HØSTSABBAT 2022 (Oslo, Norway)
October 7-8, 2022
by Jorge Patacas
There are plenty of festivals around Europe nowadays, but some of those are unique for one reason or another. Høstsabbat in Oslo, Norway is one of them. It’s a small festival with a lineup that mostly features bands which are along the lines of doom, psychedelic and stoner genres and it’s held in a church! Last time we attended this festival was in 2019 and just like then, they had three stages this time: the main stage located at the main room of the church, a second stage at the crypt and a third stage at the bar called Verkstedet located across the street. The festival was sold out once again this year and this is due to the loyalty of the fans who know it’s always good to check out some of the most important current acts in the underground scene as well as newcomers. What better way to discover great bands than seeing them live?
Also, the atmosphere that the church gives is pretty special, not only when you look around at the architecture and structure, but also when it comes to the acoustics. It totally fits the music as if the church was built for it.
The first band I got to see the first day was Needlepoint who played on the main stage. The Norwegians were delivering their fusion of folk, jazz and prog rock and after a few minutes, it was already clear that these guys are technical and know how to create psychedelic soundscapes. Their fifth album “Walking Up That Valley” was released in 2021 and it’s worth to check out if you’re a fan of this style.
The crypt at the church looks a bit like a basement, but seeing a band playing live down there is quite unique. It’s true that you usually have to be early, otherwise it can get crowded and you won’t get to see the band, but the intimate feeling of being there makes the experience a very special one. Dressed all in white, U-FOES took the stage and they made themselves heard with their chaotic hardcore-influenced style and screaming vocals. These guys who released their debut album “Whiteout” in 2018, left a good impression with their 30-minute set even though their sound is a bit different compared to most of the bands at the festival.
Upstairs in the chapel, the Swedish outfit The Moth Gatherer gave us an hour-long lesson on atmospheric post-metal. Their sludgy riffs together with the other instruments and Victor Wegeborn’s vocals are responsible for creating hypnotic passages that made the audience feel totally immersed in the show.
The five-piece Orkan released their second album “Livsgaranti” this year and fortunately, they were invited to promote it at Høstsabbat. Their music is not that easy to describe, but there are definitely influences of the 60’s and 70’s prog rock here which mixed with heavy guitar sounds and harmonies result in a formula that people clearly seem to dig. The Swedes managed to make people move with their swinging grooves and melodies turning the concert into a party.
Rezn from Chicago, US, was formed in 2016 and released three studio albums so far getting very good reviews from fans and critics. The doom outfit delivered a solid set full of droney almost meditative soundscapes with soft vocals, heavy riffs, bass grooves and a psychedelic touch that made them impossible to ignore. Some of the highlights were the opener “Waves of Sand”, the new single “Possession” and “Garden Green” from their latest effort “Chaotic Divine” (2020). Definitely one of the best performances of the day.
The crypt was very crowded early to witness the chaotic sounds and attitude from MoE, a Norwegian band that was founded in 2008 and released their latest album “The Crone” earlier this year. These guys know no borders when it comes to experimenting with music and that makes them unpredictable, going from calm and mystical passages to visceral sonic dissonance. A true avant-garde gem to behold.
The headliners Indian hit the chapel stage to do their only European show this year, so it was a unique opportunity to check out their one hour long performance. The band from Chicago was formed in 2003 and split up in 2015 only to come back two years later and keep delivering crushing sounds in the form of heavy doom, sludge and noise. They sound as hostile live as they do in their five studio albums released so far thanks to their harsh guitars, synth noises and Dylan O’Toole’s aggressive screaming style that sound as if he was being punished.
When I arrived to the church the second day, the local band Bismarck was playing at a very crowded crypt, so it was impossible to see them, but managed to listen to a new song called “Sky Father”.
Upstairs, the post-metal combo Norna devastated the chapel stage with thunderous riffs and a massive wall of sound. This is a new outfit hailing from Sweden and Switzerland featuring Tomas Liljedahl (Breach, The Old Wind) on vocals and guitars, Christophe Macquat and Marc Theurillat (Ølten) on bass and drums respectively. The trio has released their critically acclaimed debut album “Star is way way is Eye” via Vinter Records early this year and we got to enjoy it live since they decided to perform the six songs included on the record, resulting in a very powerful performance.
Vi Som Älskade Varandra Så Mycket from Sweden gave us a dose of emotionally-charged post-hardcore with their 40-minute set at the crypt. Melodic yet intense, atmospheric yet heavy, this five-piece from Stockholm captivated with songs from their two full-length albums, “Den Sorgligaste Musiken i Världen” (2014) and “Det Onda. Det Goda. Det Vackra. Det Fula” (2019).
One of the bands that got more ovation was Dopelord who played at the chapel stage which was packed at that time. Opening with the title track from their “Children of the Haze” album released in 2017, the Polish outfit delivered what they do best, stoner/doom with Sabbath-esque riffs that we all love, and it was clear this was what the audience was waiting for. Their latest effort “Sign of the Devil” came out in 2020 and it was represented by two songs, “Hail Satan” and “Doom Bastards”, closing their show with “Reptile Sun” from the aforementioned third album “Children of the Haze”. Definitely one of the highlights at this year’s Høstsabbat.
Another really nice surprise of the festival was the Portuguese trio The Black Wizards which performed for the first time ever in Norway. They were formed in 2014 and the core of their sound lies in the 70’s heavy with a bluesy spirit where Sabbath is definitely an influence. Add a bit of psychedelia and stoner and you get an explosive formula. The rhythm section was excellent creating lots of grooves while the guitar solos were something else being played with such passion, getting the applause from the crowd.
Årabrot is a name that has been around in the underground for many years now and they definitely have a loyal fanbase who showed up in front of the main stage while the band was getting ready to start the performance that marked their return to Høstsabbat after eight years. Inspired by noise rock with hints of gothic, Kjetil Nernes (vocals/guitars) and Karin Park (synths/electronics) developed a quite unique sound that keeps evolving with every album. This time the band focused mostly on their latest release “Norwegian Gothic” that came out last year via Pelagic Records, and the audience seemed very happy about it.
The trio Slomatics from Ireland returned to Norway after six years and were undoubtedly another highlight. Crushing heavy riffs, solid bass playing and a drummer/vocalist that possesses an amazing vocal range, in addition to a great mood and interaction with the audience were the keys for a successful performance. The packed crypt was looking for some doom metal and they got what they deserved. Let’s hope they return soon!
The last band to perform at the festival were the Swedes Graveyard who got inspired by heavy blues when they started out in 2006 and developed their own identity gaining a lot of followers on the way. As expected, they got a great response since the beginning with “Goliath”, a song from their “Lights Out” album (2012), but their most well-known songs “Uncomfortably Numb” and specially “Hisingen Blues” stood out with people singing the words and cheering a lot. After playing for around one hour, there was still time for the encore that consisted of three songs starting with “Low” where the bass has an essential role, followed by “Ain’t Fit To Live Here” and “The Siren”, another single for their “Hisingen Blues” album (2011).
That was the last song of the night as well as the last one of a new successful edition of Høstsabbat. The festival was very well-organized and the experience was great as usual. If you have the chance to attend, don’t miss the next edition in 2023!
