Day 4 – Sunday
What a difference a day makes. May 26th marked the last day of this Maryland Deathfest, my birthday, and my one-year anniversary (my fiancé flew in to join me for this day).
This was a wild day. Security was smoother but there were so many sets to see to finish the day. Some of them, legendary, and I was sure to catch a little bit of a lot today. I took my fiancé to see the marketplace lined with tents, each filled with merch and metal-adjacent goods. My fiancé had a one-day pass, which we would come to find meant she could not go inside to the two main indoor venues. We found a way to do so, however, (first accidentally, then by luck), and we caught parts of twelve different sets. It was wild.
We started the day with Ripper at the Market Place (MP) outdoor stage. It was hot and already nearly packed. Watching a few songs, Ripper was giving the crowd something to enjoy but the sun and heat were oppressive. I’d like to see Ripper again under different conditions, but they don’t seem like a band I’d go far out of my way to see. Nothing against them, but their sound did not do much for me.
Daeva and Spirit Possession were next at the Ram’s Head stage. Daeva was interesting – not bad, but something felt like it was missing. Perhaps because there was light coming into the venue and taking away from the atmosphere, or maybe it was something about the sound, I can’t quite say. I’d see them again at a different venue, but again, I would not likely go far out of my way to do so. Spirit Possession took the stage and I was bemused; two members, with a large half-sphere light on the floor between them (the vocalist played guitar, and the half-sphere was behind him and in front of the drummer). The began and the lights went dark, though some ambient light crept in. At times, the half-sphere was illuminated red (as was a small light on the microphone stand that pointed toward the vocalist’s face). Spirit Possession is one of those bands whose name describes their sound – frenetic, untamed drumming pared with screeching vocals and merciless guitar work. Impressively, and I mean IMPRESSIVELY, no pick was used during the set, and the incredible guitar work was incredibly crisp and remarkably fast and accurate. Nary a drop of blood came from the player’s fingers. An impressive set, to be sure.
We made our way back to MP to catch Primordial, who sounded like a slightly darker Iron Maiden. They were very impressive, told historic tales with and in between songs, and delivered a refreshing performance, mostly free of abrasiveness and aggression, which was surprisingly delightful. My fiancé enjoyed them quite a bit and we stayed for a while to watch the band pull the crowd into their world and through the stories they wanted to share. Quite enjoyable, I would see them again without hesitation.
Sometimes, you have the opportunity to see a legend (or legends, as Maryland Deathfest offers), and Abbath was up next. We moved up front, as far we could. I was curious as to what my fiancé would think (only a year into extreme music, she tends to like it, especially when the crowd is wild). Abbath came out and the crowd, oddly, became playful. I’m not sure if this is because Abbath himself is a bit of an oddity, but much of the crowd (women in particular) began to dance as though at a rave of some sort. It was a sight to see, and while Abbath’s set was pretty straightforward, it also fell a bit short (this was the consensus of much of the crowd as well. I couldn’t tell you how long it lasted). It was cool to see, but I was not blown away.
We made our way back in to Sound Stage to catch Jig-Ai, a brutal/grindcore type of band and they were awesome. High energy, monstrous, brutal, they tore through songs and the crowd let loose in one of the crazier pits of the fest (from what I saw). Their songs were short and rapid, but the crowd loved the set and demanded an encore at the end. The band obliged and probably earned themselves a large number of new fans that night. If you have a chance to see Jig-Ai, do so.
Mayhem was up next. Again, I wondered what my fiancé would say. To our dismay, the crowd was already quite large, so we went outside the immediate fest grounds to a throughway where many people (festgoers and locals) had lined up. This was an important set for me, as the first and only time I was able to see them, their sound was terrible (not their fault, the sound techs at that show tanked the sound for a few bands). Playing on the MP stage, sadly, Mayhem’s sound was again off, but much better than the first time. We watched the screen flash with images and scenes from Mayhem’s 40 year history, and a palpable electric jolt sent chills through the crowd. The set was not that creative, but the crowd did not care and surged forward through the entire set.
We caught parts of Iron Lung and Bloodbath while taking some time to celebrate our anniversary. Both bands were good, delivered heavy and relentless sets, and gave the crowd some energy for the evening. Watching several songs for each band, we watched the crowd, talked about shirts and outfits, and smiled. To be fair, I was fairly distracted during this time and would need to see both bands again to provide a better summary.
As Bloodbath finished their set, we opted for a change of pace and went up to Angel’s Rock Bar for the first time during the fest. A decent-sized bar with a nice patio that looks down on half of the grounds, a small stage rests within the venue. A local band called Goetia took the stage and gave the smaller crowd a nice dose of energetic death metal. While we watched them, Rah (ex-Filth is Eternal) chatted with us for a few minutes, but really liked what he heard from Goetia and made his way inside (such a compliment, I think). Goetia played a set that drew more people in, and the cheering grew louder at the end of each song. We applauded the set and waited for what was next.
Poontickler was what was next. A three-piece, both guitarists (no bass) also did vocals. As they set up, two inflatable and rideable orca pool toys were placed on stage, and the crowd poured into the small bar, instantly becoming playful and aggressive. The band started and the crowd moved in all directions, unpredictably, as the first orca was thrown off stage and into the pit (yes, someone rode it while crowdsurfing). We were pushed, face first, onto the stage (several times) and fought to get upright with short-lived success each time. It was hilarious but a little frustrating, only because we didn’t get much of a chance to watch and enjoy the band. Still, from what we did get to witness, Poontickler was awesome.
Closing out the night, Extortion played the Sound Stage, bringing me back to where Maryland Deathfest XIX began. Rah, and several others, heavily recommended seeing Extortion (who was I to refuse?). What a set they delivered. Grindcore with elements of sludge, hardcore, punk, and more, the crowd was vicious, and the pit burst into activity with pool noodles, glow sticks, and inflatable toys being tossed this way and that. A garbage can also made its way into the pit AND onto the stage, as someone stage dove with the receptacle on their head. A large man in a chicken suit/denim vest combo dove onto us at some point and a few younger people sheepishly ran across the stage as Extortion delivered a blistering set which had only a few, necessary breaks in between every five or so songs. The set, night, and fest ended as Extortion fell silent and the crowd cheered one last time.
My fiancé had a blast and enjoyed every band we saw.
21 years ago, I went to the first Maryland Deathfest (MDF), a fan of standard heavy metal, but not much into the extreme realms. I knew it was special then, but had no idea that I’d return. Incredibly, MDF has lasted this whole time, with only a few years off, and has grown in surprising ways. This year, MDF lasted five days (with the prefest), and had 103 bands play across five venues. Security, first aid, a pop-up marketplace, and more filled the grounds, and upward of nearly 7,000 people attended from all over the world. I saw faces I knew from where I lived, I met Twitter mutuals, and got to chat with a handful of musicians (some of whom were in attendance but did not play).
To start, logistics and other practical elements were rough at points, especially as security ramped up their protocols, which delayed us as we all bounced between packed venues and overlapping set times. As most of us acquired more merchandise and goods, this slowed things down further. I think I foolishly wasted four or five coffees that I bought shortly before going to an area in which unsealed beverages were not allowed. Some security at Ram’s Head were quite rude during a misunderstanding, and some of the security working the stages were… enthusiastic and militaristic in the way they conducted themselves.
Food and drink at the fest were not particularly expensive for me, but could quickly become expensive for anyone else. Food was limited as far as nearby options, but with the days lasting upwards of 10 hours, much of it was needed. Water was vital, but was (of course) overpriced (some places had free water/cups). Beer was plentiful and consumed in grotesque quantities, causing some people health issues (early in the day, at times). Smokers (weed or nicotine or vape) went through, well, a LOT of their substance of choice. Sadly, some staff were smoking on the grounds and fans were smoking in the crowd and indoors, without any hesitation of those around them. It was very disappointing and gross, and security did not seem to care.
The outdoor stages had a handful of sound issues, though the larger of the two, Power Plant, seemed to fare much better (I heard that Cryptopsy lost sound 3 times during their set, though). Market Place was uncovered (lots of sun, heat, and a bit of rain (at one point)) and the sound was poor, in my opinion, for many bands. The indoor stages were air-conditioned and great venues, but each ran into issues with the ATMs becoming empty and bathrooms becoming full (and gross, at points).
A few bands delivered sets that were, perhaps, uninspired or poorly planned, or maybe just not ideal for the venues at the fest, but ultimately bands delivered passionate, energetic, positive, and, in many cases, incredible sets. These bands wanted to be at MDF, wanted to play for the fans, and wanted to watch the other bands. This was a beautiful component of the fest and I hope it continues. Several groups of bands set out on mini-tours following the fest, which is awesome for people who could not make it (I happened to catch Vermin Womb and Sissy Spacek on one of their dates in Portland, ME). Bands seemed eager to talk with fans and interact in various ways, which was a highlight for many people (many selfies and autographs were had). Just about every band thanked Ryan and Evan (the organizers of the fest) and encouraged the crowd to do so; and the crowd did, every time.
The nostalgia, for me, was strong. Not just of the first MDF or concerts in general, but of my overall journey in metal. To attend on my birthday and anniversary was also very meaningful (my fiancé and I met at a show and became engaged at a show, and concerts are an important part of our relationship). Talking with people from all over the world, sharing in their joy and passion and antics (one of the Sodom pits had an island of fans inside the pit, and this allowed people to crowd surf from the very back of the crowd up to the stage without being dropped in the pit), I was reminded that, despite the problems that live in the world of extreme metal, it is a great fanbase overall.
I knew I’d be filming and reviewing the fest for my YouTube channel and for Ghost Cult Magazine, and it felt so light to have these responsibilities – I felt carefree and eager to engage each day, and this allowed me to be observant and truly interact with everything and everyone. I moshed and had crowdsurfers crash into me and cheered myself nearly hoarse. I missed the Seattle metal family that was a regular part of the experience, but I knew they were excited for me and eager to hear about the experience. All-in-all, it was a solid experience (I’ll say 8 out of 10 for those keeping score), and I recommend attending if you ever get the chance.
My fiancé and I left Maryland the following day and went on a journey through New England. We ate incredible food and saw beautiful sights. We reflected on the fest and the occasions and were so thankful that we had this opportunity. It is remarkable to think of the important things that permeate our lives, both explicitly and quietly, and the many roads that begin at those moments.
We can’t take every road, but we can live in every moment, just as we can create opportunities for ourselves to always have these choices in front of us. We can live vibrantly across times and places and currents in history, and we can do simply by engaging in the various ways we express ourselves and with other people. Maryland Deathfest may not be a utopia, but it can be a part of the sublimation that we practice on a daily basis to make ourselves stand upright. Heavy metal is cathartic if it is anything and the shared experience that it offers is phenomenal. Many of us would be lost without these experiences and the people with whom we share them.
Read our pre-fest day review here:
FESTIVAL REVIEW: Maryland Deathfest XIX Pre-fest Live at Baltimore Sound Stage and Ram’s Head Live
Read Part 1 here:
FESTIVAL REVIEW: Maryland Deathfest XIX Part 1 Various Venues
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