Saturday, 19 April, was one of those rare days when everything fell perfectly into place. The sun was shining, traffic to Ljubljana was surprisingly smooth, and the day unfolded with two exciting interviews -first with Moonspell, then with Dark Tranquillity.

We met up with the Moonspell members around 5 p.m. Fernando was absent, which wasn't an issue since Terra Relicta had conducted all previous interviews with him. Bassist Aires and drummer Hugo were physically present but glued to their phones, while Pedro and Ricardo were fully engaged in the conversation. Ricardo escorted us to the interview room, though I must admit I didn't recognise him at first. I mistook him for the tour manager - after all, our agreement had been with him. He had shorter hair and wore this red-and-black plaid shirt as if he were going to the forest to chop wood. Clothes don't define a person, but they certainly help with identification. So, for quite some time, Tomaz and I directed our questions solely at Pedro. I'm not proud of that, but that's just how it was.

Around 6:30 p.m., Tomaz and I sat down with Mikael Stanne from Dark Tranquillity, this time accompanied by the tour manager. The interview was another delightful experience - I can only hope our interviewees had a great time, too.

After a short beer break, we attended Hiraes' performance, and what a pleasant surprise it was. Though I had never heard of the band before, it's been active since 2020 and has two full-length albums (Solitary and Dormant) under its belt. German five-piece melodic death metal act delivered a compelling performance, with Britta's vocal execution deserving special praise. The band played five songs - four from its latest album, Dormant, released in January 2024 via Napalm Records. Britta briefly addressed the audience between songs, who responded enthusiastically to her and Hiraes' music.

Another beer break later, it was time for Moonspell, who kicked off its set with "Opium". Now, all of them dressed in black and brimming with energy, they instantly amplified the atmosphere. Surprisingly, Moonspell's latest album, Hermitage, was represented by only one song, "Common Prayers" - though, given that it was released over four years ago, perhaps that was to be expected. The band's 13-song set was tight, well-executed, and sonically impressive. I would have preferred a different track over "Finisterra", although seeing Peter play rhythm guitar live for the first time (and immediately after with the song "In And Above Men") was something special. "Scorpion Flower", one of Moonspell's biggest hits, didn't fare too well either - the female vocals were pre-recorded and barely audible. I recall Moonspell's 2015 concert in Graz, where a singer from the opening band delivered them live, which was a much better decision.

Among my favourites that night were "Extinct", "Night Eternal", "Everything Invaded", "Breathe (Until We Are No More)", and, of course, "Alma Mater" and the closing "Full Moon Madness". While it wasn't a full moon that night, it was, for sure, madness. Moonspell, one of my all-time favourite bands, never disappoints - having seen it many times, including my last show in Zagreb in November 2019, I can confidently say they always deliver.

Dark Tranquillity had the daunting task of following Moonspell's electrifying set. Its more monotonous and restrained sound initially made me doubt whether it could match the energy, but the crowd quickly proved otherwise. Many had come specifically for them, and a significant portion of the audience sang along to every song. The first part of the set was relatively subdued, likely due to the dominance of tracks from the band's excellent new album, Endtime Signals, released last year. While the record is packed with potential hits, such as "Wayward Eyes", some of these songs might not yet have settled fully into fans' ears. However, after a few tracks, the energy shifted, and the crowd was in full force.

This marked Dark Tranquillity's second visit to Slovenia in under a year, as it had played at the Tolminator festival in July. The Gothenburg outfit, now with Mikael Stanne as its sole original member (alongside his roles in Cemetery Skyline, The Halo Effect, and Grand Cadaver), delivered a technically flawless performance. My only criticism was the too-quiet sound and slightly unexplosive harsh vocals in the show's first half, whereas the clean vocals sounded fantastic.

The band dedicated much of its set to Endtime Signals, playing five songs from the album. In just over 90 minutes, it performed 19 songs - 16 during the main set, plus three in the encore. Classics such as "ThereIn", "Lost To Apathy", "Final Resistance", and the indispensable "Misery's Crown" at the very end ensured sheer ecstasy in the crowd. Fans of the band's earlier era (up until Projector in 1999) might have been left empty-handed, but regardless, Dark Tranquillity once again proved its mastery. I must add I preferred its Summer Breeze 2022 set - if you're not deeply into the band's sound, such an extensive setlist can feel overwhelming, but there's no denying its performance was fantastic.

After the show, we spent time with a friend, some acquaintances, new faces and, of course, beer. Since Tomaz was the designated driver and limited himself to one or two beers, I was drinking for two. I didn't mind the sacrifice one bit. Unfortunately, the fun was cut short earlier than we'd have liked, as the security guards, although friendly, wished us goodnight. It was undoubtedly a good afternoon, evening and night, but the following morning could have been better... Until the next report - cheers! Jerneja

Report by: Jerneja
Photos by Tomaz

Hiraes links: Official website, Facebook
Moonspell links: Official website, Facebook
Dark Tranquillity links: Official website, Facebook