From 10 bands over two days to 45 bands over four days with a lot of extra activities for even the most hyperactive kid it has been a journey very much upward for Oslo's Inferno Festival.
All photos stolen from Eternal Terror webzine (www.eternal-terror.com)
Started in 2001 by Jens Ryden of Borknagar fame, it was pretty much high profile from the off with the likes of Terrorizer (UK) giving it much focus.
It might be surprising to some to learn that it was actually Hole In The Sky that began first back in the Summer of 2000 as a tribute to a recently passed friend. It featured all local(ish) bands from Bergen or nearby. Despite the appearance of Immortal amongst others, the fact that it was a relatively low key event in Bergen's Garage venue that would host roughly 330 a day over the course of its two days meant that it was not thrust into the limelight in so immediate a fashion as its Oslo counterpart. The Oslo event having been host to around 1500 a day over its initial two day run, it was not surprising that it was given the starting attention.
Both have grown in size and stature, where many a band have cut their Norwegian teeth so to speak and both play host to heavy throngs coming from abroad for attendance.
Inferno also pulled master strokes in 2006 by hosting the return of Emperor and the same in 2007 for Immortal.
Easter 2010 Inferno will be edition number ten for the Oslo festival and the tenth anniversary is usually something that fuss is made over.
Lars Frode Hansen has been there since day one, makes him a good candidate to tell us if it means anything in particular to him - "Well when I sit down and think about it, it gets a bit nostalgic and you can’t really believe it’s already been 10 years, but in everyday life it doesn’t mean much in terms of what you do and you’re generally too busy to think about it too much."
OK, no surprise party then. Good, we can scrap the plans. Surely, being Oslo based and Oslo being so significant in the history of Black Metal it could well be commercial suicide to ignore protocol and give the OK for a birthday cake. Good political move on the part of Lars and the Inferno kids then. No party balloons with "I am 10" attached to the walls we hope? – “We haven’t got any really special plans as of yet, but there are still some time left before the festival so we’ll see". OK, good...we'll take that as a no:-).
I believe, also, that it is a very important year for Inferno especially. After consecutive years where they were either completely sold out or so close you they could smell it, their most recent edition was marked by an attendance that was quite far from matching the result of previous years.
Why? Well, there are two main arguments that have been pitted against one another.
Many will make pointed reference to laurels being rested on in the hope that the name itself would carry itself over the finish line.
2006 was Emperor. 2007 was Immortal. As mentioned both bands were making 'proper' live debuts after hiatus. 2008 was Satyricon - this was a marked drop as a coup by comparison being a band that had crossed through Europe on a very regular basis on their own steam but were still one of the Norwegian biggies so likely to keep the Blackpackers smiling. To 2009, where in an attempt to continue with the Norwegian Black Metal theme no doubt, Carpathian Forest seemed to be those chosen to carry the torch.
Carpathian Forest a s a headliner in Rockefeller? Not gonna cut it. The smaller John Dee venue would have been a perfect stomping ground for them. Reference should go to Watain's near legendary performance of 2007. We asked Lars again what his thoughts on this were - "I think 2009 was an uncertain year for a lot of people. This certainly had an impact, probably more so abroad than in Norway, but also here to some degree. People were most likely more selective when it came to spending money and if you usually went to 3-4 festivals a year maybe you cut it down to 1-2 in 2009. Which one you drop of course varies from person to person and I think that most festivals and also regular concerts were “hit” by this to some extent in 2009."
Either way, the game was up and it was felt the Inferno administration needed something special for the big number ten to keep in the game.
With that in mind and as a meat and potatoe sorta Metal gal who just wants to cut through the bullshit and have a good old uncomplicated Heavy Metal party...nothing more..., I have full belief the Inferno folk will manage to mould the actions of the BSDM world's creator Jesus 'No pain, no gain muthafukka' Christ and stage a resurrection that will be talk of the town for weeks to follow. The meat microphone is passed to Lars again. Are they gonna pull (absolutely no fucking Helloween reference here) the rabbit out of the hat this year? Do they feel they need to? - "I don’t feel we’ve done much differently this year really. We usually have a set of bands we’d like to have and these are pretty consistent from year to year apart from new bands that have come up, bands reunited and depending on when/if bands have already played at Inferno and recently in Norway of course. What differs the most from year to year is who’s available and how we manage to put it all together within our budget. How easy this is and good the result becomes of course varies from year to year."
Even for those who voiced concerns about the choice of bands in the previous year or two it would be hard not to acknowledge that they seem to have rolled up their sleeves and dug a little bit deeper with the bands they have announced so far for 2010.
Mayhem, Marduk, Finntroll, The Kovenant, Taake, Nachtmystium, Jarobe, Benediction, Exumer, Belphegor and Ragnarok are the names so far released.
The signs are good.
So, just how was Inferno 2009? Let's have a wee glimpse
Go to WEDNESDAY
Go to THURSDAY
Go to FRIDAY
Go to SATURDAY
Inferno Festival 2009 – in remembrance
This year the whole experience was a little bit different, the second year that the Wednesday club day is established as a part of the Easter Blasphemies. Last year I had been stuck in one of the venues the entire evening (John Dee at the Indie Label night) selling merchandise so had not the possibility to check the other locations.
The reports from 2008 of endless queues proved not to be an issue this year.
WEDNESDAY
SubScene
Execration
Black Comedy
Kampfar
John Dee
Sarke
Mencea
Sahg
Rock In
Vörgus
Deathhammer
Warlord UK
Blå
Terrordrome
Blood Red Throne
Garage
Ørkenkjøtt
Manhattan Skyline
Benea Reach
Victoria
Vulture Industries
Earth
Revolver
Årabrot
Vulture Industries
I decided to make Victoria (usually a Jazz venue) my first port of call to check out the much talked about Vulture Industries.
On entering the venue I am taken aback by the lavish interior, the sheer upmarket feel to the building that is often not the case at the shows our type normally frequent.
Turnout is more than decent and the band begin.
All credit to Vulture Industries, they put in a performance that is pleasing on both the eye and the ear to the degree that the mostly (I would imagine) unschooled audience are rapidly showing their approval in a very vocal manner.
Bjørnar Nilsen proves to be quite the interesting fellow onstage, his manner fitting well with the eclectic manner that Vulture Industries approach their music, both in composition and execution. The flawless sound is, no doubt, a massive advantage. It also allows even the most casual of us in attendance to spot that VI are so close to Arcrturus that it is uncanny.
Close your eyes and you could bet your friend’s life that those very (extinct..., for now) disguised former masters were onstage themselves. Garm in tow. As a fan of Arcturus, especially on the mini and ”Sham Mirrors” releases it is quite the experience, however if the band wish to be considered on their own merits at some stage they will need to examine the that fine line between plagiarism and tribute. Still, great show.
Blood Red Throne
Our journey continues to (and ends at) Blå. A well established and respected Oslo venue that is known more for bands that will keep the arty crowd bopping rather than the blue collar Death Metal that Blood Red Throne are known for.
Never a band to excite me on record I have, however, found them to be often on the killing road live. Tonight is no exception. The venue is packed to the point that it is impossible to move from the back rows, the audience are taking fever pitch to another level and the sound is awesome. Thick yet clear and still disgusting enough to leave any innocent bystanders unconverted. Perfect.
Despite their very European geographical location Blood Red Throne worship the American Death Metal gods. Not overly technical nor involved they are the very definition of 'no messing about' if the genre needed such a definition.
Heads down or hair swailing they fill a musical gap that is often left in a country like Norway.
Fantastic show.
...go back to beginning...
...go back to overview...
THURSDAY
John Dee
Kraanium
Episode 13
Azarath
Ramesses
Unearthly Trance
Rockefeller
Negura Bunget
Kampfar
The Batallion
Septic Flesh
Pestilence
Negura Bunget
Thursday kicks off for Imhotep with Negura Bunget. Having been promoted from last year’s club night to opening the larger stage in Rockefeller this year. Two things are immediately apparent. One, volume is wayyyyy to low. A chance reading of the decibel metre during the first song sees that it is around the 93\94 mark. It does improve but feels all the way that it is not quite there as it should be.
Two, less people means less women. If I was shallow that would be a bad thing.
Whether it is due to this or some other factor the band never seem to recover fully. I was looking forward to this, somehow my first live encounter with these Romanian saviours (according to some). Things do improve slightly and there are moments when the fuss seems justified not least when Thelemnar from Secrets Of The Moon joins the band onstage for additional percussion. Overall though: disappointment.
Episode 13
Downstairs in John Dee a decent crowd has gathered to witness Episode 13 from Turkey. A band name unfamiliar to most I would imagine and certainly not a band whom I had heard before. The anti-life stance that the band apparently hold is one that would immediately build images of a kinship with Shining, as it turns out the music is quite different in most ways although there could be some comparisons (slight) drawn to the old releases from that Niklas bloke and his crew. Overall it is a rather mid-paced and pleasant Black Metal sound these lads employ. My initial reactions of ’Uh oh’ when I saw a bandage clad frontman looking decidedly unsure were quashed once they found their stride and locked into a groove that seemed easy for them to uphold for the duration. Nothing stunning and certainly not the wheel re-invented, however a decent way to fill the slot until Kampfar hit the stage.
Kampfar
And so to Kampfar who are sort of an enigma here in Norway. A band that have long been on the fringe of the Norwegian scene yet even after a seven year absence until their ’comeback’ with ”Kvass” seemed to hold onto a small but dedicated fanbase. The band has never really hauled me in to their circle so my familiarity with their material was minimal, it was more that they were ’one of those bands’ I would cross through friends over the years. The show itself was interesting more because it seemed to be the highlight of the day for those gathered. Being that they have long been considered one of the stalwarts of the Norwegian scene whilst taking a decidedly different route than their more (commercially) successful countrymen it was pleasing to see them here..., after all these years, away from the spotlight yet still closer to their roots than most of their peers and in some odd way they have proved more successful for it. Certainly confident on the vast Rockefeller stage and certainly lauded by the audience, they prove in some ways to be the real headliners of the day.
Azarath
Azarath from Poland are the next ones who have the opportunity to take the John Dee audience in the palms thus making their trip worthwhile. I am not really sure how well they managed that to be honest. Once again, as would prove to be recurrent throughout the day, the floor in John Dee is not stuffed with eager bodies as one would have hoped. However, the showing is more than decent and the band more than competently blaze through their ultra tight no-nonsense Death Metal. Azarath do themselves proud..., proving to be both competent on the musical side as well as with presentation. Having that famed sticksman Inferno from Behemoth behind the kit can never be a bad thing. I have no idea if he was there on the day with them but whoever was on skin duty did a mighty fine job. Obviously there is some kind of Krisiun appreciation going through these guys as it was the warriors from Brazil who came to mind more than once as reference. No bad thing in the live arena though. Nothing spectacular but very enjoyable.
The Batallion
"ALRIGHT" so we have the man known to some as Fast Tore and his motley bunch The Batallion. Last minute.com replacements for Meshuggah and surprise of the day for me I reckon. Now, I know that the level that either band represents makes The Batallion a poor choice for most of the folk who were there for Meshuggah..., time is often an unforgiving factor however. Being that these Bergen (or thereabouts) lads fall outside of my realm of interest, I was sceptical. I have seen them before but never under the microscope like this. Let me be clear that the sound these guys push – and I feel that it is accurate to describe it as Motörhead on steroids from a Black Metal background – is not my thing. At all. Feck me though if this wasn’t one of the most Rock n’ Roll things I have seen. High octane and balls to the wall. All the way. Four guys who oozed what they were playing. A show that was visually awesome to the point that I found myself humming along as they played. From the moment they entered until that when they left The Batallion made that stage theirs. Great show.
Ramesses became victimes of the need for air and food. Next time lads.
Septic Flesh
(by R.K.) The highlight of the fest was definitely Greek Septic Flesh. They came, they saw, they conquered. The clear sound brought for the immense power of their symphonic death metal, and the vocals were definitively on par with the best growlers out there; read David Vincent, Michael Åkerfeldt and Ross Dolan. Big choirs (sampled obviously) melting together with brutality in almost godlike atmospheres. Mind you, no room for any Christian weak God. However, the highlight in Septic Flesh’s set was “Persepolis”. Goddamnit, this track is definitely one for my funeral!
Unearthly Trance
Unearthly Trance are not your typical Inferno fodder. This painfully slow and punishing Doom is something that is very ’time and place’ for me. Treading similar boards were the godlike Warning, though they were the essence of melancholy, and Mourning Beloveth. Unearthly Trance are a different proposition altogether. Far more lethal and almost vulgar than the other bands mentioned. Their name is something in the right circles, but it left me cold overall. If that is a victory for them I just do not know. Tonight just was not the time or the place for me.
Pestilence
And so to the new headliners. Pestilence have returned after more than fifteen years as a memory. Their (or rather his) return has been puzzling to me. Mameli more or less rubbished the entire scene that made him a name back in the day. I doubted that it was a long harboured love for Death Metal that rekindled his passion. To my surprise ”Resurrection Macabre” sounded quite decent, in a forgettable...however, my suspicions lingered. To the show. The start was a little bit unsure with Mameli seeming ever so slightly hesitant. Watching Pestilence was something I would have killed for before they split. Here, however, it was a let down. The sound was good. The songs too. The band looked a bit out of place and a little awkward at times. Just not entirely convincing.
The biggest shock was the crowd. Had the Inferno top folk, as I, over-estimated the appeal of Pestilence after all these years? Standing downstairs at the back things seemed reasonable but still thin on the floor. A swift trip to the balconies reveals a crowd that is far too sparse for an event like this. Pestilence continued and it was pleasing to hear the classics, overall though it was perhaps too early in the comeback to judge this fairly. I was disappointed but hope to see the band again when the machine has had the benefit of being oiled.
...go back to beginning...
...go back to overview...
FRIDAY
John Dee
Taetre
Krypt
Pantheon I
Root
Vicious Art
Rockefeller
Dew-Scented
Vreid
Swallow the Sun
Keep of Kalessin
Paradise Lost
Dew-Scented
Due to interviews held in the band camp that is the Scandic Edderkoppen Hotel I only manage to catch the very tail end of Dew-Scented’s set. Being that this is only their second Oslo show, the other was a last minute co-headliner with Mercenary on an off day when both supported Nevermore in 2005, it is surely something that the Thrash affiliated in attendance would be keen to see. Luckily they seem to have escaped the lack of volume issue that Negura Bunget faced in the same spot the day before. Running into vocalist Leif later, a man in a unique position in that he is signed to Nuclear Blast yet works for Century Media, all reports are good. Apparently they received vocal support from the audience and felt that their show was very much worth the trip.
Krypt
My Friday debut introduces me to Krypt. Krypt are a new thing for me. The name I had heard bandied about, but the band I was completely unfamiliar with.
They seemed to lose themselves on one or two occasions tonight. Being that they are new and being that I would choose the ’feeling’ over technical prowess or over rehearsed clinicism any time, it is not something that becomes an issue for me. There were a couple of moments where they would look to one another in a ’Uh oh’ manner but overall their down and dirty Black Metal strikes a definite chord. I like.
Vreid
So Vreid have become quite the regulars in their home country. Where haven’t they played? I have seen these guys maybe ten times now. Maybe? I forget. Mostly it has been a case of just getting through it. Their initial performances tested my patience as did their recorded output.
Credit where it’s due, the boys have honed and crafted their game to the point where I had to swallow my words and admit that they had made leaps. So much so that their latest "Milorg" album was not bad. So much so that this show today was easily the best I have seen from these West Coast boys. Having the guest violinist onstage added authenticity and feeling which was quite the welcome addition. I can’t quite pin my finger on what it is exactly but with this show and “Milorg” Vreid just seem to me to be a band with something to offer finally.
Pantheon I
Pantheon I, as many will doubtlessly know, have strong ties to 1349 in that Tjalve served a long apprenticeship with said band before leaving to dedicate himself fully to Pantheon I. This is ’his baby’ after all. Also onboard is bass guitar dynamo Seidemann, himself very much still a member of 1349. Being that Pantheon I is more my sorta thing than 1349 generally I was quite keen to check the first show of theirs I had the chance to attend in some time.
With two such veterans as Tjalve and Seidemann you know that there is going to be little on the professional side lacking.
Pantheon I are very much an Extreme Metal band, I mention this because some may be led to believe otherwise by the inclusion of a full time cellist in the band. Being more diversified and open than 1349 there is more room for the material to breath and this comes across very well in the confined space of John Dee this evening. Nice to see that, though seated, cellist Live Julianne can bang her head with the best of them. Her cello when audible does add a very interesting flavour to the sound. The fact that she is rather easy on the eye is obvious by the fact that there seems to be more men than usual here. Who would have thought that possible at Metal show? That you could actually increase the boy/girl ratio? However, as it's in favour of the blokes it simply becomes what could be called a 'Pølsefest' in Norway.
Therein lies the main comment I would add for today’s show – a little more grit and ferocity and Pantheon I could make some steps.
Swallow The Sun
Swallow The Sun come from Finalnd, right? Their home country is recognised as being quite the mecca for Metal. We know all the stories of number one albums etc. What some seem to overlook is that the country does have a small but very well respected Doom scene. From Thergothon back in the day to Reverend Bizzarre recently. Swallow The Sun take a different approach in that theirs is a sound that has more in common with the more ’commercial’ end. Mid to later period Paradise Lost, Katatonia etc..., a branch of our Metal tree that I have always held a weak spot for. Swallow The Sun do and don’t hit the spot. They certainly have their moments but overall I find it a little derivative. Little too much surface rather than feeling? Quite a decent show certainly but nothing that has me rushing to listen to their back catalogue. Certainly some more oomph onstage would add to the experience but that should not take anything from the music. The spot just wasn’t really hit I’m afraid.
Paradise Lost
The main stage was capped in the traditional manner tonight. Usually the 'name' band is given this spot, the centre point of the three Rockefeller nights. Paradise Lost as a name is more than big enough to make the grade along with those who have had this spot before. That they visit Norway regularly led some to grumble that there was a sense of occasion missing that had been there before. You really cannot please all the people, all the time - but then, as a long time devotee to Gregor Mackintosh and the band I am not to be relied upon for anything other than bias. Almost. Tonight was not a night for a PL devotee or otherwise. The floor had emptied enough so that the spaces between folk seemed to suck the atmosphere to the point where the genius of the band's music could not hit target.
I decided to leave early. Sorry but I have seen many shows from Paradise Lost, some better than others but if I had died (no cheering) and this had been the last performance of theirs I had seen? Well, it probably would not have made any difference to anything really...but for the sake of drama let's say it could have..., as it happens I saw them with Samael in the smaller downstairs venue with Samael. Sold out in advance, the venue was packed and the show was incredible.
Vicious Art
Friday night and, probably, the whole festival was snatched by the second to last performers of this Long Friday. The second stage was actually headlined by Vicious Art for reasons I am still unsure about. Being a low grade Death Metal act that happens to come from Sweden, that happens to have some former 'name' players attached, that has pretty much no actual fanbase should not play as 'headliner' under any circumstances really? Perhaps, they were the wind down though because before them John Dee hosted one of the most criminally under rated bands that our good environment can call it's own. Ladies, gents and others.....Root.
Root
You will see Root labelled as a Black Metal band often, they do certainly have elements however I feel it is more that they appeal especially to those sorta people. Root are something indescribable. It is majestic yet almost simplistic sometimes, it has more hooks that a butchers freezers, it has Big Boss. This bloke is, like, mid-50's, more than a bit eccentric and a fantastic singer. He is also capable of filling that stage with a presence that rivals his voice in size. In one sense the band are workmanlike, each members seems comfortable in a role you suspect they needed no prompting to adopt. Like their music their is something very fluid.
Root fill the stage with ease, going so far as to make you feel you are watching the headliners in the larger hall upstairs.
With albums like “The Book” and the mind blowing “The Temple In The Underworld” to choose from even Hellen Keller would score top marks in picking their set.
It all ends far too quickly. Try not to let this band pass you by.
...go back to beginning...
...go back to overview...
SATURDAY
John Dee
Seregon
Execration
Black Comedy
Grand Magus
Code
Rockefeller
Koldbrann
Helheim
Troll
Samael
Carpathian Forest
Koldbrann
Koldbrann. Yeah, yeah. True Norwegian Black Metal. A band that have seemingly had a proto existence on the outskirts of the Norwegian scene for some years now. A band that many have most probably heard of, but not actually heard. They are sort of an enigma. I had caught them once before in the constricting surroundings of Elm Street and though I felt that the conditions and the venue made it unfair to cast a definitive judgement on their songwriting and execution, it was a certainty that their spirit was something that mightily impressed me. Given the far more salubrious surroundings of the Rockefeller venue plus an audience that were rather captive from the off saw Koldbrann put many of their countrymen to shame. Often it is something that makes itself impossible to ignore. Bands who exist on the edge of the storm rather than in it seem to become less spoiled or tainted or even less reactionary to public adoration. When the result of this is something that just tastes that little more pure we can perhaps better understand what this whole ’underground’ concept can mean. Koldbrann are this today. Musically - true exponents of the Norwegian sound that swept the scene some fifteen years ago and it has to be said that they do it rather well. Really well in fact. Refreshing is a good way to describe seeing a bunch who have not become jaded on some pseudo intellectual level and therefore feel the need to pollute their approach with some ham fisted avant garde-ism. Nor have they let their own self of self-importance overtake their primary goal, which tonight is to really show most how the game is meant to be played.
Execration
Execration are my next port of call downstairs in John Dee. Long lauded by a She Said Destroy frontman Anders, I was passed on their “Syndicate Of Lethargy” full-length a while back and was very pleasantly impressed. Rather old school in its Death Metal approach with a definite feather taken from the American side of things. Although the sound is not one I would liken to Autopsy as such they do seem to prove successful in generating a similar atmosphere that the masters of the sick did back in the day. Anyway, as charmed as I was by the CD nothing was to prepare me for the aural battering that was to come.
Heads down, no messing about – this was fucking glorious.
Two guitarists\vocalists flanking either side of the stage with the micless bassist center stage and there was a presence exuded that defied their young status.
The sound was thick and filthy, the songs merciless and I was completely drawn into this. There was no particular flash or fanfare, this is Death Metal the way I remember it used to be. Brutal and majestic. Band of the day? Perhaps. Surprise of the day. Without a doubt.
Helheim
Bergen gets representation from Helheim next. This band have been around since the heyday of Solistitium Records. Seems ages ago. It was. V'gandr has never waned with his vision not has he remained idle - with Helheim and Deathcon he has kept the engine running constantly. He also runs a record store in Bergen. Busy chap.
Like ambassadors for their homeland they are absolutely lapped up by the foreign visitors who remain awestruck in all things Norwegian and unholy with distorted guitars.
Considering their lack of stage time in relation to their time as an active band Helheim surprise me in their confidence as well as their delivery.
Being joined onstage by Big Boss from Root just means I am won over further. Good set.
Grand Magus
Grand Magus have kinda blossomed a bit since they released their “Iron Will” album. Have you heard it? It is absolutely brilliant. With their releases having come through Rise Above Records thus far many assume they are Doom or Stoner or Sludge or something. Take a band conceived of Doom parents, having evolved more towards something of a fine and pure Metal. Think something more analogue than digital, more multiple studio takes than pro tools.
Roadrunner Records have seen fit to try capitalise on the MASSIVE potential, the next Magus release will have the benefit of the label's MASSIVEr wallet.
There's a bloke called JB, a slim fellow often clad in a Bathory long sleeve with a white Gibson (I think) flying V with, maybe, the best voice of his peers in the Heavy Metal world today.
Jesus Christ on a fucking bike this guy's voice is incredible. As are the tunes. “Iron Will” was one of the best album's of 2008. These guys could very well break. I have not checked recently, but if rags like Kerrang are still saying that it is OK to like actual Metal then yes, we could be seeing a lot more of Grand Magus.
Troll
Upstairs, things never managed to reach the heights of the Grand Magus set but there was a nice surprise in store. Troll were not it but they did have a more than decent set from what I saw. Obligations concerning this article and the things around it meant that my encounter was but fleeting but fuck me there was a lot of interest. I suspected there would be but not this much.
Samael
Anyway, onto the surprise. Since their “Reign Of Light” album in 2004 Samael and I have crossed paths on several occasions. Previous to this I had seen them live four times, each one being a true event. From 2004 on it just seemed that the soul of the band was being drained further with each show.
I don't really know what has changed..., could it be their attitude? Not sure. Tonight was a rebirth of sorts, as far as their live show for me it was.
I am not convinced about “Above” album, there are couple of tunes on there to make a bloke ponder. “Illumination” sounded good for example but I fail to see how I can be made to feel something from music if it is composed with an agenda rather than instinct. I do suspect that the panning of the recent Samael output is mostly responsible for the about turn on their “Above” album. 'Suspect' is the key word here.
Either way, the 'classics' sounded better than they had done over the previous five years. It all clicks..., the band give it some more 'oomph', they audience responds in kind, in turn the band notice this and are driven further again. Win-win.
Carpathian Forest
Carpathian Forest took Inferno 2009 to a close. My thoughts on their being unsuited to a headline spot remain. For the band's sake too. They have the ability to be engaging and entertaining in the live arena but I feel they are better suited to a crowd who have fresher legs. Tonight's audience were showing the wear of a long day, for some a long few days, for some even more,
Samael should have closed.
bonus material
There are a host of other activities around the bands that swing their heads on the Rockefeller and John Dee stages.
The Expo, The conference, a sight seeing tour, band signing sessions, the Viking Ship museum got an unholy visit last year from festival goers and there is a rumour of a repeat trip this year set to include some live music again, Mayhem's stage designer Space Brain hosted a showing of his work and a live show.
Inferno is most certainly a package to be enjoyed if you fancy expanding on the rockin' and the rollin' part.
Best to end this with an offical word.
So, Lars, apart from your devastating good looks, what else is going to make Inferno 2010 a must see event? - "I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that comment ;) Show up at the kickoff party January 23rd and find out. I think we’ve got a very solid line-up with high quality and diversity where most metal people should find something they would like to see. That along with improvements that hopefully will create a even more enjoyable festival stay will make this a must visit event in 2010…"
...go back to beginning...
...go back to overview...
www.infernofestival.net
www.radarbooking.no
www.onyourstage.no
www.eternal-terror.com
Composed by young Master Kearns