I wonder if Belgian metalheads were ever discussing a three day long black metal festival in Ireland


Btw I don't know the promoter; do you really believe the amount of tickets will be limited? I'm not in a mood to buy tickets 6 months in advance...
In April I went to a concert where the amount of tickets was supposed to be limited to 200 but the promoter himself told me they wouldn't be too strict about it, then someone else said it was just a trick so that the promoter would be able to get rid of any unwelcome guests with the excuse that the tickets are sold out (in the end there were more than 200 people).

well their facebook page says 778 will be attending

Urfaust – Interesting performance that was cut short, apparently due to the band’s annoyance with sound issues. Supposedly it was the first time the band has performed sober and this also threw them off.

Overall, a very good experience. Well organised and excellent to catch some of the bands live. Brilliant stage set ups and props.

In the last while, there’ve been several complaints about the venue and Brussels itself, as a location (supposedly many gig attendees, and even some of the bands, were beaten up and/or robbed while strolling the streets).

The venue (Magasin 4) allowed indoor smoking, which irked many people, but with incense and candles burning for the three days, it was almost unnoticeable after a while – until it was blown in your face. If anything, the venue should have knocked off the constantly bellowing heating system early each evening. The place was baking.

There were great efforts made to create a serious atmosphere, but wearing sunglasses at night, inside doesn’t automatically make you a leader of the legions of the Antichrist, no matter how much you stomp around.

Patience isn’t a virtue here when it comes to watching bands live, so below is an offering of impressions only. Many bands ended up blended into one memory of black metal hum and cigarette smoke.


Night I

Sortilegia – Didn’t see them.

Teitanfyre – Raw, aggressive, passionate. Must get their full-length.

Sargeist – Great sound. Selection of material well-delivered.

One Tail, One Head – Not too familiar with this lot, but what was caught was pretty chaotic. Commanding front man.


Night II

Cult of Fire – Very impressive. No idea how they perform in their stage get ups, but this was tight, melodic and dedicated from start to finish.

Svartidaudi – A veritable highlight. Razor sharp, energetic, mesmerising and intimidating. Marvellous stage presence, deadly drumming.

Pseudogod – After a few sound issues (which muddled the performance, overall), this lot unleashed some ultra intense black metal akin to a mixture of Antaeus and Watain, both aurally and visually.

Horna – Wasn’t pushed seeing them. Needed some fresh air before the final act. Apparently the band were drunk by noon this day and proceeding to strip off during the performance.

Mare/Black Majesty – This was one of the few performances that managed to create that 'ritualistic' atmosphere it’s perceived the entire festival was going for. The sound was excellent at this stage.


Night III

Hetroertzen – These were a must-see. Their most recent full-length is one of the finest contemporary black metal albums heard in some time. The performance was theatrical and full of energy. Sound was perfect; every haunting melody shone through, buttressed by tireless drumming and constantly changing, possessed vocals.

Urfaust – Interesting performance that was cut short, apparently due to the band’s annoyance with sound issues. Supposedly it was the first time the band has performed sober and this also threw them off.

Behexen – Top notch, heads down black metal. A band very confident on stage. Some of their newest tracks sounded a lot better live.

Mgła – Up there with Svartidaudi as a highlight. Well-rehearsed, ultra tight and another truly great stage presence.

Black Witchery – A few slip ups, but enjoyable. For a band that were allegedly starving and sleep deprived, they delivered a forceful show. Only realised afterward that they’d played the entire 'Summoning of Infernal Legions' EP.

Vemod – Featuring members of Mare/Black Majesty, this was obviously a great end to the festival.