Cygnus Rock Band - live at Nuevo Teatro San Fernando (video review)
This was epic, in every sense.
Cygnus made a dream come true with this show. On February 22nd, 2025 José Andrëa, the former singer of Mägo de Oz
a Spanish folk metal band with a superstar status in all Spanish-speaking countries
and current singer of Kabrönes visited Cygnus's home city for a gig as one of the stations of his solo tour, and our favorite band was the opening act for him. This in itself is mouth-watering and makes the fan's heart race. Everyone was excited, everyone was waiting for it and we all knew - fans as well as the band - that this is a unique chance to show themselves to the greater public of their home town, where in fact they are still unknown.
During the live session before releasing this video, I'm not sure anymore if it was Ruxx or Deneb telling this story, but it did happen that after their show people approached them and they kept asking where the band was from. And when they told them they were from the town, people were shocked, because they had never heard about Cygnus before.
So, it was a kind of "now or never" sort of chance for Cygnus to jump out of the unknown/underground status and enchant the local audience.
Of course they made it.
Has anyone had any doubts?...
Just as you can imagine, dear Reader, the ugly side of entertainment industry has raised its ugly head. Since I wasn't there
unfortunately
all I know is from the band's own statement (that you can read here as well as here in details) and what witnesses told.
Cygnus prepared for this show with an amazing, 7-song (approx. 40-minute-long) set with their greatest hits, e.g. The One-Eyed Wanderer, Fenrir the Wolf or Ulfberht.
Yes, I know, because unlike you, dear average music consumer, I keep my eyes and ears open 😒
But when they arrived at the venue, the organizer
may his mother keep hiccuping
(if you know what it means, you know)
declared that Cygnus was allowed to play only 3 songs (!!!). All this without any further explanation or justification. Because he said so.
Show me one band, just one that wouldn't be furious hearing this. One band that doesn't have this passing thought in the heads of the members to give up the entire show, one band that doesn't feel futile and/or worthless. Just one band.
One thing I can tell: if this had happened in Eastern Europe, the organizer wouldn't have survived it. Physically maybe, but morally definitely not. Not only would have the audience thrown their fury on him right there, tearing him into tiny pieces by yelling and even threatening, perhaps even throwing objects at him, but the social media sites of the organizer would have been flooded with raging, hatelful and yes, even threatening comments. This level of disorganization, the disdaining of the locals - the band as well as the audience - is unacceptable and plain disgusting.
And yes, there are parts of the world where people don't hold themselves back when those whom they love are mistreated.
Cygnus had to face these adversaries even before hitting the stage. But these four men, Deneb, Ruxx, Andrés and Jota are heroes, for a reason.
They went on the stage and won the hearts of those in Nuevo Teatro San Fernando.
In this video two songs are not featured (as they were released earlier as live videos, from their memorable COP16 show), only the 3rd and supposedly last one of their set, "Valhalla" as well as two encores, "Skål" and "Gästabud". We join Cygnus in that very moment Deneb introduces "Valhalla".
The sound of this live show is amazing. I LOVE - and I can't tell you how much! - the crystal clear sound of the guitars and how the bass hits me in the stomach. These live shows are great chances to see how much these musicians really work in these songs. Yes, the album versions are beautiful and I'm in love with them all, but they are very thoroughly and carefully arranged, with each and every instrument getting as much emphasis as they're supposed to, to have a complete harmony. But in these live events, when we're out of the studio, the instruments, especially the rhythm section suddenly jump into the foreground
along with the guitars and the two mesmerizing, wonderful male vocals, but I'll discuss them a bit later in their own details
and they manifest their very own beauty.
But not just that, dear Reader. The video is full of smaller and bigger moments as these musicians communicate with the audience. Deneb having a fist bump with a fan, right here, at the beginning of the song, or Ruxx climbing up to his stool at the song's breakdown screaming "Cali, how are we doing?!" And needless to say, the (new) fans are cheering happily.
And the guitars.
No wonder Andrés F. Bernal is referred often as Cygnus's Grand Maestro, or the Colombian Yngwie Malmsteen. The delicate elegance he plays the song's theme on the guitar is breathtaking. Everyone can be sure that it's far not as easy as it might sound for the untrained ears. It's complex, fast and requires not only a lot of practice but also a LOT of focus as well. And Andrés plays it as if it was just some morning scale to start the day with.
In the meantime - and for the whole time - Jota is the embodiment of stability and precision. Standing for the whole time at the left side of the stage, barely ever moving, with a constant determined look on his face, rarely looking up, he is the solid rock of the band. That component which the entire machine would fall apart without. The typical "quiet member" who means much more to the band than the average bystander would think.
And how I love watching as Deneb goes to his amazing, fancy bass rack time after time to change the settings on it!
Look at it, just look at it how cool it is! And he made it himself, with his two hands!
Because he's this amazing!
So many little things happen in the meantime. Smaller, sometimes barely recognizable, but still characteristic improvisations by Ruxx. Deneb and Jota communicating. And for the 2nd chorus of Valhalla it finally hits the ears.
The beautiful harmony of the voices of Deneb and Ruxx. And this is the other thing besides these I mentioned above why I love these live recordings so much.
And not just that.
Perhaps I mentioned in my previous live video reviews, but I say it again, because it's something that can't be praised enough
and I know that too many of you out there don't even recognize it, because you all have tin ears 😒
that these two wonderful, very talented Colombians manifest such flavors of their voices that have been unknown beforehand.
I keep worshipping their voices in every single of my blogposts here, because they are one of the cornerstones of why I love Cygnus this much: Deneb's rich, mellow baritone and Ruxx's powerful, sharp tenor. I have written countless times how much they mean to me together as well as separated, how the warmth of Deneb's voice saved me many times from falling into depression and how the power of Ruxx's vocals kicked life back into me. But here, dear Reader, here we can discover new shades of their voices that can't be heard in any studio recordings.
Deneb's voice is unusually deep and earthy, the warm tone of his vocals stays in the background, instead he sings with a slightly raw, but strong and robust voice that demands respect and honor. As if a ruler, a kind of monarch would have stepped out of the robes of the always smiling, quiet, soft spoken bass player, demanding appreciation and esteem.
And the enchanted audience gives him the admiration he deserves.
Ruxx doesn't keep himself back. All the energy he was hiding inside the firehouse in his throat can finally flow freely. All that rawness, all that unchiselled energy bursts out of him and it's useless to resist. Even if you may try it, this voice will bring you down by force. It doesn't ask for your permission.
But tell me, honestly, can you REALLY resist it?...
I generally love how "Valhalla" is more raw and more "metal" when it's performed live. Don't ever take me wrong though, dear Reader. It's one of Cygnus's most beautiful songs and it's the no. 1. fan favorite for a reason. But in these live versions (like this video for example) carry a kind of invigorating freshness which brings out the real power of the song. And I love it. Every single note, every single second of it.
When the song ends, comes the magic.
The musicians prepare to leave the stage. Deneb takes off his bass, Ruxx removes the monitors from his ears.
And the audience enters.
The fans, among whom the majority met Cygnus here for the very first time start chanting to call the band back to the stage. They don't allow the band to leave. They shout, they demand another song, they simply step over the cruel reality the organizer decided to be.
This, dear Reader.
This is the essence of this band. This is why they are this important in my life.
The passion, the fire, the love in them that so quickly conquers anyone. Their talent, experience and refined skills these four men perform their songs with. Their "all or nothing" attitude. Their determination, their willingness to die on the stage if it's needed.
This is what I have never seen in any other band in any other genre. This is what Cygnus brought into my life.
The enchanted audience keeps demanding Cygnus back to the stage and the band returns.
...and I fkin LOVE how Deneb fires at the organizer. They all deserved it, in fact they would have deserved more, and I can only hope they are all thankful that they didn't get more, that Deneb - and the entire Cygnus - was this generous with them.
And as the fans keep chanting, keep demaning another song, Cygnus fires them up again and start playing "Skål".
Again the real, raw power of the guitars and the bass hits you right at the beginning. It's irresistible, dear Reader, the more you listen to it, the more you will fall in love with this sound. Grand Maestro Andrés Yngwie F. Bernal Malmsteen Paganini again melts everyone with his unworldly skills. And how I love when Ruxx (with his firehouse voice) starts the first stanza, backed by the bass that hits you directly in the groints...
...and I swear, and this live version was needed for me to discover it, but do I hear well that here there's a hidden acoustic guitar in the original version?...
Or a guitar. Any guitar. Or any guitar-alike instrument.
I LOVE IT. 💓
And Deneb is backing Ruxx with his deep, powerful, earth-flavored voice. Their duet is one of the hidden gems of this live recording.
The other is the chorus. Ruxx's voice reaches high, to the peak of his vocal range, this way being more powerful than ever. Deneb shares the mellow shade of his rich baritone with the joyous audience. They beautifully complement each other, and here, in this live gig can the listener really hear how much harmony their voices carry, how Deneb's voice soften Ruxx's sharpness, while how Ruxx's vocals fuel fire into Deneb's emotions-filled singing. I love them, I love them more and more as I listen to it.
And I LOVE the closeups with the guitarists' hands as they play.
If you know, you know.
The dance of the two so different, yet so wonderfully manly voices continue, with Deneb's and Ruxx's duet. You really, really can't have enough of them, dear Reader. Don't even try to resist. It's too beautiful, too precious not to open your heart wide for them. But prepare yourself; because the catharsis is still waiting for you.
The solo sweeps you off your feet, Andrés is on the top - as always. But then, dear Reader.
Then comes that which is the most beautiful, most enchanting part of this entire almost 13 minutes of this video.
Deneb starts the Odin-prayer.
All eyes are on him. Fans take their phones out and start recording him. And you can be sure, dear Reader, that Deneb hasn't been seen yet being this powerful, this full of fire, passion, faith, might and life as in these moments, as he is praying to the All-Father. I am sure, for 100% that Nuevo Teatro San Fernando was shaking as the words of the prayer rolled out of his mouth.
I've loved this song by default, ever since I heard it for the first time, but this moment, dear Reader, made me fall in love very hard with it.
This is how much faith matters. Not necessarily spiritual faith, but faith in all that you're doing.
All or nothing!
The enchanted fans keep shouting and finally, at the end of the prayer they burst into joyful cheering.
I can only hope they were singing along with the chorus, hehe
The band then starts Gästabud immediately, without a pause, and this is the song where all 4 musicians can make a parade showing their skills. Andrés gets the crowd charmed with his elegance, Deneb keeps the bass grunting like a boar from Chernobyl, Jota is steadfast, unshakable and precise, Ruxx throws his smaller and bigger fills while being the band's engine.
Exactly the reasons why we love them.
And the audience cheers with happiness and joy, and these four wonderful, amazing, talented musicians totally deserve it.
Enjoy it you, too, dear Reader. Love these wonderful musicians, Deneb, Ruxx, Jota and Andrés. Admire their knowledge, experience, refinement, dedication, talent and passion, but most of all, admire the beauty they bring to your life.
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