Amorphis, photo by Ville Juurikkala
The annual convocation of metalheads far and wide are descending upon Baltimore, MD for this years Maryland Deathfest. Despite the strife the city has endured of late, Baltimore has always been for the most part a kind host to the event. MDF is always a great time by all who attend with very little public shenannigans, despite the reputation of the city and amount of drunken metalheads. This year’s fest again brings a collection of big name and underground metal bands across every sub-genre and will host 80 bands on three stages. Notably, Triptycon and Ufomammut, who both canceled playing last year’s fest, are on this year. Yes, Sodom is not coming, but Floridian death legends Solstice are! Our crew is already on site to cover all the action for Ghost Cult.
The pre-fest event actually happened last night with the venerable Incantation heading up the bands. Thursday’s lineup doesn’t ease headbangers in gently at all with the likes of the more doom flavored scene over at Ram’s Head Live with Conan, Iron Man, Jex Thoth, Ufomammut while the more sludge fare such as Mantar, Primitive Man and Usnea also fill out the bill and one of the most complete stages of the weekend. On the Baltimore Soundstage tech death wizards such as Devourment, Origin and the reactivated Skinless among the many acts worth seeing.
Friday’s bill is all about legend status: on the Edison lot stage there is Bloodbath, Lock Up, Suffocation, Master, Obituary, while the Baltimore soundstage has Napalm Death. Friday is also as diverse a day possible with the likes of Vallenfyre, Aura Noir, Artificial Brain, Aeternus, SlaughterCult (both at Ram’s Head Live), Ghoul, Nekrofilth, Noisear and many others taking the stage.
Saturday is the meat of the MDF hoagie of the weekend. For many it will be about seeing Triptycon after the disappointment of their cancellation last year, due to the death of HR Giger. Tom Gabriel Fischer promises a career spanning set, which cannot be missed. Saturday also sees acts from all over the globe such as Tsjuder, Gnaw Their Tongues, Einherjer, Blood Red Throne, Arcturus, Fulgora, Full of Hell, Inter Arma, Martyrdöd, Cephalic Carnage and more.
Gorguts at MDF 2014, photo by Hillarie Jason Photography
Neurosis tops the bill on Sunday and if it were any other fest except MDF, you could understand if we stopped right there. But this IS MDF, so there are a plethora of great bands still to see, if exhaustion hasn’t taken its toll by now. A rare appearance by Portal means people will flock to see them, so get to Ram’s Head early for that one. Other important bands on the final day include Amorphis, Winter, Tombs, Skepticism, Anaal Nathrakh, Primordial, Massacre, Demilich, Coke Bust, Early Graves, D.R.I., Excel and yes, Melt Banana!
Tickets are available for the Edison Lot Stage all weekend, if you are walking up day of. Good luck to everyone going, be safe, wear your sunblock, and take care of each other out there!