Torsdag 27 november 2025
After appearing at Tons of Rock earlier this year, Orbit Culture returned to Oslo to play for a sold out crowd at Rockefeller. The festival appearance helped draw a passionate crowd, including a guy dressed as Santa Claus in the front row wearing a Tons of Rock hat. Opening with the title track “Death Above Life”, the Swedish melodic death metallers set the tone with their signature blend of crushing riffs, atmospheric grooves, and melodic hooks. Frontman Niklas Karlsson was a commanding presence on vocals and rhythm guitar, repeatedly shouting ‘OSLO!’ and raising his arms, which the crowd responded to with roars and crowd surfing from early in the set.
The band balanced their heavier, groove-laden moments with cinematic, melodic breaks. Lead guitarist Richard Hansson’s intricate solos added an extra layer of depth, while bassist Fredrik Lennartsson and drummer Christopher Wallerstedt locked down a relentless rhythm section. The setlist for the evening was a crowd-pleasing mix of material from their latest album Death Above Life and fan favourites from their earlier releases. Highlights included “The Tales of War”, with its pummeling riffs and infectious chorus, and “North Star of Nija”, which had the entire crowd singing along. The band’s ability to switch gears between all-out heaviness and haunting melodies was showcased in tracks like “From the Inside”, where the lighter, atmospheric moments provided much-needed respite before plunging back into the crushing grooves. The encore, “Vultures of North” closed the set in a frenetic burst of energy, leaving the audience roaring for more.
Orbit Culture’s live show is a testament to their skill in blending brutality with nuance, and their growing reputation as one of the most dynamic acts in the modern metal scene is well deserved. They can expect nice presents from Santa this Christmas. 4.5/6
Text and photography: Anne-Marie Forker
