All this week on a one-per-day basis, the Oslo-based Høstsabbat fest has been adding bands to its increasingly righteous lineup, filling out the poster space beneath headliners Bongripper and the likes of Yawning Man and Black Rainbows with a broad-ranging assortment of styles as they progress into not only having more acts play, but embrace a multifaceted vision of heavy that has room for the likes of Spaceslug as well as the inhumane extreme pummel of Denmark’s LLNN. The latter are a highlight of the latest batch of announcements, returning to Høstsabbat this October after leveling the place in 2019. It was — and I mean this — breathtaking to witness.

The care and curation put into this bill should be obvious to anyone who even samples the Spotify playlist at the bottom of this post, never mind actually searches out releases from the band in question, and though I’m still hobbling somewhat after last October’s edition and the subsequent knee surgery it required, I very much hope to be back in Oslo this Fall to see Høstsabbat 2023 in-person.

Here’s what they posted throughout the week, starting with Spurv today and working back to FFHH on Monday:

Høstsabbat 2023 – SPURV

It’s Friday, and time for the last treat from our large easter egg-drop. Today’s egg contains no chick, but an incredibly beautiful sparrow.

Spurv are the top providers of Norwegian atmospheric post-rock, releasing their third album this fall. It sounds absolutely breathtaking, full of enchanting, calming soundscapes, as well as nerve and intensity.

The sparrow might be small and quick, but the sound of this band is huge and floating.

Weaving instruments together into a carpet of sound that embraces you, and keeps you safe, but simultaneously sends shivers down your spine. Taking you through all the strongest emotions in life, from joy and love, to sorrow, longing and grief.

We can’t wait to let the sparrow take us onto its wings again. Just close your eyes, and try not to cry. Or on second thought – let the river loose, crying is healthy.

Please welcome Spurv to Høstsabbat 2023!

1234!

1234! The holidays are finally here!

Todays announcement are not just keeping their band name simple. Everything about this band is cut to the bone. They are are a two-piece playing rock and roll in its absolute purest form. Bass and drums, four hands in total sync, channeling a very raw feel to their output.

Their debut album from last year, appropriately named «Power and Speed» draws comparison to a wide range of artists, spanning from QOTSA to Motörhead, but still maintaining to keep an honest and catchy sassiness to their well-executed, action-filled sound.

We love a good two-piece at Høstsabbat, and we cant wait to present the in-your-face type of execution from 1234!

They will leave you all in awe.

Please welcome 1234! to Høstsabbat 2023!

LLNN

Holy shitballs, the furious Danes are coming back!

If you were one of the lucky ones attending LLNN back in 2019, I bet you are a bit excited too, right? I dont think we have ever witnessed a gig as demolishing as when LLNN baptized The Crypt in floods of anger and despair. The push these guys are capable of is nothing less than insane. They hit the drums, keys and strings in such a tight manner, you WILL physically feel the riffs, as they are pawing their way through your stomach, further up your spine, until they crush your brain and your head spins. It’s that heavy. It’s that good. LLNN is nuts live.

Not too bad on record either, their recent masterpiece «UNMAKER» from 2021 truly set the bar for LLNN, as they have been featured on every significant festival there is in its wake.

Well done, and well deserved guys! Now back to church:

As it is our anniversary, LLNN was one of those pinnacle bands we felt we had to invite back, and as they never rely on previous achievements, we are positive their return will be triumphant.

We are happy the love between LLNN and Høstsabbat is mutual.

Please welcome LLNN to Høstsabbat 2023!

BONG VOYAGE

New bands appear for so many different reasons. Some because of ambition, some because of pure cynicism, some because of friendship. Some bands, like todays announcement, seems to grow out of something that is already flourishing without restraint.

BONG VOYAGE feels like a testament of the unbelievably vital Oslo-scene, documenting this period of time in the name of rock and roll, as the scandi-rockers and black metallers did before them.

BONG VOYAGE, to us, is a tongue-in-cheek celebration of a new generation of killer bands, finding fellow axe and swordsmen within the walls of the same couple of bars, stretching for the same kind of goals and feels, while sharing a solid passion for catchy riffs, hooks and grooves. And most importantly: BONG VOYAGE never lets the slightly humorous approach go at the expense of their sheer quality. This bunch of stoner rockers is living proof of what a vivid underground scene can, and will do to your city. Høstsabbat is proud of being a part of it.

Bong Iver, Bong Jovi, Elton Bong and Bong Juan will launch Verkstedet to space!

Yes – BONG VOYAGE!

FORCEFED HORSEHEAD

Are we dropping a band on a Monday?

Indeed we are, and we’ll be bringing you the Høstsabbat joy throughout this festive week.

Today´s announcement has literally been grinding around the filthy basements of the Oslo underground for more than a decade. Picking up bits and pieces from more or less every sub-genre of the extreme, Forcefed Horsehead is utilizing their experience to perfection. Their creative stew of punishing, frightening and spellbinding riff-mania crafts a unique blend of metal, previously unheard on our home turf. It never gets boring. It´s unforgiving.

FFHH just unveiled a masterpiece of an album, «Monoceros» is monumental and monstrous in every way. From the intense start of “Every Death You Take”, the album shows a confident band sliding from tar-dripping heaviness to furious d-beats with the greatest of ease. The complexity and intensity are being delivered in an almost laid back manner. Pure madness in its absolute best form.

It’s with a tipsy mix of horror and delight we await the rampage of this beautiful beast!

Please welcome FFHH to Høstsabbat 2023

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

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

NEWSLETTER
https://bit.ly/HostsabbatNews

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

Høstsabbat Spotify Playlist