It’s been nearly six years but Austria’s Belphegor have returned to the states for the Devils North American Tour 2025.
Originally, the tour consisted of Belphegor, Hate, Arkona and Vale of Pnath but Hate resigned from the tour three days before the first date. The necessary working visas for the Polish band had yet to arrive even though they applied several weeks in advance.
Both Arkona and Vale of Pnath delivered impressive performance, especially with the mystical and animated Maria Arkhipova, Arkona’s vocalist.
The tour sees Belphegor playing twenty dates in major markets starting in Boston and concluding in New York on April 13. Unfortunately, the band had to cancel the first night kicking the tour off in Baltimore instead. The dates finally allow Belphegor to properly tour in support of the 2022 release The Devils.
Belphegor’s show in Dallas saw the band playing the historic Granada Theater for the first time. There’s just something classic about a seeing a blackened death metal band’s name in lights on the marquee.
Once Belphegor hit the stage following their intro, “The Procession,” the band dipped into their latest effort for “Baphomet,” setting the dark tone for the night. It would be the first of four songs in the set from The Devils.
The other three, “Virtus Asinaria – Prayer”, the title track and “Totentanz” would follow on the back end of the set.
Other than those four, Belphegor pulled two, “Pactum in Aeternum” and “Gas Mask Terror” from Conjuring the Dead. For the remainder of the set, individual tracks were pulled respectively from Totenritual, Bondage Goat Zombie, Conjuring the Dead, Walpurgis Rites, Pestapokalypse VI and 2003’s Lucifer Incestus.
Belphegor’s short visit back in Dallas didn’t disappoint. As anticipated, the band presented a crushing night of mid-week metal that was appreciated those who ventured out.
If the opportunity is presented, it’s wise to catch the Devils North American Tour 2025. Hopefully the band’s return to North American won’t be close to another six years.
