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

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

Høstsabbat Spotify Playlist

Those keeping track of such things might note that Shaman Elephant are the band with whom Enslaved collaborated for ‘The Otherworldly Big Band Experience,’ which in every respect lived up to its billing. The band released their latest LP, Wide Awake but Still Asleep, in 2020 and bring proggy presence to the bill of Høstsabbat 2023. I’m not certain what stage they’re playing on, or if they’ve got a new record coming or what, but as the weekly confirmations from the Oslo-based festival continue to roll out in advance of the 10th anniversary edition, sonic breadth seems to be the order of the day, and that’s that much better since this may just be the most ambitious Høstsabbat yet, not only in terms of the styles of the acts playing, but also the further realization of the established ethic of showcasing artists from Norway’s equal parts vibrant and varied underground. Shaman Elephant, in contributing to that and becoming part of the shape of the festival overall, are for sure something to look forward to.

From the fest:

 

HØSTSABBAT 2023 – Shaman Elephant (NO)

The band of the day on this beautiful Friday is a collective hailing from western Norway. Not the easiest band to describe, but very easy to love.

Our west coast has had a thriving prog and psychedelic rock scene for ages, giving and SHAMAN ELEPHANT is carrying that torch with a sound lusher than the fjords themselves.
It´s so captivating and enchanting. Bands like this also come with some sort of relief: Rock is far from dead.

SHAMAN ELEPHANT is as organic as it gets, keeping us focused and alert with a clever progressiveness at all times. Their sound is firmly rooted in the 60´s & 70´s era of their niche, but they are also able to add some kind of modern touch to everything, making them a band for the future rather than the past.

We cant wait to dive into their universe in October.

Please welcome Shaman Elephant 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/
https://www.instagram.com/hostsabbat/
http://hostsabbat.no/

Høstsabbat Spotify Playlist

Well that’s lovely. A heartfelt thank you to the crew of Høstsabbat for adding Yawning Man to an already-righteous 2023 lineup and providing this morning with a much-needed boost of, I don’t know, will to live? The desert mainstays also announced the announcement of their next album this morning, and to know they’ll be on tour in Europe this Fall supporting it is all the better. I’m sure there will be tour dates forthcoming, more fests, etc., but to think the Gary Arce-led desert rock progenitors and I will be in the same place at the same time is more than welcome amid what remains of my melting brains and while they’re more known for playing open landscapes than churches, I have the distinct feeling that their particular brand of worship will have no problem translating.

Find your solace. Find your people. Find your music. Lose yourself in all of it.

From the fest:

HØSTSABBAT 2023 – Yawning Man (US)

Today´s announcement are legends in every matter.

Being a band since back in 1986 Yawning Man find themselves as one of the pivotal founders behind the mythical and world known Desert Rock scene.

This beautiful cultural movement arising from the countless generator parties held in the Californian deserts, with jams as long as the days, and a crew of people all set to become forefathers of the entire scene we all love today.

We are humbled to be able to welcome such a band to our anniversary.

The star lit melodies of Yawning Man , combined with their uber laid back grooves and licks, are painting pictures of sunsets, palm trees, and endless horizons all day long.

We cant wait to bring the desert heat to Oslo!(#127797#)(#127774#)

Please welcome YAWNING MAN 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/
https://www.instagram.com/hostsabbat/
http://hostsabbat.no/

Høstsabbat Spotify Playlist

It’s Friday, so Oslo-based Høstsabbat Festival has the latest addition to its lineup for this October, and it’s UK roots heavy rockers The Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell, who’ll bring their unflinchingly classic style to the proceedings on the altar stage at the Kulturkirken Jakob. The fest has been building up over the course of the last I-can’t-remember-how-many-and-I’m-too-lazy-to-look-it-up-oh-wait-I-just-did-it’s-eight weeks and in bringing on board The Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell, they nod toward the heavy ’70s in a different way than, say, the folkish medieval prog of The Chronicles of Father Robin, who were confirmed in February, and offer a kind of heavy that was yet-unaccounted for in the 2023 lineup. In short: cool beans. Nice pick. All that stuff.

Have to wonder if The Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell have a new record coming. Their last outing was 2019’s presciently-titled Very Uncertain Times (review here) and as ever there was a lot to dig. No one really needs an excuse to tour at this point, but with Rise Above Records back in action putting out records from LBlood Ceremony and Smokey Mirror, it’s a possibility worth acknowledging that these guys will join the party concurrent to what might be a tour this Fall. Wouldn’t be the worst, but I’ll emphasize that so far, I know nothing more than they’re playing Høstsabbat, and I only know that because the fest just posted it. So there.

So here:

HØSTSABBAT 2023 – THE ADMIRAL SIR CLOUDESLEY SHOVELL (UK)

Today’s announcement is a true joy to unveil.

It’s hard to think of a better way to kickstart a weekend, than with the thought of The Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell, bringing their UK-grease to our church of riffs.

This is a pure rock and roll train on a Bong Voyage to Oslo.

We’re not sure what we’re in for, but we know it’s gonna be good.

As the years pass, you get to see so many bands in so many different settings, it’s hard to reminisce at times. You see heaviness redefined, sub-genres trending, aesthetics booming. Evolution of the underground so to speak. As a counterweight to a scene in motion you need pillars, anchors, those steady benchmark outfits. Bands that are here do one single thing:

Rock. The. Fuck. Out.

The Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell is defining that bunch of bands. They look, sound and live by the rules of classic UK-heritage, carrying the torch of Budgie as well as Sabbath, shoving the rest of us how it’s done.

This will be one hell of a party,
Please welcome The Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell

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

I’ve had the new JAGGU album, Rites for the Damned, set to include in the next Quarterly Review since the last one ended. It’ll be the second, maybe third week of April before I get there, but that’s still plenty in advance of their appearance on the Norwegian stage at this year’s Høstsabbat, for which they’re confirmed as of today. They join the hardcore/noise-tinged Akersborg in that regard, as the festival presents the diversity of Oslo’s underground as analogue for its own growth in each and variety. You will not find me arguing.

And I feel like I say that every time, as these weekly updates continue. I’m still not sure we’ve gotten the full answer of the shape Høstsabbat will ultimately take, but I don’t think we’re halfway through the lineup yet, so I’m not sure we should have, either. There’s time. I continue to look forward to what’s next, and having no clue in that regard is part of the fun, at least so far.

See you next Friday:

HØSTSABBAT 2023 – JAGGU

Friday!

Crisp, cool and bright – Showing Oslo from its very best side.

Days like this makes us count the days – and in just about seven months we will open the doors to church once again.

But back to now:

The poster of today is living proof of the tightly knit community existing in our beloved city. The man behind this year´s visual profile, our good friend HYPNOTIST DESIGN] is also the man behind the camera, capturing the bearded excellence of today’s announcement: JAGGU!

The men of JAGGU has certainly proven their existence over the years. The steady course from back- to foreground of the flourishing Oslo-scene has been fueled with heavier riffs for every occasion. A solid confidence gained by hard work, creativity and a love for heavy, sludgy music. It´s rewarding to see bands grow like this, and the best part is that they never stop.

Just weeks ago JAGGU dropped their new, astonishing full length «Rites for the Damned» An album that will bring the sonic palette of JAGGU to ears way outside of Oslo. This album totally rips!

JAGGU shows a fearless approach with their mentioned creativity, both riffs and vocals are refreshingly commanding. Some might draw comparison to the glory days of a certain Georgia quintet even.

We cant wait to be completely pummeled by this inter-continental three piece!

Please welcome JAGGU to our ten-year anniversary!

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

Friday starts preorders for the new Saint Karloff album, Paleolithic War Crimes, ahead of a June 2 release through Majestic Mountain Records. The band and label first linked arms for 2019’s Interstellar Voodoo (review here) and the new album will be Saint Karloff‘s third overall — their debut was 2018’s All Heed the Black God (review here), on Twin Earth — as well as their first studio LP since the 2021 passing of bassist Ole Sletner, who was still a part of the writing process for these songs.

Stepping into the low end role is Niko Munkvold, also of Oslo longform crushers Jointhugger, and the trio have a video up for “Psychedelic Man,” which is about as up-front in terms of where it’s coming from as you can get. Maybe surprisingly, maybe not, the song’s not actually all that tripped out, but I suppose if you called it “Sabbath Man,” it would sound weird. Or maybe awesome? Whatever. A hook’s a hook, and Saint Karloff have never wanted in that regard.

The PR wire brought the following:

SAINT KARLOFF IS BACK!

New album ‘Paleolithic War Crimes’ releases June 2nd

Pre-order opens on FRIDAY!

Stream the first single and video for ‘Psychedelic Man’ now.

Today is the day we bring you something incredibly special, that we have long been holding our collective breath for. Turn this one up all the way to 11 psychonauts, because NEW MUSIC from the one and only Saint Karloff is premiering right now and is going to take you out of this world!

“Psychedelic Man” The first single off the new album from the ultimate heavy hitting fuzz worshipping stoner trio whose collective lore is matched, and rightfully so, only by the undeniable power of their heavy-ass riffs and dank, swinging rhythm.

This apocalyptically heavy track takes a vocally more aggressive edge than the band has employed in the past and does so with a flawless panache that only Saint Karloff can deliver. Through a gradually raising frenzy of crushing stompage the Karloff machine continues driving straight into the core of our psychedelic hearts with stonking hook after hook and suitably trippy atmospherics right to your head.

Ahead of the official release of the full album “Paleolithic War Crimes” on 02.6 we present you with the first taste of what’s to come from these mega riffing, head-banging groove giants and announce that the presale will begin this Friday March 10th at 19:00 CET/1pm EDT/10am PDT/6pm BST.

You know the drill, Majestic folks! Be there or be square, this one is not going to stick around and that is no joke.

Check out all the juicy wax specs and read all about this heady monster to come below but most importantly, start your week off good and proper by heading over to Metal Injection to check out “Psychedelic Man” and prepare yourself for the new dawn of Saint Karloff!

The band tell us: “Psychedelic Man” was among the first songs we began working on following the release of our previous record. We’re excited to unveil the first track from our new album – a hard-hitting stoner rock tune we hope will get your head banging.

We are happy to announce that we have once again signed with the finest label, MMR for the release of our third album. Surely, Paleolithic War Crimes was created during strange and challenging times. The whole writing process started back in 2019 with Ole still on board. Naturally, Ole’s passing was and still is devastating, but after some time the two of us found the motivation and desire to continue and finish what we had started.

In many ways, the album reflects a band in transition exploring new paths, but at the same time, it definitely has the proper heavy Karloff-vibe. We are also very pleased with having Ole’s brother Eivind Sletner on board both writing lyrics and designing the album arts and Jointhugger’s multi-instrumentalist Nicolai Munkvold stepping in to handle the late Ole’s bass duties for live shows. We are very happy with the results, and can’t wait for people to hear it!

“Paleolithic War Crimes” comes in the following three editions with the full Majestic treatment of course.

Supralux Edition (blue+red merge vinyl)
– Gatefold (matt). 10mm spine.
– 1xLP 180g heavyweight vinyl
– Black poly-lined inner sleeve
– Protected in a plastic sleeve
– 33 rpm heaviness
– 12 pages full-color booklet!
STRICTLY Limited to 300 copies

Psychedelic Edition (Tri-color blue/yellow/red)
– Gatefold (matt). 10mm spine.
– 1xLP 180g heavyweight vinyl
– Black poly-lined inner sleeve
– Protected in a plastic sleeve
– 33 rpm heaviness
STRICTLY Limited to 500 copies
DOES NOT INCLUDE BOOKLET

Test Pressing

NOTE! Test presses don’t ship until the release date!

Limited to 20 copies. Only 13 for sale. – Comes with Gatefold

Thanks so much for tuning in Majestic people! This is a blinder of a track from an incredible album and we’re thrilled to continue on the Karloff journey with you. All Hail Saint Karloff!

facebook.com/SaintKarloff/
saintkarloff.bandcamp.com
instagram.com/saintkarloff

majesticmountainrecords.bigcartel.com
facebook.com/majesticmountainrecords/
instagram.com/majesticmountainrecords/

Saint Karloff, “Psychedelic Man”

So, I don’t know this band at all and I’m not going to pretend otherwise. Høstsabbat, in celebrating its 10th anniversary this October in Oslo, has brought on Akersborg as the first announcement for its stage focused solely on Norwegian artists and bands, and while I like to think myself familiar with at least some of the country’s heavy oeuvre, I know about as much about hardcore as I do about TV/VCR repair and the rest of the stuff that the Polytechnic Institute advertised degrees in in the ’90s. There are a great many things I don’t know, not just this band, I guess is what I’m saying.

Fortunately I have a few months in which to be introduced, since October remains a ways away, and I’m sure Akersborg won’t be the only homework I’ll have to do before I board the flight to the fest. Nonetheless, as I’ve said before, the Høstsabbat crew more than has my trust — not that they need it, because they don’t — when it comes to picking interesting and on-stage-killer acts, so here’s me, taking the lineup adds as they come. I’m just happy I’ve managed to keep up this far. We’ll see about next Friday when we get there.

From social media:

HØSTSABBAT 2023 – (#128293#)AKERSBORG(#128293#)

The confirmed bunch of artists so far, has left our Norwegian stage more or less unnoticed. That is about to change starting now.

Verkstedet has grown into a sinful pit of pure live mayhem over the years, and we absolutely adore it. Maybe its the crossing of that street that does something to our mindset. Like it provides an energized urge to lose oneself completely in the sounds of whatever fresh Norwegian talent is playing.

The sound at Verkstedet is sick, and just as encompassing and punishing as in the church, just the other way around – if that makes any sense? You can honestly feel and breathe the riffs, sweat and energy coming from the bands. It’s like a sauna, steam-filled with the essence of Høstsabbat.

Nothing beats a killer floor show.

And speaking of that:

It’s hard to think of a more fitting first announcement to this very stage than the futuristic avant-gard-ish, hardcore bliss of AKERSBORG.

Its so refreshing with the out-of-the-box-thinking twists and turns that is lurking around every corner. At times frenetic, furious and devastating. A fistful of anger knocking you straight down. The next moment AKERSBORG is acting like its own evil twin: joyful, catchy but also jazzy, with hooks coming at you like Don Johnson in Miami Vice.

There is some kind of twisted 80´s flavor mixed into the spaced out brilliance of AKERSBORG.

Please welcome Akersborg to Høstsabbat 2023 – 10th Anniversary!

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

On March 9, atmospheric post-rockers Orsak:Oslo will release “068 The Swell,” the first single from their upcoming second long-player, In Irons, which will be released April 27 on Vinter Records. The band were last heard from in 2021, when their Vemod/Skimmer LP came out through Kapitän Platte, and the new song offers a not-insignificant sampling of where they’re at these two years later. The drift and meditative sensibility of their last work is intact — “068 The Swell” is hypnotic in its lulling — and no, I don’t mean meditative as in-genre code for an Eastern influence. But while the serenity is consistent, there’s a definite current of movement amid that flow and the song as a whole feels more active as a result, evocative of the watery nature of its title.

How does that apply to the impending record as a whole? Fair question. I haven’t heard it so can’t comment, but if you’ve heard the band before, the grace that lured you in in the first place is well accounted for here, as Orsak:Oslo continue to explore the peaceful moments within moments through audio. While I’m not speculating about things I don’t know, I won’t presume to say how you feel about that kind of thing, but I sure as shit am looking forward to this album.

Here’s PR wire info, followed of course by the video, which was made using AI animation as I suspect an increasing number of videos will be soon enough:

ORSAK:OSLO: Watch/Share ‘068 The Swell’ Video From Norway and Sweden Located KRAUTROCK/POST-ROCK Band; Sophomore Full-Length ‘In Irons’ To Drop Aril 27th Through VINTER RECORDS

Orsak:Oslo is one of those hidden gems, always grinding, always perfecting the imperfections. The four piece has been lurking around the underground for years, steadily pawing its way with a mellow, laidback, but yet intense sound. «068 The Swell» starts off with an Orsak:Oslo benchmark-groove. And they don´t let go. They never do. Orsak:Oslo takes you on a journey right off the bat, and the trip feels delicious.

First single «068 The Swell» off their upcoming full length «IN IRONS», is out March 9th on Vinter Records.

Says the band: “The Swell captured the essence of Orsak:Oslo in just minutes. After being separated by borders for nearly 3 years, these seven minutes of music is what came to life after we finally met again.

“The fact that three years of bottled up creative energy ended up with this slow, churning and almost anticlimactic groove is perhaps a mystery to some, but it is immensely unveiling of how we fashion songs: We do this first and foremost to make meaningful musical conversations and expressions.

“The steady ebb and flow from the guitars in combination with the heavy, but almost loitering drum beat gives us a feeling of rising waters. It’s like the oceans reclaiming their old territories, taking back the land that was once part of the ocean floor.”

https://www.facebook.com/orsakoslo/
https://www.instagram.com/orsakoslo/
https://orsakoslo.bandcamp.com/
https://www.orsakoslo.com/

https://www.facebook.com/vinterrecords
https://www.instagram.com/vinter_records/
http://vinterrecords.com/

Orsak:Oslo, “068 The Swell” AI video premiere