Many festivals have had to cancel these many months during these world circumstances, but a few have managed to keep it going and make it happen with different outcomes than first planned. After 7 years Fimbul Festival returns with a corona edition at Bornstedt Schweinburg in Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany where Dark Troll Festival normally operates.
Only one week before the happening, the festival got its regulatory approval to begin their rearrangement and set some hygiene concepts for everyone, while each guest had to deliver a signed registration and data-collection blanket at the entrance. It was mandatory to wear a mask for keeping a distance at the entrances, toilets, and in front of the stage.
Inkover
After walking up the hill towards the castle, we walked straight into the festival entrance, greeted by many happily looking other guests, we walked directly towards the stage where the German melodic blackened death metallers Invoker already had taken the stage during the nicely cloud-free sky and sunny weather. These guys managed to create such an incredible opening performance that even one of my Danish accompany broke down crying when the entire atmosphere felt so real and we actually were at a festival listening to music we all carry with us so deeply.
Invoker also radiated their joy as they progressed into their own universe filled with melodic guitar riffs that were boosted by the overall sound that was beyond throughout the day. As we stood there with a distance between us on a yellow line marked on the stone floor with masks, the energy was contagious and magical.
Jörmungand
After a small break at the merch stands getting the festival shirt, it was time for some pagan metal.
They were heavily influenced by black metal elements which in this case created a unique misty seance. The vocalist had these pierced eyes and striking beautiful tattoos on his arm which was easy to get lost in, and in some way intensified the atmospheric aura.
Backing up the vocalist was this lovely lady also known as the bassist this particular evening. She gave a little bit of life to this typical looking group that almost had a smell of the forest in its detail. This performance had the crowd waking up at the right time of the day for them to play their lively music.
Nornír
Here is one of my personal favorites from that very evening. As this gathering has made a name for themselves during their time as a group, I have looked out for future shows in the past, and the time was just right, as they delivered one bewitching-ritualistic-raw-show that without a doubt got the crowd going as day became night. Both greeting us with older and more recent releases the entire appearance stood much out compared to the rest of the lineup that day. Despite their complete stage presentation, I would have wanted the vocals to shriek more through as the instrumental parts took very much over. No doubt I will continue to keep an eye on what they bring to the future, I recommend keeping an eye on their future shows.
Gernotshagen
They had a magical introduction, almost otherworldly with such incredible guitar sound which had a pure harmony with the vocals throughout. If you like pagan folk metal to the more melodic/power-ish side these Germans should be on your list, especially with their new album "Ode Naturae" that came out just two months ago. 'Erwachen' was presented on stage just as hearing it through the speakers at home, while in the background, the keyboard was floating giving it all some kind of theatrical approach that suited this armored gathering. Their energy was infectious as the night was upon us, beer was in lots and the people were in their best mood.
Harakiri For The Sky
Earlier the summer when we attended Zobens Un Lemess in Latvia these post-black metallers were supposed to headline that festival, so when Helrunar had to cancel Fimbul Festival, of course, wanted the replacement band to be someone from Germany or from around close. This Austrian group was such a coincidence booking that fulfilled what we have been missing earlier the summer.
Greeting the crowd, they opened like they've been ready their whole lives even though their bassist was missing. His tracks came from a tape, but overall that really didn't matter a bit cause the endless spirit these guys had was huge giving everybody in the audience some kind of immense power to really show their true appreciation on this first night of the festival. I would have wanted more attitude from the vocalist sometime during their performance as the two guitarists had more heat and intensity. Generally speaking, the general feeling and mood were immense on stage as back in the crowd, we could not have asked for anything else and we sure look forward to the new album that will be out soon.
Wandar
Here as the last act of the evening, the long-awaited Germans, Wandar took the stage smeared in white paint. These five guys create some of my personal favorite greatest German atmospheric, depressive black metal even as I now can say also on a live basis. The entire atmosphere was next level intense as the front singer managed to carry these cruel and depressing howls out to the audience. Personally, I could feel every emotion during this performance just as when I listen to them at home. It was midnight and sadly some of the crowd had left, but those who were left stood in their own world with closed eyes or gave their all as they progressed further into their misty tellings with endless dreamy and catchy riffs and beautiful keyboard play.
Fimbul Festival 2020 Photo Album:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=metal.to.go.dk&set=a.1002422513551850
Fimbul Festival Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/fimbul.festival/
We hope to be back at either Fimbul Festival OR Dark Troll Festival in 2021!
Kommentarer
Send en kommentar