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“WITCHTRAP is an old school thrash metal power trio band formed by the two brothers Carlos Uribe a.k.a. Burning Axe Ripper & Hugo Uribe a.k.a. Witchhammer in Medellín – Colombia. The band started in early 1992 under the name “Dark Millennium”, playing classic death metal, but a year later changed their style to thrash metal and the band’s name turned to WITCHTRAP.” – Bancdamp bio

Great live band!! Very expressive individuals all the guys in the band, so besides they sounded good, they were also very entertaining to watch:) GO Colombian thrash!

[Live clips below by WITCHTRAP official, Tales From The Frontline]

Collected notes:
– Latest release: Evil Strikes Again Full-length 2020
– Band: Witchhammer Drums Burning Axe Ripper Vocals, Guitars Enforcer Bass
– Interview by Rauta (Youtube)

https://www.facebook.com/WITCHTRAP/
open.spotify.com
https://witchtrap-official.bandcamp.com/album/evil-strikes-again
https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/witchtrap
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Depressive Black from Helsinki since 2005.
“The band was found to create truly melancholic and desperate soundscapes and to unravel the blackened thoughts, the blessing and the curse of the inability to think either black or white nor inbetween. To narrate about the ability to find clarity in madness positivity in the negativity shelter in the dark…” – Osmose Productions

Have seen them only once before at Stockholm Slaughter 2019. Kinda lost them back then but this time I got to be more focused.  Festivals are a bit tricky when it comes to get the best out of bands you never heard before. But this time, super gig!
One of my favourite songs in the first clip below↓ Just harrowing and beautiful.

Band: Aleksis Laakso (I) Drums Alex (A) Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard Mikko Rissanen (N) Bass Juuso Heikkilä (J) Guitar

[Live clips by Gronn Onland & Tales From The Frontline]

Collected notes:
– Latest release: Solitude Release April 2018
– Current label: Osmose Productions
– Merch: @ Osmose productions
– Interview by Rauta https://youtu.be/hIlc2RsiuyI 2022

https://www.facebook.com/totalselfhatredofficial
https://osmoseproductions.bandcamp.com/album/totalselfhatred
https://open.spotify.com/artist/155cULXraV93ztC81ncvBz
https://www.instagram.com/totalselfhatred_official/
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Melodic Death from Canada (Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador). Quite a new band, formed in 2018.

Not too much info to find, but some bits & pieces: Lyrics are about War, History, Anti-religion & Politics and musically they are inspired by inspired by “the controversial US band Aghroslent” according to a review. The band calls their style “Sentimental Death Metal”. The vocalist Adam Sharr is also in a black metal band called Nocturnal Prayer.

“Mount Pearl death metal outfit GRENADIER are one of the newest extreme metal groups to emerge from the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
While releasing their first full-length album, GRENADIER are easily pushing the standards of melodic death metal to a higher level. “Trumpets Blare in Blazing Glory” grants you with tons of groovy riffs, epic vocals and blasting drums.So load your musket, grab your sword, run into the battle and get ready for a devastating charge!”
– Drakkar Records

[Live clip by Gronn Onland]

Collected notes & links:
– Latest release: Trumpets Blare in Blazing Glory Full-length 2022
– Label: Drakkar Productions

https://www.grenadiernfld.com/
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Infernal is one of the pioneers in Colombian black metal. From Medellin, formed in 1996.
On February 10, 2018, Rubén Restrepo (the vocalist) under production of Revista Extreme, published a book on the occasion of the band’s first 25 years, where each production of the band is described in chronological order between 1994-2018, including unpublished photos and detailed information for each release.

[Live clip by Tales From The Frontline]

Collected notes & links:

– Latest release: Inner Voices Full-length 2022
– Label: Tanatofobia Productions
https://www.facebook.com/Infernalbm/
https://www.instagram.com/infernalbm/
open.spotify.com
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“The ability to simultaneously cultivate ominous atmosphere around the violent core of Sex Messiah’s songs lends the album a unique character, and the writing is diverse such that no riff feels forced or redundant. One facet of the band that sets it apart from many of its contemporaries—although it may also be considered a nod to the aforementioned GISM—is the use of Industrial Noise intros and interludes. It, therefore, comes as no surprise that guitarist and founding member of the band, Moenos, also has a solo project for her “Satanic Blacknoise”—as she refers to it—which bears resemblance to the noisier passages on the album. With this release, Sex Messiah has perfected their message and stands poised to extend the band’s influence, summoning more adherents to the eastern cult.” – J. Campbell 2018

Interesting band! From Osaka, Japan. Founded in 2008. These days a 2 piece but they do produce a lot of noice:) Doesn´t seem to be any problem for a bunch of other similar bands like BÖLZER & INQUISITION so those who can handle the concept, it works really well. Then ofc, can´t be sure if they always are 2 persons because on Metal Archives there is also a (live) bassist listed. Can´t say it was an instant hit when they just got started on the (again) full sunlight, outdoor stage but it picked up pretty quickly. In the end I was really happy I stayed around for the whole (at least almost) gig. Enjoyed it quite a bit! Really nice persons those two also:)
Tried to find some more info about what has happened since the beginnings but at least the vocalist Moenos has played the guitar from start and she became the vocalist in 2019. There has been a couple of vocalists before her and the latest one, Sadistic Blasphemer (Kouichi Udagawa) stayed in the band for 9 years. The guy behind the drums, Abaddrums Doom Grinder, has been in the band since 2018.

[Live clips by Tales From The Frontline, Infinite Chaos Promotions & sarvi]

Collected notes & links:
– Current label: Me Saco un Ojo Records
– Latest release: Metal del Chivo Compilation 2022
– Band: Moenos Guitars (since 2008), Vocals (since 2019) Abaddrums Doom Grinder Drums

www.facebook.com/sexmessiahjp
www.instagram.com/moenos666
soundcloud.com/sexmessiah
nuclearwarnowproductions.bandcamp.com/album/metal-del-chivo
nuclearwarnowproductions.bandcamp.com/album/eastern-cult-of-sodomy
www.metal-archives.com/bands/Sex_Messiah
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Pagan Black Metal from Finland since 1998. This was their first live performance!

Originally a three man project consisting of Anssi “Vrasjarn” Mäkinen and his brother; BAPTISM guitarist and vocalist Ossi “Lord Sargofagian” Mäkinen, and guitarist Toni Pölkki – metal-rules.com
In Norse mythology, Ymir is a primordial, evil giant and the first to come into existence in the nine realms of all living things.

“I have always felt the most valuable things about Black Metal as artform or music relate to realistic and sometimes controversial ways of thinking, making it a reflection of life itself. Paganism, modern tribalism, stoicism, all were ideologically remained pieces of mental and physical warrior cultures, starting from the pre-roman days and much further. The original purpose to me, at least here in Scandinavia was take a step aside from certain cultural patterns offered by society, religion being main opposer.” – Interview from 2022

Really good even for a first time listener! Again one of the rare live bands to play at the festival. First live for YMIR since the start in -98. The drummer VnoM Markkanen kept busy this weekend playing in at least 3 bands:)
[Live clips by sarvi & Infinite Chaos Promotions]

Collected notes & links:
– Current label: Werewolf Records
– Latest album: Aeons of Sorrow Full-length 2022
– Band: Vrasjarn Syphon VnoM Agathul Corvus
– Review “Ymir” by RAUTA (YouTube)
– Review “Aeons of Sorrow” by RAUTA (YouTube)

facebook.com/ymirblackmetal
ymirblackmetal.bandcamp.com/
open.spotify.com/
www.metal-archives.com/bands/Ymir/58665
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Hyperspeed black metal
“Out of the ashes of a German Death Metal band (DISSECTION 1989-1993), TSATTHOGGUA formed in 1993 and decided to drive their efforts into an even more bizarre, faster and outrageous style” – Band bio, Osmosis Productions

Weird & wonderful. And fast!!!:D As last year, so many cool findings at Steelfest and these guys were awesome!
(Typo in the front picture. Fixed now:))

Collected notes:
– Tsatthoggua is the name of an ancient god in the literature works of H. P. Lovecraft and Clark Ashton Smith.
– Their second album “Trans Cunt Whip”  was recorded @  Swedish Abyss Studios
– They split up in 2000 for almost 20 years
– Old website still online. No updates since June 2000.
– First interview after the reunion in 2020 by orthodoxblackmetal.com: https://www.orthodoxblackmetal.com/tsatthoggua-interview-2020/

[Setlist below from www.setlist.fm so dunno if complete & correct. A bunch of new songs.]
[Live clips by TSATTHOGGUA & Gronn Onland]

Band: Nar Marratuk – guitars, North Wind – vocals, keyboards,False Prophet – bass guitar, Lightning Bolt – drums


https://www.facebook.com/tsatthogguaofficial
https://www.youtube.com/@tsatthoggua1534
https://www.instagram.com/tsatthoggua_official/
https://tsatthoggua.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Tsatthoggua/5063
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“Gaurithoth played twisted, furious and mental black metal in the vein of Impaled Nazarene, Enochian Crescent and others. Blasphemous and perverse. Gaurithoth was founded in Southern Savonia, Finland at 1997. After debut demo “In Moonlight We Gather” band headed to studio to record their full-length which was released in 1998 by band themself, in CD-R with shitty xeroxed covers. Although promotion was poor, band gained more reputation with its furious live shows where blood and vomit was spilled all over the stage. Because that band got banned from several venues.”
– Werewolf records

Second day, first indoor band to play.
One of the (many) good reasons of visiting Steelfest is to find out about truly awesome Finnish underground bands. GAURITHOTH haven´t recorded anything since 2006 and are officially split up, but here they are:) The festival general Jani has somehow managed to get bands who, for various reasons doesn´t exist anymore back on the stage.
While looking for film clips I found GAURITHOTH covering a pop song from the 90´s at some gig (posted online in 2015). Probably just making sense for the Finns but it´s here:)

[Live clips below by Gronn Onland, Infinite Chaos Promotions]

Collected notes:
– Latest release: Gaurithoth Full-length 2006
– Band: Valgrinder Bass Cunt Meister Guitars Wargasmaster Guitars Anal Master Vocals V.W.Hellboozer Vocals

https://www.facebook.com/gaurithothband/
https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Gaurithoth/8184
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“PEST compose an extremely graphic music, if that could make sense to you. In fact, close your eyes while listening to this and you could see ruined churches under the moonlight and sacrificed virgins upon unholy altars, in the way the old Hammer films depicted that..”

“The main force of PEST lies in the fact that their Black Metal is no estranged from traditional Heavy Metal”
– Voices from the Darkside (“Hail the Black Metal Wolves of Belial” review)

 

Basically, PEST is no more and hasn´t been for a long time.

 

Still Lauri Nazgul Werwolf (SATANIC WARMASTER a.o.) put a (the?) band together and presented a really cool gig. Loved it even though I only heard a couple of songs before seeing them live. Very relaxed frontman who seemed to be in a good mood. Stayed around and watched most of it 👍

Not exactly sure about the band on stage but the last known official line up: Skratt Bass, Keyboards Nigrantium Drums Iskariot Guitars Nazgul Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards

 

[Live clip below by sarvi]

 

 

Collected notes:
– Latest release: “Hail the Black Metal Wolves of Belial” Re-issue 2023 / New Era productions
(originally released in 2003 / Blood, Fire, Death)
– A nicely written review of “Hail the Black Metal Wolves of Belial” by VincentP @ VM-UNDERGROUND zine
– Voices from the Darkside “Hail the Black Metal Wolves of Belial” review

metal-archives.com/bands/Pest
https://www.werewolf.fi/
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“History is written by the victors. We are the voice of the dead”
“The Committee is an international collaboration of Doom / Black metal artists who dedicate themselves to extreme sound and controversial topics.
The Committee does not support any political views and ideologies. We stand firmly on the principles of freedom from tyranny, free speech and unrestricted exploration of extreme music and lyrics. Our music is here to make you think,ask questions, explore and venture into personal journeys of psychological unknowns.

Extreme music is the last frontier of freedom in the Orwellian/Darwinist cesspool of today’s society.“
– The Committee

THIS! One of the “absolutely amazing” performances at the festival. Hope to see them at some venue in near future. Somebody just get them here!

[Live clips by Gronn Onland – Infinite Chaos Promotions – Tales From The Frontline]

Collected notes & links:
– Latest release: Utopian Deception Full-length 2020
– Label: Folter Records
The Committee: Igor Mortis – The Conspirator – Guitar and lead vocals William Auruman – The Charter – drums and percussion Aristo Crassade – The Trigger – guitar and vocals Marc Abre – The Mediator – bass and vocals Urok – The Inquisitor – Keyboards
– Merch: thecommitteecult.com/official-propaganda–store
– Booking, Press and general info: the-committee( AT )hotmail( DOT )com

www.facebook.com
www.thecommitteecult.com
vk.com/cultofthecommittee
folterrecords.bandcamp.com/album/memorandum-occultus
folterrecords.bandcamp.com/album/power-through-unity
More from folterrecords.bandcamp
metal-archives.com/bands/The_Committee
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