Verloren Vertellingen – Live at Popei, Eindhoven
Up until now, Merg & Been Magazine hasn’t really bothered with live reviews. There are several reasons for that, but the main one is simple: I’m a bit of a chaotic person who always ends up missing half the bands because I’m outside chatting with someone I ran into. (To be clear — outside the venue, because talking inside during a show should be a punishable offense.)
Last Saturday, however, we boarded the train to Eindhoven to witness something quite special: the so-called RMS Meeting at Popei. A full lineup of bands was scheduled, but — true to form — I only managed to catch one thing from start to finish. Luckily, that one thing happened to be the debut performance of Verloren Vertellingen.
A concept with roots
A few years ago, four Dutch bands decided to join forces and create something unique: a compilation album featuring each of them with two songs inspired by their own region. The result was Verloren Vertellingen — Lost Tales.
The lineup consisted of Asgrauw, Hellevaerder, Schavot, and Duindwaler. Two of these — Schavot and Duindwaler — were solo projects that had released albums but had never set foot on stage. The other two, Asgrauw and Hellevaerder, were seasoned live acts who’ve spent years turning stages into smoldering ruins.
So they decided to merge their efforts into one special show, where each band would perform their two songs — a concept that required no small amount of blood, sweat, and (probably) a few tears.
The tales unfold
The evening kicked off with Hellevaerder, this time without their charismatic frontwoman Miranda, who unfortunately couldn’t make it. Her role was taken up by Valentijn (Serotonia), the band’s regular stand-in and live assistant — and he absolutely nailed it. If you didn’t already know the lineup, you’d never guess he wasn’t a full-time member.
A swift change followed, as drummer Daan (also part of our editorial team) handed over his seat to Floris of Schavot. It was time for the live debut of Duindwaler. The two songs thundered through the venue with endless blastbeats, flawlessly executed. Daan looked confident and composed — you’d never guess he’s usually hiding behind his cymbals.
Another quick switch: Daan back behind the kit, Floris now front and center with the mic. Schavot was up next, making its first live appearance. Armed with a mic, Floris stormed into the crowd — shrieking, screaming, and making life delightfully miserable for the front rows. He was vocally reinforced from the stage by Ward of Asgrauw, adding even more intensity to the performance.
And then came Asgrauw to close the night. Yet another lightning-fast transition, and they were off — delivering the kind of energetic, aggressive, and razor-sharp set they’re known for. Out of nowhere, Devi Hisgen (Teitan, Cthuluminati) emerged from backstage to take over second vocals, giving the finale even more power. Once they wrapped up their two songs, the crowd could finally catch its breath.
A tale worth telling
It was a real treat to witness the live debut of such an ambitious project. Despite all the lineup changes, nerves, and technical juggling, the whole performance ran surprisingly smooth. For the occasion, Verloren Vertellingen was also released on cassette, a fitting touch since the LP and CD versions have long sold out.
For those who missed it — there’s good news. The project will rise again in May 2026, at Diabolical Echoes in Arnhem.
And who knows — maybe Merg & Been Magazine will start doing more live reviews after all. As long as I can manage to stay inside the venue this time, that is.