Sound Kitchen Archives

Much has happened since we last saw Priest live in December 2024: Not one, but two US tours were completed in 2025, an EP was released ("Chaos EP"; the corresponding EP review can be read here), and the previously announced documentary "DECODED: A Priest Doc" has been put on hold, with a reboot of the Swedish dark 80s style synth-pop band being announced instead. As we learn over the course of the evening, tonight's gig in Stockholm - supported by Hatif - is not only the first, but also the only Priest show in Sweden's capital in 2025, and the first of only two performances this year in Sweden and Northern Europe overall. Tomorrow, the masked trio, which partly consists of former band members of the Swedish rock heavyweights Ghost, will play their final show in Jönköping. The final show of 2025, and the last in its current form before the big reboot. Those who managed to secure tickets to either of the two completely sold-out events can count themselves lucky.

There is also good news for those who had stayed away from events in Sweden because of the nationwide "väskförbud" ["ban of bags"]: The ban was lifted on 11 June 2025. Attendees can once again bring bags to bigger events or leave them in the paid cloakroom. Due to the increased risk of terror attacks in Sweden, neither had been allowed since 1 November 2023, though some smaller venues made exceptions, allowing one small bag per person. We don't know whether "Patricia" was one of these venues, as we are visiting the moored ship for the first time tonight.

After DJ Stasi (Anastasia Karlova) has the crowd dancing to her set, Johan Eckerström and Markus Majdalani alias Hatif enter the stage, now pitch black except for a black-and-white video projection. Said video installation shines on a white piece of fabric behind the band and on the black-clad duo themselves, making them practically part of it. Hatif describe themselves as "a Swedish electronic music group", but there is more to it, as the opener "Direction" quickly makes clear: Oriental influences, added to the soundscape by vocalist Markus Majdalani via a red melodica. While the crowd up on the balcony remains reserved, those on the floor are dancing from the get-go. After the second song, "Take The Bait", Markus Majdalani causes some amusement in the audience when he responds to the warm welcome with a reserved "Tack!" [Swedish for: "Thanks!"]. It seems clear that the duo, founded in 2020, is unpretentious, preferring to focus on the music rather than waste words.

There is a change of pace with the melancholic "Driven", with Markus Majdalani sitting at the keyboard. When the visualiser for "Broken Bucket" starts, a girl in the audience exclaims in delight: "Oh, horses!" And, indeed, "Broken Bucket" with its vocal hook is not only more powerful live than on record but also the highlight of tonight's set. The final track, "As If You Were Sworn", is also impressive, with a similarly strong vocal hook and Middle Eastern sounds. Those who were already familiar with Hatif's music before tonight's performance - or who are here tonight because of them - might be particularly pleased that the setlist is dominated by songs from their second studio album "Small States", which was released in May 2025. Adele Sinnamon from Onyx Music Reviews once described Hatif as "a really exotic reincarnation of fellow Swedes, Covenant", and, in my opinion, this description hits the nail on the head. These gentlemen, who modestly leave the stage amid loud applause, would make a valuable addition to goth festivals like M'era Luna.

While preparations are under way for Priest's set, the stage is bathed in dim red light. As Sulfur starts the intro and Salt enters the stage amid loud cheers from the crowd, the red light gradually fades until only the tiny white lights attached to Salt's fingers and the glowing emergency exit sign behind him remain visible. When "The Pit" begins, vocalist Mercury appears, his ruby-red Terminator eye casting a dim red glow once again. Otherwise, it's pitch black on the ship, presumably like in the "bottomless pit". And, yes: Unlike last time, "The Pit" is back in the setlist! I'm delighted because I really missed their debut single when Priest played at "Kollektivet Livet". As I wrote back then, I understand the band's desire to update their repertoire, but I'm also very tempted to say "never change a winning team", as the order of intro, "The Pit" and "Neuromancer" works so perfectly. And, indeed, "The Pit" is followed by "Neuromancer", and with the "dark dancer", the dim red light returns to the stage.

Like last time, keyboardist Salt plays his first keytar solo at the edge of the stage during "Blacklisted", while Mercury sweeps across the stage, supported by programmer and keyboardist Sulfur, who often acts as the animator of the audience. After "Black Venom", "Demon's Call", "Just A Game", "A Signal In The Noise" and "The Cross", the set continues with the two singles from "Chaos EP", which was released in June 2025: "World On A Wire" and "My Lonely Heart". Two live premieres, at least for the Swedish audience. During "Burning Love", the lighting changes from red to green just for this song, and Salt also surprises with another keytar solo.

There is a little heartwarming déjà vu from Priest's Stockholm show in March 2024 when Mercury mentions that Deathstars bassist Skinny Disco is in the audience, dedicating "Keep On Burning" to him once again. By the time "Let Your Body Go" and "Beacon Of Light" are played, one realises that tonight's setlist covers tracks from all studio albums ("New Flesh", "Cyberhead", "Body Machine" and "Dark Pulse") and EPs ("Obey", "Dead Ringer EP" and "Chaos EP") that Priest have released so far. During the latter and the following "Obey", Mercury disappears into the crowd. Before the encores, "History In Black" and "Vaudeville", a very amusing moment occurs when a male fan gets the idea that now would be the right time to have Mercury sign his Priest poster. The frontman tries his best, but with a microphone in one hand and a beer bottle in the other, he suggests taking care of it later. When a female fan asks him if he promises to do it, he responds with a kiss on her hand, leaving her in awe. Not long after the band has taken its bow, Mercury can indeed be found at the merchandise booth - chatting with fans, signing autographs, and posing for pictures - while DJ Stasi once again takes charge of the music.

Seeing Priest perform a sold-out headline show comes as no surprise. Back in December 2023 - when we first discovered them as main support for the masters of death glam, Deathstars, in Stockholm - we already predicted that the trio was destined for bigger things. The fact that this was the second to last show before the mysterious reboot, and that "Chaos EP" has already introduced Priest's sonic shift from the 80s to the 90s, wasn't made a big deal of. Instead, the comprehensive setlist and the high-energy performance spoke for themselves. It was also refreshing that only two acts performed tonight, instead of the three or more one usually gets these days, which allowed for correspondingly longer sets. Especially for Priest, whose previous two Stockholm shows had been rushed due to time constraints. Maybe it was thanks to "Patricia", one of the few venues in Stockholm that is allowed to stay open until 5 AM, or maybe it was thanks to "Klubb DÖD", under whose banner tonight's event was presented. In any case, Priest did not promise too much when they announced that it would be "the synth gig of the year", leaving everyone over the moon as they went home. So much so that one almost forgot to mourn "the end of an era".

Author: Stefanie Nysand