BLASTFEST 2016

Metal festival held in Bergen, Norway, February 17-20, 2016.

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Three black metal kings:

Shagrath, Abbath and King ov Hell.

Picture taken during the Infernofestival in Oslo April 2015.

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You'll catch them at Blasfest 2016, or they'll catch you! Get it!?

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Immortal’s frontman and founding member has been writing and rehearsing fervently, with a deluge of new material ready to be recorded; unable to come to an agreement in order move forward with the other members of the band, he has formed a new line up. Whilst grateful and respectful for the contributions of Demonaz, Horgh and Apollyon, the time is now right for Abbath to present his art to the world and continue to evolve the legacy.

The next two years will see the release of a new album alongside select live performances – the first of these to be announced is The Forum in London on Friday 18th September. This will be Abbath’s first time back on stage in the UK since triumphantly headlining Bloodstock Festival in 2011 alongside W.A.S.P and Motörhead. Following this, February 2016 will see a return to playing on home soil as the headliner for the prestigious Blastfest in Bergen – on top of a 100% Norwegian line up.

Abbath is a continued weaving of this artist’s creative thread: new songs have been honed, ready to sit alongside classic Immortal material and rarely – if ever – played gems that will be unearthed from an epic catalogue spanning over two decades.

Using his own name is a natural step for Abbath, having become iconic and synonymous with the band that he co-founded in 1990. That’s 25 years of powering face first into the northern wind; a milestone for any band, and rather than exploit it by dragging Immortal’s name through the mud, Abbath will instead carry his own on his back.

The name of Immortal, for the time being, will rest; the essence, the power, the music – and Abbath – will not.

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The first band launch for Blastfest 2016 is done!

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If you’re In The Woods and in the woods, and there’s no one else around and a tree falls, would anyone hear the tree fall? Well, the answer is probably 42, so let’s just get on with it: the point is that we have gotten hold of a band oozing psychedelia throughout all eras of their career: In The Woods. The band has stood out by progressing immensely through their active years. They started out in the black metal vein with “Isle of Men”, presented extreme metal extraordinaire with ”Heart Of Ages”, and before calling it a day released “Three Times Seven On A Pilgrimage” where the band even included their own takes on King Crimson, Pink Floyd, and Jefferson Airplane. 2016 sees In The Woods back on stage, and better than ever, at Blastfest!

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Feeling empty, feeling full of despair, feeling sad and gloomy? No worries, we’ll patch you up paradoxically with the flagship of Norwegian doom metal, Funeral. Pioneers of the funeral doom genre, the creators of such masterpieces as “Tragedies” and “From These Wounds”, and probably the only band to lyrically address the neurological condition tardive dyskinesia (involuntary, repetitive body movements). Funeral will definitely bring you a solid dose of tristesse. “La tristesse durera toujours.” Pft! Blastfest 2016 cures everything, Vincent!

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Varden tennes, Kari Bremnes! We hereby welcome Khold to the Blastfest 2016 lineup. Since their formation in 2000 they have been devoted to parsimony in their musical expression, and are almost the equivalent of Occam’s razor as applied to black metal; groove and the good riff is in the main agenda here, not a bunch of gothic dresses and cheap synths. Their lyrics are also noteworthy, mainly written in their native Norwegian tongue, and written by the bands “fifth member”, Hildr, wife of vocalist and guitarist Gard. Recently the band released their sixth album, “Til Endes”, and we are really looking forward to hear that material in a live setting here in Bergen. Blastfest: der kulden rår!

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Time to go viral! From the ashes of cult 90’s ensemble Ved Buens Ende a phoenix arose, it bore the name of Virus. Over the course of three full-length albums and an EP they have put the avantgarde back in the Norwegian metal scene. Brilliant song writing, good musicianship, and members also currently associated with acts such as Beyond Dawn, Aura Noir, Lamented Souls and Audiopain … Well, this is surely one of the names to follow in the current Norwegian scene, and we are proud to welcome them to our Blastfest 2016.

Tickets: http://www.billettservice.no/art…/blastfest-billetter/932474

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" Thrash ‘till death! What would a proper Blastfest be without a thrash alibi? Well, to make sure the universe stays in order, we hereby pull Blood Tsunami out of Yngve’s circus hat! Fronted by former MTV VJ and lifetime thrasher Pete Evil, and with none other than Faust of Emperor fame behind the drumkit, these guys will give all the other bands a run for their money. Expect thrash metal that rips you a new one, nothing less!

Tickets: http://www.billettservice.no/art…/blastfest-billetter/932474"

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“Be all, end all” is what they named their most recent album, and Manes is certainly a band that encompasses all, and then some. From their first formative steps as a pure black metal outfit, they have since evolved into what must be deemed an eclectic mixture of multiple genres, never compromising, never conforming, never obeying, and most importantly, a part of the Blastfest 2016 fold. Whatever they have in store for us this time it surely can’t be missed. This is artistry! Tickets: http://www.billettservice.no/artist/blastfest-billetter/932474

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It’s high time that we present one of the true legends of the Bergen black metal scene. Hence we give you Satan’s propaganda ministerium on earth, Gorgoroth. The notorious collective lead by Infernus have so far released nine albums, with a tenth scheduled for release this coming June, “Instinctus Bestialis”. It’s already been six years since the band were on stage in Bergen, so they will be catering to a hungry local audience. We welcome you all, also those of you traveling from afar, to bring your hammer and join us under the sign of hell at Blastfest 2016!

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Do you remember when Norway, and especially the area of Rogaland, completely dominated the gothic metal scene in the late 90’s? Well, we figured this lineup needed some velvet, blood and tears, and large New Rock boots … Or, things have changed since then, or at least the shoe fashion. However, Tristania still delivers powerful melodic metal, now more than ever. Get the tickets now: http://www.billettservice.no/artist/blastfest-billetter/932474

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It’s been eleven years since they released their last album, but 2015 will see them bring their long awaited “Back To The land Of The Dead” to life - and in 2016 they will come back to the land of Blastfest. If that isn't enough, 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of their album “The Cainian Chronicle”. So brace yourselves for “Lilith’s Embrace” in a live setting, because the renowned and reviled Ancient are finally returning to their roots in Bergen, Norway. This time around they are also bringing the infamous Nick Barker (Cradle Of Filth, Dimmu Borgir, Lock Up etc etc) behind the drumkit. Get your tickets: http://www.billettservice.no/artist/blastfest-billetter/932474

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A major figure in the Norwegian black metal scene as a founding member of Emperor, Ihsahn has since become the front man of his very own band. Still the primus motor, and in charge of orchestral maneuvers, his eponymously dubbed solo project sees him channel the sophisticated dark arts through a more progressive expression. In a fitting move, he also uses the members of progressive metal band Leprous as his live backing band. Five critically acclaimed albums have been released by the multi instrumentalist and light bringer. All of which make us really look forward to finally having Ihsahn grace Blastfest!  - Thus spake Blastfest. billettservice.no/artist/blastfest-billetter/932474

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Dissolved in 2007 and sporting members that have been a part of class acts such as Emperor, Satyricon, Carpathian Forest, Blood Red Throne, Tristania, Sirenia etc. This band has finally reunited!!! The usual selling points are completely unnecessary, so we’ll just skip them altogether this time. Why? Because Green Carnation have not only reunited to appear at Blastfest 2016, but they have also agreed to play their masterpiece “Light Of Day, Day Of Darkness” in its entirety! ‘Nuff said! http://www.billettservice.no/artist/blastfest-billetter/932474

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An always supremely crushing live band and a true Norwegian phenomenon is back! Six years ago they called it quits, after filling the world with industrial angst for over two decades. We welcome you to dive into a greater darkness, to handle the cold dark matter that is none other than extreme industrial metal band Red Harvest. This reunion is going to be a fucking hammer-blow to the solar plexus! Tickets: http://www.billettservice.no/artist/blastfest-billetter/932474

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Thanks to our BlastTV crew (Andrea Chirulescu, Sean Hampton, and Kenneth Larsen), we have tons of festival video. This particular one quite accurately sums it up: horns up, lots of smiling and even more retardedness. See if you can spot yourself in it!

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Blastfest 2015!