On 20 March, at the dawn of spring, Gaerea returned to Belgium (see our previous live report), performing an exclusive show at Le Botanique’s Orangerie. On the occasion of a special release party in Brussels, the Portuguese band known for its lyrical, poetic and hard hitting black metal sound presented their new album Loss live for the very first time. A performance that was as intense as it was emotional!
The First Notes of Loss
With the countdown timer running, I watched the days tick by as the album’s release drew nearer. In the meantime, four singles had been unveiled bit by bit: ‘Submerged‘, ‘Hellbound‘, ‘Phoenix‘ and ‘Nomad‘. Each with its own unique personality, these tracks hinted at a record that felt far more ambitious and that’s exactly what I was about to discover! To keep the surprise intact, I chose not to listen to the album beforehand. My aim was simple: I wanted to walk out of the venue genuinely surprised. And that’s undoubtedly the word that best sums up the evening. Gaerea opened the release party with a mesmerising introduction, carried by the soft voice of Delta (band’s guitarist). The crowd, initially still, was gradually drawn in, until the drums kicked in and ‘Nomad’ began.
With ten years in the making, Loss marks a pivotal moment for the Portuguese band whose constant movement across borders seems to echo throughout the record. Nowhere is this more palpable than on ‘Nomad’ where Gaerea manage to put into words a profound sense of displacement. A life in transit where places and memories dissolve into one another and finally where loss is no longer an isolated emotion but a permanent state of being. You can tell that it’s definitely a theme that touches me deeply! This introspective opening quickly gave way to ‘Phoenix’, a track firmly rooted in transformation and self-transcendence. Interestingly, the band broke away from the album’s initial structure, transitioning directly from the singles that had been released to their new unreleased material. By leading with familiar songs, Gaerea established an immediate connection with the crowd, turning what could have been a challenging introduction to new material into a cohesive and immersive live experience. The whole set flowed seamlessly, in what seemed to happen in the blink of an eye.
Among these new releases, two tracks in particular stood out to me for the distinct ways in which they approach the theme of loss: ‘Uncontrolled‘ and ‘Stardust‘. On its side, ‘Uncontrolled’ embraces a much harsher and more familiar sound, almost feeling like a return to the band’s roots, yet it never comes across as a step backwards or something forced. Instead, and on closer analysis of the lyrics, that intensity mirrors what the song is trying to convey: a mind (here the melody) wired in a certain way, almost overwhelmed and stuck in a loop of noise and disconnection. It captures a form of loss that is, this time, internal, where identity slowly erodes under pressure and under the weight of what is expected of you. In contrast, ‘Stardust’ offers something far more I’d say direct and emotional. More atmospheric but yet not restrained. The song fully embraces the vulnerability that Loss is moving towards, both melodically and lyrically, by addressing absence in a way that feels bittersweet and tender at the same time. The live moment, when the audience was invited to raise their hand for those who are no longer with us, made it hit even harder, turning it into a shared and deeply human experience. In a way, ‘Stardust’ echoes the emotional weight of ‘Wilted Flowers‘, though in a softer and more delicate form. Taken together, ‘Stardust’ and ‘Uncontrolled’ highlight two sides of Loss by offering a contrast that the audience can simply embrace or reject.
A risky move but one the band fully embraced
And then suddenly, Gaerea left the stage. The intensity subsides yet the audience remains riveted to the stage, where a giant screen lights up the room. Alpha’s voice (main vocals), then takes over and brings the moment into something much more intimate. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, a shot of Porto takes us back to the band’s origins, to where it all began:
It was just me in my room laying on ideas that would later become songs. I didn’t expect it to go anywhere. It was only the need to make something that felt alive. – Alpha
In this moment of calm, the short film reveals a whole new dimension to Loss. As if Gaerea had anticipated the criticism, they explain that they never saw themselves as part of one single genre. Constantly evolving, their sound aims to reflect their collective will, their discussions, shared vision but also their compromises. As they put it:
We want to make music that touches the soul […] sometimes we disagree but at the end of the day it’s because we care. – Alpha and Delta
Above all, this short film reveals a deeply personal approach: the one of growing without being trapped in a defined style. I found this approach particularly relevant, in that it addresses the main criticism I’ve heard levelled about Loss. Aware of this reality, Gaerea embraces it, describing it as a risky gamble, but what is life without exploration?The evening then slowly came to an end and Gaerea did not leave the audience, still moved by the film, feeling short-changed. The band took the opportunity to return to their roots performing some of their well-known tracks from their repertoire. To my great pleasure, they played ‘Wilted Flower’ and ‘Hope Shatters‘ bringing not only the release party to an end but also this beautiful spring equinox day!
To conclude, even if Loss feels more nuanced and at times softer in its intentions, the risk taken by the band is, in my opinion, fully successful. By exploring a new kind of sensitivity, Gaerea never let go of the darkness that defines its writing but instead chooses to evolve, even if it means moving away from what the audience might expect. If Coma (2024) already hinted at this shift, Loss fully embraces it through more detailed atmospheres and controlled moments of softness. Each quieter passage becomes a space for reflection and in a way reveals even more of the band’s true essence. One thing is certain: it is hard to stay indifferent and I can only encourage you to form your own opinion on the album!
Photos from the show will be shared soon.