I first discovered Belgian psychedelic post-metal band Psychonaut when I was walking through the woods from my AirBNB to get to the ArcTanGent festival site back in 2023 and heard their music wafting through the trees. When I returned to the festival the following year I made sure I was in the tent to actually see them properly, and they were superb. Most recently I saw them play a very intimate show at The Lexington last November, at which I was right at the front and so full of cold that it was almost like an out-of-body experience. When they announced a show at London’s legendary 100 Club I snapped up a ticket straight away.
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Tonight’s show was the first of four shows around the UK ahead of Psychonaut’s performance at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton on 16 May, and opening proceedings were fellow Belgian band Cobra The Impaler. This was my first time seeing the band, but some in the crowd were clearly much more familiar. They had fantastic energy throughout their set, which was amazing to watch from just a few feet away, which has got to be one of the best things about seeing live music in a grassroots music venue such as 100 Club.
I would personally describe them as an “ArcTanGent band” (which is a complement) because their sound had shades of prog / sludge / doom together with groovy riffs, and both melodic and heavy vocals. Certainly a band I would go to see again.
Up next were headliners Psychonaut, by which time the 350-capacity room was close to full. I don’t believe that the show was sold out, but it must have been very close to it as the room was packed with a pleasingly diverse group of music fans. Psychonaut have been a band I have loved for a few years now, and it is always a treat to see them play live as they have a presence on stage which is both captivating and crushing.
Opening with “And You Came With Searing Light” from their most recent 2025 album World Maker, they went on to play an excellent selection of tracks from that record as well as Violate Consensus Reality (2022), and their debut album Unfold the God Man (2018). Tracks such as “All Your Gods Have Gone” are just exceptional live in my opinion, and shout-out to their lighting tech for adding even more oomph to their already super-engaging set with some well-timed transitions and strobes. I honestly had a lovely time and cannot wait until they return to London again.
What is it that the young people say? 10/10, no notes.
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All photos by Katie Frost Photography
Psychonaut: official | facebook | instagram | spotify | youtube
Cobra The Impaler: facebook | instagram | spotify | youtube
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