Monday, Feb 9 2026 | DNA Lounge | San Francisco

Between some promos, social media posts, and marketing emails, 6 or 6:30pm was an endless riddle.

The early Pagan ritual kicked off at 6pm sharp.

Those who drifted in late expecting a buffer, missed WarTroll entirely.

Arkona Storms San Francisco with WarTroll and Helsott

WarTroll: Mysticism, Skulls, and Masked Madness

When WarTroll took the stage, the mood was already set. Three skulls, suspended from a mic stand, lined the front like ceremonial offerings. The instruments, equipped with ritualistic ornaments, were set with precision and within minutes, pagan folk mysticism tore through the room.

Musically, WarTroll occupies a fascinating lane: American-born, yet steeped in European pagan atmosphere. The folk/death metal band is known for their fantasy, battle, and alcohol-themed music.

The opening set felt anything but routine. In under thirty minutes - just four songs - they delivered something cinematic and immersive. Up front, the energy wasn’t forced into a pit; it simmered. 

WarTroll Setlist

  • Silver Tower (Frozen Hordes)

  • Overlord (Battles and Victory)

  • Oak and Iron (upcoming third release)

  • Shadow of the Mountain (Battles and Victory)

Later, the band’s vocalist Grimm’lok laughed about the evening’s scheduling confusion. “We all know the saying, “Show must go on. But as a band, we prefer “show must go wrong” - that’s how you stay afloat when things don’t go according to plan.”

What else often goes wrong? The band’s name spelling. “WarTroll” is ONE word,” Grimm’lok sighed, “But most venues spell our name wrong.”

He also joked about his discomfort while talking to fans in his “human form” - still dressed to the Pagan nines but with less makeup and special effects.

When it came to social media, Grimm’lok beamed. “We’re WarTroll. You’ll find us everywhere as WarTroll_Official - Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp… whatever still exists.”

Most of the band’s members were present at the merch table. The mysticism didn’t switch off when the amps cooled - even offstage, they carried the aura. Moerg, the band’s keyboardist, was taking photos and conversing with fans. Grimm’lok mused about yet another intricate spelling case. “We used to spell her name as ‘Mörg’ (Ed. “the swamp dweller”), but then decided to let go of the umlauts.”

The band’s overall energy was fantastic - collaborative, engaging, and supportive towards other bands. No personal branding push. No individual spotlight grabs. Just the music, and the community. “We’re enamored with the other two bands. Helsott are longtime allies of ours - good guys, great show, better and better every time we see them.”, Grimm’lok stated.

“And Arkona - what can I say?” He continued. “If it’s not obvious in our own music, we’re big fans. This was an amazing opportunity, an amazing chance to play… even though we would’ve been here anyway.”

Helsott: Viking Debauchery Meets California Grit

Drummer Alex Simsay praised the venue’s hospitality, “It’s been amazing being at DNA Lounge. Everyone here has been very helpful. Not many places help you move the gear, but here they were willing to give us a hand.” He later pointed out that Helsott and WarTroll have been friends for a few years now, and Arkona - a classic pagan black metal band - has been incredible to tour with. “Sometimes, there’s a bit of a language barrier, because they’re from Russia, but their English is good enough to crack a few jokes, have a good time, and share some vodka with.” Alex laughed.

Guitarist Peter Truax shared a similar sentiment. Band’s vocalist Eric Dow was also at the merch table with Alex and Peter - chatting with fans, signing stuff. A true epitome of camaraderie and community.

If WarTroll simmered, Helsott ignited.

Hailing from San Diego, the band carries a Nordic aesthetic without costume theatrics, latex masks, or medieval props. But the energy carries this Viking-pub chaos - exactly what you can imagine happening in a 17th-century tavern. Think long tables, heavy mugs of ale, and a fight waiting to break out before the chorus hits.

Helsott may sing in English, but their aesthetic draws from Old Norse - even their name translates loosely to “incurable illness.” It’s less atmospheric black metal and more war-drunk revelry. Punk edges against the Viking backbone.

Naturally, the pit opened during their set. Circles formed. Shoulders collided. “Whiskey Breath” detonated into full momentum.

Helsott Setlist

  • I’ll make ya famous

  • The Tavern’s Tale

  • Helsott

  • The Sacking of Lindisfarne

  • Folkvangr

  • Babylon

  • Whiskey Breath

  • Honor Thy Valkyrie

Arkona: A Slavic Gathering

Between the openers and the headliner, the anticipation shifted. Conversations around the venue turned toward one name. Arkona.

Arkona’s tour manager Bryan Stevens summed up the bill with characteristic bluntness: “Be prepared for some beautiful, atmospheric Russian melodic death metal.”

When Arkona took the stage, the lighting bled red. The imagery intensified. Where WarTroll displayed skulls at the front, Arkona’s vocalist stood before a skeletal ribcage mic stand, spine curling upward like a relic from an excavation. Three skulls loomed in the background.

That mystical number three: birth, life, and death. A pagan constant.

Their set stretched well over an hour to nearly fifteen songs. Dense, ritualistic, and commanding. Unlike the openers, Arkona spoke sparingly between tracks.

The sound was massive, with Masha Scream the vocalist holding the audience in her grip. The audience surged. The pit reignited - not at the band’s instruction, but organically. Arkona didn’t command chaos; they inspired it.

For many in attendance, particularly those of Eastern European descent, the night carried additional cultural weight. One fan, Jordan Wasilewski, described it as something deeper than a show: “I’m of Slavic descent, specifically Polish, and this felt like a holiday for Slavic metalheads in the Bay. I just couldn’t miss it.”

Arkona’s presence in the U.S. isn’t casual. As a Russian band navigating complex geopolitical realities, touring internationally carries layers beyond logistics. Yet inside the DNA Lounge, the focus remained on music. Their music transcended all barriers.

A set photographer, Elon Sharton-Bierig, described the experience poetically: “Arkona did for me what many other bands can’t do. It warmed my cold, black, dead heart. Witnessing atmospheric black metal live is an unparalleled feeling. It puts you in a zone where you’re in tune with the sound waves unlike any other.”

That unparalleled experience reigned throughout the entire set, and then, Arkona left.

No encore. No return to the stage.

For longtime fans accustomed to closing with “Stenka na Stenku,” (Ed. Literally, “Wall on wall”, or a phrase used to describe opposition and/or fight), the absence was noticeable. The ritual ended without repetition. But perhaps, this is what made it even more remarkable.

All content on this page is by Olga Gabris.
Songs and performances are owned by their respective creators.