When the doors to the cave opened the first knot of people took some time to get. Once having found a flow we got in much faster. Luckily it stopped raining and the sun sparkled through the clouds. Finally inside I immediately saw familiar faces, said hello here and there and then the first band already started.
The British Post Black Metal gentlemen club - or lets better say “the ensemble” as there is a woman too - called :: A FOREST OF STARS :: was right from the start a highlight. I know many who went to PROPHECY FEST just to see them, among others. With the first tones echoing from the rock wall, fans rushed into the cave, which was totally covered by a smoke screen. You could immediately lose each other ;)
A FOREST OF STARS had to face and struggle through some sound problems. Curse of the first band of a festival. It took a few songs till the sound was balanced. Singer Mr. Curse meanwhile cured his stage-fright with beer. Seemed to help ;) The show culminated into a highly intensive performance. Wow! What a beginning.
The next highlight directly came on the heels of the previous band. Actually EVERY band is a highlight at this festival. There is no downer at all. It is just a matter of personal taste which one you like a little bit more ;) Ok, next up was :: SUN OF THE SLEEPLESS ::, the solo project by Schwadorf, performed by the Schwadorf family ;) It is their second show at PROPHECY FEST and this time the stage setting was very Spartan. No torches, no wooden stuff, no stage decoration at all. Just the band, hardly to see within the smoke, and their frantic Black Metal with its dark and poetic lyrics and solemn melodies. Here the cave pays off with its voluminous and unique sound. Spellbound!
Setlist: Motions, The Owl, Romanze zur Nacht, Where In My Childhood Lived A Witch, In The Realm Of The Bark, Phoenix Rise
Now we got kind of a special feature with the :: FARSOT & COLDWORLD :: set. Both bands got together for a split CD entitled Toteninsel, which was released last year. First we got a regular FARSOT set. Still frantic Black Metal, yet way more avant-garde, progressive and technically highly sophisticated. Of course, gloomy, harsh and once again intensive. Darn, I did not listen to them for a long time and forgot how awesome FARSOT is.
Setlist: Antagonist, With Obsidian Hands, Thematik: Trauer, Erde I (Toteninsel)
Right after, singer 10.XIXt left the stage, Georg Börner appeared and all other band members got hooded. Setlist: COLDWORD is the solo project by Georg Börner. His music was brought on stage live for the first time ever at PROPHECY FEST. A live debut, a premier, backed by FARSOT. Bathed in blue and white lights the live incarnation of COLDWORLD presented us three songs, two from the aforementioned split CD Toteninsel and an old one, Red Snow, from the 2008 debut Melancholie². And I liked this melancholy and mystic Black Metal even more. Stunning atmosphere and performance. I almost missed the COLDWORLD part… tststs. Highly recommended!
Setlist: Seaghouls, Horizons, Red Snow
Icelandic band :: KATLA. ::, named after one of the most active volcanos there, I was especially looking for and stoked to finally see them. After all the shit that happened with his former band, drummer Guðmundur Óli Pálmason built a new musical home together with Einar Thorberg Guðmunsson and released their debut Móðurástin in 2017 (holy shit, time flies). Two years later they dare the next step and bring their vision of Icelandic dark Post-/Doom/Dark Rock on stage. This time we do not celebrate a live debut here in the cave, but it is at least the live premier for Germany and the third show for KATLA. at all :)
And it seemed, KATLA. wanted to honor her eponym with a bass drum and bass guitar sound that let beer cup and cameras jump on the speakers, vibration to feel in the whole body. As it was to hear afterwards, nearby residents even called the organizers and complained ;)
The incredible sound went down on the crowd like Thor’s hammer, thrashing and thundering, leaving nothing but happy faces all around. What a killer show! Literally! Just totally covered by a smoke screen again. The drummer remained a mystery and the rest of the band was hardly to see too.
The show was frenetically received by the crowd. And I really, really hope that it was just the first time in a row of live shows in a not too far future to experience. My personal highlight! Ah damn… my personal highlight of the highlights ;) ♥
Band: Einar Thorberg Guðmunsson, Guðmundur Óli Pálmason, Hörður „Höddi“ Ólafsson, Ingvar Sæmundsson
Setlist: Hyldýpi remix (intro), Hyldýpi, Nátthagi, Kaldidalur, Hvíla, Dómadalur, Dulsmál
Highlights… I was also extremely looking forward to see :: DISILLUSION :: again. For a long time, the Leipzig-based band was absent, officially taking a break since 2009. 2006 saw the release of the band’s last full-length, Gloria, still a highlight to me. In 2015 a first sign of activities appeared with the single Alea and a show at Leafmeal Festival. Now, DISILLUSION have just released their third record, The Liberation, again a stunning piece of music, which was presented live here at #PF19.
Yes, I already had high expectation, but they were even exceeded. This was truly a mind-blowing show. The entire band and especially frontman Andy Schmidt were in high spirits and displayed an overwhelming enthusiasm while playing powerful and progressive Metal songs, yet groovy and catchy. What a splendid show! It is so great to see DISILLUSION back :)
Band: Andy Schmidt, Ben Haugg, Josh Saldana, Sebastian Hupfer, Felix Tilemann, Birgit Horn
Setlist: In Waking Hours, Wintertide, Back To Times of Splendor, A Shimmer In The Darkest Sea, Alea, The Mountain
What can I say? Except “another highlight”… The crowd was borne on a wave of euphoria.
And :: ALCEST :: even topped it. Known for their perfectionism no delay was created. And the sound was great too. Unfortunately, ALCEST did not play new songs from their upcoming album, Spiritual Instinct, not even the already released single, Protection. For that we all have to wait till October 25. Too bad that the French guys ain’t under the Prophecy Productions wings anymore. We witnessed another brilliant show fronted by an unusually relaxed Neige, who was talkative and moving a lot on stage. Usually he performs rather introverted, this time we tried to build a connection to the fans. Once more an excellent show in a mesmerizing atmosphere. Enchanting.
Band: Stéphane „Neige“ Paut, Jean „Winterhalter“ Deflandre, Pierre „Zero“ Corson, Indria Saray
Setlist: Écailles De Lune - Part 1, Oiseaux De Proie, Autre Temps, Percées De Lumière, Kodama, Là Où Naissent Les Couleurs Nouvelles, Délivrance
Now, it was not the easiest task for :: STRID :: to keep up this intense level of atmosphere and mood. It was late, the cold cave took its toll and STRID was the first band with a proper delay.
Nevertheless, the music of the Norwegians was perfect to close the first festival day at this point. And again we were rewarded with a very special performance. To see STRID performing live is a rarity! They are around for more than 15 years but have never released an album. Their history has many up and downs and even longer breaks (or break ups?). Though, STRID is commonly recognized as a major pioneer within the depressive black metal scene. Rightly, as I could witness. One last time tonight the willing fan experienced a gooseflesh causing show and got captivated by an abysmal sadness, desperation and loneliness one could not elude.
Deeply touched and with cold feet I left the cave. This is how the first festival day ended. On a Friday the13th. No mishaps, missteps, and misfortune :) And it was full moon. No witches out there, no spooky other creatures either. Perhaps I should have drunk more cider ;) Oh, notice to myself: wooly socks next time. |
