| Tickets: 86.90 EUR plus fees |

Sólstafir - GlerAkur - Arcturus - Sun Of The Sleepless - Soror Dolorosa - Nhor

Hypnopazūzu - Dool - Hexvessel - The Vision Bleak - Dornenreich - Noêta - Spiritual Front - The Moon And The Nightspirit - Lotus Thief

Irrwisch (art & exhibition)

[Dajana] There is actually no festival I’m looking forward to with so much excitement, curiousness and pleasure like the PROPHECY FEST. I already start wondering on the way back home from the last edition, which bands might be booked for the next festival? Which non-label bands will be invited? What kind of shows will those bands play to make their performance a special and unique one (as if the cave wouldn’t be already special enough)? And, who will be the next art director?
There are indeed many aspects to build up tension over months and to fire anticipation till the day has come to take the road towards the stunning :: Balve Cave :: . One might get a hint now, why this festival so quickly became one of my favorites.

[Psycho] I so far only attended the first :: Prophecy Productions :: anniversary back in 2006, called PROPHECY CONCERT NIGHT. And the Balve Cave I only knew from live recordings of the band Fantastische 4. So I was really surprised by this location. I had fears that this cave would create a cramped and oppressive feeling, but no, not at all. Much the opposite. The cave is spacious and the ceiling high, yet cozy with a great atmosphere around.
Besides, the Prophecy Productions team has arranged everything wonderfully and took much effort for a smooth organization. Only the limited access to the merchandise area was strange in the view of the clear amount of attendees. Because, and that’s a sad fact that needs to be mentioned, organizers and bands would have deserved many more visitors. On the positive side of things, I liked the relaxed mood in the cave, that there was enough seating aside the stage, moderate pricing, really nice service people and helping hands.

:: Stories :: Friday :: Saturday ::

:: Pics :: Friday :: Saturday :: Impressions ::

[Dajana] The young but extremely talented Austrian Graphic designer :: IRRWISCH :: is already known for his irresistible music art work. You might know some of his wonderful cover and merchandise designs for Prophecy Productions and others. It actually it doesn’t wonder that he was chosen to curate this year’s festival edition. And IRRWISCH proved them right – the festival band posters alone were just amazing!
[Psycho] I can only agree. I was impressed too. Every one of his exhibited work had its unique character and perfectly reflected the one or the other reference of its influencing band. Various details could be only seen live in close front of the posters. Unfortunately, the lighting was a bit suboptimal.
[Dajana] Ah yes, for some details your nose had to touch the glass. The DOOL poster for example was a cut-out and the ARCTURUS one had a structured surface. I loved the ARCTURUS poster but it was already sold, as well as the wonderful LOTUS THIEF poster. Generally, the posters sold quickly. I also agree with the lighting. I found the exhibition design a bit loveless. But, in return, the PROPHECY FEST program book was as stunning as in the years before.

:: Irrwisch Galerie ::

[Dajana] Of course, also the PROPHECY FEST 2017 offered premiers and unique performances. The British project NHOR would celebrate its world live premiere and the Cthulhu rockers of THE VISION BKLEAK were set to play with the Shadow Philharmonics. And I was specially looking forward to see GLERAKUR again, who have just released their debut The Mountains Are Beautiful Now to be presented live at the festival.

[Psycho] Prior the festival it was already clear to me that I would discover the one or the other band I I never have heard of before. The quality of Prophecy signings speaks for itself and made me looking forward…

[Dajana] From an organizational point of view, nothing has changed much. Ticket prices have been the same, the prices for the coins increased slightly (1.50 Euro instead 1.30 last year). But the numbers of coins for drinks and food remained the same. One food both had changed to a Turkish one with, soup, Dolmas and others yet the portions were puny. And I missed parts of the lighting in the cave. There was many more colored lights in the previous years creating a special atmosphere. Bummer.

[Psycho] What also remained the same were ongoing delays due to excessive soundchecks. On both days delays summed up to more than an hour, which caused waning patience at bands and fans and an empty cave for the headliner. Other festival handle that a better way.
[Dajana] I call that the VEMOD-syndrome ;) Yes, something like that may happen, it happened again, not nice, but we survived ;)

[Dajana] Unfortunately, I have to get back to the already mentioned amount of visitors. It have been less than last year and made the organizers decide to take a break in 2018 and then to revise the concept. There are too many big festivals the same weekend in July and the weekend before and after. Maybe the next PROPHECY FEST will take place in September again. Remember, the first cave-edition on Sep 19, 2015, was sold out. However, I hope for the best and keep my fingers crossed. I definitely want to come back to the cave for another PROPHECY FEST. I might grow too old for a 10-years-anniversary rhythm again ;)

story © Psycho & Dajana • pics © Dajana & Dajana Winkel • Photography