Posted in Whathaveyou on June 25th, 2026 by JJ Koczan
A strong lineup for Descendants of Crom VIII is nothing new. The annual Pittsburgh-based celebration of underground heavy returns this Sept. 11-12 with 14 acts playing at Thunderbird Music Hall, including Tombs and Novembers Doom headlining, a rare appearance from The Midnight Ghost Train and Gozu coming down from Boston to support their new album, among others.
I’m pretty sure this is the complete bill, as it’s basically in line with last year’s edition, but some shuffling may take place between now and September, you never know. I’ve never had the pleasure of hitting this one — Pittsburgh is like a six-hour drive, minimum, and that’s apparently just far enough to be really far — but it’s always cool to see who’s going to be there, and this looks like a cool mix of styles, geographies, and levels of intensity.
Behold:
Blackseed Services and Thunderbird presents: Descendants of Crom VII
Saturday, September 11 and 12th, 2026 Thunderbird Music Hall 4053 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA
For nearly a decade, Descendants of Crom has brought together fans and artists from across the heavy underground for a weekend dedicated to doom, sludge, psych, black metal, post-metal, and the darker edges of heavy music.
Founded out of a passion for discovering and supporting original heavy music, Descendants of Crom has continually sought to bring both revered underground artists and emerging voices to Pittsburgh while helping foster a thriving regional heavy music community.
FRIDAY – SEPTEMBER 11 TOMBS FRAYLE WITCHING BRIMSTONE COVEN SUNDRAS
SATURDAY – SEPTEMBER 12 NOVEMBERS DOOM THE MIDNIGHT GHOST TRAIN HUNTSMEN NIXIL GOZU MOTHERLESS IRONFLAME FALSE GODS THE LONG HUNT
Single Day Passes are also made available on Thunderbird’s Site.
Built through a DIY spirit and presented with a professional approach, Descendants of Crom has become a destination for those who value authenticity, atmosphere, and the shared experience of underground music.
Descendants of Crom VIII returns to Thunderbird Café & Music Hall on September 11 & 12, 2026 for two days of immersive atmosphere, crushing volume, and unforgettable performances.
Posted in Whathaveyou on February 17th, 2022 by JJ Koczan
Nearly two years ago, Descendants of Crom IV did a full unveiling of its lineup for a fest set to take place that October. You know the story from there. That’s the bad news. Good news is that many of the acts announced for that lineup are carrying over to this one. And as that includes the likes of Rebreather, Heavy Temple, Horseburner, Horehound (yeah that’s right; I know it’s her festival; I actually think her band is good), Orodruin and Evoken, the news is even better. The roster of acts was announced the other day, but the schedule is new info — I happen to be somebody who appreciates a good timetable — and tickets are on sale as of right… now.
Hey, you know what? You go right ahead and you have yourself a great day. Maybe that means buying tickets for a thing? Don’t you kind of want to get it all in as quickly as possible before the next variant hits and we’re huddled down again, desperately hoping Costco has the Scott back in stock while trying not to breathe or to inhale from the side of our mouth that that person is standing way too close on? I do. Spend that fucking money.
The fourth annual Descendants of Crom, A Gathering of the Heavy Underground, will be held again this year in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on both floors of Cattivo Nightclub. The events begin early Friday evening and are followed by an all-dayer Saturday.
The underground scene of heavy music is healthy and Pittsburgh is the perfect location to host such an event. We’re feeding great regional bands to a hungry crowd and utilizing legendary, international fan-favorites to entice music fans in the door with the support of our amazing local artists. Descendants of Crom began in 2017 and has been a strong contender among other established underground music festivals. We aspire to become the premier music event of the Northeast and I invite you to become part of the 2022 event! After all, we are all Descendants of Crom.
This event is 21+, ID Required Your commitment now helps us prepare better so, mark your calendars and get your tickets today!
LOCATION Cattivo 146 44th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
DATE & TIME June 3, 2022, 6:30 PM – June 4, 2022 – 11:30 PM
Posted in Whathaveyou on December 30th, 2019 by JJ Koczan
A wintry companion to each autumn’s Shadow Woods fest, the inaugural Shadow Frost Music & Arts Festival is set to take place not in the forest — probably a practical choice, given, you know, winter and all — but at the Clarion Inn Frederick Event Center in Frederick, Maryland, on Feb. 21 and 22. And let’s be honest, that’s not as romantic or as kvlt an idea as having a party out in the woods in the waning days of summer, but from where I sit, it’s also kind of awesome. Think of it this way: Here’s an all-ages festival infiltrating an otherwise normal, unassuming space that, instead of a campground, gives you on-site hotel amenities. Of all the fests you’ve ever been to, how many have listed “free breakfast” and “Saturday morning yoga” — which I’m going to assume will be led by Darsombra, who are also playing, and if that’s not true I don’t want to know — among its resources? Imagine going for a swim before you see some “pizza-themed punk/grind.” This could be your life.
Like Shadow Woods, the lineup for Shadow Frost 2020 carries a rich and admirable sense of curation, loyal to its Chesapeake home, but unafraid as well to branch out in multiple directions, as festival director Mary Spiro continues to proliferate her vision of an underground that transcends genre barriers and unites communities who probably have more in common than they think.
Awesome project, especially for a first run. I hope it goes off without a hitch:
SHADOW FROST MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL: Frederick, Maryland’s Exclusive Indoor Winter Gathering Announces Updated Lineup + Merch Presales
SHADOW FROST MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL, Frederick, Maryland’s exclusive indoor winter gathering, will take place February 21st and 22nd, 2020.
Produced by Shadow Woods Productions, LLC, this inaugural, hotel-based gala will feature Oakland’s crushing Vastum with a special set from their guitarist/ambient industrialist Leila Abdul-Rauf. The lineup rounds out with East Coast cult thrashers Deceased, Vermont’s thunderous Barishi, Boston traditional metallers Magic Circle, and Houston’s Doomstress. Also performing are heavy psych throwbacks Alms and the otherworldly Darsombra (both from Baltimore), Detroit black metalists Fell Ruin, and up-and-coming doom maestros from Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Yatra. Tickets and the full daily lineups can be found here at THIS LOCATION.
Exclusive SHADOW FROST merch has also been released for presale until February 1st. Designed by Legerdemain’s Brian Sheehan, Wailing Wizard’s Rebecca Magar, and Art Noir’s Yuriy Seroff, these phenomenal creations all evoke the chilling winter months. Merch can be found HERE.
SHADOW FROST is heavily focused on Maryland-based artists including Alms, Darsombra, Spiral Grave, Radamanthys, and Yatra and is geared toward those who want to step outside their comfort zone and explore. “There is so much great music being created that totally flies under the radar in the music scene, even among people who seem to know a lot about music trends,” said SHADOW FROST producer M A Spiro. “I am not trying to host bands that you can see at a lot of other festivals, but I want to showcase a few of the best that that underground music has to offer. That has been my philosophy with every event I have done, and I don’t plan to change that.”
While previous Shadow Woods fests have been outdoors, the hotel setting provides attendees with unique opportunities to mingle. Hotel amenities include an indoor pool and game room, tavern serving traditional pub fare, and free breakfast every morning. Festivities will occur in the ballroom and pre-function area of the event center, which is attached via an indoor corridor to the hotel. No need to step outside in the cold! SHADOW FROST will also host arts and music vendors, workshops, Saturday morning yoga, table games, and other fun activities. The fest will have the feel of an event such as a horror or comic convention.
Friday – February 21st: Barishi — Vermont prog-psych rock Leila Abdul-Rauf — Oakland dark ambient multi-instrumentalist Doomstress — Texas heavy rock Alms — Baltimore proto-metal Fell Ruin — Detroit blackened sludge Capitalist — New Jersey crust grind Infinite Pizza — Baltimore pizza-themed punk/grind
Saturday – February 22nd: Vastum — Oakland death metal Deceased — East Coast death metal legends Darsombra — Baltimore trans-apocalyptic galaxy rock Arsantiqva — New York black metal Magic Circle — Boston traditional heavy metal Frost Giant — Philadelphia viking metal Volur — Toronto ambient doom Spiral Grave — Maryland/Virginia heavy metal Witching — Philadelphia blackened sludge Yatra — Maryland death doom Mo’ynoq — Raleigh DSBM Polemicist — Philadelphia blackened death Radamanthys — Maryland tech death
SHADOW FROST is an all ages event, however, children’s tickets (ages 5-17) will be available at the door with a PAID parent or guardian on-premises. Children under 5 get in for FREE with a paid parent or guardian.
