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Recent Reviews
Bergen Norway's 8th annual Hole in the Sky Festival held the week of August 21 - 25, 2007 was yet again a rousing success! This year's installment was themed "BLOOD FIRE DEATH" but luckily those elements were only there in spirit and a good time was had by all.
This festival is called "hole in the sky" because Bergen is famous for it's rain, however we were spared even a cloud in the sky for about half of this festival. Blue skies and sunshine were not expected although very welcome. Bergen is a village-like setting and easily covered on foot so it's more enjoyable without the trademark rain. In any case, whether it was raining or not, if you were at one of Bergen's many metal bars or the festival, out sightseeing or just making new friends, spending this week in Bergen each year is something rare and grand and it will be a cold day in helvete before I trade in this festival for Wacken or any other.
Hole in the Sky was originally formed in 1999 in tribute to the passing of local musician Erik "Grim" Brødreskift (Immortal, Gorgoroth, Borknagar) and has become one of the most cherished out of Europe's summer festival circuit. Smaller and more intimate than most of the summer fests, HITS still brings in the big names and spans several days, yet the capacity is limited to 500 on the club nights and 1500 on the large hall nights. Small venues and big names add up to great fun for the local Norwegian metalheads as well as the dedicated foreign travelers. The best of the best turn out for this festival and Bergen is the perfect setting given it's hometown metal royalty and legendary status as a hotbed for extreme metal.
The festival days can be spent at any number of day-time events sponsored by record labels showcasing their new releases, attending music biz seminars, playing metal trivia games in the bars or by sightseeing in some of Norway's most beautiful and historic settings. Representatives from metal labels, magazines and websites from around the globe were in attendance as well as artists not performing at the festival.
This year's line up was as impressive as any with homecoming headliners Immortal as well as black metal pioneers Mayhem and Bay Area thrashers Testament. All forms of extreme metal were well represented, from newcomers The Batallion all the way to New York death metal favorites Immolation. With 25 bands in all four days (including pre-fest kick off show), there was something for everyone. Much of the line up was rather rare and especially rare in the combination. Seeing Destroyer 666, Nifelheim and Immortal on the same night?! That's a mindblower for a metalhead. It was killer!
Immortal's performance came complete with Abbath's trademark fire-breathing. Mayhem's Atilla performed their set in a mummy costume while sitting at a small table covered in fruit and coffee for much of the set and Nowergian Headbanger's Ball host Pete Evil joined him on-stage at one point for a live interview. Kreator is always great and didn't disappoint this time around either. Nifelheim and Destroyer 666 were just so excellent, sometimes I think metal is too good to be true and I was struck by that yet again during their sets. Melechesh brought their Sumerian metal sound in full force and I was really into their set as well. Vreid also blew me away and I just love the simple, raw energy of The Batallion. In any case ALL of the bands put on great sets and the schedule was right on track for all nights, something that is very important for a fest this size -- and in keeping one's stamina for all of the excellent performances.
The only thing bad about this festival is when it's over. The organizers think of everything and there is never a dull moment. Everything is first class and professional all the way and the people who come share that same brotherhood spirit that spans generations and makes the metal sub-culture so great.
I can't recommend this festival enough! Norway is an expensive country but the value you get in return for your dollars is well worth it, priceless even. It's my second HITS and I will be back! Kudos to all of the organizers, bands, bars, and volunteers for such a terrific experience.
Check out pix from the festival on the Photos tab in the menu items.
This festival is called "hole in the sky" because Bergen is famous for it's rain, however we were spared even a cloud in the sky for about half of this festival. Blue skies and sunshine were not expected although very welcome. Bergen is a village-like setting and easily covered on foot so it's more enjoyable without the trademark rain. In any case, whether it was raining or not, if you were at one of Bergen's many metal bars or the festival, out sightseeing or just making new friends, spending this week in Bergen each year is something rare and grand and it will be a cold day in helvete before I trade in this festival for Wacken or any other.
Hole in the Sky was originally formed in 1999 in tribute to the passing of local musician Erik "Grim" Brødreskift (Immortal, Gorgoroth, Borknagar) and has become one of the most cherished out of Europe's summer festival circuit. Smaller and more intimate than most of the summer fests, HITS still brings in the big names and spans several days, yet the capacity is limited to 500 on the club nights and 1500 on the large hall nights. Small venues and big names add up to great fun for the local Norwegian metalheads as well as the dedicated foreign travelers. The best of the best turn out for this festival and Bergen is the perfect setting given it's hometown metal royalty and legendary status as a hotbed for extreme metal.
The festival days can be spent at any number of day-time events sponsored by record labels showcasing their new releases, attending music biz seminars, playing metal trivia games in the bars or by sightseeing in some of Norway's most beautiful and historic settings. Representatives from metal labels, magazines and websites from around the globe were in attendance as well as artists not performing at the festival.
This year's line up was as impressive as any with homecoming headliners Immortal as well as black metal pioneers Mayhem and Bay Area thrashers Testament. All forms of extreme metal were well represented, from newcomers The Batallion all the way to New York death metal favorites Immolation. With 25 bands in all four days (including pre-fest kick off show), there was something for everyone. Much of the line up was rather rare and especially rare in the combination. Seeing Destroyer 666, Nifelheim and Immortal on the same night?! That's a mindblower for a metalhead. It was killer!
Immortal's performance came complete with Abbath's trademark fire-breathing. Mayhem's Atilla performed their set in a mummy costume while sitting at a small table covered in fruit and coffee for much of the set and Nowergian Headbanger's Ball host Pete Evil joined him on-stage at one point for a live interview. Kreator is always great and didn't disappoint this time around either. Nifelheim and Destroyer 666 were just so excellent, sometimes I think metal is too good to be true and I was struck by that yet again during their sets. Melechesh brought their Sumerian metal sound in full force and I was really into their set as well. Vreid also blew me away and I just love the simple, raw energy of The Batallion. In any case ALL of the bands put on great sets and the schedule was right on track for all nights, something that is very important for a fest this size -- and in keeping one's stamina for all of the excellent performances.
The only thing bad about this festival is when it's over. The organizers think of everything and there is never a dull moment. Everything is first class and professional all the way and the people who come share that same brotherhood spirit that spans generations and makes the metal sub-culture so great.
I can't recommend this festival enough! Norway is an expensive country but the value you get in return for your dollars is well worth it, priceless even. It's my second HITS and I will be back! Kudos to all of the organizers, bands, bars, and volunteers for such a terrific experience.
Check out pix from the festival on the Photos tab in the menu items.
posted September 5, 2007 at 03:04:37 PM
This style of music might have a place in the midwest or with those people who are passive music fans and went to college in the 90s or something, but some things just don't have any staying power. Hair metal was like that, so is this nu metal or alt metal or whatever you call it. Sorry. I can't recommend this at all.
posted June 13, 2007 at 05:36:55 PM
I find it rather odd that this page has ~2000 views and ~12,000 downloads. We are expected to think each visitor downloaded that 6 times?
posted May 23, 2007 at 04:12:15 PM
Where to begin with the greatness that is the Inferno Festival? This was my second year attending and it just got even better than last year although I didn't think that was possible. This year was the seventh annual Inferno Festival and boasted Immortal's comeback debut among 29 other popular extreme metal bands over three days and two stages. This is a small event by festival standards but the 1,500 person attendance makes for an intimate affair.
Metalheads came from far and wide to spend "Black Easter" among extreme metal's finest and join friends old and new. The cream of the crop turns out for shows like Inferno and everyone is instant friends and it's great to be in a place with people who share your same passion. Metal is a "brotherhood" and we are happiest among our own kind sharing beers, comparing patches and throwing horns. Lots of the people who make metal happen also attend this event from journalists to photographers, label reps and other musicians not playing the show. Artists from Gorgoroth, Carpathian Forest, Grave, Darkthrone, Dimmu Borgir, Nocturnal Breed, Unleashed and many other bands were spied in attendance. All of this gathering of the hordes in a small setting makes for a fun and exciting atmosphere.
The organizers of the festival thought of everything and there were also daytime events in the form of the Inferno Music Expo for fans and the Inferno Music Conference for industry-types and those wanting to network those connections.
The facilities, staff, associated hotel and even down to the printed materials were first class all the way and no corners seemed to be cut. Often at metal events we make due with less than ideal venues and other poor conditions but that's not the case at Inferno at all. Everything worked.
But what about the bands?
It's difficult to see all of the bands even though the organizers are careful not to book any two bands at the same time. This is simply due to the amount of socializing, shopping and other activities within the festival but of course I did see several. Immortal was the big headliner this year and played an awesome set, complete with Abbath breathing fire (see the video). Although they did have a few technical difficulties, the crowd wasn't deterred a bit and it was an amazing show and a great setlist. New member Apollyon (Aura Noir, Dødheimsgard, Cadaver) fit in with Immortal perfectly and a good time was had by all, including Demonaz (see a short interview here on MP3.com), who watched the show with us mortals out in the crowd, singing and headbanging all the while.
German thrashers Sodom headlined the last night and they are as good as ever! They played all of their epic anthems and the crowd sang along even with the late 1am start time on the last night of the festival. Sodom always delivers and put on a great show. I did speak with Tom Angelripper briefly on Sunday and he said Sodom would come to the U.S. for some dates "next year". Sodom is rare in the U.S. but did do two dates in 2006.
The big surprise act for me was Trinacria. This is a somewhat temporary project put together by Ivar Bjørnson from Enslaved and the Norwegian Concert Institute. The band members consist of Grutle Kjellson (Enslaved), Arve "Ice Dale" Isdal (Enslaved, Audrey Horne, I), Iver Sandøy (Manngard, Emmerhoff & the Melancholy Babies), Espen Lien (Barbie Bones, Slut Machine) with Maja S. K. Ratje and Hild S. Tafjord, both from Fe-mail. This band was a multi-media showcase complete with a film on the backdrop and dramatic makeup. French horns, you say? Yes, and it was great. Their presence reminded me of something along the lines of an extreme Pink Floyd and much of the audience was rather awed. This was the debut show of this project and it was much more than can be described in mere text. I hope they continue. As much as I enjoy the other bands of the players, this was something cool that is worthy of continuing.
Another band that quite impressed me was Primordial. I have some of their albums so I was expecting something a little more tame and on the artsy side but they were big and impressive and rather brutal. It was great! This was the first performance for Primordial in Norway and I suspect they will be back. I would like to see them again myself.
I also rather enjoyed Legion of the Damned from The Netherlands. They played on the John Dee stage and it was a blast to just headbang to their set with all of the other thrashing heads in attendance. These guys are full-on thrash metal complete with miles of hair, keeping it old school. These guys used to be known as Occult but have recently reinvented themselves as Legion of the Damned, a highly recommended band for those partial to thrash metal.
There were many more great bands on Inferno; DHG, Zyklon, Blood Tsunami, Watain, etc and there is really something for every kind of metal fan at this festival. In a way I don't want to recommend this fest so to keep it all to myself and my 1,499 friends who go, but still I encourage you to make it out some year. The worst thing about this fest is coming home when it's over but in the two years I've gone I've already made lasting friendships. To quote the mighty Scepter "Metal is more than merely killer f***in' music." and Inferno is a true example of that simple statement.
Metalheads came from far and wide to spend "Black Easter" among extreme metal's finest and join friends old and new. The cream of the crop turns out for shows like Inferno and everyone is instant friends and it's great to be in a place with people who share your same passion. Metal is a "brotherhood" and we are happiest among our own kind sharing beers, comparing patches and throwing horns. Lots of the people who make metal happen also attend this event from journalists to photographers, label reps and other musicians not playing the show. Artists from Gorgoroth, Carpathian Forest, Grave, Darkthrone, Dimmu Borgir, Nocturnal Breed, Unleashed and many other bands were spied in attendance. All of this gathering of the hordes in a small setting makes for a fun and exciting atmosphere.
The organizers of the festival thought of everything and there were also daytime events in the form of the Inferno Music Expo for fans and the Inferno Music Conference for industry-types and those wanting to network those connections.
The facilities, staff, associated hotel and even down to the printed materials were first class all the way and no corners seemed to be cut. Often at metal events we make due with less than ideal venues and other poor conditions but that's not the case at Inferno at all. Everything worked.
But what about the bands?
It's difficult to see all of the bands even though the organizers are careful not to book any two bands at the same time. This is simply due to the amount of socializing, shopping and other activities within the festival but of course I did see several. Immortal was the big headliner this year and played an awesome set, complete with Abbath breathing fire (see the video). Although they did have a few technical difficulties, the crowd wasn't deterred a bit and it was an amazing show and a great setlist. New member Apollyon (Aura Noir, Dødheimsgard, Cadaver) fit in with Immortal perfectly and a good time was had by all, including Demonaz (see a short interview here on MP3.com), who watched the show with us mortals out in the crowd, singing and headbanging all the while.
German thrashers Sodom headlined the last night and they are as good as ever! They played all of their epic anthems and the crowd sang along even with the late 1am start time on the last night of the festival. Sodom always delivers and put on a great show. I did speak with Tom Angelripper briefly on Sunday and he said Sodom would come to the U.S. for some dates "next year". Sodom is rare in the U.S. but did do two dates in 2006.
The big surprise act for me was Trinacria. This is a somewhat temporary project put together by Ivar Bjørnson from Enslaved and the Norwegian Concert Institute. The band members consist of Grutle Kjellson (Enslaved), Arve "Ice Dale" Isdal (Enslaved, Audrey Horne, I), Iver Sandøy (Manngard, Emmerhoff & the Melancholy Babies), Espen Lien (Barbie Bones, Slut Machine) with Maja S. K. Ratje and Hild S. Tafjord, both from Fe-mail. This band was a multi-media showcase complete with a film on the backdrop and dramatic makeup. French horns, you say? Yes, and it was great. Their presence reminded me of something along the lines of an extreme Pink Floyd and much of the audience was rather awed. This was the debut show of this project and it was much more than can be described in mere text. I hope they continue. As much as I enjoy the other bands of the players, this was something cool that is worthy of continuing.
Another band that quite impressed me was Primordial. I have some of their albums so I was expecting something a little more tame and on the artsy side but they were big and impressive and rather brutal. It was great! This was the first performance for Primordial in Norway and I suspect they will be back. I would like to see them again myself.
I also rather enjoyed Legion of the Damned from The Netherlands. They played on the John Dee stage and it was a blast to just headbang to their set with all of the other thrashing heads in attendance. These guys are full-on thrash metal complete with miles of hair, keeping it old school. These guys used to be known as Occult but have recently reinvented themselves as Legion of the Damned, a highly recommended band for those partial to thrash metal.
There were many more great bands on Inferno; DHG, Zyklon, Blood Tsunami, Watain, etc and there is really something for every kind of metal fan at this festival. In a way I don't want to recommend this fest so to keep it all to myself and my 1,499 friends who go, but still I encourage you to make it out some year. The worst thing about this fest is coming home when it's over but in the two years I've gone I've already made lasting friendships. To quote the mighty Scepter "Metal is more than merely killer f***in' music." and Inferno is a true example of that simple statement.
posted April 17, 2007 at 10:38:34 PM
no This is not good.
posted February 16, 2007 at 12:36:51 PM
