. “Passage“. In its entirety. And yeah, they didn’t just stop there. The band took us on a wild ride, dropping classic after classic. This was a show for the books. Of course, the evening had a lot in store, since WarHymn and Hteththemeth joined the lineup, setting the stage for the headliners’ authoritative display of musical mastery.

The official announcement poster
© Quantic
WarHymn: A Blazing Introduction to the Show
As WarHymn took the stage, the crowd was instantly drawn into the overwhelming force of their sound. It was, without a doubt, a wise decision to have them alongside Samael and Hteththemeth, as their dark, atmospheric presence subtly laid the groundwork for the indelible experience that followed. Now, I must be honest with you: the more I see WarHymn live, the more I appreciate the depth and emotional power of their music.
Among the first tracks they performed was “Occult Fire“, a song that has clearly become a fan favourite. Its intense drive and compelling energy make it a standout, leaving no doubt as to why it strikes such a chord with the audience. The blackened vocals were sharp here, adding an air of desperation and foreboding that permeated the song. The tempo shifted throughout the track—slow, grinding passages transitioning into faster, chaotic bursts—perfectly reflecting the band’s proficiency of dynamics.

WarHymn on stage, 12.12.2024
© Ștefan Lupașcu
One of the standout moments came with “Descendants of Cain“, a track that incorporates melodic and aggressive elements seamlessly. The crowd visibly responded to the song’s dynamic shifts, from its ominous intro to the relentless pace of its main riff. The interplay between the guitars created an almost hypnotic atmosphere, and the chorus hit like a dark anthem, echoing through the club. WarHymn managed to strike a balance between chaos and control, keeping the audience entranced throughout.
As the set progressed, “Originea“, “Fresh Spring in This New World“, “Ancestral World“, and ” “Sadistic Crowning” emerged as strong acts. Now, one more thing that needs to be mentioned: “Originea” is a peculiar track—layered and deliberate in its execution. It wastes no time with unnecessary buildup and instead strikes with a focused, almost hypnotic rhythm. The melodies, though subtle, carried a ritualistic air that added an intriguing dimension to the live rendition.

WarHymn on stage, 12.12.2024
© Ștefan Lupașcu
Closing on a high note, WarHymn brought to the stage the song “Dominus Terrae II“. The track’s epic scope and layered composition were brought to life through an impeccable performance. The closing moments felt bittersweet—a sense of finality hung in the air, knowing that this was the last show with the current lineup. Yet, there was no sadness in the performance itself; rather, it was a triumphant conclusion to five years of hard work and growth.

WarHymn on stage, 12.12.2024
© Ștefan Lupașcu
Hteththemeth: Blurring the Lines Between Sound and Drama
Next up was Hteththemeth, a band that has always defied simple categorization. With their avant-garde, theatrical approach, they don’t just perform songs—they tell a story; we all know this. The act? Well… gather ’round everyone and hear the tale: the show started with a special intro setting the stage for what was to come. The atmospheric build created an otherworldly vibe, drawing the audience into the band’s theatrical world. The ambient sounds, paired with subtle instrumentation, provided a perfect lead-in to the first track. It wasn’t just an intro, but a moment that established the tone of the entire set—dark, mysterious, and deeply immersive. “Light Lies” followed the intro with a strong presence, its haunting melody underpinned by dissonant guitars. The song delved into the theme of deception, exploring how surface-level truths can obscure the darker realities beneath. Hteththemeth’s performance emphasized this duality through dynamic shifts—soft, almost whispered vocals suddenly escalating into intense, anguished cries. The contrast between quiet reflection and explosive energy captured the tension within the song’s narrative.

Hteththemeth on stage, 12.12.2024
© Ștefan Lupașcu
Building on the themes of “Light Lies”, “Honest Lies” introduced a more rhythmic, almost hypnotic quality to the set. The song felt like a continuation, delving deeper into the complex nature of truth and falsehoods. And then, the intriguing piece entitled “Heaven and Hell are Two Floors Below” was brought to the light, presenting a captivating narrative that unfolded throughout the performance. The imagery of two women—one representing an angel and the other the devil—added a theatrical and symbolic depth to the song, realising a dynamic clash of ideals and emotions. As the track progressed, the contrast between these two characters became more pronounced.

Hteththemeth on stage, 12.12.2024
© Ștefan Lupașcu
But you know what? Hold onto your hats—or better yet, your masks—because Hteththemeth brought their A-game to Bucharest with “You are My Last Girlfriend“. If you thought you could sit back and enjoy the rest of the songs at a leisurely pace, you needed to reconsider that. The vocals, shifting between mournful croons and guttural growls, added an almost operatic dimension to the track. And just when you thought you had a handle on things, “A Burning Desire” ignited the stage—literally and figuratively. With fiery riffs and a heart-pounding rhythm, the song brought a visceral energy that had the crowd thrumming. The theatrical lighting seemed to dance along with the music, amplifying the intensity. There was something primal about this performance, as if the band had tapped into some ancient, collective yearning.
But the climax? That belonged to “The Romantic Side of Perish“. This was no simple song—it was a confrontation. The haunting intro crept through the air, a spectral invitation to peer into the void. Then came the crescendo—a symphony of sorrow and rage that was as overwhelming as it was cathartic.

Hteththemeth on stage, 12.12.2024
© Ștefan Lupașcu
Samael’s “Passage” Live: A Cosmic Descent into Darkness and Revelation
And then… Samael took the stage, and that was the moment when you could tell yourself: “Alright, get to the front of the stage—this is about to be an earth-shattering experience”. Now, don’t get me wrong. We all knew what was coming: the legendary album, every note of that 1996 blackened masterpiece, and with it, Samael’s entire universe of sound—the industrial loops, the razor-sharp riffs, the pulsating synths, and that voice. Vorph. That voice.
The band’s decision to play “Passage” in its entirety was not just a nod to fans—it was a statement. After a catching intro, the Swiss legends performed “Rain” and let me tell you—the song felt like an awakening. From the very first note, it felt like the skies themselves opened up, pouring down every broken dream, every conceived plan, and cleansing the soul with its sheer power. “Our seeds sown larger, our roots will go deeper, our trees will grow higher, and now we bring the rain”—the lyrics hit like a mantra, and the performance itself was utterly transformative. It was catharsis wrapped in melody, a tidal wave of sound that left no one untouched.

Samael on stage, 12.12.2024
© Ștefan Lupașcu
After “Rain”, came “Shining Kingdom” and it immediately set a reflective mood. The lyrics—”I took a long trip, and now I’m back again, to the point where I began”— hit with a sense of returning to something that was always there, buried deep inside. It was a song full of that quiet realization, where searching for answers outside only leads you back to yourself.
But let’s talk “Angel’s Decay“, too. That was the next song and… this one’s for you, the one who lives and breathes that track as if it’s the soundtrack to your own personal spiral. If you’ve ever found yourself lost in its haunting lyrics, staring at the abyss and wondering how it got so dark, Samael’s live performance of “Angel’s Decay” had that same gravity, that same unsettling presence, pulling you down further than you’d ever planned to go. “You know my friend/ I’ve been walking on a really strange path lately”—these opening lines are more than just lyrics; they’re confessions—spilled truths from some dark corner of your mind. Onstage, Vorph’s delivery of those words felt almost like an invitation. The dark path he describes? It was a road we could all understand, whether we liked it or not. A road of solitude, of despair, of every failed attempt to stay afloat. As the song progressed, it was as if the room itself began to collapse inward, heavy with the weight of the words. The repetition of “I’ve given up, I’ve given up, larvae rots” was and is pure mental decomposition, a horrifying meditation on defeat, decay, and that final moment of surrender.
Live, the entire song felt like a slow burn. The opening riff, almost meditative at first, grew into a beast of its own, reverberating in your chest as Vorph’s voice pierces through. The industrial textures, the hypnotic pulse of the drums, all play their part in pulling you deeper into that void. The haunting outro, with its insistence that “I let the angel rise”, could almost feel like an attempt to reclaim some spark of hope—but it’s fleeting, almost hollow, a brief light before the darkness comes crashing back in. The band didn’t just perform it—they embodied it. As the song winds down, you realize it’s not just a track from an album anymore. It’s a personal reckoning. A confrontation with your own demons. And Samael? They don’t let you look away.


Samael on stage, 12.12.2024
© Ștefan Lupașcu
But ey, if “Angel’s Decay” was the emotional gut-punch of the night, the other tracks from “Passage” rounded out the experience with precision. “My Saviour“–This one, it hits different live. In the studio, it’s sleek and almost detached, but onstage, there’s something more desperate about it. The industrial beats come at you like an aggressive tide, with the guitars cutting in and out like frenzied pulses. It’s a call for salvation, sure, but you’re left wondering whether it’s being answered or just ignored by the void. The crowd seemed to vibe with this one—everybody kind of moving to that beat, lost in its cosmic sway.
“Jupiterian Vibe” added a celestial intensity. If that song didn’t make you want to get lost in the dark recesses of space, I don’t know what would. The bass here was a monolith—rumbling, crawling, like some massive celestial body creeping ever closer. And when those otherworldly synths spiral out into the atmosphere, it’s easy to lose track of where you are. It’s one of those tracks that builds up that eerie sensation of cosmic isolation before hurling you into a never-ending freefall.

Samael on stage, 12.12.2024
© Ștefan Lupașcu
Samael continued the set with “The Ones Who Came Before“, “Liquid Soul Dimension” and “Moonskin“—a triad of tracks that showcased the band’s ability to seamlessly shift from unyielding momentum to eerie atmospheres and untamed ferocity. “Born Under Saturn” was one of the night’s anthems. The syncopated beat, the sharp guitars—they hit that dark, ceremonial vibe, and the crowd responded accordingly. It’s almost a self-fulfilling prophecy with this track; you hear it, and you can’t help but feel like you’re trapped in this endless cycle of fate, powerless to change your course.
As the set reached its conceptual peak, “Chosen Race” and “A Man in Your Head” served as profound reflections on the human condition. “Chosen Race” plunged into the philosophical and cosmic, unraveling the disquieting truth of existence as part of an indifferent design. The crushing guitars and relentless rhythm acted as a sonic vice, tightening with every beat, while Vorph’s detached vocals delivered this existential reckoning like a cold decree. Transitioning seamlessly, “A Man in Your Head” brought the performance to a climactic resolution, threading all the themes of “Passage” into one final, chaotic surge.
And then, of course, they weren’t done yet. The encore took things into another dimension. Songs like “Ceremony of Opposities“, “Son of Earth“, and “Baphomet’s Throne” brought the darkness back for one last lap, pushing the crowd into a fever pitch.

Samael on stage, 12.12.2024
© Ștefan Lupașcu
Samael didn’t just play a setlist; they pulled you into their world and didn’t let you go. And that’s the point, right? Whether it’s through “Passage” or any of their other tracks, the band’s music is about transformation, destruction, and something—maybe something darker—on the other side.