A Small Sea of Stars: LASTELLE & Seven Blood Light Up MTC Cologne
With small shows, there are usually two options: bands either form an intimate, close bond with the crowd, or they try – sometimes unsuccessfully – to play as if it’s a sold-out show in front of 500 people. At MTC in Cologne, however, co-headliners UK band LASTELLE and German natives Seven Blood proved that you can do both.
LASTELLE, who share a name with the princess Lastelle from the Studio Ghibli film ‘Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind’, started their set with their most popular song ‘Pine’ from their 2024 EP ‘Exist vol. i’. shortly followed by ‘Life in Silhouettes’ from last year’s continuation of the former. Both Adam Rigozzi (vocals) and Mike Hayden (drums, vocals) shine with non-stop energy and their talented voices. Hayden stepping in on vocals was a welcome surprise —especially since he never missed a beat, but it would’ve been great to see him more clearly, as talent like that deserves the spotlight every now and then. Rich Lester and Jonjo Williams (guitars) rocked the stage on tracks such as ‘Bitter Seeds’ and ‘Coping without a Cure’.
Even with bassist Freddie Whatmore sidelined for the night (though apparently back on stage in London), the band more than made up for it with an energetic and deeply personal approach. From fist-bumping the youngest fans — including a tiny rock girl perched on her dad’s arms — to jumping into an impromptu mosh pit in the middle of the crowd, Rigozzi clearly set out to connect with everyone in the room. Before long, phone lights lit up the club, turning it into a small but glowing sea of stars. “Thank you for reminding us why we exist” Rigozzi said as a fitting nod to their track ‘Exist’.
With a beautiful rendition of ‘Breathe Me In’, LASTELLE ended their set as strong as it started.
After a short break, emo-metal band Seven Blood took the stage. Starting right into ‘House ≠ Home’, from their 2025 debut album ‘Life Is Just A Phase’, they immediately showed off their raw emotionality and dynamic sound. Azaria Nasiri’s vocals stay powerful throughout, demonstrating why their first live gig happened to be as support to Underoath. Especially on ‘To the Unknown’, her vocal talent and emotional depth finds the perfect contrast to Oli Arnold (guitar) and Josi Hille (bass). Anfy Hartmann, who has before been known to play drums alongside Arnold for punk band Radio Havanna, brings a hardcore approach to the songs. Tracked synths round out the songs, forging a bridge between the wall of sound of the instruments and Naziri’s clean vocals. The band manages to put on a great show full of movement and action, even on a stage as small as the one at MTC Cologne.
After playing the yet unreleased song ‘Goodbye’, making the crowd sway along to heartbreaking lyrics about a relationship where time and place never quite fit to make it work, and yet still think about it from time to time, as explained by Naziri. On that tragic note, Seven Blood then did a full 180 on the somber mood by playing their metalcore rendition of Lady Gaga’s ‘Just Dance’. Even far in the back, the crowd indeed danced and sang along, helping out when Naziri suddenly missed her cue with a laugh. Personally, I’m always a big fan of rock versions of famous pop songs, and this one did not disappoint.
Going strong with tracks such as ‘Strangers’ and ‘Killing from the Inside’, Seven Blood showed amazing potential to rise through the ranks to metalcore-stardom. I, for one, can’t wait to see where they are going next. Both LASTELLE and Seven Blood are bands to look out for in the future and I’m hoping to see them across the bigger stages of the world sooner or later.
