The last two bands added to Høstsabbat 2023 are Ruff Majik, who put out one of 2023’s best heavy rock records in this Spring’s Elektrik Ram (review here), and perennial top-of-bill features Witchcraft. Together with the likes of Lowrider, Yawning Man, Moonstone, Black Rainbows, LLNN, Bongripper and a mountain of others, these two fill out the 10th anniversary edition of the Oslo-based festival, which in the last decade has grown and expanded its palette even as it has reinforced the intimacy that is so much a part of its appeal. Thinking of that basement in the Kulturkirken Jacob. I don’t know if Ruff Majik will be down there, but if they are, I bet it’s to headline, and if they do, I bet it’ll be a rager. The stuff of which legends are made.

As for Witchcraft, it’s been three years since 2020’s acoustic Black Metal (review here) and nearly 20 since their 2004 self-titled debut (discussed here), but they continue to deliver in the live setting, founder Magnus Pelander one of his generation’s most influential figures in European heavy rock. Surely a welcome addition to any bill, including this one.

This is it for Høstsabbat 2023. I’m sorry to say I won’t be there this year — scheduling conflict — but I wish everyone who is the very best of times, and I’ve got a whole other t-shirt that I bought last year that I’ve been saving. Might be time to break it out as I console myself that weekend in late October.

From socials:

(#128293#)RUFF MAJIK (SA)(#128293#)

Sabbathians!

It´s time for our final band announcement, and Oh Yes!

It sure brings some perfectly timed party spice to our lineup.

Hailing from South Africa, Ruff Majik have brought their high energy rock show to stages across Europe for quite some time, gaining them a massive live reputation as a definite must-see. It´s pure rock n´roll with an almost sassy vibe to it. Joyful and melodic with a feelgood kind of aggression. You will probably end up dancing!

Ruff Majik have been on our wish list for years now, and luckily, some times the stars align, and this time they actually just did. Being able to add Ruff Majik last minute, gives our lineup the perfect balance. It has all the ingredients a 10-year-anniversary should have, and we can not wait to welcome you to church a good month from now.

Speaking of that.

Many of you are asking for the day splits, and we are almost ready to share the schedule with you.

Those who show up at our event at Vaterland tonight will have a sneak peak, and the rest of you will be enlightened this coming Friday.

(#128293#)WITCHCRAFT (SE)(#128293#)

Witchcraft, take one!

Those three words, coming from the mouth of Magnus Pelander in a what seems to be a live studio-session, followed by the instant-classic riffery of the self titled song «Witchcraft», from their equally named album:

That was how Witchcraft introduced themselves to a new horde of doom heads.

That was how Witchcraft managed to conquer a new era of proto-doomers, following the path of former legends such as Pentagram, Witchfinder General, Sir Lord Baltimore and so on.

It was a formative time for many of the bands seen on top of the festival bills today. That obviously counts for Witchcraft as well.

They were the leaders, not the followers.

There is absolutely zero doubt of the impact these guys have had on our scene.

Zero.

Witchcraft however, did not get stuck in the swamp of lo-fi proto-doom for much too long.

Their incredible albums «Legend» and «Nucleus» from 2012 and 2016 marked a transition in sound, steering Witchcraft in a slightly more modern direction, but still keeping all their key elements intact.

The marvelous vocals of Magnus Pelander are always present, as is his top shelf riffs.

These God -given qualities, along with clever arrangements and forward thinking instrumentation, have secured Witchcraft a top slot for years to come.

We are dead proud and psyched to present such a legendary band to our Church of Riffs, honoring our anniversary in the best possible way.

Please welcome Witchcraft to Høstsabbat 2023(#128165#)

TICKETS
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Høstsabbat Spotify Playlist

Over the weekend, UK melodic heavy prog rockers Elephant Tree put out word that guitarist/vocalist Jack Townley was having medical complications after a severe accident earlier this year and that as a result they’d be canceling all upcoming live activity for now. That’s a bummer of a reason not to play a show, a festival, anything, but of course, one wishes Townley continued success in his recovery. As to what happened to Shaman Elephant, I’m not sure, but fair enough.

Lowrider will take that lineup spot. You might recall the Swedish four-piece got you through the pandemic with 2020’s Refractions (review here) album, their first long-player in 20 years and a celebration worthy of that time. Again, it’s not a trade you want to be making in the first place, especially under the circumstances with Elephant Tree, but if you’re getting Lowrider out, at least you know things will be okay. And there’s always 2024 for Elephant Tree. And me.

One endeavors to keep these things in perspective:

HØSTSABBAT 2023 – Lowrider

Yes, there is absolutely NO reason to weep because of last night’s cancellations. Just look to the east, and what do you see? Sweden.

Can you believe we only have one Swedish band on the lineup so far?

Far too few for an anniversary addition of Høstsabbat!

Lowrider is most likely familiar to most of you, as they have been a quintessential force in the European stoner scene for what feels like ages, and rightfully so.

Bursting into the scene with a split with Nebula back in 1999 already, these guys have never looked back. They are a classic example of what continuous grinding will do to a band. They never lean on previous endeavours, but continue to expand their sonic palette with every release, and it has been a true joy to follow them over the years. Their visit to church feels way overdue.

Lowrider never disappoint, and is a live beast well worthy of the recognition they have gained. Airy compositions combined with progressive structures, killer riffs, and of course an always present monster groove makes them one of the bands not to be missed this year. And the vocals also need to be mentioned. They have an ethereal quality, almost like a velvet roof in a Mustang.

As you know, our love for all those Swedish bands has been a pivotal part of making Høstsabbat what it is today. It feels both right and great to keep that tradition alive moving forward.

We are humbled and stoked to welcome Lowrider to our Church of Riffs!

TICKETS
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It’ll be a win if they don’t post another update to the bill before this gets posted. If you’ve been keeping up on social media, Oslo’s Høstsabbat has come roaring back after a pretty quiet summer to continue to flesh out its 10th anniversary lineup ahead of taking place late next month, and it seems like I fell behind quickly. But honestly, doing the adds in a bunch like this reinforces in my mind the variety on offer in Høstsabbat 2023 and the fact that the festival is reaching farther than they ever have to work in different sides and styles to the weekend, which boasts Bongripper, Yawning Man and LLNN alongside Spurv, Iron Bra, Aiming for Enrike, Elephant Tree, Sigh and a host of others.

‘Heavy’ is a common thread for a lot of it, but I don’t think Høstsabbat are even limited by that at this point. Electronic music, singer-songwriters, extreme metal — it all seems like a fit when the minds behind the thing are this open.

I don’t know how much more there is to be revealed, but I’ll do my best to keep up. I’m sad to say I won’t be there this year, but I do know from past experience it’s an incredible time. If you go, have one.

From socials:

HØSTSABBAT 2023 – MANDALAI LAMAS

The announcements we have left might be few, but the sheer quality of the remaining bands is nothing but total fire!

The band of the day is a homegrown treasure. They are hard to pinpoint to any specific genre,or subgenre for that matter, but they have the ability to please any fan of guitars, drums and bass – so narrowing them down just doesn’t feel right.

It would be unfair to both our audience and the band.

Mandalai Lamas explore the depths of rock n´roll with a swagger impossible to ignore, and of course, even harder to dislike. The swing and flow these gentlemen provide has no boundaries. It takes you from coast to coast, finding elements that are fundamental, and always have been fundamental, for an output as lush as the sound of Mandalai Lamas. Classic, but fruitful rock with an extraordinary groove if you will

It feels timeless, but still fresh and new. That’s a thing you don’t see every day.

Please welcome Mandalai Lamas to Høstsabbat 2023!

HØSTSABBAT 2023 – LEONOV

Maybe some of you caught the fairly rare experience of seeing Leonov live in the church last fall, as they supported Ufomammut?

If you did, you know what to expect. If you didn´t, here it comes: There is hardly a more cinematic band suited for the aesthetics of Høstsabbat than Leonov.

They take their appearance to another level, while co-existing with delightful video projections, a black and white magic channeling sorrow and hope, accompanied by ethereal vocals, atmospheric arrangements and razor sharp riffs. Their execution is pure class, and a joy to witness

The meditative post-metal coming from this five piece is very well composed and has an earthly, organic and heart felt feeling to it.

Leonov has the ability to create their own realm, and you get totally lost.

Please welcome Leonov to Høstsabbat 2023

HØSTSABBAT 2023 – REAPING FLESH

It´s Monday, and the only right thing to do, is to kick the week off with what could possibly be the biggest wake-up call of this year’s lineup.

Reaping Flesh is cut directly from the northern punk & hardcore tribe, and includes members from legendary Kollwitz, The Spectacle and Gabriel, giving us a fair idea of how this rather new band would sound like.

The sonic devastation of Reaping Flesh is the raw, in-your-face kind of metal found at the back of your memory, being the key figure to why you still go to shows and start moshpits out of instant buzz and excitement! It triggers all the buttons.
It´s a rare and fantastic thing, to be able to present a band as a mixture between black, death, thrash, punk and hardcore, knowing it is actually true.

That mixture is Reaping Flesh – and they will come to destroy!

Please welcome Reaping Flesh to Høstsabbat 2023!

TICKETS
https://bit.ly/HS-festivalticket23

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
https://spoti.fi/3tkuMZl

NEWSLETTER
https://bit.ly/HostsabbatNews

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Høstsabbat Spotify Playlist

With the May release of their latest full-length, Growth (review here), fresh in mind, Poland’s Moonstone are the latest addition to the lineup for this October’s 10th anniversary Høstsabbat. They arrive preceded by the tightening of songcraft that Growth showcased, living up to its name in terms of progression, and ostensibly take the slot vacated as a result of Chicago psych drifters REZN calling off their Fall tour in Europe. Rest assured, the Kraków-based outfit will have space and heft to spare as they make what will no doubt be a bold attempt to flatten that old church, the Kulturkirken Jakob, which houses the festival’s main stage.

I’m doing my best to be stoic in coping with missing Høstsabbat this year owing to familial obligation — kid’s turning six that weekend — and the addition of Moonstone, whom I’ve never seen and will likely have very few if any other opportunities to ever see, isn’t helping the emergent wistfulness. So it goes. Maybe I’ll play in the bounce house at the birthday party.

From Høstsabbat on the ol’ socials:

HØSTSABBAT 2023 – Moonstone

Høstsabbat is getting closer by the day, and as you can see – we are eager to present the last batch of bands to all of you. We have had a killer tradition with Polish bands on our lineup over the last years, and we are sticking to our guns, also on our anniversary.

Moonstone might be another hidden treasure to many of you. Emerging from the ever-prolific Polish stoner-doom scene, they are slowly paving their to our hazy consciousness. This fall they were set to support REZN all around Europe, and that gig itself is living proof of the sheer talent lying within Moonstone. But as REZN cancelled their whole tour last minute, the chance to have Moonstone on our lineup arose. It was a chance not to be missed.

They play highly meditative, heavy AF, almost classic stonerdoom. They push all the right buttons. Massive low-end, chanting vocals and of course: Excellent riffs. They got the whole package, and will give you goosebumps. Promise!

Please welcome Moonstone to Høstsabbat 2023(#128165#)

TICKETS
https://bit.ly/HS-festivalticket23

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
https://spoti.fi/3tkuMZl

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Hometown experimentalists Aiming for Enrike are the latest addition to Høstsabbat 2023, and serve as another example of the Oslo-based festival branching out to include new sounds and ideas. I wasn’t familiar with the two-piece, so checked out this year’s Empty Airports and found it to be an enticing blend of keyboard exploration, manipulated drums, an intensity of purpose that feels inherited from krautrock more than the audio itself, though “Square Machine” did get up to some noise after reminding of the Scarface soundtrack earlier on, which I’d totally believe is on purpose.

Aiming for Enrike aren’t the first electronica-minded outfit to be confirmed for Høstsabbat, which also announced LLNN-offshoot John Cxnnor way back in Spring, but Simen Følstad Nilsen and Tobias Ørnes Andersen bring an avant dance sensibility to the proceedings that wasn’t there before. Growth! Forward progression! Entanglements of aesthetic! These are the things.

From social media:

HØSTSABBAT 2023 – AIMING FOR ENRIKE

It’s the day of the Sabbath – normally not our announcement day.

Suitable as it is nevertheless, as our band for today is far from the «normal» Høstsabbat band, if there ever was one.

We have been waiting for this announcement for quite some time, as they enchanted thousands of people at Øyafestivalen a couple of weeks ago, but now, the time is here:

Aiming For Enrike has been a force of nature in our domestic music scene for years and years, and their journey has been nothing less than spectacular.

Evolving from a chaotic and noisy two piece, pouring out aggressive and complex metal and hardcore riffs.

They are now a full blown two-piece handling stadium-sized stages with pounding, energetic and challenging club beats, accompanied by signature interstellar soundscapes and rhythms. Totally captivating, always mind blowing, never boring.

We are beyond stoked to present Aiming For Enrike at Høstsabbat 2023

TICKETS
https://bit.ly/HS-festivalticket23

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
https://spoti.fi/3tkuMZl

NEWSLETTER
https://bit.ly/HostsabbatNews

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Aiming for Enrike, Empty Airports (2023)

Høstsabbat Spotify Playlist

An experiment on my part this week as I wait for Høstsabbat to actually announce the band/artist/generally-creative-performer they’ll add to their 10th anniversary lineup. Friday has been the day all along, and I’ve tried to stay on top of it as best as I can — mixed results in that, but so it goes — and I wondered if I might be able to guess a few things about today’s add without actually knowing who it is.

Well, there’s always plenty of heavy-heavy-heavy in a Høstsabbat lineup, so could be that route today, or something more in the vein of noise/hardcore as the fest has been branching into the last few years. Could be a dig or two out of the native Norwegian underground, certainly always welcome, or a stoner rock band for the basement. Høstsabbat this year seems to be making a point to include more women artists, and there’s always room for more diversity in multiple regards. Or I guess it could be psych, post-metal, or something more experimental.

So I guess my guess is — wait for it — anything. The fest has grown broad enough that it can do just about whatever it wants.

I bet when the announcement comes down, I’m right.

Until next Friday, then:

HØSTSABBAT 2023 – Gravy Jones

Sabbathians – We are back!(#128293#)

It´s FRIDAY, and finally time for another addition to our 10-year anniversary!

Summer is soon to be over, and the chimes from our Church of Riffs feels less distant by the day.

Høstsabbat is near.

The lineup is sick already, but we still have a good handful of bands to be unveiled.

Expect them presented rapidly over the next couple of weeks.

Our next announcement is probably a hidden gem for many of you.

That will not last for very long.

GRAVY JONES delivered one of the most vital, intriguing and spellbinding shows going down in the Oslo clubs last winter, and the decision to put them on the anniversary bill was immediately triggered by pure excitement and adrenaline alone, as it should.
Those shows happen, not very often, but when they do: What a magical feeling! Gravy Jones has that feeling.

Their musical outbursts is grooving between progressive twists, heavy riffs, frantic keys and catchy hooks. It is an intense cocktail to witness.

Gravy Jones play their songs with utmost passion and will, giving every one in the whole room a solid jaw-drop. Its hard to pay them justice through words, they do it much better themselves through volume and energy. This will be one for the books.
Please welcome Gravy Jones to Høstsabbat 2023!

TICKETS
https://bit.ly/HS-festivalticket23

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
https://spoti.fi/3tkuMZl

NEWSLETTER
https://bit.ly/HostsabbatNews

https://www.facebook.com/hostsabbat/
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Høstsabbat Spotify Playlist

So, permit me to play a bit of catchup. I actually saw the Iron Bra announcement from Høstsabbat 2023 on Friday, when it was posted on their socials, but that was at like 10AM and I know it sounds funny but at that point I was pretty much done for the day. Mentally. It was kind of a rough morning, rough afternoon, weird week, tortured existence, and so on. So I tried that thing athletes do sometimes where instead of forcing myself to do the thing and feeling miserable about it, I didn’t instead.

Strange times, I know, but here we are. I’m fairly certain Høstsabbat will have another lineup addition this Friday to follow-up Iron Bra and Beaten to Death — because of course I was already a week behind when I decided to wellness-flake on Friday and keep the laptop closed, so we’ve got two bands stuck together here — and I’m curious to see both who it is and whether or not I can have the wherewithal to post it on time. It’s a hard-maybe at this point. Fortunately, I don’t think the festival is holding its breath waiting for my takes on the bands it books, let alone anyone else.

Thus, one shouts into the void of the internet:

HØSTSABBAT 2023 – IRON BRA

Friday is upon us, spring is battling with summer, and the birds are singing like angels. Constantly.

What a huge contrast to our next announcement.

As some of us are longing for darker nights, and the return to church for the annual Sabbat, we have been lurking around the Oslo venues to find the essence of primal, heavy and filthy doom. In its purest form.

IRON BRA plays filthy doom. Primal and heavy, in its purest form.

Lucky for us, they are making appearance at our coming anniversary, and it will be HEAVY.

This three piece has been grinding, riffing and gigging uncontrollably since their very beginning, and their notorious presence in the Oslo underground can hardly pass unseen.

We look forward to being pummeled by the nihilist noise of their greasy grooves.

Please welcome IRON BRA to Høstsabbat 2023.

HØSTSABBAT 2023 – BEATEN TO DEATH

Today’s announcement is not for the faint-hearted, neither is it for the daunted:

Driven by harshness, aggression and growls gnarlier than death itself, Beaten to Death is coming to pummel our senses, with their ultra-chaotic, all-encompassing style of grindcore. The skill is unreal. Beaten to Death is a band you need to see to get. We can’t guarantee you will get it, but we can guarantee you will not regret it. It’s like the freak show of metal music.

In the blink of an eye Beaten to Death touches base with more sub-genres than you can even mention, making it almost impossible to keep track of what the F?! actually happened? What an intense experience it will be see this bunch of maniacs let their energy flow freely in our Church of Riffs.

Please welcome Beaten To Death to Høstsabbat 2023.

TICKETS
https://bit.ly/HS-festivalticket23

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
https://spoti.fi/3tkuMZl

NEWSLETTER
https://bit.ly/HostsabbatNews

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Høstsabbat Spotify Playlist

As they make ready to play Desertfest London this weekend, UK duo Tuskar give something (else) to look forward to in being the latest addition to the lineup for the 10th anniversary of Høstsabbat in Oslo this October. I’m already thinking of this as a set of a kin to Slabdragger or Slomatics in terms of the something-very-heavy-from-the-British-Isles-in-the-church-basement ideal, and that should be just ducky, thanks. The band last year released their Matriarch LP as the follow-up to 2018’s The Tide, Beneath, The Wall (review here), and as noted below, this will be their second excursion to Norway, and I very much hope to be there to see it.

I’m late on this today so there’s no time to waste. Here’s word from the fest:

HØSTSABBAT 2023 – TUSKAR (UK)

This week we are bringing you guys one of the most promising, prolific and uprising two-pieces our entire community has on offer.

Tuskar is pounding their sludge with a self esteem, ease and punchy heaviness rarely seen, and the riffs just keep pulling you further down their rocky abyss. The way they combine melodic and atmospheric passages with primal and absolute destruction is nothing but masterly done.

Tuskar has proven themselves to be the next generation’s sludge duo, picking up the heritage from Eagle Twin, Black Cobra and all the other gold that came out of Georgia and the States earlier in this decade.

Their recent album «MATRIARCH» is a pure bliss from start to finish, and the sense of future success shines through like (the?) Aurora Borealis(?). This band is going somewhere, and we believe it’s somewhere big.

Rumors say they laid completely waste at Brewgata on their first Norwegian visit this winter, and we are thrilled to bring them back and see what their chugg will do to the Church.

Please welcome TUSKAR to Høstsabbat 2023 (#128165#)

TICKETS
https://bit.ly/HS-festivalticket23

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
https://spoti.fi/3tkuMZl

NEWSLETTER
https://bit.ly/HostsabbatNews

https://www.facebook.com/hostsabbat/
https://www.instagram.com/hostsabbat/
http://hostsabbat.no/

Høstsabbat Spotify Playlist