Tag: m8l8th

ASGARDSREI 2017

Over the past two years, Asgardsrei fest has grown into the largest (and certainly the most radical) Black Metal festival in the post-Soviet space. When it first opened its doors in 2012 in Moscow, Asgardsrei gathered around six hundred local supporters. The following year, people behind the fest had to flee the country in order to escape political persecution. In 2014, the Ukrainian revolution attracted many brave souls to Kiev, with it becoming the cradle of a new movement, hereafter known as Militant Black Metal.

Three years later, over 1200 supporters from all over Europe (as well as North America) descended on the Ukrainian capital, lured in by some of the biggest names on the radical Black Metal scene: Goatmoon, Peste Noire, Absurd, M8L8TH, Naer Mataron, Burshtyn. As the light began to fade from the late afternoon sky, the sold-out venue opened its doors and Asgardsrei fest has begun.

BURSHTYN – a rising Black Metal act from the masterminds behind the legendary Dub Buk was up first, and absolutely relished the chance to be opening the night. A distinct Slavonic sound with heavy folk influences became the trademark of Ukrainian Black Metal, with Burshtyn being one of its finest examples.

Burshtyn’s seven-track set included works from their recently released album “Bezvirnik”, as well as some older material. The frontmen’s vivid stage appearance, evoking a sort of shamanic Cossack dance, deserves a special mention. The first performance of the night went “crescendo” and came to an end with Dub Duk’s sing-along anthem “Slava Ukrayini!” that really pumped the audience and got the rowdy crowd going.

1. Янтарний сокіл волі
2. Чортомлик
3. 5000 Вердену
4. Батько Клятв (Dub Buk)
5. Коловорот
6. Непотрібно Христа
7. Слава Україні (Dub Buk)

NAER MATARON – the forefathers of Hellenic Black Metal honoured Asgardsrei fest with their presence. As with several other bands that night, it was their first appearance on Slavic lands. Blistering through blast beat after blast beat and keeping the momentum alive with their big and infectious guitar hooks, Naer Mataron began strong and carried this pace throughout the entirety of their set.

The band’s style of technical brutality was faster and more in your face than that of their predecessors. The impressive drumming of Jonathan “Asmodeus” Garofoli provided a solid platform for the dual guitar work, altogether creating a wall of sound that worked like a cross-amalgamation of Black and Death Metal. Playing through a selection of works from the 2012 album “Ζήτω ο θάνατος” and two new tracks off “Lucitherion – Temple of the Radiant Sun”, the crowd showed enthusiasm for the entirety of the bands set.

1. Apocalypse of the Ancient One
2. Sleepless Beings
3. I am Lucifer Messenger of Your Death
4. Goat Worship
5. Faceless Wrath of Oblivion
6. Prometheus Satanas
7. Agios o Drakontas
8. Parade into Centuries
9. Incarcerating Gallantry
10. The Cult of Doom and Dagger

M8L8TH – the backbone of Asgardsrei festival since it’s very first edition in 2012. Before Alexey emerged on stage, Militant Black Metal stormtroopers began their night with an instrumental intro from the upcoming EP and a thrilling video-presentation on a giant backdrop screen. Opening with a new track, the band progressed through a sprawling set comprising some of their best-known material.

From more recent classics such as “Tears of Autumn,” to their sing-along anthems like “My Native Land,” and the humble tributes to their elders in the form of “Stahl blitzt Kalt”, M8L8TH delivered a performance that covered all the staples from the band over the years while injecting three new tracks from the upcoming album into the fold. However, the true highlight wasn’t the songs, but the energy that the band brought to each and every one of them. Hands raised, mosh pits opened, and songs sung until voices ran raw, M8L8TH proves that high-tempo black metal and RAC influence make a savage blend.

1. Into from the upcoming EP
2. New track from the upcoming EP
3. New track from the upcoming EP
4. L.A.H.
5. My Native Land
6. Tears of Autumn
7. Courage Leads to Heavens
8. Beyond the Twilights
9. By the Wing of Black
10. Stahl Blitzt Kalt (Absurd cover)

ABSURD – it’s now hard to believe that a band with a profile as big as Absurd have never embarked on a journey to Slavic lands. Yet, Kiev was the first city in Eastern Europe to welcome Absurd in over twenty years of the band’s history.

Greeted with cheers and roars of approval, that provided Hendrik and the newly reformed line-up with a warm platform to perform, Absurd charged onto the stage to their legendary album’s self-titled track “Asgardsrei”. Mid-tempo Teutonic black metal, harsh vocals spat with ferocity and enough bass to resonate the room’s collective bone structure – Absurd brought a memorable stomp and neck-depleting rhythm to the festival ground.

With chunks of riffs feeding a hungry crowd, Absurd tore through a ten-song set, focusing mostly on older material. The detailed and meticulous planning of the set was evident, with an original video presentation appearing on the giant backdrop screen for every track. It goes without saying that it was the band’s signature, “Des Wotans Schwarzer Haufen”, that brought the house down. The involvement of the crowd in singing along was so prolific that the band could have done it as an instrumental, and it would have still been a success. Rounding off their set with an epic closer “Sonnenritter”, Absurd left the stage to the meditative sounds of a martial drum beat.

1. Asgardsrei
2. Als die Alten jung noch waren
3. Tod vor Sonnenaufgang
4. Germanien über alles
5. Für Germanien
6. Werwolf
7. The Gates of Heaven
8. Pesttanz
9. Eternal Winter
10. Des Wotans Schwarzer Haufen
11. Der Sieg ist unser
10. Sonnenritter

PESTE NOIRE – taking to the stage against a giant black flag revealed on a backdrop screen as the intro from “Casse, Pêches, Fractures et Traditions” played over the sound system, one by one French Black Metal Hooligans appeared before the crowd. Having already performed at Asgardsrei fest the year before, KPN evidently stepped up their game since their last visit.

The setlist covered a decent collection of older and newer material that included some of Peste Noire thrasher pieces as well as those that are more melancholic. As the night progressed, there were more than a few highlights, including the two-part “Vouïvre” performance, which saw Sün (of Malsaint) appear on stage to assist on vocal duties, and a cover thrown in for good measure as the done to death “L’Épée en Main” by Chevrotine made an appearance.

Delivering a handful of songs the audience clung on to, the true winning component of KPN’s live shows remains the same – namely Famine’s wild and incredibly charismatic performance as a front man. When all was said and done, he and his Black Metal Kommando left the stage to an audience well and truly won over.

1. Casse, Pêches, Fractures et Traditions
2. Paysage mauvais
3. Rance Black Metal de France
4. La blonde
5. Gisant dans la putréfaction
6. Le mort joyeux
7. Dueil angoisseus
8. 666 millions d’esclaves et de déchets
9. Payés sur la bête
10. Le dernier putsch
11. L’épée en main (Chevrotine cover)
12. Au Gouffre (Vouïvre)
13. Paris Cadavre (Vouïvre)

GOATMOON – bringing the thunder to close the night is Blackgoat with an extended line-up of eight people altogether. Corpse paint, black hooded cloaks and an affinity for the theatrical got the crowd ready for a stunning performance as Goatmoon entered the stage. With a huge and ambitious sound, that combines melodic riffs, dark synths, folk instruments and sweeping guitar hooks, Goatmoon radiated a unique energy the entire set.

Pace never wavered or faltered as Goatmoon tore through some of the finest from their extensive back catalogue, playing everything from “Blackmetal Winter,” and “Kunnia, Armageddon!” to “Voitto tai Valhalla”, to name but a handful. Howling, screaming, raging and channelling wild, primal forces, it was indeed Finnish steel storm at its finest. A force to be reckoned with, with a riveting live show as their backbone, Goatmoon left little to be desired on a dark December night.

1. Puiden Tuolla Puolen
2. Kunnia, Armageddon!
3. Abomination of Winter
4. Voitto tai Valhalla Part I
5. Voitto tai Valhalla Part II
6. Stella Polaris
7. And Tears of our Fatherland Fell
8. Son of the Northwind
9. Wolven Empress
10. Alone
11. Stroming through White Light
12. Vääräoppisen Tuhovärssy
13. Suicidal View
14. Quest for the Goat
15. Finnish Steel Storm
16. Aryan Beauty

On behalf of the organizers, we would like to express our gratitude to all of the festival participants and raise a loud hail to the crowd from all over Europe for the overwhelming support at the Asgardsrei fest this year.

The next Asgardsrei festival (scheduled for December 15-16, 2018) will stay true to its mission of strengthening the ties between the scenes from Western and Eastern Europe, for in the conditions of the civilizational threat that all of the Europeans are facing today, this interaction seems not only important but imperative. Slava!

ASGARDSREI 2017

Over the past two years, Asgardsrei fest has grown into the largest (and certainly the most radical) Black Metal festival in the post-Soviet space. When it first opened its doors in 2012 in Moscow, Asgardsrei gathered around six hundred local supporters. The following year, people behind the fest had to flee the country in order to escape political persecution. In 2014, the Ukrainian revolution attracted many brave souls to Kiev, with it becoming the cradle of a new movement, hereafter known as Militant Black Metal.

Three years later, over 1200 supporters from all over Europe (as well as North America) descended on the Ukrainian capital, lured in by some of the biggest names on the radical Black Metal scene: Goatmoon, Peste Noire, Absurd, M8L8TH, Naer Mataron, Burshtyn. As the light began to fade from the late afternoon sky, the sold-out venue opened its doors and Asgardsrei fest has begun.

BURSHTYN – a rising Black Metal act from the masterminds behind the legendary Dub Buk was up first, and absolutely relished the chance to be opening the night. A distinct Slavonic sound with heavy folk influences became the trademark of Ukrainian Black Metal, with Burshtyn being one of its finest examples.

Burshtyn’s seven-track set included works from their recently released album “Bezvirnik”, as well as some older material. The frontmen’s vivid stage appearance, evoking a sort of shamanic Cossack dance, deserves a special mention. The first performance of the night went “crescendo” and came to an end with Dub Duk’s sing-along anthem “Slava Ukrayini!” that really pumped the audience and got the rowdy crowd going.

1. Янтарний сокіл волі
2. Чортомлик
3. 5000 Вердену
4. Батько Клятв (Dub Buk)
5. Коловорот
6. Непотрібно Христа
7. Слава Україні (Dub Buk)

NAER MATARON – the forefathers of Hellenic Black Metal honoured Asgardsrei fest with their presence. As with several other bands that night, it was their first appearance on Slavic lands. Blistering through blast beat after blast beat and keeping the momentum alive with their big and infectious guitar hooks, Naer Mataron began strong and carried this pace throughout the entirety of their set.

The band’s style of technical brutality was faster and more in your face than that of their predecessors. The impressive drumming of Jonathan “Asmodeus” Garofoli provided a solid platform for the dual guitar work, altogether creating a wall of sound that worked like a cross-amalgamation of Black and Death Metal. Playing through a selection of works from the 2012 album “Ζήτω ο θάνατος” and two new tracks off “Lucitherion – Temple of the Radiant Sun”, the crowd showed enthusiasm for the entirety of the bands set.

1. Apocalypse of the Ancient One
2. Sleepless Beings
3. I am Lucifer Messenger of Your Death
4. Goat Worship
5. Faceless Wrath of Oblivion
6. Prometheus Satanas
7. Agios o Drakontas
8. Parade into Centuries
9. Incarcerating Gallantry
10. The Cult of Doom and Dagger

M8L8TH – the backbone of Asgardsrei festival since it’s very first edition in 2012. Before Alexey emerged on stage, Militant Black Metal stormtroopers began their night with an instrumental intro from the upcoming EP and a thrilling video-presentation on a giant backdrop screen. Opening with a new track, the band progressed through a sprawling set comprising some of their best-known material.

From more recent classics such as “Tears of Autumn,” to their sing-along anthems like “My Native Land,” and the humble tributes to their elders in the form of “Stahl blitzt Kalt”, M8L8TH delivered a performance that covered all the staples from the band over the years while injecting three new tracks from the upcoming album into the fold. However, the true highlight wasn’t the songs, but the energy that the band brought to each and every one of them. Hands raised, mosh pits opened, and songs sung until voices ran raw, M8L8TH proves that high-tempo black metal and RAC influence make a savage blend.

1. Into from the upcoming EP
2. New track from the upcoming EP
3. New track from the upcoming EP
4. L.A.H.
5. My Native Land
6. Tears of Autumn
7. Courage Leads to Heavens
8. Beyond the Twilights
9. By the Wing of Black
10. Stahl Blitzt Kalt (Absurd cover)

ABSURD – it’s now hard to believe that a band with a profile as big as Absurd have never embarked on a journey to Slavic lands. Yet, Kiev was the first city in Eastern Europe to welcome Absurd in over twenty years of the band’s history.

Greeted with cheers and roars of approval, that provided Hendrik and the newly reformed line-up with a warm platform to perform, Absurd charged onto the stage to their legendary album’s self-titled track “Asgardsrei”. Mid-tempo Teutonic black metal, harsh vocals spat with ferocity and enough bass to resonate the room’s collective bone structure – Absurd brought a memorable stomp and neck-depleting rhythm to the festival ground.

With chunks of riffs feeding a hungry crowd, Absurd tore through a ten-song set, focusing mostly on older material. The detailed and meticulous planning of the set was evident, with an original video presentation appearing on the giant backdrop screen for every track. It goes without saying that it was the band’s signature, “Des Wotans Schwarzer Haufen”, that brought the house down. The involvement of the crowd in singing along was so prolific that the band could have done it as an instrumental, and it would have still been a success. Rounding off their set with an epic closer “Sonnenritter”, Absurd left the stage to the meditative sounds of a martial drum beat.

1. Asgardsrei
2. Als die Alten jung noch waren
3. Tod vor Sonnenaufgang
4. Germanien über alles
5. Für Germanien
6. Werwolf
7. The Gates of Heaven
8. Pesttanz
9. Eternal Winter
10. Des Wotans Schwarzer Haufen
11. Der Sieg ist unser
10. Sonnenritter

PESTE NOIRE – taking to the stage against a giant black flag revealed on a backdrop screen as the intro from “Casse, Pêches, Fractures et Traditions” played over the sound system, one by one French Black Metal Hooligans appeared before the crowd. Having already performed at Asgardsrei fest the year before, KPN evidently stepped up their game since their last visit.

The setlist covered a decent collection of older and newer material that included some of Peste Noire thrasher pieces as well as those that are more melancholic. As the night progressed, there were more than a few highlights, including the two-part “Vouïvre” performance, which saw Sün (of Malsaint) appear on stage to assist on vocal duties, and a cover thrown in for good measure as the done to death “L’Épée en Main” by Chevrotine made an appearance.

Delivering a handful of songs the audience clung on to, the true winning component of KPN’s live shows remains the same – namely Famine’s wild and incredibly charismatic performance as a front man. When all was said and done, he and his Black Metal Kommando left the stage to an audience well and truly won over.

1. Casse, Pêches, Fractures et Traditions
2. Paysage mauvais
3. Rance Black Metal de France
4. La blonde
5. Gisant dans la putréfaction
6. Le mort joyeux
7. Dueil angoisseus
8. 666 millions d’esclaves et de déchets
9. Payés sur la bête
10. Le dernier putsch
11. L’épée en main (Chevrotine cover)
12. Au Gouffre (Vouïvre)
13. Paris Cadavre (Vouïvre)

GOATMOON – bringing the thunder to close the night is Blackgoat with an extended line-up of eight people altogether. Corpse paint, black hooded cloaks and an affinity for the theatrical got the crowd ready for a stunning performance as Goatmoon entered the stage. With a huge and ambitious sound, that combines melodic riffs, dark synths, folk instruments and sweeping guitar hooks, Goatmoon radiated a unique energy the entire set.

Pace never wavered or faltered as Goatmoon tore through some of the finest from their extensive back catalogue, playing everything from “Blackmetal Winter,” and “Kunnia, Armageddon!” to “Voitto tai Valhalla”, to name but a handful. Howling, screaming, raging and channelling wild, primal forces, it was indeed Finnish steel storm at its finest. A force to be reckoned with, with a riveting live show as their backbone, Goatmoon left little to be desired on a dark December night.

1. Puiden Tuolla Puolen
2. Kunnia, Armageddon!
3. Abomination of Winter
4. Voitto tai Valhalla Part I
5. Voitto tai Valhalla Part II
6. Stella Polaris
7. And Tears of our Fatherland Fell
8. Son of the Northwind
9. Wolven Empress
10. Alone
11. Stroming through White Light
12. Vääräoppisen Tuhovärssy
13. Suicidal View
14. Quest for the Goat
15. Finnish Steel Storm
16. Aryan Beauty

On behalf of the organizers, we would like to express our gratitude to all of the festival participants and raise a loud hail to the crowd from all over Europe for the overwhelming support at the Asgardsrei fest this year.

The next Asgardsrei festival (scheduled for December 15-16, 2018) will stay true to its mission of strengthening the ties between the scenes from Western and Eastern Europe, for in the conditions of the civilizational threat that all of the Europeans are facing today, this interaction seems not only important but imperative. Slava!Constructive feedback is as important to us as participation, so we would like to extend our thanks to the following authors and invite you to read their reports.

Counter-Currents (in English): The Dark Rebirth – Report on the Asgardsrei 2017 Festival & Pact of Steel Conference
Der III. Weg (in German): Asgardsrei-Fest 2017 – Ein Reisebericht aus der Sicht eines nationalrevolutionären Aktivisten
EastJournal (in Italian): Militant Black Metal, musica ed estremismo in Ucraina
Le Grand Continent (in French): Folklore ou haine ?
Szturm.com.pl (in Polish): Relacja z: Asgardsrei 2017
ProPatria (in Greek): Ελληνική απόβαση στην Ουκρανία: Asgardsrei 2017
Délský Potápěč (in Czech): Čtyři dny na Ukrajině v centru revoluce