One of the best extreme metal festivals in the world, and certainly the highlight of the early year in global metal festivals takes place this week in Bergen, Norway as Blastfest kicks off tomorrow. Bands and fans from all over the world, not just from the fabled local fjords will descend for four days to consume of all types of brutal, yet diverse bands, along with countless vendors, artists, stand-up comedy acts, films and books about Black Metal culture, sightseeing around Bergen, other attractions, and plenty of metal shenanigans to be had in general!
Kicking off on Wednesday with a cruise headlined by homeland killers Grimfist, the festivities will get underway in grand style. Later on that night at The Garage venue the fest proper begins with expected crushing sets from bands such as Falloch, The Sickening, Kall and Gehenna (NO).
Starting the weekend early at 12 noon on Thursday at The Garage, headbangers and settle in for an exciting 14+ hour day of non-stop bands. The Garage will see top acts such as Hecate Enthroned and Den Saakaladte as part of the early day must see bands. Moving over to the two stages of the USF venue, rotating stage times means rarely conflicting sets by bands works out for the discerning headbanger who doesn’t want to miss a thing. Rotting Christ will start the siege at 17:00, and what fine group to kick off the late day fun. Other notable bands playing Thursday include Saturnus, Melechesh, Samael, Primordial, stoner-doom legends Orange Goblin, Dark Tranquility, Moonsorrow and headliner Watain.
Any mention of Friday must begin at the top with melo-death comeback kings At The Gates. The early buzz of the fest was that some fans were going solely for ATG, despite their rigerous festival and headline touring schedule planned for the next year. Going back to the early portion of the day, The Garage will see bands like Sarkom, Endstille, and local legends Keep of Kalessin, bands that could fill venues on a club tour of their own (actually that would make a good tour!) warm up the early crowd. Hopefully the masses are not too hungover. The rest of the Friday night line-up is a murders row of incredible acts with notables being Borknagar, tech-death titans Cryptopsy, the reborn to kill again Morgoth, Dark Funeral, Paradise Lost (seeing their first action of 2015), Destroyer 666, ATG and Satan (UK).
Closing out what will surely go down as the best day start to finish of any Blastfest to date starts with an insane early day bill that includes Esoteric, Bolzer, Winterfylleth, and Blood Red Throne! Sarke, Vallenfyre, and Decapitated by themselves represent the best in black metal, blackened doom and death metal this fest can bring out. Added to that Tsjuder, Impaled Nazarene, Destruction, Fintroll, death metal festival fixtures Asphyx, along with headliners Satyricon, and Demilich to end the fest, you have an unbelievable experience in the making.
Friday is a total sellout, but some last minute passes have been released for the weekend and select dates so visit the fest website for tickets and info.
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