Black metal from Utrecht has a great international reputation. What makes the scene so special? ‘Every band in the city has its own unique sound.’ This will be news to a lot of Utrecht locals, but Utrecht black metal is one of the highlights in the city’s range of cultural activities. It also has a good reputation abroad. Visitors to a German metal festival, for example, specifically asked for an ‘Utrecht take-over’ of the programming, and the Utrecht band Laster has toured in China. Even pop artist Froukje is a fan of an Utrecht black metal band: last year, she promoted the new Terzij de Horde album on social media: ‘It’s really dynamic, authentic. I’m a fan.’ Foto: Laster Cross-pollination Whereas regular metal is often associated with macho guys and slow, heavy sounds, black metal features fragile, intense themes and uses fast, shrill sounds. The vocals can be screechy and the songs have an unconventional buildup. The genre is positively booming in Utrecht, as witnessed by Nicky Heijmen, guitarist and singer with Laster, and Johan van Hattum, bassist with Terzij de Horde. ‘Utrecht black metal bands always try to introduce new sounds into their music,’ says Johan. ‘Their ideas aren’t confined by the concept of the genre. Our music is a very clear mix of black metal and hardcore punk (a faster, more aggressive type of punk music, ed.) As a result, every band in the city has its own unique sound.’ In part, this is thanks to the cross-pollination of ideas, inspiration and musicians, Nicky adds. ‘We visit each other’s rehearsals, swap musicians and organise concerts together.’ The rehearsal studios and concert hall at dB’s play an important part in the latter. Johan: ‘Everyone at dB’s mingles, whatever your chosen style of music. We rehearsed next to a reggae band for ages and became firm friends.’ Urge to innovate Black metal fans are generally viewed as musically conservative, as if there’s only one sort of black metal, says Johan. ‘In some cities, bands have to ‘‘prove themselves’’ before they can join the scene. Or they uphold a strong hierarchy: ‘‘We were here first’’. The Utrecht scene, however, is very open.’ But he’s noticed that the urge to innovate also has a downside. ‘In commercial terms, black metal is a gamble for podia: they can never be sure that a show will sell out. And the fact that our music is mix of genres makes them even more cautious. We were too black metal for punk festivals, and too punk for black metal festivals. Luckily, this isn’t the case anymore.’ Nicky remembers the ‘shows’ that Laster played at dB’s: ‘As we couldn’t get a podium anywhere, we just booked a rehearsal studio at dB’s and played there. Thirty of us in a tiny cubbyhole.’ Luckily, the RUIS foundation stepped up. They are in charge of the concert programme at dB’s and helped the Utrecht scene by organising shows where black metal bands were given a chance to make their name. Walter Hoeijmakers, art director of the Roadburn Festival, an underground festival for hard music also stepped in. He initiated a project that allowed black metal musicians to create a joint composition: Maalstroom. Most of them were from Utrecht. Foto: Terzij de Horde Teenagers in the audience The vibrancy of the local scene hasn’t gone unnoticed. The Chinese formation Zuriaake made a special trip to Utrecht during their tour. After the show, the men from Laster chatted to the band. Nicky: ‘A month later, we were suddenly approached to play in China. As it turned out, we played 12 gigs there in 14 days.’ erzij de Horde regularly performs in Europe (Johan: ‘I can proudly say that we were the first black metal band at Into The Great Wide Open’). And once their new album is released in 2025, they’ll be touring outside Europe. The fire at dB’s and subsequent move have certainly had an impact on the scene. But the new dB’s location is set to become their new meeting place. And the band can feel renewed energy in their audiences. ‘We were used to seeing the same faces in the crowd, but nowadays we also see teenagers. Many of them discovered black metal during the COVID-19 lockdowns,’ says Nicky. Johan continues: ‘Modern audiences are more diverse. The new generation will go to a Laster concert today, to Travis Scott tomorrow, and a techno festival the day after. People don’t care about the dividing lines these days.’ Nicky: ‘As bands, we’re all getting older. It’s up to the kids to pick up the music now and take it further than we did. I’ll be with them every step of the way.’