Paganfest EU Thoughts

With rumors circulating that North America will not be getting a Paganfest tour this year, it makes the European Paganfest lineup all that more bittersweet. For many folk metal fans, Paganfest quickly becomes the highlight of the concert year, bringing together some of the finest of the genre into one venue, on one night. The North American versions of Paganfest have always boasted pretty decent lineups, but they never quite seem to match the lineups offered in Europe. While some of it probably boils down to logistics, it still leaves many North American fans shaking their heads. With the possibility of no Paganfest in North America this year, the lineup announced for Europe will no doubt leave many disappointed. 

The announced lineup is as follows:

Wintersun

Turisas

Heidevolk

Obscurity

Frosttide

Special ‘extended show’ guests at some of the dates include:

Korpiklaani

Grailknights

Finterforst

Personally, I don’t really care about Wintersun. While they have tons of ‘fanboys’ and ‘fangirls’, I’ve never quite seen the superiority that is preached regarding this band. Plus, Jari’s constant whining has basically turned me away from the band. I’ve seen them live once, and that was enough. Unless of course they come through on a package tour where I want to see other bands.

I feel somewhat the same about Turisas. I loved ‘Battle Metal’ and ‘The Varangian Way’, but it fell off the rails after those two albums. I have seen them a couple of times, and they are an energetic live band, but I can’t get into the newer material. 

Heidevolk, on the other hand, is a band I could see time and time again. The one time I did see them, they blew every other band in the lineup out of the water. (Including both Ensiferum and Tyr). With a new album that promises to offer more of the sheer awesomeness one would expect, it would be nice to see them again.

Korpiklaani is another one that I could see live time and time again. They have always been good, and stayed true to what you would think Korpiklaani should sound like. Paganfest or not, at least I will likely have the opportunity to see them again this spring.

Both Frosttide and Finterforst are bands that I would like to see. While I’m not overly familiar with their material, I have enjoyed what I have listened to. I’ve never listened to either Obscurity or Grailknights, but chances are if they’re included in a Paganfest lineup, they’re at least worth watching or being introduced to. 

While the lineup in North America would likely be quite different, it would still be nice to get a Paganfest tour this year. This does not appear to be in the cards, leaving many supporters wondering. 

Paganfest North America

These photos (found in a post at this tumblr: http://the-heavy-metal-viking.tumblr.com), reminded me again that I will be missing out on Paganfest. 

Almost every edition of Paganfest has managed to stop in Edmonton, but no such luck this time. Unfortunately I don't have the funds to make the journey of a couple of hours that is required to catch this show either. Although I've seen Korpiklaani, Turisas and Chthonic, I would love to see Varg. I missed them last time they came to town as I was on the Barge to Hell cruise. I haven't had a chance to list to any Winterhymn, but I'm assuming if they're on Paganfest, they're good. In all honesty, I was pretty excited when they announced the line-up, and then quite disappointed when I realized there was no date I could make it to. 

Paganfest North America:

Korpiklaani

Turisas 

Chthonic

Varg 

Winterhymn

Feast (On More Metal)

This year looks as though it will continue to be a fantastic year of new albums being released.

Annihilator, legendary Canadian thrashers, will be releasing their fourteenth studio album. I have not been an Annihilator fan for too long, but only because I had never discovered them. Their first two studio releases, Alice In Hell and Never, Neverland are two of my favorite thrash albums. With the promise of more good riffs and 3D cover art (at least on some versions), this might prove to be the release of the year for thrash fans. August 27th is the date for North America.


Turisas, Finnish battle-metallers, have also announced that they will be releasing another album in August. Battle Metal and The Varangian Way are both great albums, full of catchy anthems. I was looking forward to more of the same with their last release, Stand Up and Fight, but was left slightly disappointed. The new album, titled TURISAS2013, (creative, I know) is described by vocalist Mathias Nygård:

"When it comes to the production it's just the opposite of the polished and massive ‘Stand Up And Fight’. It's raw and dry and in your face, but still maintaining that TURISAS-largeness."

I'm crossing my fingers that it's more like the first two Turisas than the last one. Considering all of the line-up changes that the band has gone through recently, I'd like to see a return to Turisas' roots (and possibly get a chance to see them live again).

Speaking of seeing bands live, I'm excited that I now hold tickets to a Wintersun tour, and will soon be acquiring Finntroll tickets as well. The only bad things about all of the awesome-ness surrounding releases and live shows this year? It's difficult to find time to write reviews of new albums and it's a little tough on the wallet as well.

Over and out, for now.


(Images borrowed from the respective band's Facebook pages, as well as Blabbermouth)

The Year of Metal

It always seems the metal artists I get excited about release albums in a horde that comes all at once. Or relatively all at once, if you consider within months of each other all at once. This year seems to be the year that it happens again. What upcoming albums am I looking forward to? 

Destruction - ‘Spiritual Genocide’

Thyrfing - ‘De Ödeslösa’

Wolfchant - ‘Embraced By Fire’

Sodom - ‘Epitome of Torture’

Bands Currently In the Studio:

Månegarm 

Amon Amarth

Children of Bodom

Finntroll

Turisas 

 I might have to check out the new Hypocrisy album, dependent on how much cash I manage to spend on these releases and the numerous promising shows that are coming through town in the next few months. I believe Arkona is also releasing an album, which I might have to pick up as well. Surprisingly I don’t own anything by Arkona, although I do enjoy seeing them live. 

 I also hear that Behemoth, Satyricon and potentially Slayer will be releasing albums this year as well. 

I suppose I can add these to the list of previously released albums by various other artists that are on my “to purchase” list. Oh, the woes of having so much music to check out and so little cash to do it on. I’m sure all you other metal heads know the feeling. 

(Wolfchant - Embraced By Fire image from Wolfchant's Facebook page)