As per Halloween tradition, the venerable Maryland Doom Fest has posted its as-of-now-complete lineup for next year’s edition, and MDDF 2025 looks like a rager. Set to unfold its massive billing across June 19-22 in the riffy epicenter of Frederick, Maryland, the fest will highlight newcomers and established acts alike, as veteran outfits like The Skull and Apostle of Solitude, Hollow Leg, Curse the Son, and others make returning appearances and new incarnations like Legions of Doom, Ages and High Noon Kahuna feature familiar players in new contexts. Always cool to see bands like Thunderbird Divine and Spiral Grave doing the thing, and I’ll admit that my eyebrows went up when I saw Virginia’s Lord would be playing, as I’d yet to encounter word of a reunion from that most chaotic of sludge metal outfits. Sonolith and Demons My Friends and Sons of Arrakis and plenty of others will be traveling for it — Ogre! — so I would expect some tours to be forthcoming, and Sun Years, whose Nov. tour begins — wait for it — tomorrow, will feature.

It’s a family reunion you probably already have on your calendar, so don’t let me keep you from perusing the poster and getting stoked on what you find. From Crystal Spiders to B&O Railroad, there’s both a lot here and a lot here to like, and always more waiting to be discovered by those bold enough to show up to Cafe 611 early in the day. Check it out:

MARYLAND DOOM FEST 2025 – June 19-22, Frederick, MD

WE JOURNEY FROM THE HEAVY UNDERGROUND AND STAGES ACROSS THE WORLD TO ASSEMBLE IN FREDERICK, MARYLAND, FOR A JOYOUS CELEBRATION OF DOOM, GROOVE, AND THE ALMIGHTY RIFF.

JOIN US.

After such a magnificent 10th anniversary celebration of #4daysofdoom in 2024, which involved reorganizing and coordinating two stages in one venue (Cafe 611), we are beyond stoked to share The Maryland Doom Fest 2025 roster and marvelous promotional artwork.

The art design was created by one of our Maryland natives in the local music scene—Ben Proudman, the Frederick, MD-based master artist at Key City Tattoo (IG: @tattoosbyprdmn). Ben is also the drummer for the powerful bands Thonian Horde and Foehammer. Our very own Bill Kole (IG: @BillyDiablo) handled the color design and layouts again this year. He majestically brought this piece to life!

Explore the heavy musical talent of these bands and performers and be prepared for the nonstop riffage party in June! Talent beyond words!!! We can’t wait for our doom community to congregate next summer!!!

Time slots, ticket sales, stage rosters, sponsors, and vendors will be presented by year’s end. — 💀DooM💀

THE SKULL + PSYCHOTIC REACTION + APOSTLE OF SOLITUDE + LEGIONS OF DOOM + COMPRESSION + CRYSTAL SPIDERS + HIGH NOON KAHUNA + RED BEARD WALL + WITCHPIT + STRANGE HIGHWAYS + AGES + SUNYEARS + HOLLOW LEG

FUTURE PROJEKTOR + ALL YOUR SINS + SONOLITH + SPIRAL GRAVE + LORD + SABBATH WARLOCK + GALLOWGLAS + SONS OF ARRAKIS + CROP + HOVEL + OGRE + DREADSTAR + THUNDERBIRD DIVINE + WYNDRIDER + SUN MANTRA + KULVERA + STYGIAN CROWN + CURSE THE SON + BENTHIC REALM + HOLY ROLLER

BLOODSHOT + DUST PROPHET + VANISHING KIDS + BLOOD AND EARTH + FIGHT THE FOLD + DAYTRIPPER + B&O RAILROAD + BAILJACK + COKUS + NEW DAWNS FADE + COMA HOLE + FLORIST + ABEL BLOOD + SEASICK GLADIATOR + ENTIERRO + HEX ENGINE + DEMONS MY FRIENDS + ABOMINOG + VRSA + HIGH HORSE CALVARY

https://www.facebook.com/MdDoomFest/
www.marylanddoomfest.com

After cancelation in 2020 and no event in 2021, Grim Reefer Fest returns in 2022 in Baltimore this April with headliners Heavy Temple and a slew of others. If you can’t make it to The Ottobar on April 16 for whatever reason — no judgment here, sometimes you’re busy — they’ve reportedly got some kind of streaming thing in the works, so it’d be killer if that happens, and all the more so since the lineup is so killer. Dirt Woman‘s self-titled was a gem of that wretched pandemic year, and Darsombra are like a joyous UPS of weird — they always deliver.

Some, like Cavern and I think Heavy Temple, are carryovers from the 2020 bill, but of course bands have different plans and so on so it’s not the an exact redux from one year to the other. I’d love to get down there for this one, but even if I end up streaming it, it’s easy to be stoked on the thing.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door — reasonable — but I’m not sure on the streaming option pricing, should that come together. In any case, here’s the lineup in all its fucking-a glory:

GRIM REEFER FEST 2022 – April 16, The Ottobar, Baltimore, MD

We attempted to recreate the lineup of the 2020 fest which was canceled, only a few bands from that list were able to join us but we’re hoping to have any band that was unable to play 2022 join us in future events. Due to a slight fear of having to cancel/reschedule again we opted for primarily local regional bands but we’re still extremely excited about this lineup from start to finish.

When/Where
Sat 4/16/22 at the Ottobar in Baltimore, MD

The lineup (in general order of headlining at the top):
Heavy Temple
Grave Bathers
Darsombra
Haze Mage
Cavern
TEL
Compression
Dirt Woman
Mast Year

Poster is by JD aka @ghost_bat_.

https://www.facebook.com/GrimReeferFest/
https://www.instagram.com/GrimReeferFest/
http://www.grimreeferfest.com/

Heavy Temple, Lupi Amoris (2021)

Rituals is the former Windup Space in Baltimore, or so I’m told, and will play host to Grim Reefer Fest 2020 next April 18. The all-dayer will be headlined by Destroyer of Light from Austin, TX, and in addition to them and fest-organizers Haze Mage — credit where it’s due — the lineup boasts an impressive range of mostly regional denizens like Philly’s High Reeper and Green Meteor and Maryland-based acts like Asthma Castle, Cavern and Alms. Hyborian will be in from Kansas City which leaves me wondering if perhaps they’ll be on tour at the time, but either way, they’re keeping good company to be sure. If you’re the type to celebrate the Stoner New Year or just the type to celebrate riffs, seems to me there are far worse ways to spend your Saturday. They’ve got a food truck and everything.

Tickets are on sale now. Here’s the info:

Are you ready to get grim? Because we sure are! Join us for the 4th annual Grim Reefer Fest on 4.18.20 at Rituals (The new and improved former Windup Space location) in Baltimore, MD!

A full day of incredible live music, a food truck, and heavy riffs to keep you in the right head space!

Here’s the full 2020 lineup!

Destroyer of Light (ATX) – Heavy crushing doom with the heart of rock from Austin, Texas here to obliterate your minds

Hyborian (KC) – Hard-Hitting heavy and stunning riffs from Kansas City to melt your faces

Asthma Castle – Heavy stoner sludge from the depths of Baltimore

Haze Mage – A blend of stoner, doom, and classic heavy metal with epic vocals

HIGH REEPER (PHI) – Heavy pounding rhythms, thick guitars, and soaring screeching vocals

Cavern – Heavy prog rock from Western MD

Green Meteor (PHI) – Psychedelic sonic warriors from outer space

Alms – Classic 70’s style hard-rocking heavy metal with entrancing harmonized vocals

Tombtoker – Dirty and heavy doom forged with the soul of punk

Compression – Recently reforged, a unique blend of thrash, metal, hardcore, and everything inbetween.

Tickets are $25 in Advance and $30 the day of the event!
Get yours at www.grimreeferfest.com!

Logo and Poster by Ghostbat

https://www.facebook.com/events/1016565088689615/
https://www.facebook.com/GrimReeferFest/
https://www.instagram.com/GrimReeferFest/
http://www.grimreeferfest.com/

Destroyer of Light, Mors Aeterna (2019)

A couple years back, I don’t think there’s any way a fest like Moving the Earth 2 wouldn’t happen at Krug’s Place in Frederick, Maryland, but that formidable Mid-Atlantic scene seems to have pushed into various other places in the wake of that venue apparently giving doom the boot. I’ve never been to The Windup Space in Baltimore, but the bill for Moving the Earth 2 kind of makes me want to check it out, with two solid days of heavy delivered by respectable purveyors Sixty Watt Shaman and Iron Man. This will actually mark the first appearance back for Sixty Watt Shaman‘s reunion, so they’re right to bill it as “The Return Of…” and from Kingsnake and Foghound and Wasted Theory to Supervoid and Black Lung, there’s a lot to dig about the lineup.

If you’re the type to make travel arrangements, the fest is set for March 22 and 23 in Baltimore, and the roster of acts below seems to be pretty final, at least going by the revolutionary-themed poster below, contributed by Brendan Burns of Wasted Theory. With the deep reds, uniformed guards and raised fists of resistance, I can’t help but wonder what Moving the Earth‘s five-year plan might be. Dig:

We are super excited to announce the lineups for Moving The Earth Fest 2! Taking place again at the Windup Space here in Baltimore Maryland on Saturday and Sunday March 22nd and 23rd 2014.

The lineups are…

Saturday March 22nd 7pm
The Return of Sixty Watt Shaman
Kingsnake
Wasted Theory
Supervoid
Compression
Passage Between

Sunday March 23rd 6pm
Iron Man
Foghound
Asthma Castle
Bastards of Reality
Fortress
Black Lung
Northwoods

Admission will be $10 per day, 21+. We look forward to bringing all these great bands together for what is sure to be an amazing 2 day celebration of Heavy, Stoner, Doom and Psych music!

https://www.facebook.com/MovingTheEarthFestival

Foghound, “Gotta Go” at Moving the Earth Festival, 2013