As suspected, the lineup announcement for the 2022 Maryland Doom Fest is relatively short on fluff. No flowery descriptions of the acts involved, no hype about how important it is to get together in these times of plague and support the community, the underground, whatever it is. That’s all true enough, but as ever, Maryland Doom Fest is putting the name out there for you to see, and if you know, you know. If you’re a part of that family down there in Frederick, you’ve already got your calendar marked. This is who’ll be at the reunion.

And to that, with bands like Horehound, Thunderbird Divine, Caustic Casanova, fest-organizer JB Matson‘s own Bloodshot, Faith in Jane, ZED, Helgamite, Shadow Witch, The Age of Truth, Apostle of Solitude, Horseburner, Dead East Garden, Strange Highways and Foghound on the bill, this one will no doubt feel like a reunion in no small part. These acts and some of the others as well have shared MDDF bills in the past, and indeed, some were included in the announcement for January’s Doom Hawg Day as well, as was speculated. Still cool to see some of those returning coming across the country to do it, though, be it ZED or Formula 400.

Set for June 23-26 at Cafe 611 and Olde Mother Brewing in Frederick, MD, and of course subject to some changes between now and June, the lineup for Maryland Doom Fest 2022 is as follows:

Maryland Doom Fest 2022 Lineup

Black Road
Dust Prophet
Ol’ Time Moonshine
High Priestess
Wrath of Typhon
Alms
Black Lung
Thunderbird Divine
Atomic Motel
Byrgan
Faces of Bayon
Grief Collector
Crystal Spiders
Helgamite
Shadow Witch
The Age of Truth
Heavy Temple
Problem with Dragons
Strange Highways
Fellowcraft
Formula 400
Tines
Indus Valley Kings
The Stone Eye
Crow Hunter
Caustic Casanova
Coma Hole
Wizzerd
Mythosphere
Horehound
Bloodshot
NobleSoul
Coven
ZED
Faith in Jane
Future Projektor
Apostle of Solitude
Orodruin
Dead East Garden
Ritual Earth
Grave Next Door
Black Sabbitch
Lost Breed
Horseburner
Foghound
Hot Ram
Flummox

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

Apostle of Solitude, When the Darkness Goes (2021)

The Age of Truth, Resolute (2021)

Among the various bits and bobs of good news that have come my way this week is the advent of Mythosphere, who are currently — right now as I write this, I think — embroiled in the recording of their debut full-length. The ostensibly Maryland-based outfit are of immediate note for their lineup, which includes guitarist/vocalist Dana Ortt, bassist Ron “Fezzy” McGinnis and drummer Darin McCloskey of Pale Divine, and lead guitarist Victor Arduini, known for his work in Connecticut metallers Entierro, as well as Arduini/Balich and others. If this band didn’t actually come together at Maryland Doom Fest, it’s nearly impossible to imagine they won’t be on the bill in 2022.

In addition to Pale Divine, one might recall Ortt and McCloskey from the troubled and now-defunct unit Beelzefuzz. Ortt has been playing local-type solo gigs for a while as well, and as he steps back into what seems to be more of a frontman position, I’m curious how much tonally or melodically the new band might have in common with his former outfit. He and McCloskey are well matched for more than just their familiarity with each other as players, and McGinnis (also of Admiral Browning and plenty more besides) is of course no stranger either. The addition of Arduini‘s soaring solo work to that mix is bound to add to any abiding progressive sensibility.

The album — and the fact that such a thing exists is basically all I know about it at this point — is being helmed by the esteemed Noel Mueller of Grimoire Records at his Tiny Castle Recording Studio in Towson, outside Baltimore. No clue when it’ll be done or be out, but I’ll hope to hear more soon. Until then, there’s a page up on Facebook to follow, and that link is below.

Of interest:

We are currently in the process of recording our debut album with Noel Mueller at “Tiny Castle” studio in Towson MD.

The lineup is:
Dana Ortt – Guitar/Vocals
Victor Arduini – Lead guitar
Darin McCloskey – Drums
Ron “FeZZy” McGinnis -Bass

https://www.facebook.com/Mythosphere-103752001922863
https://www.tinycastlerecording.com/

Pale Divine, Consequence of Time (2020)

Entierro, El Camazotz (2021)