Brujeria

6 Aug

Brujeria, 4-Aug. ’15, concert at Chemiefabrik Dresden

“Fuck Donald Trump European Tour”

I arrived the moment Brujeria started playing, so sadly missed out on Dresden’s Bezerk. (Next time!) The Brujeria gig was smoking hot. The concert room was crowded and people were moshing and stage diving to the Mexican-American death metal / grindcore mix. I quickly wriggled myself through the crowd and hurried to empty my beer whilst photographing and headbanging. In the middle I got hit from the front by a stage diver and for a moment was convinced my camera had been crushed through the impact. I was about to make peace with the circumstance of having sacrificed my camera during a Brujeria gig. Well, turns out this was not the case and I could continue photographing and headbanging.

The concert was a hell lot of fun and went by rather quickly, even though the band played a plethora of songs from different eras (see setlist below). I was especially amazed by the female grind vocals. Since 2000 Gaby Domingez alias Pititis lends her woman power to the line-up. Her brutal growls along with the costumes and performance contrast and add glamour to the otherwise straightforward stage show. Having been on tour in Europe for 3 weeks the performance at Chemiefabrik was neat and sure worth the ticket. The European tour continues for another 3 weeks. Find the remaining tour dates on the band’s Facebook page.

Brujeria consists of members from different other well-known line-ups, such as Carcass and Napalm Death. Their music is a groovy, rhythmic blend of death metal and grindcore with some punk influences. Despite writing their songs entirely in Spanish and dressing up as Mexican drug lords and police, they are not of Mexican origin. The song texts are dealing with topics such as death, sex, politics, the mexican war on drugs, sorcery and satanism. The motto on the current tour shirts reads “Fuck you puto” written over the face of Donald Trump.

Setlist:

  • Intro
  • Pito Wilson
  • Colas de Rata
  • La Migra
  • Hechando Chingasos
  • Pititis
  • Vayan Sin Miedo
  • Sida de la Mente
  • Desmadre
  • Angel de la Frontera
  • Marcha de Odio
  • Anti Castro
  • Revolucion
  • Division del Norte
  • Brujerizmo
  • Consejos Narcos
  • La Ley del Plomo
  • Matando Gueros
  • Outro – Marijuana
  • Extra: Macarena

 

Regina Bombina

17 Jul

 

"Regina Bombina", ink, 2017

“Regina Bombina”, ink, 2017

My contribution to the mystery and folklore surrounding the bumblebee. This sigil is inspired by my garden work and continues my line of magical images dedicated to the otherworldly emanations that cross between plant, animal and human realm.

Watch this awesome documentary about bumblebees: www.3sat.de/mediathek/?mode=pl…

Did you know? Bumblebees collect up to 5 times as much pollen and nectar daily as honey bees. In the animal realm they are the fastest at recognizing colors. No other insect cares as devotedly for their offspring as bumblebees.

More Throwback: Dissection Midsummer Massacre

11 Jul

DISSECTION

Recently a fan commissioned prints of my Dissection Midsummer Massacre photos. I used the opportunity and re-edited all of the official photos, as well some photos that have not been shared yet. Among them is this red photo of Jon. Due to the motion of the camera the candles on the stage altar are forming eleven numbers seven. I thought this was a nice detail, hence this date of 11/7.

Another photo I had not shared before is one of Jon and Erik Danielsson, rocking beside each other. It surely was a strange twist of fate that Erik would jump in for this very last concert in the history of Dissection. Yet on stage he fit in as any long-time member of a band would. I remember Jon commenting, how Erik was an artistic person and switching instruments would come just natural to him. He learnt the songs really quick. Erik put his heart and soul into the performance – as he always does.

Photos of the Dissection Midsummer Massacre, at Hovet, Stockholm 24/06 2006

For physical prints and print files of these photos please e-mail me at contact@wr-photography.com

Throwback: The Devil’s Blood

11 Jul

The Devil’s Blood, photos of the concert at Festsaal Kreuzberg, Berlin, 12/01 2012

These are photos I have not shared before and which, together with previously released photos, are being printed and then mailed to FL. Earlier a fan asked me for prints. FL said I could do whatever I want with these pics (nice gesture). So yes, you can order from me prints as a physical memory of this concert.

Of course a photo can only preserve a fragment of the intensity and emotions of the actual event. For me the photographing is part of the concert experience; I’m head-banging and photographing all at once. Hence the pics may turn out blurry or grainy. Yet there is always something interesting to find; with these photos I especially like the vibrancy of the colors in some as well as the mood in the red ones. To view the the full set go here.

For printed copies write to me at contact@wr-photography.com

Sensifer at Elbhangfest 2015

1 Jul

Saturday, June 27 2015

I arrive at Grottenwirtschaft, the sky is gray and clouded, but it has stopped raining… I am still tired from last night, now enjoying a beer, chatting and finally the music starts… at first glance one wouldn’t think so, but Dresden post-rock band Sensifer produce one massive guitar sound on stage, which draws you in and takes you away… it’s a weird surreal scenery: the band is playing inside this garage, the audience is standing at the other side of the road, in the distance the boats on the river and summer-green meadows… people are passing by as the band keeps playing, cyclists and passengers turn heads, slowing down, stopping, some stay and become immersed in the atmospheric guitar sound, others keep walking on by, from one stage to the next, following the river upstream and downstream… then the clouds tear open and the sun breaks through… rays of light are blinding me as I continue listening and photographing…

Sensifer play nearly 2 hours at this year’s Elbhangfest. I had come here because I expected this to be the perfect music for my melancholic mood. Turns out it is a hell lot of fun, which ultimately results in me walking around with the begging hat and collecting donations from the audience, who approves… Sensifer in concert means commitment. They are currently working on a new Ep. For news visit: http://www.sensifer-music.de/news.


Deutsche Version:

Als ich an der Grottenwirtschaft ankomme, ist der Himmel grau und voll Wolken, aber es hat es aufgehört zu regnen. Ich bin noch müde von der letzten Nacht, genehmige mir nun ein Bier und unterhalte mich hier und da, bis die Musik endlich anfängt… Auf den ersten Blick würde man es nicht vermuten, aber die Dresdner Post-Rock Band Sensifer erzeugen einen gewaltigen Gitarren-Sound auf der Bühne, welcher dich hineinzieht und mitnimmt…

Es ist eine sonderbar surrealer Anblick: die Band spielt dort in dieser Garage, das Publikum steht auf der anderen Seite der Straße, in der Ferne sieht man die Bote auf dem Fluß und die sommergrünen Wiesen… dazwischen die Straße, Menschen laufen an uns vorbei, während die Band weiter spielt… im Vorbeilaufen drehen Fahrradfahrer und Passanten ihre Köpfe in Richtung Bühne, werden langsamer, bleiben stehen… manche verharren und tauchen in den atmosphärischen Gitarren-Sound ein, andere gehen weiter, von einer Bühne zur nächsten, sie folgen dem Fluß stromaufwärts und -abwärts… dann lichten sich die Wolken, die Sonne bricht hindurch, ich bin geblendet von ihren Strahlen, als ich weiter der Musik lausche und fotografiere…

Sensifer spielen beinahe 2 Stunden auf dem diesjährigen Elbhangfest. Ich kam mit der Erwartung her, dass die Musik sehr gut zu meiner melancholischen Stimmung passen würde. Doch am Ende war es ein Höllenspaß, was letztlich dazu führte, das ich mit dem Sammelhut herumging und vom Publikum Spenden einsammelte, welches die Aktion auch belohnte… Sensifer im Konzert, das bedeutet vor allem Hingabe.

Die Band arbeitet gerade an ihrer neuen EP. Für mehr Neuigkeiten besucht bitte die Website unter http://www.sensifer-music.de/news.

Die Toten Kommen (the dead are coming)

28 Jun

Die Toten Kommen

If you are wondering about the grave-cross photo I posted last night, here is the background story: the “grave” is part of a nation-wide campaign against European refugee policy. Berlin art group, “Zentrum für Politische Schönheit”, calls out to create awareness and establish artificial graves all across Germany and Europe in memory of the unknown refugees that died when trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Part of the campaign is also the transferring of bodies of dead refugees to Germany for giving them a proper burial and giving relatives the possibility to say goodbye in a respectful manner. Their activism is of course not welcomed by the German government. However people all across the country and the EU can take part in the activities that aim to create awareness, as opposed to ignorance and looking away from what is happening at the Southern European border.

It was a surprise to find this “grave” last night. I’m occasionally lighting grave-candles here in necromantic cross-road workings. I’m usually honoring Hecate and other, known and also unknown dead, e.g. I also give offerings to anonymous dead. Now I come here and find a grave with offerings, looking so familiar. I really do support the cause behind it.

“Die Toten kommen ” (The dead are coming) – the motto is to be taken literal. If you want to support the efforts made to give the dead a proper burial right there, where it hurts politicians the most, please consider donating: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/die-toten-kommen#/story

In turn for donations you can chose to receive art items, postcards, posters, shirts etc.

June Moon 2015

9 Jun

June Moon

June Waning Moon, 2015

Waning Moon, June 08 2015

photos taken without support, using a 70-300 mm Sigma lense

Besides, I’m introducing a new website section for my humble attempts at creative astro photography: Sun, Moon and Stars

Death Posture (Mortificatio)

29 May

Death posture II

Death Posture

Found a dead hornet on the floor. It looked as if some invisible hand had placed it there. No signs of violence, except for some white excretion around the stinger. A few days earlier I had seen a huge hornet in our apple tree. The presence of such animal, dead or alive, naturally evokes feelings of unease and discomfort. Yet it was fascinating to get closer. I call the photo “death posture”, not necessarily in reference to something esoteric or spiritual. I rather found the position interesting, which the animal takes upon death with legs crossed to a triple “X”. It’s deader than dead, but there is still a cold stare.

New Beginnings (Melancholia)

24 May

Apple blossom

Apple blossom

Apple blossoms beside decaying fruit from last year still hanging on the tree

melancholia – waiting for inspiration to strike

Raven Flight

10 May

A raven in flight is quite a delightful sight