FESTIVAL REVIEW: Maryland Deathfest XIX Part 2 – Live at Various Venues 


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.Continue reading


FESTIVAL REVIEW: Maryland Deathfest XIX Part 1 Various Venues


 

What a difference a day makes, revenge of the new day…

Today was a bumpy day for us festival attendees: it was over 90 degrees, which really impacted a lot of people, particularly with the addition of the second outdoor stage; and a new security checkpoint was put in place toward two of the more popular stages, and we were all pat down every time we went through it, meaning that running back and forth to catch bands could take an extra ten minutes or so. Obviously important, it was disruptive for a while and caused some confusion and delays. With the emergence of the marketplace, TONS of new merch was being bought from dozens of vendors and this initially increased the delay (something to plan for next time). The delay also meant I had to move around much sooner each set than desired. Continue reading


Bloodbath, 1349, Coffins, Broken Hope, Skinless, Sacrifice, Carpathian Forest, Tankard and More are Booked for Maryland Deathfest 2024!


As promised, Maryland Deathfest has shared its first announcement of bands for its 2024 festival return. Bloodbath, 1349, Coffins, Broken Hope, Skinless, Sacrifice, Carpathian Forest, Tankard, and more head up a killer lineup so far with many US-exclusive appearances. On hiatus for 2023, the festival is scheduled to take place May 23rd to 26th, 2024 in Baltimore, Limited early-bird tickets for the event will be available via the fest’s ticketing partner Eventbrite on Friday, January 27 at 11 AM EST.

Continue reading


Maryland Deathfest to Return in 2024


Gorguts at MDF 2014, photo by Hillarie Jason Photography

In a statement posted on social media, Maryland Deathfest has announced they will return! After a hiatus for 2023 the fest will return from May 23rd to May 26th, 2024. In a message to fans the co-founders of MDF discussed the hiatus and the the return as well as new dates for 2024. MDF 2024 will be their 20th fest in Baltimore. They did announce that aftert the upcoming London Desertfest, they are discontinuing all other festivals they have put on, Netherlands Deathfest, California Deathfest, and more will be no more. You can read a statement from the co-founders Ryan and Evan, below. MDF has operated for almost 20 years, put on 19 fests, and expanded to a global footprint, all while giving a greater voice to Death Metal, Avant-Garde Metal, Stoner Doom, and more genres, perhaps as much or more than any fest in the world.  Continue reading


Maryland Deathfest and Their Related Metalfests to Go On Hiatus in 2023


Gorguts at MDF 2014, photo by Hillarie Jason Photography

In a statement posted on social media, Maryland Deathfest is going on hiatus after the next MDF event in May 2022. That means in 2023 all of their related festivals are going on hiatus, including MDF, Netherlands Deathfest, California Deathfest, and more. You can read a statement from the co-founders Ryan and Evan, below. MDF has operated for almost 20 years, put on 19 fests, and expanded to a global footprint, all while giving a greater voice to Death Metal, Avant-Garde Metal, Stoner Doom, and more genres, perhaps as much or more than any fest in the world.  Continue reading


Maryland Deathfest Launches Fundraiser Campaign, 2021 Fest Dates Set


With the cancelation of the venerable Maryland Deathfest this year, now rescheduled to 2021, the fest’s organizers are scrambling to offset the loss of income and other associated hardships. They have done so much for our scene in America and now all over the globe. MDF is now offering a fundraiser for an exclusive shirt and several donation options to help them out, so if you can afford to give, please do. Continue reading


REVIEW: Maryland Deathfest 2019


Maryland Deathfest held their annual festival in the venerable city of Baltimore a few weeks back. The four-day is one of the best-run independent underground metal festivals in the world. As usual Ghost Cult was on hand for the festivities, with Hillarie Jason bringing you her spectacular eye on bands through photos. Continue reading


Maryland Deathfest 2019 Announces Daily Lineups, All Tickets On Sale


Maryland Deathfest has announced their daily lineups for the 2019 festival. Last week they made their “round two” announcement, but “a handful of bands will be announced this week to wrap up the billing”. All ticket options are now on sale at the link below. Continue reading


Maryland Deathfest 2019 Books Borknagar, Unleashed, Voivod, Anaal Nathrakh, Churchburn And More


Maryland Deathfest has added a plethora of new bands to the 2019 festival. Borknagar, Unleashed, and Benediction will all play Exclusive USA shows at the fest and joining them are Voivod, Anaal Nathrakh, Churchburn, Revenge, Primitive Man, Spectral Voice, Neckbeard Deathcamp and many more. Usually, round two is the “final announcement for MDF, but “a handful of bands will be announced next week to wrap up the billing”. All ticket options are now on sale at the link below. Continue reading


Cryptic Slaughter, Messiah, Naglfar, Malignancy, Devourment And More Added To Maryland Deathfest 2019


In what is shaping up to be a banger of a festival, Maryland Deathfest 2019 has added their second wave of bands, Among the chosen are Cryptic Slaughter, Messiah, Naglfar, Malignancy, Devourment, Disharmonic Orchestra, Rippikoulu, Drogheda, Sorrower and many more listed below. Maryland Deathfest XVII is set to take place at Rams Head Live and Baltimore Soundstage on May 23-26, 2019. Early bird tickets on sale now at the link below. Continue reading