Intro
Profanatica had always been one of those bands on my radar, but I’d never had the chance to catch them live. When I heard they were coming to Assembly in Kingston—only about 20 minutes from home—I had to reach out and cover the show for Black Metal Zine. A big thank you to the Profanatica camp for hooking me up with a photo pass.
The show
Before the show, I got the chance to meet Paul Ledney, Profanatica’s founder, drummer and vocalist. Paul is a true pioneer of US black metal, and it was cool chatting with him for a few minutes before Cloak took the stage.
A little after 8pm, the lights dropped, the candelabras were lit and the stage turned blood red. Atlanta’s Cloak came out and tore right into their set. Their visual vibe gels perfectly with their music, and I immediately got to work shooting.
There were a few moments where I got more caught up in Cloak’s music than I did photographing them. Instead of composing the next shot, I found myself lowering the camera and just watching. They play a blackened mix of metal with plenty of melody running through it. I get some Dissection influence in their sound too, especially in the guitar work. By the time they announced their last song, I couldn’t believe the set was already over. I’ll absolutely catch these guys again.
After a short break, Ledney and the rest of Profanatica came out in street clothes, set up their gear and ran through a quick soundcheck. Then they disappeared and a few minutes later, they returned in black robes and skin-tight hoods, took their places and immediately launched into one of the loudest sets I’ve ever heard. For a three-piece, Profanatica sounded absolutely massive. Every note and blast beat hit with this huge, oppressive force.
Even behind the kit, Ledney was clearly the focal point. He commanded the room through every blast beat and vocal attack. At times, it felt like Profanatica were marching into war. I knew it was going to be loud, but it was way beyond what I imagined. At my age, I always wear ear protection at shows now, but goddamn if my ears still aren’t ringing.
I was able to shoot from the side of the stage for part of the set, giving me a view I don’t normally get at shows. From there, I could see the force behind the performance while trying to capture it in the photos. It was a sick opportunity and a completely different way to experience the band. Profanatica are pioneers of US black metal, but they didn’t need to lean on their history that night. The set spoke for itself. It was brutal, relentless and louder than I ever imagined it would be.
I feel lucky that I got to catch Profanatica this close to home. I’m also lucky to experience shows like this from the unique perspective as a photographer and reviewer. Sometimes I completely lose myself behind the camera and stop thinking about it as simply documenting a show. I’m creating visual art from whatever the band is giving me onstage, and Profanatica and Cloak are perfect for the kind of art I want to make.
Another big thank you to Paul and the Profanatica camp for hooking me up, welcoming me and being so gracious throughout the night. This definitely won’t be my last time seeing either band. Catch you guys again down the road.
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