03/30/2025
DNA Lounge SAN FRANCISCO, CA
From the Shadows of Hell to the Bay Area — A Night of Unholy Rapture
Last night, the DNA Lounge in San Francisco was transformed into a cathedral of chaos as Austrian blackened death metal titans Belphegor unleashed an unrelenting headlining set that was equal parts ritual, assault, and transcendence. As a longtime metal reviewer, I’ve seen bands try to summon darkness — Belphegor becomes it.
From the moment Helmuth emerged, face smeared in corpse paint, lit in blood-red backlight, and flanked by towering bone-laden mic stands, it was clear this wasn’t just a performance — it was war. The set opened with “Baphomet,” immediately swallowing the venue in a blast of tremolo-picked violence and martial drumming. It was a declaration: the devout had gathered, and the unworthy would be scorched.
The DNA Lounge, intimate yet cavernous with its industrial décor, proved a fitting venue. The sound was punishing but clear — each riff from the nine circles rang out like a plague trumpet. “Conjuring the Dead” and “Necrodaemon Terrorsathan” hit especially hard live, with Helmuth’s guttural snarls reverberating like a curse etched into stone. The pit was a writhing mass of limbs and leather — exactly the sort of chaos Belphegor thrives on.
One of the most striking aspects of the show was how ritualistic it felt. Between songs, the band bathed in eerie ambience and Gregorian-tinged samples, blurring the line between set breaks and ceremonial pauses. Flames and incense would not have been out of place. You didn’t just watch Belphegor — you were baptized in sulfur.
By the time they closed with “Lucifer Incestus,” the room was reduced to scorched earth. Fans staggered out like survivors of an exorcism — exhausted, exhilarated, and grinning like lunatics.
Belphegor didn’t just play San Francisco last night — they desecrated it. And I mean that as the highest compliment.
Rating: 9/10 — Unholy. Unrelenting. Unforgettable.
Bring earplugs and your last rites.
Metal Forged 