Empyrium - Coven - Darkher - Austere - Antimatter - Camerata Mediolanense - Saturnus - A Forest Of Stars - Dold Vorde Ens Navn

Phew, that was a close call. Unexpected delays at the hotel’s breakfast made me rush like a whirlwind towards the cave, and yeah, made it in front of stage on time! And, with hindsight, neither for love nor money I wouldn't have missed this show.

:: pics :: DOLD VORDE ENS NAVN ::

:: DOLD VORDE ENS NAVN :: truly blew me away, from the first to the last note. What a surprise. The “side project” of (partly former) Dødheimsgard members I knew from the mags daily business but never dealt with them any closer. What a bummer, because the completely insane Norwegians are just… insane! Crazily brilliant.
After avant-garde and experimental excursions in Dødheimsgard and Ved Buens Ende, DOLD VORDE ENS NAVN 2021 debut album, Mørkere, is a wild old school Black Metal ride with a proper portion of blackened Rock’n’Roll, classic Heavy Metal and a lot of fun. And exactly that was it how it turned out live. That was such asskicking fun but actually got me into trouble, coz I didn’t know what to do first: dancing, taking pictures, raising fists or headbanging like mad or just laughing. Try it yourself to do it all in once ;)
Fantastic show! Killer! I want more!

Band: Vicotnik (vox - Yusaf Parvez), Haavard (git - Håvard Jørgensen), Myrvoll (drums - Øyvind Myrvoll), Cerberus (bass - Kai S. Halvorsen)
Setlist: Er det måneskinn, Mørkere, Syke hjerter, Arvesynden, Det falt et lys i min mørke krok, Vitnesbyrd, Løgnenes Abstinenser, Determinismens paradoks

:: pics :: A FOREST OF STARS ::

Much more poetic it went when :: A FOREST OF STARS :: entered the stage afterwards. The music was more progressive and Post Rock tinged but not less crazy when it comes to the expressiveness of the Brits.
The stage was almost a bit too small for this 7-head-band and they had to fight some technical problems. Especially the Queen of the Ghosts was hardly to hear in the beginning, although it seemed that her monitor sound was ok and she could hear herself and her violin.
At tonight’s show, A FOREST OF STARS celebrated their 2008 released debut album The Corpse Of Rebirth (let’s say a belated 10th or early 15th anniversary ;)), which was played in its entirety. Another awesome show!

Band: Mr. T. S. Kettleburner (git, vox), The Gentleman (keys), Mister Curse (vox), Katheryne, Queen of the Ghosts (violin), Mr. John „The Resurrectionist“ Bishop (drums), Mr. Titus Lungbutter (bass), Mr. William Wight-Barrow (git )
Setlist: God, Female, Male, Earth And Matter, Microcosm

:: pics :: SATURNUS ::

But the highlight of PROPHECY FEST 2022 was, without a doubt, :: SATURNUS ::! I wasn’t looking forward to any other band that excitedly than on the Danish doomsters. Their 2000 released sophomore, Martyre, made me become a huge fan of the band. No destination was too far to see them playing live. And then, silence came for a very long time. Not sure, if the band even officially disbanded? Anyway, in 2021 new life came into the band. SATURNUS signed with Prophecy Productions and recorded a new album, the first one in 10 years, and the fifth one as soon as it is released. (no release date yet or any further information). But, SATURNUS played two brand new songs, and… they will hit European clubs throughout November together with British doomsters Esoteric (too bad, there is no date I can go to due to work *sighs*).
What can I say? It was a hell of a great and intensive show and a band and its members that are so likeable like hardly any other. I’m so very much looking forward to the new album! Yes!

Band: Thomas Akim Grønbæk Jensen (vox), Brian Pomy Hansen (bass), Mika Ditlev Gyldenøhr Filborne (keys), Gert Lund (git), Henrik Glass (drums), Indee Rehal-Sagoo (git), Julio Fernandez (git),
Setlist: Forest Of Insomnia, Empty Handed, Softly On The Path You Fade, The Calling, I Long, Christ Goodbye

:: pics :: CAMERATA MEDIOLANENSE ::

Italian collective :: CAMERATA MEDIOLANENSE :: had afterwards a difficult task to keep up the high level of energy and enthusiasm. To be honest, they couldn’t captivate me the way they did in 2015 either, when they stood on this stage with a 30-head-choir. CAMERATA MEDIOLANENSE though played an awesome and impressing show too. Their music is very special music and aside of known fields. Alone the sopranos of Carmen D'Onofrio and Chiara Rolando and their expressiveness creates goose bumps.

Band: Elena Previdi (keys), Carmen D'Onofrio (vox), Chiara Rolando (vox), Manuel Aroldi (perc), Trevor (Evor Ameisie – drums, vox), Marco Colombo (drums),
Setlist: Canzone Alla Vergine, La Madre Cattiva, Scrissi Con Stile Amaro, Mi Vuoi?, unreleased track, Dolci Ire, L'Homme Armé, Balcani In Fiamme, Finis // Embryo Ventosa

:: pics :: ANTIMATTER ::

Also :: ANTIMATTER :: celebrate a little anniversary. The band’s fifth record, Fear Of A Unique Identity, was released 10 years ago. Though, the band eschewed playing the album in full and added songs from the debut and Leaving Eden in the second half of the set. Again, a beautiful and atmospheric show.
But, much more a point of interest was, whose son was the bass player? And was he old enough to play concerts that late and abroad? Well, the 16 years old looking boy was a mid-20 years old young man, a very talented bass player and actually the nephew of Ste Hughes, a former bassist in ANTIMATTER. The stage scenery indeed looked… odd, but I have to say, Christopher got the chops. Also the other live musicians, guitarist Dave Hall and drummer Liam Edwards (Fab Regmann was on tour with another band) belong to the old guard around ANTIMATTER.

Band: Mick Moss (vox, git), Christopher Hughes (bass), Dave Hall (git), Liam Edwards (drums)
Setlist: Paranova, Firewalking, Monochrome, Uniformed & Black, Angelic, Over Your Shoulder, Leaving Eden, The Parade, Redemption

:: pics :: AUSTERE ::

:: AUSTERE :: was for sure the band with the longest journey up to PROPHECY FEST. The duo came all the way from down under, but already arrived in July to play their live debut in Europe at a festival in Romania.
AUSTERE also played new songs, Sullen and A Ravenous Oblivion, that cannot be found on any of their records or on the latest art book box. Most time, the band played in darkness, of course much fitting their depressive Black Metal, but thus leading the view on the backdrop/backscreen – the band’s logo with minimalistic animation yet utterly fascinating and captivating. Couldn’t turn away. Plain beauty with maximum effect.

Band: Desolate (git), Sorrow (drums), David "Eklatanz" Conrad (git, vox), Paolo Bruno (bass)
Setlist: Sullen, A Ravenous Oblivion, This Dreadful Emptiness, Just for A Moment...

:: pics :: DARKHER ::

A :: DARKHER :: show is always something really special and never should be missed. I think, I don’t know any other singer/musician that creates such a haunting and intensive atmosphere live on stage as Jayn Maiven does. In April, DARKHER released her long awaited sophomore, The Buried Storm, from which she played half of the songs. This time, Jayn was supported by a violinist and a drummer, both hooded, and mostly in the background. And though, the sound remained minimalistic and acoustic. That in fact did not narrow any bit of the show, but a little bit more power wouldn’t have done any harm either.
Also DARKHER had chosen a wonderful backdrop/screen image that perfectly added to the show. She looked tired. It seems, Jayn Maiven had a stressful travel.
On a side note: Since I often stood next to the mixer to take photos, I had a look on DARKHER’s setlist, where a little notice made me chuckling all day. Roughly translated to: “Note to the sound engineer: Don’t delete the noise”

Band: Jayn Maiven (vox, git), James Morrigan (violin), Gareth Hodgson (drums)
Setlist: Intro, Lowly Weep, Unbound, Where The Devil Waits, Love's Sudden Death, Hollow Veil, Wars, Moths, Lament, Immortals

:: pics :: COVEN ::

:: COVEN :: are legend. Not because they delivered great musical achievements, much more because they still live on their cult status, the band built in 1969. Yes, the wild days are long, long gone. With turned crosses, black masses, satanic rituals and the mano cornuta COVEN caused quite a stir at the end of the 60s/early 70s. They were dropped, banned and indexed back then and only had one single hit with the title track to the movie Billy Jack. Today, that’s all nothing to write home about. And though, Jinx and her mates still tour the globe. That’s indeed impressing!
How to start a very dramatic show, COVEN still knows to date. Jinx was put into a body back on a stretcher rolled and escorted by paramedics from the backstage area to the stage (I was shocked at first, because I thought something bad happened, but then, the faces told the story ;)). There she was put into a coffin, which then was placed upright on stage, which she left highly melodramatic cloaked and masked during the intro as if raised from the dead. Wow! That was great to witness.
The show itself was rather staid. I mean, the songs still have its charm but kind of feel out of time. Dunno, if they would work revamped either. Jinx and the guys anyway had visibly fun performing live. By the way, it was the first show on their current European tour. Catch them if you can!
COVEN of course focused on all the classics from their debut album Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls, but there was also a much newer song (from 2016) with The Crematory. I wouldn’t call the show spectacular but it was indeed cool to have seen COVEN live once in a lifetime ;)

Band: Esther „Jinx“ Dawson (vox), CVon (bass - Chris Vaughn Bird), Alex Kercheval (keys), Colin Oakley (drums), Chris Wild (git)
Setlist: Intro, Out Of Luck, Black Sabbath, Coven In Charing Cross, White Witch Of Rose Hall, Wicked Woman, The Crematory, Choke-Thirst-Die, Black Swan, Dignitaries Of Hell, F.U.C.K., Epitaph, Blood On The Snow

:: pics :: EMPYRIUM ::

And here we are, at the end of PROPHECY FEST 2022. The weekend went way too fast. To bring the festival to an extraordinary end, :: EMPYRIUM :: headlined the last day and played a very special show to the 25th anniversary of the band’s sophomore, Songs Of Moors & Misty Fields. Schwadorf played the album in its entirety, which was, of course, way too short, as the album only runs 45 minutes.
Thomas Helm was missed tonight. EMPYRIUM without him looks… unfamiliar. On the other hand, he was not (yet) part of the band at this time Songs Of Moors & Misty Fields was released. So, Schwadorf sang, played guitar and keys. Instead of the original flute, Aline Deinert played her violin. A lot of smoke and candles created a moody atmosphere, added by the alternating folkloristic tunes and harsh Black Metal attacks. You can’t finish the PROPHECY FEST any better.
It was getting cold in the cave as they switched of the heater around 10pm. People left quickly, which was a bit bad.
To finish the live report too: It was once again a stunning show by EMPYRIUM and a wonderful PROPHECY FEST 2022.
One last question remains: Will there be a PROPHECY FEST in 2023?

Band: Ulf Theodor Schwadorf (Markus Stock - vox, git, keys), Aline Deinert (violine), Fursy Teyssier (bass), Eviga (Jochen Stock - git), Allen B. Konstanz (Tobias Schönemann - drums)
Setlist: When Shadows Grow Longer, The Blue Mists Of Night, Mourners, Ode To Melancholy, Lover's Grief, The Ensemble Of Silence

Story & Pics © Dajana & Dajana Winkel • Photography