Posted in Whathaveyou on December 29th, 2025 by JJ Koczan
That’s a heavy night in June at the 2026 Västerås Doomfest, put on at least in part by members of hometown pummellers 10,000 Years and highlight the brasher side of Sweden’s heavy underground. If you’re gonna do that, you probably want Firebreather on the bill. Oh, and Spelljammer. Oh, and, yeah, 10,000 Years too. I could keep doing this if you want. Never mind.
You may have noticed Hästspark also played the Norwegian Tundra and Lightning festival, and they also played Truckfighters Fuzz Fest in 2023. Their 2025 video for “Sounds of Her Nature” reveals that the recording was helmed by Johan Rockner (Dozer) and that Robert Lamu (Skraeckoedlan) mixed. No wonder the song sounds so good. Maybe more to come in the New Year?
From socials:
VÄSTERÅS DOOMFEST 2026
Death Valley Productions presents in partnership with Merchprint and O’Learys Västerås:
FIREBREATHER
Sweden’s number one riff gods. Created from Matt Pike’s ribs, they thunder over Sweden, Europe and the world and put everything under ruins. Now it’s finally time to Västerås to get a taste of the car and we are very happy to announce Firebreather as the headliner for Västerås Doomfest 2026!
SPELLJAMMER
Lead-heavy and desert dusty riffdoom custom tailored for cosmic travel
HÄSTSPARK
Modern sounding stoner rock that delivers up to its name, straight in solar plexus
10,000 YEARS
Västerås own stonermetal heroes
HEXJAKT
Classic stonerdoom in updated blackfair gun
KLASTOS
Dirty chopper sledge with the fists in the highest chop
DARK OCEAN CIRCLE
Stoner-turned fuzz rock that always offers to dance
Posted in Whathaveyou on December 28th, 2023 by JJ Koczan
The following festival announcement — under the poster in the blue text; come on, you know how we do — was put through a major internet company’s translation matrix, so I will not at all vouch for the accurate swapout of English for Swedish generally, though it was kind of fun to see Domkraft called ‘Power of Domination,’ DRÖÖG come up listed as ‘DARE’ and Slôdder become ‘Slodger,’ which at least is pretty close. You might’ve seen the initial lineup reveal for the inaugural Västerås Doomfest in its native Swedish or another language entirely, depending on your preferences/geolocation tracking.
Wherever you’re coming from, those three — Domkraft headlining, and well they should — will be joined by 10,000 Years, who have a new record coming and whose Alex Risberg is among those putting the event together, as well as Mushroom Caravan Overdrive, Steel Freight and Käpprätt, rounding out a seven-band all-dayer on June 1 at O’Leary’s (a fine Swedish name if e’er my American ears heard one) as a beginning, a testing of concept and waters, and what looks like a hell of a show.
Kudos to Risberg and company (assuming he’s got some in the endeavor) on getting a thing going, and in the spirit of well wishes on a first-fest, here’s the lineup announcement and appropriate linkage:
Västerås Doomfest 2024
Death Valley Productions presents, in collaboration with O’Learys, the Contact Network and Merchprint, the first edition of Västerås Doomfest! This year’s big gathering, and definitive highlight, for all worshipers of the Riffet and all lovers of heavy, hard underground metal. A delight for both eyes (? ) and ears are promised!
Domkraft is one of Sweden’s biggest bands in the genre and one of the best and most respected worldwide. With their latest masterpiece “Sonic Moons”, and three more modern classics, in the luggage, they honor the festival’s first edition Västerås with a visit for the first time. As everyone who has seen Domkraft before can attest, it is a special experience to be crushed by Domkraft’s gravity in the live format and thus nothing you want to miss when the opportunity is given. We are therefore extremely proud to present Domkraft as the main act at Västerås Doomfest 2024! Riff hook repeat until numb.
10,000 YEARS
Västerås own stonermetal heroes! This trio has gone from clarity to clarity since the start of 2020. So far, they have gotten three shelved plates and a new one is on the way in 2024 via a new, exciting record contract. This together with intensive live performances around Sweden has made 10,000 Years a hot name in the heavy underground and now they finally make their home debut with us at Västerås Doomfest!
DRÖÖG
These Dalmas themselves call their music lumberjack jazz, and there’s something to it. Slightly retro-scented doomrock with prog vibes is also close to the truth, a bit like Witchcraft but better. But to really understand Dröög, you have to hear and see them yourself, and dive into Dröög’s dark tales.
MUSHROOM CARAVAN OVERDRIVE
Mushroom Caravan Overdrive worships daily life at Riffet’s altar and delivers heavy, draggy and psychedelic stonerdoom in Sleep school. Transcendental from start to finish and twenty-minute songs are promised. Did we mention that they are also the brains behind the legendary Krökbackenfestivalen?
SLÔDDER
Did you know that Värmland’s deep forests double as Sweden’s New Orleans? Well, that’s the truth. The Yankees have Eyehategod and we have Slôdder, that’s proof enough. With the fantastic “A Mind Designed To Destroy Beautiful Things”, Slôdder delivered one of the best albums of 2023 and their dirty sludge metal does not leave many listeners consciously after completed acquisition.
STEEL FREIGHT
Is it hardcore? Is that death metal? No, it’s steel freight! It’s a hell of a hard, angry and unique blend of said genres, perfect for those who are not afraid of the mosh pit.
KÄPPRÄTT
The raw punk swingers from Västerås open the festivities with dist, dance and a fist in solar plexus at the establishment.
See you in front of the stage, because in the beginning there was Riffet. And nothing would ever be after the Riffet.
