Set for Sept. 26-27 in Pittsburgh, PA, Descendants of Crom VII runs a gamut from dark-arts-heavy to loyalist doom metal, scathing fuckall sludge and then some. From Ringworm and Crypt Sermon and the classic-style radness of Valkyrie to new adds Fog Giant and the horns-up Olathia, it’s a span of styles that speaks the to progression of the festival’s curation over the years. Thunderbird Café and Music Hall is hosting the two-dayer, and of course is once again helmed by Shy Kennedy of Blackseed Services, whose band Funerals (they used to be Horehound) are also on the bill.

I don’t know if anyone seeing this will get there or not, like in a just-read-this-post-then-bought-a-ticket sense, but it’s a universe of infinite possibility, and generally speaking, isn’t your day made better knowing something cool is happening whether or not you’ll get to see it? I think that’s why I might still be doing this after so long. OMG we had a breakthrough just now, you guys.

From the PR wire:

DESCENDANTS OF CROM VII – September 26 & 27 – Pittsburgh, PA

An annual gathering of the heavy underground

Tickets: https://www.etix.com/ticket/k/18115925/descendants-of-crom-vii-weekend-warrior-pass-early-crow-pittsburgh-thunderbird-caf%C3%A9-music-hall

The underground rises once again. Descendants of Crom VII returns to Thunderbird Café & Music Hall on September 26–27, 2025, bringing two nights of genre-defying heavy music, collaborative creativity, and the raw energy of Pittsburgh’s thriving DIY spirit. Now in its seventh year, DOC continues to grow in scope and reputation, while staying fiercely committed to underground authenticity.

Presented by Blackseed Services in collaboration with Thunderbird Café, this year’s festival features an unmissable lineup, including sludge juggernauts BLACK TUSK, the epic intensity of VALKYRIE, doom torchbearers CRYPT SERMON, and Cleveland hardcore legends RINGWORM. Supporting acts span a range of sonic extremes: FISTULA, CHERUBS, SATHANAS, WEED DEMON, REBREATHER, EDHOCHULI, OLATHIA, FUNERALS (formerly Horehound), BROWN ANGEL, RIPARIAN, FOG GIANT, and PASSING BELL.

DOC isn’t just a lineup—it’s an experience. From custom-brewed beer and small-batch hot sauce collabs to themed vendor offerings and exclusive merch, the weekend celebrates the underground in all its forms. Blackseed Services has spent over a decade cultivating Pittsburgh’s heavy music culture by consistently showcasing unique artists — many of whom fans wouldn’t otherwise get to see locally—while lifting up the city’s own talent.

With a focus on genre inclusiveness, artist integrity, and authentic community building, DOC is where longtime followers of the riff meet new initiates. Fans come for a favorite band and leave with a deeper connection to a movement — and often, a few new obsessions.

http://descendantsofcrom.com
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https://www.facebook.com/DescendantsOfCrom/

Olathia, The Forest Witch (2023)

Fog Giant, Fog Giant (2021)

With more reportedly on the way, the Pittsburgh-based dark arts heavyfest Descendants of Crom has announced the first round of acts for its seventh — or VIIth, if you prefer — edition this September. Set to take place over two days, Sept. 26-27, at Thunderbird Music Hall, the festival continues its strong run of doom, metal and sludge with this year’s lineup from the rank pill-popped Midwestern apathy of Fistula to Crypt Sermon‘s trad-metal standard-bearing, Black Tusk‘s progressive take on Southern heavy and Valkyrie‘s pastoral, modernized classic rock, and much more besides.

It hadn’t occurred to me until I was grabbing the embed at the bottom of this post, but fest-staples Rebreather — I need to buy a new Rebreather shirt because my last one got a hole in the side and I don’t want to be without one — are four years removed from their killer comebacker The Line, its Width and the War Drone (review here), and I can’t help but be curious if the sludge-rooted Ohio outfit will have anything new in the works. Time for some social media digging? Yeah, maybe after I put that shirt in my Bandcamp cart.

Much continued respect to Descendants of Crom VII headed into its seventh year. I’ve never been — it’s traditionally right around the weekend of my wedding anniversary, Sept. 28 — but it’s always cool to see who’ll be there and to keep up as the fest has expanded its palette and grown into the warrior you see before you on the poster. Killer.

Dig:

DESCENDANTS OF CROM VII – September 26 & 27 – Pittsburgh, PA

Tickets: https://www.etix.com/ticket/k/18115925/descendants-of-crom-vii-weekend-warrior-pass-early-crow-pittsburgh-thunderbird-caf%C3%A9-music-hall

The forge is burning hot—it’s time to reveal the first wave of bands confirmed for this year’s gathering of the underground faithful. DOC VII returns with two days of heavy music, diverse in sound and tone, never compromising on originality or quality.

2025 LINEUP (SO FAR):
Black Tusk • Valkyrie • Crypt Sermon • Ringworm • Cherubs • Fistula • Rebreather • Weed Demon • Edhochuli • Brown Angel • Funerals • Riparian • Sathanas • Passing Bell

…and more to come, including our co-headliners, regional support, vendors, and sponsors.

EARLY CROW “WEEKEND WARRIOR” PASSES ON SALE NOW:
Very limited—only 50 available
Available through July 4 or until sold out
–After that: regular advance single-day & weekend passes launch

No band submissions please, but vendors and sponsors can still reach out to Blackseed Services.

Come join our celebration this year, after all… We Are All Descendants of Crom ⚔️

EARLY CROW WEEKEND WARRIOR $50, 50 tickets available

Advance single day and weekend pass tickets will be available after the Early Crow options are gone or on July 4th.

21+ w/ID

http://descendantsofcrom.com
https://www.instagram.com/descendantsofcrom/
https://www.facebook.com/DescendantsOfCrom/

Rebreather, The Line, its Width and the War Drone (2021)