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Battle black from Los Angeles, California.
“Gravespawn – the ultimate death metal monicker? – is a USA-based black metal solo act founded by jarhead Reaver while in the army in Oklahoma, USA and furthered while stationed in South Korea. That country is occupied by American forces, while North Korea is a dictatorship supported by China”.
About Satanism & Anti-religion in the beginning  and later got into Dark history, Mythology & Battles (according to Metal Archives)
Their friend  Ashareth stept in for the rhythm guitar (also mandolin for some parts) and stuff happened. From the bands FB:
“Due to armor malfunction (something I’m all too familiar with), our guest guitarist dislocated her shoulder during our set. Yet she still powered through the show, took photos with us backstage, and sat through our signing session before getting her husband to rush her to the hospital. That is true fucking black metal right there. The same dudes who gripe about women playing black metal would probably bitch out off the stage crying.”
No one ever noticed…
Cool girl! Hats off! And ofc she´s into other awesome stuff. Like being the owner and founder of Blackmetal Armory etc.

Collected notes:
– Reaver is “active in a nationwide living history organization called the SCA where I fight in competitive armored combat” (or at least was when he did this interview with occultblackmetalzine in 2016.
– Current label: Satanath Records
– Latest album: Scourge of the Realm Full-length 2022
– Booking inquiries: hellwindrituals@gmail.com
– Interview with GRAVESPAWN metalpurgatorymedia.com February 2018
– Full concert from Steelfest. Recorded by Nestruction Studios

[Live clip by Gronn Onland]

https://www.facebook.com/GravespawnOfficial
https://open.spotify.com/artist/11EmV5BD5JzvTl1B3z0kFH
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Blackened Death from France formed in 2006.
“RITUALIZATION are the gathering of four individuals who share the same ideas about the way death metal must be played. Manning the six six six wires of hatred, Infamist’s initial purpose was to bring another musical incarnation to the light of darkness” 

Also a new band for me! Great gig in full sunlight. Very hot, very heavy. Great vocalist and yay for the awesome drummer!!

[Live clip below by Gronn Onland]

Collected notes & links:
– Band: Blastum Drums (also in Merrimack, Antaeus (live), in one of my last years favourites: Osculum Infame (live) and he used to play in Aosoth Infamist Guitars Warchangel Vocals Da’ath Guitars Daethorn Bass, Vocals (backing) (also in Merrimack)
– Latest release: Hema Ignis Necros EP 2022
– Current Label: Iron Bonehead Productions
– Merch: shop.ironbonehead.de
-Interview: tometal.com

www.facebook.com
https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com
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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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Finnish Black Metal since 2009. “Does pure black metal have a purifying effect? Sometimes I think so. It makes me forget the daily shit and allows me to take a short trip into another dimension. Of course, there are some journeys that do not end in an outstanding experience, but what can go wrong if you have a Finnish tour guide? Satan says: not much. Rienaus do not mark an exception in this context.” – Felix 1666 @ Metal Archives review
“Rienaus is raw second wave Black Metal with a typical sound and atmosphere for Finnish Black Metal. I also draw influences from old French bands like Torgeist and Mütiilation”
– Mavrofos 2017

Not the easiest task to start up day 2 at a festival around lunchtime. Still they did good and as usual, the metalheads delivered and a fair amount of them braved hangovers after a long first night (some with no sleep at all:)). 
Thought that a couple of the guys looked familiar:) The vocalist Mavrofos (Eetu Ikonen) and the bassplayer Lucifuge Rofocale also play in AZAZEL.
[Live clip below by Gronn Onland]

Collected notes:

– Current label: Kvlt
– Latest album: Luciferille Nov 2022
– Interview April 2017
– “Luciferille” review by Rauta

www.facebook.com
https://rienaus.bandcamp.com/
https://soundcloud.com/rienaus
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rienaus/1656683048
https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Rienaus/3540301230
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The 16th MARDUK gig. Haven´t seen a boring one yet:) The first one without a bassist (since the morning of the gig, so no time to fix). The sound was a bit “lighter” but they totally destroyed, bass or no bass. So no complains what so ever, and everything can happen when things are live.
One song from the upcoming album “Memento Mori”.

[Live clips by Gronn Onland,HCSE]

Collected notes & links:
https://www.facebook.com/Mardukofficial
https://marduk.nu/
https://www.instagram.com/mardukofficial/
https://www.plastichead.com/artist/marduk
https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Marduk/386
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Est. 1994. No Remorse, No Regrets, No Surrender!

“DESTRÖYER 666 continue to do what they are best at: kicking ass and hammering out heavy metal that is slamming straight into the face. No compromise, no sell out, no bullshit!” – Season of Mist. Release of ‘Never Surrender’ -22

Fukken great band:D Seen them live lots of times and they are always fantastic! Last year they played indoors at Steelfest and now on the outdoor stage. Watched all of it before taking off to the last gig of the first evening (MARDUK played on the indoor stage. Made it in time:)
[Live clips below by Tales From The Frontline Gronn Onland & Infinite Chaos Promotions (The gig in 5 parts]

Collected notes:
– Latest release: Bitter Scorn EP 7″ 2023 (Burn Records)
– Label: Season of Mist
– Band: K.K. : Vocals, Guitar Ro : Guitar, vocals Felipe : Bass Kev Desecrator : Drums
– Compilation ‘To the Devil His Due’ is out on August 25, 2023 via Season of Mist. Pre-order HERE.
” ‘To The Devil His Due’ collects four long out-of-print seven-inch EPs from the one, and only, DESTRÖYER 666. Spanning from 1998 – 2010, this collection is satanic speed metal savagery. While they burn with maximum fury, these songs only hint at the venom that came spewing from these bare-knuckle brawlers.”
– KK Warslut Interview @ Bardo Methodolgy March 2016
– KK Warslut Interview @ Bardo Methodolgy July 2016
– KK Deströyer 666|Bestial Warlust Interview @ Bardo Methodolgy 2023 (excerpt)
www.instagram.com/destroyer666_official
www.metal-archives.com
spotify.com
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“I’m not saying black metal should be dragged back into the dusty cellars but it’s a good thing to keep the underground alive.” – Spellgoth 2019

HORNA are also booked for next years edition of Steelfest and playing 3 sets from different eras with the vocalists from that time. Should be really cool!
These guys: Nazgul (Lauri “Werwolf” Penttilä) 1996-2001 Corvus (Tapsa Kuusela) 2002-2009 Spellgoth (Tuomas Rytkönen) 2009-present

 

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

 

 

Collected notes:
– Latest release: Kuoleman kirjo  2020
– Label: World Terror Committee Productions
– Interview w. Spellgoth @ bardomethodology.com May 2019
(Right after the quite turbulent & interesting US tour. Good reads!!!)
– Spellgoth interview Steelfest 2017 by Rauta
– Review “Kuoleman kirjo” @ grimmgent.com/ Rating 10/10

 

https://www.facebook.com/HornaOfficial/
https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Horna/3231
https://open.spotify.com
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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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Militant Flak ‘N’ Roll from Tallinn, Estonia since 1996. (LOITS meaning spell/incantation)
“There is actually nothing modern in Loits. I reckon there may be some similarities on the rock side in our music to Black ́n ́Roll trend, which was in time of releasing our album Vere kutse kohustab pretty overpowering in the Scandinavia, but otherwise is our music always been either nostalgic or even in some ways innovative. Since the cold, dark and evil is expressed in Loits through war themes, it felt fitting to substitute the word Black for the similarly sounding Flak. Flak being an anti-aircraft weapon.” – from the ViktorasBlogas interview (link below)

These guys have been around for quite awhile. Can´t say I know that much about Estonian bands but obviously there´s stuff that one should know about. For a lot of people from all over the world, LOITS seemed to be one of the highlights (or THE highlight). Been diving a bit more into their releases and lyrics since I got back home. Also great thing that there are always shitloads of great stuff to discover. It´s neverending and I´m very happy for that:)

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

Collected notes:
– Latest release(s): Full length Must album 2007 / Compilation (digital)  Furor Aesticus: Prelude to the Vere Kutse Kohustab 2020
– Label: Flak’n’Roll Records
– The vocalist Ahto-Lembit “Lembetu” Lehtmets also played guitar in the band for some years (1996-2004)
– Interview (video) by Rauta 2021
– Interview viktorasblogas.blogspot.com 2017  (with some fun old alcoholic memories from the road xD )
– Steelfest special LOITS t-shirt may still be available steelfest.fi/product/loits-t-shirt
– More about Estonian metal & bands facebook.com/estonianmetal

https://www.facebook.com/LoitsOfficial/
spotify.com
https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Loits/6184
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