Japanese
INFERNO FESTIVAL

Inferno Festival'08 is over. See you in 2009



Check details more for the festival in the official website!
Inferno Festival Website

Some low cost airlines operating their flights to Oslo in Europe are listed below.
The operated routes are sometimes changed, so you should check them before booking.

Oslo-Gardemoen (OSL)
Air Baltic
Numbers of flights in Europe.
Atlantic Airways
Based on Denmark and Iceland operating their flights among Denmark,Norway,Iceland and the UK
Blue 1 
One of the SAS group in Finland.Their flights are domestic and several international routes to other scandinavian countries,Germany and Holland.
Cimber Air
Based on some cities in Denmark operating European flights.
Condor
Based on Germany.A lot of domestic and international flights.
Czech Airlines
An airline in Czech Republic. A lot of budget fares for the short/middle distance flights
Estonian Air
Based on Tallin,Estonia operating European flights
Germanwings
Based on Cologne/Bonn and Stuttgart (GE)
Hemus Air
Based on Sofia,Bulgaria. Domestic and European flights
Malev Hungarian Air
Hungarian international airline. Their routes aren't only in Europe,but also some other continents.
Nordic Air
Based on Stockholm Arlanda Airport.Domestic and international routes.
Norwegian Air
Both domestic and international routes based on some southern Norwegian cities.
Snowflake 
It's organized by Scandinavian Airline.The routes are based on Copenhagen and Stockholm.
Sterling.dk 
The Denish low cost air line based on Scandinavian countries.Their flights covers Europe and some cities in Morocco.

Oslo-Rygge (RYG)
Norwegian Air
Both domestic and international routes based on some southern Norwegian cities.

Oslo-Torp (TRF)
Ryanair
London Stansted/UK,Frankfurt Hahn/Germany,Glasgow Prestwick/UK to Oslo Torp/Norway
Wizz 
This airline covers many routes mostly from Hungary and Poland.

International bus lines to Norway/Domestic routes in Norway
Eurolines
Its routes Cover whole European countries.Each country's web site is available.The student coach card can be purchased on the web site,and then discounted tickets are available.
Swedenbus Express
Swedish bus company.Domestic and international routes.Students who have International Student Card can get discounted tickets.
Säfflebussen
Swedish bus company.Domestic and international routes.Students who have International Student Card can get discounted tickets.
Norway Bussekspress
Norwegian bus company.Domestic and international routes.
TIMEkspressen
Domestic bus routes in Norway. Line3 is operated between Oslo and Strömstad(SE)

Trains
NSB   The Norwegian train's website.

Remember that there're 3 airports around Oslo,and Gardemoen is the biggest and closest to town.
Rockefeller/John Dee are in the same building close to the main train station and the bus terminal.



Click each picture to see more from Inferno Festival


19th-22nd March,2008-Rockefeller/John Dee, Blå, Garage, Maiden, Rock In, Subscene

The festival official hotels having the special price for the audiences were Scandic Edderkoppen hotel and Scandic Byporten hotel, same as those in the previous year.
View Larger Map

19th March (Wed)

Blå
Garage
21:00
Käthe Kollwitz
22:00
Insense
22:15
Sahg
23:00
Gallhammer


Maiden
Rock In
22:30
Deject
22:30
Diskord
23:30
Negurá Bunget
23:30
Urgehal
01:00
Karaoke from Hell
 


John Dee
Subscene
20:15
Audrey Horne
19:45
Cor Scorpii
21:00
Red Harvest
20:45
Goat the Head
21:45
In Vain
21:45
Cult of Luna
22:30
Vreid
* No age limit gig *
23:30
Keep of Kalessin
   
*Indie Recordings Labelnight*    


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Sold out! at Garage


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Negura Bunget
19th of March 2008(Wed) : Club Day

Inferno Festival'08 was expanded for 4 days, and besides more numbers of venues, for the first time. One of the venues "Subscene" was opened also for the audiences who were under 18 years old.

17 bands played in 6 different venues showed on the map above at the first day called "Club Day". Each venue wasn't such big, so it was full of audiences everywhere. When I went to John Dee to get a wrist band, a long queue had been there, and so it took the time to get it I should have done it in the day time at Sentrum Scene.

As soon as I got the wrist band at John Dee, I headed to Garage to see Gallhammer. They're a Japanese female 3 piece band releasing their CDs from Peaceville Records in the UK. A long queue had been on the stairs to this venue too, as some audiences had to leave there without going in
I'm not sure how a type of music they play would reflect to the audiences or the listeners in Japan, but definitely their reputation has been more spread in Europe, as long as I heard from the audiences at this festival. Some audiences expressed about them as they'd still been a bit inexperience, but I'd rather encourage them as being from the same country

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Gallhammer

A problem at the Club Day was that each band played as planed in each different venue, so more than 2 bands that the audiences wanted to see could play about the same time schedule. Unfortunately, it happened for me as well, then I had to leave Garage before Gallhammer finished playing.
I moved to Maiden to see Negura Bunget from Romania. Then I saw the audiences who went around among the venues on the streets, so the central in Oslo was covered by a lot of metallers

When I got to Maiden,it had been full of the audiences there as well. Fortunately,I've seen Negura Bunget in Romania by chance before, but it's rare to see their gig here in Norway. Their sound was dark atmospheric, as it reminded us about the deep fog in Timisoara that's their home town(it was really foggy when I visited there). It seems their appearance was highly expected and waited since before, so I hope they will be back here soon, and to see whole of their gig.



20th March (Thu)

Time schedule in the Inferno Metal Expo
Main hall / main stage:
12:00 Guitar Hero competitions
14:00 Satyricon signing session
15:00 Inferno and Riff Musikk presents: Ronni le Tekrø (TNT) guitar clinic
16:00 Guitar Hero finals on widescreen and P.A. sound
17:00 In Suspenso performance
17:30 Linus Raudsepp (S) performance

Lobby / lobby stage:
15:00 Scream Magazine: Bang your brain to this MetalQuizz
16:00 Once Upon a Time in Norway - Norwegian Black Metal Documentary
17:00 Roadrunner Records listening session


Rockefeller
John Dee
18:15
Skitliv
17:45
Axegressor
19:45
Onslaught
19:15
Cor Scorpii
21:15
Tristania
20:45
Dead to This World
23:00
Behemoth
22:15
Goat the Head
01:00
Gorgoroth
24:00
Cult of Luna


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Tristania


- Set list - BEHEMOTH

1. Slaying the prophets ov Isa
2. Antichristian Phenomenon
3. Demigod
4. From the Pagan Vastlands
5. Conquer All
6. Prometherion
7. Slaves Shall Serve
8. As Above So Below
9. At the Left Hand ov God
10. Summoning
11. Christgrinding Avenue
12. Decade of Therion
13. Chant for Eschaton

Encore :
I Got Erection (Turbonegro)

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Gorgoroth
20th of March 2008(Thu)) : Rockefeller/John Dee

Following the last year, the Inferno Metal Expo started at Sentrum Scene as its second edition on Thursday. The festival kicked off at night, but a lot of events to look at and walk around in the day time as well, so the audiences had the busy Easter holiday!?

The first band at Rockefeller at that night was Skitliv that includes Maniac who used be a vocalist in Mayhem, and Kvarforth who's a front man in Shining.
Thinking about Maniac as one of the musicians who's the center of attention in the black metal scene in Norway,I suppose a lot of audiences focused how they'd perform on the stage. The first scene hitting our eyes were their stage set. Some exotic lights were displayed on the stage, then they send out mysterious shimmer in the darkness Following other members, Maniac appeared on the stage at the end, then he sat down on a chair that was middle of the stage, and started to perform. Their performance was as if exhaling something evil inside of the human, along with their dark heavy sounds.

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Skitliv

When a Norwegian band Tristania appeared at Rockefeller, atmosphere on the stage turned to be gothic and melodic. They've been surely gaining their musical careers in the scene, having experienced to tour not only in Europe but also in the South America. A male vocalist with clean voice and a female vocalist who's been a new singer in the band since 2007 sang with elegant and poetic combination.

Around 23:00 at Rockefeller, finally Behemoth that I was waiting for the most started playing  Their gig kicked off with the opening number "Slaying the Prophets ov Isa" in their latest album "The Apostasy", then the audiences replied excitingly. The audiences looked a bit quiet as the ones in a festival until Behemoth appeared, but finally the feeling in the venue hit to the top. Following their appearance in 2002, it was the second time to play in this festival at Rockefeller for them. They'd already been popular last time, but playing in a lot of countries in the world that their reputation has been spread, they received even more enthusiasm from the audience this year. Thinking about their gig at that night, both the band and this festival have been bigger. They're going to tour in the USA from this April again, and I hope they will be back to Norway,having even more experiences in the world.

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Behemoth

The headliner of the Thursday night at Rockefeller was a Norwegian black metal band Gorgoroth. When the curtain was raised on the stage, what forced us to pay attention was the displays there. There were some figures impaled on the crosses, but they weren't just figures but..... Anyway,no time just to be surprised, and then a vocalist Gaahl started to scream, appearing from the darkness. Talking about Gorgoroth, they've been surrounded by some troubles recent years, but some more festivals to be the headliner this year including Wacken Open Air has been announced. A drummer for the band wasn't Hellhammer as mentioned, but Nicholas Barker who played in their European tour last year.

21st March (Fri)

Time schedule in the Inferno Metal Expo

Main hall / main stage:
12:00 Guitar Hero competitions
13:00 Demopanel Live review of demos
14:00 IMC panel: Can Metal Become More Extreme?
15:00 IMC interview: Gaahl (Gorgoroth)
16:00 Guitar Hero finals on widescreen and P.A. sound
17:00 VirvelCup: Drum competition

Lobby / lobby stage:
13:00 Dynamic Art Records listening session: Angel Blake  "The Descended"
15:00 Once Upon a Time in Norway - Norwegian Black Metal Documentary
16:00 Dark Essence Records listening session: The Batallion "Stronghold of men"
17:00 Dark Essence Records listening session: Helheim "Kaoskult"



Rockefeller
John Dee
18:15
The Batallion
17:45
Whip
19:45
Krux
19:15
Obsidian Throne
21:15
Tulus
20:45
Obliteration
23:00
Gorefest
22:15
Benighted
01:00
Satyricon
24:00
Den Saakaldte



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Cold to sit down??


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Krux


Gorefest
21st of March 2008(Fri)) : Rockefeller/John Dee
The Inferno Metal Expo was held as its second day at Sentrum Scene on friday too.

When I got to the venue, The Batallion had been playing at Rockefeller, then I was watching their show without taking pictures
Going to the rooftop where the smoking area was as every year, a food stand was set and some plate menu was served...yum yum. I checked merchandise shops in the venue as well.


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Some snow had been left...


merch.jpg
Wanna get some T-shirts?


After looking around in the venue for a while, I saw a Swedish doom metal band Krux that all members were expert musicians.

Dutch death metal experts Gorefest started to play around 23:00 at Rockefeller. They showed their massive sounds on the stage, as they've been hitting the scene with their heavy and tight sounds since they were formed in the late 80's. The audiences eagerly reacted for their performance as well

Satyricon that was the last band in the Friday night at Rockefeller started their gig playing their familiar song "The Pentagram Burns". Their popularity exceeded its musical genre or what the audiences liked, so the venue was filled by the crowd.

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Satyricon


22nd March (Sat)

Rockefeller
John Dee
18:15
Mortal Sin
17:45
Drone
19:45
Unleashed
19:15
Desecration
21:15
1349
20:45
Iskald
23:00
Overkill
22:15
Burst
01:00
Destruction
24:00
Shining


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Desecration


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1349


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Shining


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Destruction
22nd of March 2008(Sat)) : Rockefeller/John Dee

4days had past so quickly, and it was the final day of the festival on Saturday. It started snowing at the second night, so it was the freezing Easter this year But it was filled by the heat in the venue at the festival every night, though.

I got to John Dee to see Desecration that's a three piece death metal band from the UK at first. I'd seen their gig when I lived in London several years ago, so it was after a long time to head to their show. Having toured in European countries these years, they played even more brutal and aggressive than before  I suppose that people who like the bands such as Morbid Angel should be interested in them.

Moving from John Dee, I headed to the Unleashed gig at Rockefeller. They've had a long career as a Swedish death metal band, and kept steady motivation for their gigs as they performed at the festival. They played their standard number "Never Ending Hate" , then the audiences screamed together with them also. Playing in some festivals this year, they're going to release their 9th studio album called "Hammer Battalion".

Unleashed


Playing at John Dee in 2002 and at Rockefeller in 2003, 1349 made their 3rd appearance at Rockefeller this year. First of all, their show was opened by blowing fire as usual, then the members appeared from the darkness. They had Tom Gabriel Fischer from Celtic Frost as a special guest vocalist for a song, then the audiences excitingly welcomed him   Their gigs are stable and highly motivated no matter how the audiences are or how the venue is, then so was the one at this festival Their gig was one of the best at Inferno Festival this year for me.

After enjoying Overkill's gig at Rockefeller, I headed to John Dee to see Shining. I'd heard their controversial rumours or stories that' had focused quite too much about performance by a vocalist Kvarforth on the stage since before, but I have to admit that I couldn't stop paying attention for him too. Cutting his arms by himself sometimes, he was screaming covered by his blood on the stage Of course their music has got certain reputation as well, but I didn't really manage to concentrate for it, as i was a kind of shocked since it was the first time to see their gig. So, I hope to head to their gigs again, to focus their music more.

The final band for the entire festival this year was Destruction at Rockefeller. Thinking about this festival recent few years, some audiences tend to leave the venue before the last band finishes playing. They may have been tired especially this year as it was expanded for 4days? Or, Destruction would play quite often in other festivals in Europe as well??

It wasn't such cold nor snowing at the first night in the festival, but eventually it was freezing and heavily snowing in Oslo Though,we could see numbers of different types of bands this year, so can't stop expecting for the next year already




Click each picture to see more from Inferno Festival

5th-7th April,2007-Rockefeller/John Dee

5th of April 2007(Thu) : The first night

The time had past so quickly, and a lot of metalheads from different countries gathered in Oslo in the Easter holidays=Inferno Festival this year as well. This festival was held in the Rockefeller/John Dee as every year, but the festival spread its venue even to another place called Sentrum Scene this year. It's just a couple of minutes away from the Rockefeller, and an event 'Inferno Metal Expo' was held there between 12:00-18:00 on the 5th-6th of April. It consisted of merchandise shops, bar&cafe, autograph-session area and so on. Basically, most spots are closed during the Easter holidays except on Saturday in Oslo,so it must have been a good site to spend the time before the festival. I saw a lot of audiences having black plastic bags came out from the Sentrum Scene

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2 festival-official hotels that one was Scandic Edderkoppen Hotel same as last year, and another was a brand new hotel called Scandic Byporten hotel had the special offer for the Inferno audiences. I stayed in a hotel called Best Western Anker Hotel, but I may feel like staying in one of the official hotels next year, as I've never stayed neither of them. I know both official hotels were filled in a lot of metalheads from different countries, so it must be fun to see them The Anker Hotel was also close to the Rockefeller, so some other audiences stayed there as well. They were certainly recognisable in a cafe for breakfast every morning

The First band at the Rockefeller this year was 'Norwegian Metal All Stars'.....+ an American?? The band consisted of members from the Norwegian metal scene such as Athera from Susperia, and a special guest Dan Lilker from Brutal Truth. Some members converted their musical parts in their gig, then they played classic songs of Slayer, Motorhead and so on. It seems an idea about their appearance is based on the Inferno's Kick-off party held around January/February every year.

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Norwegian Metal All Stars

I didn't really plan what I wa going to see nor do before Primordial's gig, but somehow,I stopped at the stage in the Rockefeller when Trinacria started their show. It sounded like,but I'm not sure how I should express about their music though,anyway something mixed with some kinds of metal and noise having mystical atmosphere. A male vocalist and 2 femele members having mysterious make-up were on the stage..... Well, well, I found actually this band is a collaboration project with members of Enslaved and a Norwegian noise duo called Fe-Mail after the festival. I didn't know that It seems it was their first gig since the project started.

The long awaited Primordial's first appearnce in Norway finally hit to the festival at the Rockefeller, then the enthusiastic audiences welcame to the band   By the way, I was waiting for Primordial playing in this festival since some years ago, and finally it came true this year. The songs they played at that night were from their 2 recent albums 'Storm Befor Calm' and 'The Gathering Wilderness',except the last one, and I thought they played quite for a short time. But their gig was a part of the festival of course, so I guess it was a great introduction of Primordial, as their first-time gig in Norway. I hope they'll be back here soon again!

Followed by their appearance in 2001 and 2004, Zyklon played as their 3rd time gig at the Rockefeller in this festival. Thinking about the members of Zyklon, Samoth and Trym has also played as Emperor, and so have Destructhor and Secthdamon done as Myrkskog in this festival, so they're kind of 'Inferno-veterans'? They were playing the most songs from their latest album 'Disintegrate'.

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Zyklon

Swedish black metallers Watain played at the John Dee as the last band at that night. Every time I see their gig, it becomes cooler and cooler   Various types and plenty of black metal bands are from Sweden, but Watain is definitely about to be one of my favorite Swedish black metal bands recently. Their latest album 'Sworn to the Dark' was released in February this year, so you should check it out

5th April (Thu)

Rockefeller
John Dee
Norwegian Metal All Stars
Fatal Demeanor
Trinacria
Karkadan
Primordial
Unspoken
Zyklon
Paradigma
Suffocation
Watain

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Sentrum Scene


Time schedule in the Inferno Metal Expo
12:00 Doors open
Guitar Hero competition, ESP stand
13:00 Guitarclinic: Ronni Le Tekrö,
TNT
14:00 MTV Headbangersball, main hall
Signing
Dimmu Borgir, ESP stand
15:00 Guitar Hero finals, main hall
15:30 Metal Quiz, main hall
16:30 Movie: A Headbangers Journey
18:00 Doors close


Scandic Edderkoppen Hotel


Scandic Byporten Hotel

 

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Trinacria


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Primordial

-Set List-

1.The Golden Spiral
2.The Gathering Wilderness
3.The Song of the Tomb
4.Sons of the Morrigan
5.Coffin Ships
6.Gods to The Godless

 

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Watain


6th of April 2007(Fri) : The second night

I checked around the food in the festival at that night.An smoking area was on the roof as usual, and a barbecue stand was there for the first time   I felt like trying a meal there, but it seemed they served barbecue only as a big-plate menu including potatos etc. mmm, it was too big, and I supposed I'd not have been able to drink beer if I'd eaten it, so after all I didn't try it.
Nattefrost and Kvarforth from Shining had their autograph session at a merchandise shop Bodymap's stand in the festival at 18:00.

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Hungry?
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Busy to be ready....

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Smoking Area

It was the first time to see Sigh's gig, although I lived in Japan. Anyway I guess they're more popular in Europe though. Followed by Defiled played in 2004, it was a second appearance as a Japanese band for Sigh, but Mirai(vo,synth) played as a member of Necrophagia in 2003 as well though.
I've listend this band, but I didn't know they've got twin-vocals and besides one of them is a female playing an alto-saxophone as well. The sound of this band really differs in each album, but their new style having the female vocalist called Mikannibal goes with the band well, as long as I saw their gig in this festival.  It seems Mikannibal is also a vocalist in other bands, so she's experienced. A lot of audiences were impressed of their new style as well. I hope to see their gig again soon, as I'm going to stay in Japan for a while.  

As soon as Sigh's gig was over, I headed in the John Dee to see Dutch metallers Legion of the Damned. Really excited audiences gathered in front of the stage, then even I was involved them after taking pictures   I saw their former band Occult, but they've been even more active since they started Legion of the Damned, like playing in many festivals in Europe. The band replied lively to the audience as well

I got a really different imprression for Moonspell comparing with their show I saw about 5 years ago at that night. It seemed they were more sharpend and energetic in this festival. They're often reffered as one of the representants in gothic metal bands, but I like their agrressive part as well. They've been touring as a headliner of No Mercy Festival in Europe, so head to their gig if you have a chance.

After taking a break for 4 years, Immortal is finally back! I picked up batteries for my camera in a hotel after the Moonspell's gig, and the Rockefeller was full of audiences when I got back there. Immortal is going to play in several festivals in Europe and a couple of shows in the States this year, then it was their first gig among them in this festival. The members of reunioned Immortal are Abbath(vo,guiter), Horgh(drum),and Apollyon(bass-Aura Noir), then they showed their overwhelming existance in front of the audiences who'd waited for their appearance. Having some quitar problems, explained as ' We have guitar problems, so be patient!' by Abbath on the way, they performed an excellent show including a couple of songs from their masterpiece 'Battles in the North' as an encore.

Audience
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6th April (Fri)

Rockefeller
John Dee
Red Harvest
Ravencult
God Dethroned
Ground Zero System
Sigh
Rotten Sound
Moonspell
Legion of the Damned
Immortal
Hecate Enthroned


Time schedule in the Inferno Metal Expo

12:00 Doors open
Guitar Hero competition, ESP stand
13:00 Guitarclinic: Obsidian C & Steinar G.
14:00 MTV Headbangersball, main hall
Signing Obsidian C & Steinar G. and Samoth, ESP stand
15:00 Guitar Hero finals, main hall
16:00 Signing: Immortal, ESP stand
16:45 In Suspenso performance, main hall
17:00 Movie: Until The Light Takes us, main hall
18:00 Doors close

 

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Sigh

 

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Legion of the Damned

 

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Moonspell

 

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Immortal


7th of April 2007(Fri) : The last night

The festival gave away a souvenir(?) to each audience this year   It was a black cloth bag figured with the festival logo, and some flyers, leaflets having the festival program,and to my wonder, a lolipop and 2 condoms etc. were in it  The leaflets had some tourist information like a map and where to go as well. Anyway, it must be a good memory, and the bag can be daily-use after the festival? In addition,the laminate cards which had the running order both in Rockefeller and John Dee were distributed to each audience at the entrance as last year.
Dark Funeral had their autograph session in Bodymap at 13:00.

Originally formed in New York in 1990, and recently reunioned Brutal Truth was the first band in the Rockefeller at that night. They've already toured in the UK and Japan before this festival since their reunion, and are going to play in several festivals in Europe and the States this summer.

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Brutal Truth

Swedish Dark Funeral wearing the armour-like costume appeared on the stage that a huge backdrop printed as the jacket of their latest album 'Attera Totus Sanctus' was hung at the Rockefeller. Their set list at that night consisted of some songs from their latest album, and some other masterpeaces. Actually they were the band I'd been waiting for their appearance in this festival since some years ago, same as Primordial played at the first night   Dark Funeral is a Swedish band, but haven't played in Norway so often. But they haven't really played in their countly either though. By the way,I don't really like a vocalist Emperor Magus Caligula's corpse paint at that night, and I prefer the previous one...

After the Dark Funeral's gig in Rokckefeller, I went to the John Dee to see a Norwegian black metal band Koldbrann. Their appearance in this festival was the second time, followed by in 2003. A lot of Norwegian black metal bands' lyrics are written in English, but their songs are in Norwegian, same as their band's name. Besides, it's quite remarkable that even their official webiste is written in English and Norwegian

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Koldbrann

Finally, Anaal Nathrakh from the UK appeared at the John Dee as the last band. Their peputation I've ever heard is like,'their music is great,but they don't really play gigs'. Yes, I agreed with this rumor. I lived in the UK and Ireland between 2002-2005, and I got one of their album in 2002 at first, but I hardly heard about their gigs,although they've played sometimes in the UK recently. So, actually I was surprised when this festival announced about their appearance this year
A plenty of photographers and audiences gathered for Anaal Nathrakh, then the venue was heat up at a burst   The band played an opening number 'Bellum Omnium Contra Omnes' in their latest album 'Eschaton' as the first song at that night, then they kept shouting and exciting the audiences until the end. I suppse i was lucky to see their rare and first time gig in Norway at that night. mmm, I feel like going to their gigs more, then I need to to fly to the UK(must be by Ryanair)??

7th April (Sat)

Rockefeller
John Dee
Brutal Truth
Lobotomized
Dødheimsgard
Ressurected
Dark Funeral
Blood Tsunami
Tiamat
Koldbrann
Sodom
Anaal Nathrakh

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Souvenir?

go to Bodymap's website
Bodymap

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Dark Funeral

-Set List-

1.King Antichrist
2.Diabolis Interium
3.The Arrival of Satans Empire
4.666 Voices Inside
5.My Dark Desire
6.Attera Totus Sanctus
7.Hail Murder
8.Atrum Regina
9.An Apprentice of Satan


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Anaal Nathrakh

Click each picture to see more from Inferno Festival

13th-15th April,2006-Rockefeller/John Dee

13th April (Thu)

Rockefeller
John Dee
Keep Of Kalessin
Imbalance
Nightrage
Waklevören
Khold
Demonizer
Carpathian Forest
Deviant
Usurper
Sahg

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Keep Of Kalessin

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Expensive??

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Demonizer

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Carpathian Forest

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Usurper

13th of April 2006(Thu) : The first night

It was the 6th year of the Inferno Festival,and it seems it was much difficult to get the tickets because Emperor was playing this time. The official hotel of the festival which the festival office had offered to get the cheaper price for the audience was Scandic Eddelkoppen Hotel,but I was staying another hotel called Comfort Hotel Boersparken that was close to the central station. Accommodation in Oslo is really expensive, but I found some hotels had campaign prices during the Easter holiday,so you should check it on the internet if you think to go to the festival next year

Keep Of Kalessin that was the first band at Rockefeller started to play almost same as the timeplan. Not every time the first band can play in front of crows as they start to play around 18:00, but it was what Keep Of Kalessin was capable of. They played at this festival for the first time,besides as the first band,but surprisingly there were a lot of audiences When I come to think of it, I've seen quite many advertisement of them recently, for example on the front cover of magazines etc. Furthermore, I was surprised they used some stage devices like often headliners did, although they played at first. They were playing melodic songs, and some of them were from their latest album"Armada".

A festival is held at least for several hours each day, so of course what an importance is food There was a food stand on the same floor as the Rockefeller, and I went there to check what they'd have and how the price would be. Of course any of them couldn't really be economy prices, as it was in Norway that was one of the most expensive country in the world here. But those hot hot food was essential to fill eager audiences' stomachs up I was interested in "Lakseburger(salmon burger)" but eventually I didn't try it.... I just ordered "Pølse med potetosalat(sausage with potato salad)", so I may try a salmon burger next year if they have it??

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Sausage with potato salad=30NOK

After I was looking around in the venue a bit, I went to the John Dee just before Demonizer started to play. They were a black metal band from Belgium, and it was the first time to see their gig for me. Actually I didn't know even their name before, but I really liked their heavy black metal sound. I know just Enthroned as a Belgian black metal band, and I'm not really familiar with the Belgian black metal scene either,but Demonizer was certainly a cool band

Carpathian Forest started to play around 23:00 at the Rockefeller. A vocalist Nattefrost played as his solo-project last year, and then a guitarist Tchort played as Green Carnation as well. Thinking about it, it's quite interesting that 2 musicians who have complete different type of other projects play in a same band,besides it's Carpathian Forest Nattefrost had had a kind of crazy appearance when he had played as his solo-project last year,but he showed a bit normal,but cool and tight performance as a leader of Carpathian Forest this year.

American Usurper played as a last band at the Rockefeller. It's a point to be able to see not only Norwegian and other European bands but also bands from other continents in this festival. I listen less numbers of American metal music comparing with the European ones, but it was a good chance to see Usurper.

Although it was the first night of the festival, I was really tired after the gig But it means I enjoyed watching the shows,coming and going between John Dee and Rockefeller, sometimes talking with friends and even strangers. So needless to say, I went to bed straight away as soon as I got back to the hotel.


14th April (Fri)

Rockefeller
John Dee
System:Obscure
Rimfrost
Susperia
Funeral
Dismember
Manngard
Borknagar
Endstille
Emperor
Bloodthorn


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Smoking Area

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Endstille

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Borknagar

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Emperor

Emperor's set list
Intro
Into the infinity of thoughts (+ pyro)
The burning shadows of silence
Cosmic keys to my Creations & Times
Thus spake the nightspirit
An elegy of Icaros
Curse you all men!
Wrath of the tyrant (+ pyro)
With strength i burn
Towards the pantheon (acustic intro)
The majesty of the nightsky (+ pyro)
The Loss and curse of reverence
In the wordless chamber
Inno a Satana (+ pyro)
Opus a Satana (part 1, outro)

Encore:
I am the black wizards
Ye entranceimperium
Opus a Satana (part 2, outro)

14th of April 2006(Fri) : The second night

There was information that Susperia which had been originally placed as the third band at the Rockeheler would play as the second due to the Dismember's flight schedule.

I wanted to have some rests before going to the festival, so I went to the venue just before Susperia started to play.
Norway has the smoking ban, so the smoking area was placed at a roof of the venue as usual. It was outside,but mach warmer than last year,as the festival was held in April this year Then,some dark and satanic objects made by Norwegian cybertrash sculptor René M. Hamel aka Spacebrain were displayed there and many audiences took pictures of them.

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Cool!

I saw Susperia's show for a while, then surprisingly they played a song of the Norwegian-legendally pop band A-HA Besise it unexpectedly went with Susperia. Nice They covered a Wasp's song as well. A keyboardist Mustis from Dimmu Borgir played a song as a guest performance.

I watched German Black metallers Endstille's gig at the John Dee. I went to their gigs a couple of times before as well, and I've wondered why some members put on a corpse paint,but others weren't.

Borknagar started to play around 23:00 in the Rockefeller. When they appeared, or let's say when a vocalist appeared on the stage, I lost any words to say about his style It was the first time to see Borknagar's gig, and I'd heard he had cut his hair to the short, but a short hair with a border-long sleeve.... I couldn't believe he was the same person who had been singing in Borknagar since before. What was going on??

Finally the time had come to Emperor! Their gig started around 1:00 as a headliner of the second night. Tons of audiences gained to the Rockefeller, and photographers were separated into 3 groups to take pictures, as they were supposed not to be able to enter the photo pit at once.
The audiences who had been so excited since before Emperor appeared on the stage was heated up even more when a vocalist Ihsahn started to scream. Ihshan's MC was Norwegian just for a few first parts, then he changed it to English for the audiences as quite many of them were from other countries. Then he described his band as "We are Emperor from Telemark!!" Telemark is a bit mountain area which is about 2-3 hours away from oslo to the west by car. By the way, I've been living in Telemark since last August and now I'm really proud of it
The band consisted of 3 permanent members(Ihsahn,Samoth,Trym)+ a keyboardist and a bassist(Secthdamon-Myrkskog,Zyklon), then they performed dynamically and majestically. Samoth and Trym had been playing in front of metal audiences as Zyklon,but Ihshan who played that kind of music in public after a long time didn't disappoint us either. A backdrop which was printed as the jacket of their debut MLP "Emperor" was hung on the stage, and the band was mainly playing the songs from In the nightside eclipse and Anthems to the welkin at dusk. The combination with a synthesizer was was dark atmospheric and symphonic. The songs they played covered their past albums from old to new as a whole, so it was a good balance.
When the band appeared responding for the audiences' encore on the stage, Ihsahn wore a black shoulder pad with thick metal spikes that reminded us before they split up. Even if i wasn't sure if it fit to his clothes



<<
Thanks for Baletempest and Lars R giving me the information!!


15th April (Sat)

Rockefeller
John Dee
Disiplin
Legion
Myrkskog
Vesen
Bolt Thrower
Face Down
Marduk
Battered
Cathedral
Witchcraft


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A flyer to the Emperor's autograph session


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Disiplin


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Myrkskog


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Bolt Thrower


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Marduk


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Merchandise


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Program in Rockefeller
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Program in John Dee

15th of April 2006(Fri) : The final

An Emperor's autograph session was held while the excitement from the previous night hadn't to die down in a shop called Bodymap. This shop has a lot of merchandise like clothes and accessories, so check it out if you have any chances to visit to oslo.

After that Emperor moved to the festival's official hotel "Eddel Koppen" to have a live-interview. I tried to record it, but my recorder wasn't really in good sound condition and it even stopped several times while the interview was took place Sorry, I've got just an old-fashioned one with a mini cassette tape Anyway I extracted some parts of the interview,and put some pictures, so click a picture below.

Go to the Interview page
Emperor with an interviewer Gunnar Sauermann
from Metal Hammer Germany

The first band at the last night in the Rockefeller was Disiplin. Actually I didn't really plan to look at their gig as I'd watch it about the end of April in a local venue close to my home. But when I was there while disiplin was playing, suddenly Nattefrost appeared on the stage as their guest vocalist After all I watched their show until the end, then I was quite impressed by their stage costume Anyway, even guest musicians were gorgeous like Nattefrost for Disiplin and Mustis for Susperia in the previous night. This is Norway

Myrkskog appeared as the second band on the stage at the Rockefeller. Although their appearance was announced as a replacement of another band just a few weeks before the festival, they showed powerful and aggressive stage as usual, then the audiences responded enthusiastically as well.By the way, I'm sometime confused about members of Myrkskog and Zyklon. Some members play in both bands and besides they play different musical equipments in eacn. Moreover,it's a matter about their names. "Secthdamon was replaced from Daemon as a vocalist&a bassist in Zyklon,and a drummer in Myrkskog is Secthdemon,then their vocalist is Destructor who's plays in Zyklon as well"....
Anyway I like both bands though.

I saw Bolt Thrower's gig for the first time. They played as a third band at the Rockefeller, and they reminded me about when I was young. I remember their songs were in a compilation CD released by Earache.It's quite difficult to continue a band and to keep the motivation to play for a long time,but they were still great.

Swedish black metallers Marduk started to play around 23:00. Thinking about this band, actually only a guitarist is the original member now. Having several member changs, they are still on top of the black metal scene,so it's a kind of remarkable fact. They've been releasing their albums constantly, even if most members were completely changed. So I suppose Marduk is Marduk as long as they continue to play their songs, even if there're any member changes.

I checked the merchandise corner in spare moments from watching the gigs. There were alot of metal bands' T-shirts and other goods,gothic clothes and accessories. There was even a fitting room like the one in ordinal clothes shops.

Finally, the festival came to the end. The final band this year was Cathedral. Their groovy metal sound was really unique in the festival different from anybody else, even if some songs were from more than 10 years ago. This band also reminded me about my young age same as Bolt Thrower played at that night. In the end, many audiences looked exhausted actually including me, but I guess it explained how everybody enjoyed the festival.

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Cathedral

The laminate cards which had the time schedule both in Rockefeller and John Dee were distributed to each audience at the entrance.They had a strap and hangable, so everybody could check which band would be playing next so easily. It was really handy, so I hope the festival continues having this system in the future as well

 

Click each picture to see more from Inferno Festival

24th-26th March,2005-Rockefeller/John Dee

 

Inferno Festival this year was held in March since that in 2002.It was beautiful weather during the festival as every year,so there were more metal-population in Oslo around that time

We went to the venue to get our wrist bands quite early on the first day,and after that checked in a hotel called Perminalen Hotel.Actually,we tried to book Phoenix hotel which had been opposite of Elm Street Cafe same as last year,but unfortunately it was closed to be a student flat or something There're enough numbers of accommodation in Oslo,but mostly they're expensive,and besides some of them were closed because of Easter during the festival.

We got to the venue before 19:30,and I saw Mortis at first.I'd never listened his music until then,but it was much cooler than I expected,so I'm going to get his CDs as soon as possible.By the way I wonder how long it takes to put on a make up to be like that for him...

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Mortis

Lamented Souls played as the third band at Rockefeller.I saw them for a while as I heard its members would consist of Apollyon(Aura Noir) and Siemen(Dimmu Borgir/Arcturus).Then,I moved to the lounge which was the same floor as Rockefeller to look around.There were several shops including clothes and goods same as last year.
It was the first time Inferno Festival since the smoking-ban started last June in Norway,so there was a smoking area on the top floor(outside) of the building.Although it was quite chilly on each night time,it was crowd by the metal-heads with beer (of course)

I missed to see Estonian band Horricane at John Dee,but I regretted about it as my friend said they were stunning.
Finally when Morbid Angel appeared on the main stage, the heat in the venue reached to the highest,but on the other hand some audiences were already tired and so drunk Anyway I'd never expected that I'd be able to see Morbid Angel with David Vincent.At the same time,I wondered what would be going on his another band Genitortures.

We got to the venue around 21:00 at the second day,as we'd been eager and hustled too much at the first day.
So,I saw Aura Noir at first,then waited for Arcturus.I was listening their CD's since some years ago,but I didn't think they'd play any gigs,and besides I couldn't imagine how they would be.But,their performance was much fabulous than I expected! Basically their music has like musical tastes different from other metal music,and they expressed its atmosphere marverously.Exotic and mysterious dancers appeared in some songs on the stage,then it changed the venue like a theater,so it was like an abstract art.I felt somewhat unusual that Siemen(a vocalist) was singing just with a mike at first,because he normally does with a musical instrument,but his appearance with a half-faced mask really went with their album's title "La Mascarede Infernal".After they played all songs,all casts including dancers showed up on the stage,and it was also like the ending of a play.I suppose their rehearsal must have been hard.

The last band at that night in Rockefeller was Candlemass.A vocalist sang with an operatic voice as usual.

Finally the last day came.We had to be the venue from the beginning,as Nattefrost would play at first in Rockefeller.It was too early order for him,but it couldn't be helped as his appearance had been announced just 2 weeks before of the festival as the replacement for another band.But It was much better to see his gig for me though Anyway,I suppose it was good opportunity to see hi