Title: Nachtmahr + Alter Der Ruine: ASSAULT @ QXT's, Newark NJ
Contributor: Ilyssa Fisher
Date: 7/30/2009

On July 25th, QXT's hosted the latest installment of the Assault series of events and arguably one of the most powerful live combos the area had seen in a long time: Nachtmahr and Alter Der Ruine, both in their very first appearances in Northern NJ. Both bands have steadily been cultivating a reputation as energetic, high-quality live performers. Warming up for the bands was a truly stellar DJ lineup that included not only the QXT's resident DJ team, but NJ/NYC's Wintermute, Dyztort, Xris Smack, and Mighty Mike Saga and Totentanz representing Philadelphia. While those names could be more than enough for a stellar event on their own, everyone was truly there to see the evening's headliners, Nachtmahr, who had travelled all the way from Vienna to bring their blend of hard distorted beats and catchy dancefloor industrial to American audiences.

Already a favorite live act around Europe, this tour marked Nachtmahr's second visit to the United States, but first to East Coast cities. With a number of tracks becoming favorites in American clubs, there was certainly an electric atmosphere in the air as many no doubt wondered if the band could translate that same energy to a live situation. By the time Nachtmahr took to the stage, the crowd was fully pumped up and ready to go insane... and go insane they did! Barreling full-force into a setlist that included standout tracks suck as “Feuer Frei!” and “Katharsis” amid many from their soon-to-be-released new album, it didn't take long for the bodies packed in front of the stage to start moving, shouting, and even climbing the metal poles toward the front of the stage. Even some brief technical difficulties with the PA system couldn't bring the down the mood of the event, as the band plowed right through without stopping and the crowd went with them. As QXT's was the final stop on the tour, the setlist included one extra song, “Vendetta”, that had not been played at any other date. When the set had finally come to a close, the band could return to Austria knowing that this room full of people, and many others across the Eastern USA, would be leaving sweaty, sore, exhausted, and pleased. Ritual Filth and Dyztorted Entertainment had a true winner on their hands with this show. Hopefully we'll see Nachtmahr returning to the area very soon. They're certainly not to be missed!