It's not that long since we was in Malta for the Malta Doom Festival but I'm sick and tired of rain and darkness already. It sure gave a lot of energy being there even if the days didn't feature much resting or relaxing. Just the sun do a lot and having fun the rest. And that we sure had! Getting home the temperature was crawling down to around 0, even had to clear the ice from the car windows on a few mornings. *brrr*
But yes, this years edition of Malta Doom Metal Festival was fantastic. One of the best ever, with a lot of great performances and cool people. The team behind the Festival has been thanking everyone that showed up on Facebook and so but they are the ones that really should have a lot of kudos for the effort put in and the dedication to music. The atmosphere at the festival is fantastic, we always feel very welcome and it's always a big party. And with such a good line-up as it always has, I can't understand how a doom-fan can skip it.
My absolute favorites this year was Forsaken, Manilla Road, Desolation Angels and Reino Ermitano. Not that any band did a bad gig... Bandpictures will be published in the report i hopefully will find time to write soon. Should have been some good ones at least but I think I need to buy a small flash for my new camera that can help out a bit when the lights are low.
Yes, two more days of rain before we can enjoy the Maltese sun! Looking at the forecast it will be +20-25 and light clouds...
Really looking forward to see Forsaken again. Their gig, a few years back still remain as one of the mightiest concert experiences ever. Same goes for Victims Of Creation. Gonna be awesome to see these bands again!
Will be great to see Manilla Road, Desolation Angels and a few more too of course. Was great the last time I saw then and I'm sure they will repeat the same again.
I just need to prepare the camera and I'm ready to go. Better dig into that right now so I don't forget. I realized in Bucharest I might need a small flash for some dark stages, miss that on my new camera. Had it on the 50D but not on the new one... Tips anyone? It's a 5D I have now!
Yes, the intention was to continue to write about all Festivals I was going to visit this year just after the last posting about Festivals. But ok, now I know what I will go to. Still there are a few things open before the full autumn schedule is set...
As usual it's a really freaky fall, and it will be an expensive one. Within a week I've gotten 3 really big packages of records, mainly new ones and more is coming in. I'm really looking forward to the new Sanctuary album. Still bummed out I coudn't go to Turock Open Air...
But, next up it seems to be Accept. I really like "Blind Rage". I must admit it took a while for it to settle but it sure is one hell of an album. The question now is how many concerts I can catch! Copenhagen is definite but then we'll see if I can catch the Gothenburg show also. Always worth the effort, that's for sure.
Then I assume it is time for The Haunted in Malmö
And then, something really special for me. For the first time ever we're going to Romania and Old Grave Fest. Everything is booked and the line-up sure is a killer. They also brag about being the Cheapest Festival experience ever, we'll see about that. Anyway, Old School Swedish death and new with Grave and Entombed AD. Also Root, Manilla Road; Cancer and Desaster... A line-up like that can't fail!
And hopefully, a weekend in Bucharest means some more summer days. And if not, Malta should. But moving forward too fast. First we're going to Dutch Doom Days to play with Void Moon. Awesome line-up of the day we're playing but I really hope we can spend as much time as possible at the Festival!
And then, it will be time to go to Malta!!! I'm really looking forward to see Desolation Angels again, they really kicked ass at Metal Magic Festival so that will be great. And to get another chance to see Manilla Road is very cool. Actually it will be three times in 6 months since we're going to Up The Hammers in March as well.
Also Victims of Creation and Forsaken will be awesome to see again. Two favorite bands coming out of Malta and they're doing shows that ends up on the top of the year every time.
And then it's just the regular concerts... Saxon, Trouble, Saint Vitus... Busy busy!!!
Well, I keep reeating myself that the days at work are crazy and I didn't think it could be more to do than it was last week but I was wrong. I keep on running on meetings all day and then I'm supposed do some real work as well. I doesn't work that well! But ok... I'm scheduling two quite interesting workshops at least so there are a lot of interesting things going on as well. But it shure would be nice to be able to finish something sometimes too.
So to keep my mood up I've been shopping some records again!!! Coludn't resist when Nevermore "Dreaming Neon Black" was listed! Then of course it gets too expensive to just order one LP when it comes to shipping. So I took the opportunity to get Striker, another Merciless Death, Dio and Quicksand Dream. And then Saxon "Live to Rock" 7", Convixion. The special edition for Iced Earth "Dystopia" also was a must. It sounds really good but I need to listen more before I judge for real.
And it's not only work that has been busy. We've been rehearsing a lot lately, first and foremost to get ready for Malta Doom Metal Festival but of course to keep things up with Cult Of The Fox too! Unfortunately the gig planned for Tilburg won't happen since Grand Magus and that really cool tourpackage should play there at the same day. But it all turned out nice and we confirmed a date in Eindhoven instead. So now we have Eindhoven Jan 13 and Lille Jan 14, still looking for more gigs though.
But it will be awesome to go back to Malta again. I heave the weather gadget on my computer and looking out to a mixture of +2 hailstones and heavy rain that gadet that says sun and +24 feels like a joke. Can't even imagine someone still has summer. I'm really looking forward to explore more of the island(s) too. Now we have time for the harbor cruise, we are going to go to the old temples, Medina, Rabat and more... Eat swordfish, feed the cats (even if they're strange and don't like ham), sit on the rocks with my feet in the ocean, drink colourful drinks and just ejoy! I need that now.
And then of course the Festival. I especially look forward to see Victims Of Creation again. They kicked ass last year. But the line up is really strong! Pagan Altar, Mirror Of Deception, Nomad Son, Forsaken and of course Void Moon and a few more. So it will be another great weekend in the Woods for Malta Doom Metal Festival.
I'm an extreme Metal head who spends way too much money on Records and Concerts. I write for an E-zine Metal Kaoz which allows me to combine music with one of my other interests, photography. I play guitar even if that has been on hold due to a way to heavy load on my day job. I work as a Process Manager for Returns at Ericsson AB. A good job that has taken me a few spins around the world...
