AUGUST 16th 2023
MIDGARDSBLOT FESTIVAL
DAY 1

Review by: Marius Rafoshei
Photo Gallery By: Polina Kulikovskikh
Day 1 - http://www.metaltitans.com/concertpics/midgardsblot-day-1/

Take one part of the legendary Norwegian metal mystique.  Add to it one part Viking history. Drench it in and let seep in the fantastical image of Vikings, pagans, and battles in the north. Then sprinkle in the feel of being a huge family gathering.

The result is Midgardsblot (also known as "The Blot").  A festival where the culture and feeling of brotherhood is as, if not more, important than the music. Where the Viking age and modern extreme metal collide. All taking place by the grave mounds at Borre, using the reconstructed Gildehallen – a Viking Age feast hall as part of the scenery – and as a stage in of itself.

I traveled “back home” to Norway to participate in the Blot, and I will tell you of the days of high adventures. From the metal to the folk music, to the feel of the festival, and the presence of Loke – god of mischief.

Welcome to Midgard, and Valhalla. As you arrive at Midgardsblot you would be excused to be unsure if you are at the right place, let us face the first case: It is in a relatively remote place. Taking place outside of a small village in Norway, Borre, but easily accessible thanks to shuttle bus to and from the bigger town of Horten. There is also a bus from Sandefjord if you opted for that route, and of course there are trains from Oslo.

First stop for me and my friend – the photographer is to the ticket exchange, just outside the Midgard Viking Centre – a local museum dedicated to the Viking age. Remember the festival takes place at historic grounds, from the ticket booth you can look down to the Viking age burial mounds and just a short drive away are famous locations such as the Oseberg dig site where the ship of the same name was excavated. Yes, we truly are in “Viking Lands”, just by the Oslo fjord. And the museum itself is well worth a visit, even for returning bloters – that would be festival goers, as they constantly excavate or reveal new finds in the local environment. There are also lectures in relation to the Viking age during the duration of the festival at the Centre.

Now, back to the tickets and metal music.

We make our way to the stand and pick up our accreditation and then follows a walk. If you come and decide to stay at the festival do be aware that there is a considerable amount of walking that will take place. As you make your way to the festival grounds from the ticket booth you can veer off to the right, which will take you past the gravemounds and on to the campsite, or you can walk to the left and after a few minutes’ walk through the well-marked pathway through the forest you will arrive at the festival grounds. So again, do take note that you will have 10 – 15 minute walks back and forth between campgrounds if camping, and as you can’t bring food and drink in, you might want to plan out what bands and acts to look at, and activities to participate in, with this in mind. As the festival is in Norway, you can expect the food and drink to be of high quality, but it will be expensive. Pro tip: There is a supermarket in the village.

Now, the que has formed, it is 14:00 and the doors have opened. When it strikes 15:00 , time for the Blot Ceremony

-          Putting the Blut back in Blot.

So, for those not fully caught up on the Viking history, or in need of a refresher, Midgardsblot is a composite name of two words: Midgard = the land where the humans live in Norse mythology, and Blot = a religious festival and ceremony to the gods.

Ever since its inception there has on the first day been an opening ceremony where the gods are praised, and good and happy vibes for the festival are asked for – note, as the leaders of the ceremony Folket Bortafor Nordavinden are eager to point out, it does not matter if you pray to the one or the other or none, it is about gathering the people of Midgardsblot and opening it in style. Doing a ceremony based on Viking age practices. After the introduction, the opening toasts to Gods, the Goddesses, and the little people of the hills and forests, they open the circle for everyone to come in. It does not matter what you wish for, just as long as it is positive, and you must “do it right”, meaning be serious about it. And yes, there is real blood used in the ceremony just as it was in the Viking age. Drenched on the figures of Odin and Frøya.

As the drums beat, the vocal almost throat singing goes, and the participants gather in front of the statues you are sure to feel transported to a magical place.

The dynamic duo in Folket Bortafor Nordavinden and their friends were able to keep it inclusive for all, and with their renowned showmanship also crack a joke or two and bring the onlookers into the for many foreign undertakings. A good start to a festival that transcends music alone.

The opening ceremony is done, the sky is beautiful, and we all gather in front of the main stage awaiting the first band of the day, and festival, the Finnish trolls in FINNTROLL – the famous folk metal band. An ecstatic and dare I write fun performance that brought the audience to life. Especially as the classic Solsagan was played to a crowd that at this point had been well warmed up.

Sadly, they had problems getting to the festival, and I overheard the sound technicians struggling with the audio, so not only was there a 20 minute delay, but they then faced some minor technical difficulties during the show that was already cut short. It seems Loke did not listen to the plea to not mess up, which would become a running theme throughout the festival.

Although, what we did get was Finntroll delivering a power packed and trollish party to open the musical festival and judging by the faces around me, it was well received.

After the trollish tunes I went into the Gildehall to enjoy, if such a word can be used for what was to transpire, another side of Midgardsblot. As stated in the intro, this festival is more than music, and a strong demonstration of this was the painful suspension Ritual that Smertekirken delivered.

Every day of the festival they were in the hall to give a ritual of pain, using suspension as the medium, quite an experience for the onlookers that is hard to describe in words and rather would have to be experienced. As the droning sounds, the soft and etheric movements, and the suspension of a man from meat hooks all blend in an otherworldly experience. I was myself in need of breathing after the intense emotions one could feel from the stage.

Smertekirken is registered as a religious organization, and this is how they connect to the universe. The fakir show, if one can call it that, spellbound the audience in its shocking stretch of the boundaries of the human body, and was not for the faint of heart. Actually, a person in front of me fainted during the closing stages of the suspension-rite. Luckily several of us looking on were quick into action and with the nearby medical team she was quick to recover. A good example of the intensity that Smertekirken delivered. Odin hung for 9 days a sacrifice to himself on the world tree. Smertekirken hung at Midgardsblot a sacrifice to us and the world.

LILI REFRAIN Coming out from the GIldehall following the ritual by Smertekirken I am met by a sonic blast of power. And there is just one thing going through my mind: How can one woman fill up such a stage all by herself like Lili Refrain did? She delivered a performance of pure ecstatic energy that had the audience in the grip and her brutal drumming, droning guitars, and intense vocals only interspersed by her heartfelt thanks to the audience sent us all out on a journey of magical excitement.

I have seen her described as a “pagan phenomenon” and I must agree. Look out for Lili Refrain and her intense craft on stage. It is part music and part artwork, all in a sonic landscape that brings the pagan world to you like a punch to the chest. Another experience of Midgardsblot where you must feel it yourself.

SYLVAINE brought us into her landscapes of sound, showing the duality of post-metal. It started off with haunting, etheric sounds that transferred into the harsh and guttural screams and guitars. Then left the vocals behind to bring the audience onwards via drawn out guitars and drums before the lead singer came back with her beautiful and haunting song – or harsh and punishing growls. An experience which I overheard was a favourite for many in the audience this day. Where one just had to let go and follow for the ride. Where outstanding tunes broaching her entire catalogue and four albums from 2014 to today was the vessel.

NANNA BARSLEV, a meditative sound filled the Gildehall as we were transported between sun and the moon in opposites as Nanna Barslev said. A mesmerizing experience with filled the hall with a contemplative mood, while Nannas solid experience came to fruition both in handling the music and handling some minor problems with sound. All done with a smile and a wry experience that thralled audiences, it was a treat for the dare I say more feminine and contemplative audiences.

KAMPFAR, Primeval Power at its best. Do they even need an introduction? With almost 25 years of experience this pagan black metal act has proven their mastery of the craft. During their performance of Midgardsblot they showed us all how it is done. At the minute they were set to start the introductory music started playing, the banner of Kampfar was raised, well actually lowered, and the crowds started surging forward for what was to come
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It was a most perfect last act of the day, that delivered a combination of their old fan favourites such as Daimon and a most perfect choice of Urkraft which is really what they delivered - Urkraft, in English primeval power and a tight-fitting scene presence was given, that left nothing wanting. It was an attack on the senses, and the audience was in the grasp of FRONTMANN as the night was filled with their brutal sound and the smoke and lights led up to a forceful headbanging experience, with a small but intense mosh pit to top it off.

A good start to Midgardsblot I thought, as I'm tired, happy, but more happy, I left for bed. A head and soul filled with impressions ranging from the bloody rituals to the intense music, and the haunting spectral soundscapes that had been given over the day. I could only drift off in anticipation of Day two.