AUGUST 19th 2023
MIDGARDSBLOT FESTIVAL
DAY 4

Review by: Marius Rafoshei
Photo Gallery By: Polina Kulikovskikh
Day 4 - http://www.metaltitans.com/concertpics/midgardsblot-day-4/

I woke up and looked out the window: Heavy rains were threatening the day, but thankfully it would keep to just being overcast – before the rain did come down as if on order as the day ended on a gothic note. Meanwhile, it started on a proper Viking and heathen one.

Let us dive into the last day of Midgardsblot. Filled with brilliant acts, and far fewer visits from Loke.

Me and my friend were early birds this Saturday as the doors opened at 14:00 and already at 14:15 Einherjer were set to celebrate their 30th birthday with a special show inside of the Gildehall. This would turn out to be a markedly different gig from the one the previous day, but I personally liked it even more. Their friend Costin Chioreanu was painting a picture inspired by their music and the shaping of the artwork projected on a screen behind a band that although clearly tired delivered a punch of heathen energy into the day. Starting the first half of their set by “keeping it mellow” as vocalist Frode Glesnes said with a smile, playing tunes that are seldom if ever heard live such as Balladen om Bifrost and the never before heard live A New Earth. Before kicking up the energy with Berserkergang and letting the tunes rip. Closing it all off with the most fitting songs for the location: Dragons of the North, and at last the tune that defined the set Ironbound. A special show, and perhaps my favourite of the day. We all in the audience were, well yes; bound in iron to the performances.

Made my way over to the smaller stage, Kaupangr, where plenty of curious onlookers and clear fans had gathered to welcome the Danish black metal band Orm that delivered a punch of a performance. Where the tunes went from hard hitting to drawn out and mellow and back again. Gripping the audience and showing why they have received the praise they have from critics.

Garmarna came in their own words to play “old favourites” as in “hundreds of year-old ballads”, but with their own twist to them. And with they were set out to prove how they are the old school kings that still reign on top of folk rock with their eclectic mix brought forth over a career spanning 30 years and impulses from all directions.

At Midgardsblot they grazed us with a tight fitting, soundly built-up set that delivered classic tune after classic tune to the enjoyment of both the most dedicated hard extreme metal fan in the crowd and the ones more into the softer side of things. As only Garmarna can do. There is no need to list any particular songs, as they were all epic on their own feet. For those who know Garmarna, and who does not? One got exactly what was to be expected.

After Garmarna the new kid on the block; Mio was next. A folk-rock group that maybe was not the best fit for the festival but still delivered as much of a punch as they could all things considered – as Loke was back, first time of the day, with another sound issue. But songs such as their Ingen tid å miste led even the grumpiest old school headbangers to give a nod of approval. I got the distinct feeling that Mio is exactly what happens when you combine Kaizers Orchestra with modern interpretations of folk music. - Give it some time and see what it can evolve into is my takeaway and tip for you.

For the lovers of folk rock and folk inspired acts this year’s Midgardsblot was delivering. Mari Boine is a legend in the field, where her mix of folk, rock, and jazz, and drawing from her Sami heritage creates a soundscape unlike any other. Her list of accolades is long and this Saturday at Borre she proved why. Delivering a stage presence and a voice that carried us from tune to tune, all of them in a beautiful mix of the foremothers’ tongue and modern interpretation. I noticed several people who clearly had come predominantly for her in the Saturday crowd, and I am sure they left more than happy afterward.

As often is the case on these festivals, you have to make a choice, and mine was one of melodic and aggressive black metal from the swedes in Naglfar, or let curiosity take me and join the many in the queue waiting to be let into the Gildehall to listen to Nemuer. I chose the latter. Standing surrounded by exited faces as we heard the pounding of the drums coming from inside, I could only ask myself: Will this be the surprise of the day? As we enter, we are met with fog, an altar set up, and my hopes are raised. The ensemble enters the stage, and the drums start beating, the various instruments come to life and it starts to come together.

But Loki truly was afoot. Nemuer already gave me the impression of being a bit unsure on stage, and it was not helped by plenty of cases of feedback in the monitor, issues with hearing the various instruments. But – truth be told: With their spellcasting songs and beating drums I, like the ones around me – and trust me, there was a packed crowd ( I could not move if I wanted to) did not care much for that, as I let Nemuer catch me and show me their style. My personal “unpolished diamond in the rough” of the festival with their concept and art carrying us past any issues with sound and other Loki in the technical. It was unpolished and cool, and I am sure to keep an eye on them.

Unleash HELL – I think that was the approach of Tsjuder. As one will notice, so far, the day had been lacking in raw and primitive black metal. The aggressive and unrelenting force that is Tsjuder was here to right that. There is just nothing more to say to describe their show than one of straight up sonic and satanic attack on the crowd, intense and guttural. As good live black metal shall be. My neck finally got its work in for the day. And the moshpits were back.

- Kom igjen for faen!

Again, up for a choice, the legendary Mortiis or the upcoming death metal trio in Ruun? Nostalgia took the better of me and I filed over to the smaller stage, Kaupangr, to feed my inner goth. Not that I was alone in that. I did overhear “of course I dig this, I was a goth kid” in a conversation next to me, me too – me too …
Doing a live show of the 1994 record Ånden som gjorde opprør, a defining Dungeon Synth masterpiece. Maybe not the most exiting live show, but an ethereal soundscape that knowers and lovers of the music genre could appreciate. Mortiis was perhaps one of the more divisive acts of the festival, sticking to as said one album and having little in the way of theatrics, while for the fans – and ex goth kids – it was a treat.

And the rain appeared, like a black raven it cast its shadow…

Speaking of Gothic, the days last band was the English legends My Dying Bride – and even nature played in to set the stage for their mix of gothic and blackened doom metal, delivering threatening clouds and a steady drizzle of rain. Providing support for the brooding and dark atmosphere into the crowd. If you like it oh so slow and painful, nothing can beat My Dying Bride live. Not only their music, but also their stagecraft is a force to be reckoned with, not only delivering familiar tunes such as Your Broken Shore and The Cry of Mankind. But also letting the band members get their shine in the spotlight, building up the aforementioned mood and grasping the crowd in their gothic fingers. A live performance where everything from the soundscape to the crowds, to nature itself was in on delivering the gothic tones.

Day 4 was over. I was in the taxi on the way “home”, and I was a very happy headbanger. Every single day of the festival had been an improvement on the previous. So be it that I subjectively found a few of the previous years’ incarnation of the festival superior. In a pure, objective, measurement Midgardsblot had again delivered on its promise: A metal festival and celebration of Viking culture, plus all related streams, in one big moshpit. There truly is no similar festival to Midgardsblot. And it is not one detail alone that makes it. Not the Gildehall, not the location, not the crowds, or even bands themselves, it is the mixture of all of it and the mood of the festival that sets it apart. If you have not been there? Do yourself a favour and plan a late-summers trip to Borre, Norway.