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[EN] In 2016, we celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the cult album Nemesis Divina. SATYRICON will take benefit on the Fall of Summer’s beach to celebrate this milestone. For the newbies around here, Nemesis Divina is their third disc, yet their most famous one. It represents the triumph of a black metal with Norse folk influences, in which the rawest and most aggressive riffs have pagan rhythms and spirit. This third album carries only masterpieces that SATYRICON never stopped playing, such as Mother North or the war hymn Du som hater Gud. Nemesis Divina is also the last old school black metal piece from SATYRICON, before evolving and exploring a new style of extreme metal. SATYRICON always thought outside the box, however, it is more than natural that they celebrate their album’s anniversary, which marked History, our History.
[EN] The Plague Within, the fourteenth PARADISE LOST album released last year, was a glorious return to the past for the British institution. Combing elements from their first six albums with a new, more modern approach, it was the perfect album to recapture their momentum after over a decade of turmoil, the crow-splitting ‘One Second’ and ‘Host’ having divided the massive fanbase they had gathered with the gigantic success of ‘Draconian Times’. Then again, this ain’t their first resurrection after all isn’t it? After all, we’re talking here of a band that keep reinventing themselves, year after year. But to some, they’ll forever remain the leading figure of the (un)holy early 90’s doom/death British trinity, next to ANATHEMA and MY DYING BRIDE. Well, those old-school fans should then rejoice as for their upcoming FoS appearance, the lads have decided to focus on their first two albums for a very old-school set, determined to revive Lost Paradise and Gothic flickering flame. Doom on!
[ENG] Let’s face it: if we still have to tell you who the fuck SAMAEL are, it then probably means you’re here by accident. For those in the know, the reappearance of their original logo, over twenty years after its last appearance, was a good hint of what was to come, especially after last year’s special run of gigs where the band, besides unveiling their brand-new line-up, were dedicating most of their set to their 1994 ‘Ceremony of Opposites’ played in its entirety. And indeed, 2016 will be a year firmly under the sign of the Horned One as the Swiss have decide to go a step further by coming up with a setlist centered around their first three albums, including their cult debut ‘Worship Him’ that paved the way for the whole scene back in 1991. This is going to be SAMAEL at their most evil and black-metal selves so saying that their upcoming FALL OF SUMMER appearance will be an event not to be missed feels like an understatement, to say the least… 
[ENG] If there’s one band out there that knows how to put out a statement of intent, it’s UNLEASHED. In a way, they said everything they had to say about their mission back in 1997: “Any challenge you have, we accept/Death metal is here to stay/My warriors scream for me/Death metal victory!” (‘Death Metal Victory’, Warrior) On top of that they’ve been around since 1989, have had only one proper line-up change (which was over twenty years ago) and are a brilliant example of true DIY dedication, as all four members have their own specific duty (merch, booking, engineering etc.) beside their musical task. And of course, they are one of the finest purveyors of death metal the Swedish way, preceding the whole Viking trend by a solid twenty years. These days the band rarely tours, but when they hit a festival, you can be sure they’ll destroy everything in sight. So, warriors, scream for them when the longships are coming!!! 
[ENG] You never know what to expect from Niklas Kavforth and his SHNING and that’s the beauty of it all. Amazingly enough, tis maniacal Swede first formed the band when he was only 12 (!) years old, first perpetuating KATATONIA early ‘depressive’ sound before taking a life on its own. Over their career, the band have released nine albums, each of them showing a different facette of his telent. But it’s truly live that they have come up with stuffs of legend. Totally unpredictable, he can ends up beating his own band members, cutting himself or just mocking the whole ‘rock n’roll’ cannon. Whatever mood he’s in, he never fails to deliver though. While the early ‘depressive black-metal’ vibe isns’t as present as it used to, they’re still engulfed in darkness, nevertheless darkness never too far away from the light. In order to celebrate these two decades dedicated to dark forces, SHINING will perform a special set, playing songs from all albums, and especially songs never performed live yet. Get ready for a new page of the band’s history to be written during FoS! 
[ENG] Unless you’re naive and even if (blasphemy!) you somehow don’t know much about them, you’re probably already telling yourself that a pioneer of the whole speed/thrash movement from the 80’s set out to make their grand return to European soil for the first time since 1985 with their original line-up and armed with classics like “Heavy Metal Maniac” shouldn’t play it nice and smooth, should they? You’re damn right headbangers, and that’s exactly why one should love EXCITER! Sure thing, apart from a quick pause they took in the late 80’s, one can’t really say those veterans (who’ve been around since 1980) ever disappeared off the surface of the planet as they’ve kept on putting out great albums in the 2000’s. But what really is going to make their upcoming appearance of this year’s FALL OF SUMMER so special is that it’s going the first time in France not only in a long time but also featuring the band’s original line-up: yes, the very same three guys (including drummer/singer Dan Beehler) who committed to tape their incredible three first albums, namely Heavy Metal Maniac (1983), Violence & Force (1984) and Long Live the Loud (1985) without whom there probably won’t be today any thrash scene to speak of. So be prepared for a show that’ll reek of denim & leather, furious headbanging and unshameful 80’s worshipping, fuck yeah!
[EN] Even your mom knows it and fuck those straight-edges : metal and beers go well hand in hand and way before everybody else, the German maniacs known as TANKARD got that. Hence the long string of albums (sixteen and counting!) they’ve dedicated to that jolly beverage best served cold on a hot summer night. Out of the four big thrash metal maestros from the other side of the Rhine, they’ve always been the goofiest and they always how to throw one hell of a party on stage. But some cruel twist of fate, they haven’t been playing in France as much as they wished so the whole FALL OF SUMMER staff made sure to have next to them the best drinks possible to lure them out of their cave. And it worked. So get ready to quench your thirst and mosh ‘til you drop!
[EN] In the begining, Vader were playing heavy speed metal, like most of the early 80' bands. But, around 87, when they turned into pure death metal, serious things began and Earache Records, with their legendary intuition, soon signed them, for a short time though. More than twenty-five years and twelve studio albums later, despite a chaotic line-up and a couple of experimentations generally underrated (like those on the Kingdom EP), the band haven't betrayed their original spirit. Like cornerstones as Bolt Thrower or Suffocation (who also played at Fall of Summer and shared stage with the band many times), Vader contribute to, at a time when virtuosity often takes priority over inspiration, strenghtening the basis of a genre which sometimes dilutes in excess of technic and brutality… These Polish guys nail it !
[EN] Often labelled as ‘progressive’ the truth is that GOBLIN never truly belonged to any proper categorization but the one they carved themselves. They are forever associated with the ‘Giallo’ movement - those especially graphic and violent Italian horror movies from the 70’s - in general and cult director Dario Argento in particular. For him, they did some incredible soundtrack works (Profondo Rosso, Suspiria) still regarded to this day as the finest example of how music can complete images shown on the silver screen and summon the creepiest atmosphere possible, a featuring revered by many metalheads, among them most famously Mikaël Åkerfledt from OPETH. No wonder that George A. Romero himself ended up also using their services for the original soundtrack of ‘Dawn of the Dead’ in 1978… Amazingly enough, the band never properly toured France in their prime so to see the version of the band led by their keyboard player and maestro Claudio Simonetti playing their first gig here at the upcoming Fall of Summer festival will be quite an event in itself!
[EN]
[EN] Soon.
[ENG] Since 2000 and the end of CONQUEROR, REVENGE has been terrifying the underground Extreme Metal scene. The Canadians’ music is quite simple: the most violent music ever, as fast as possible, without bullshit melodies, good feelings or hesitation. REVENGE is synonymous with integrity, its identity is clearly defined: artworks are sober with this illegible yet classic logo, human skulls and standard album titles, three words separated by one point. As for the music, they have a clear strategy: primal, raw and savage Black/Death Metal. Each instrument is abused by musicians, in order to plunge the listener into a musical chaos. The recent release of their latest album is the perfect timing for REVENGE to set Fall of Summer on fire, for what will most definitely be a cult show. This is a gig that cannot be missed, though only the most extreme metalheads need apply. 
[ENG] The recent passing of Martin Kearns (BOLT THROWER drummer) may have put on hold (until further notice) the warmasters, but as every good soldier knows, the violence never truly ends. Proof being the surprising arrival of MEMORIAM, a super-group that celebrates the return of former BT skinbasher Andy Whale to the front, reuniting here with with his bandmate the mighty Karl Willets. Joing them are guitarist Scott Fairfax and four stringer Frank Healy from BENEDICTION and SACRILEGE, lads you could label as newbies. For the time being, only two tracks have surfaced by their intense rumblings and mishmash of death-metal and crust have set the underground fire so as a result, the few shows the band will give this summer, including their FALL OF SUMMER appearance, are expected to set the world on fire to say the least… 
[ENG] If you look for the definition of ‘devotees’ in the dictionary, you’ll probably end up seeing the name NIFELHEIM printed there. Sure thing, they may have more spikes than a retail stores and more attitude than anybody else but what else would you expect from such maniacs who’ve always cited as influences both the crazy Brazilian scene from the late 80’s (SARCOFAGO, VULCANO etc.) and the former eastern bloc mavericks of TORMENTOR? And let’s not forget the godfathers, such as IRON MAIDEN or VENOM… See, when they’re not out there putting posers’ heads on a stick for all disbelievers to see, they’re waving high and proud the metal flag. As they’ve just celebrated their 25th anniversary and while we’re still waiting for a hypothetical fifth album (come on guys!!!), One of their only two announced date so far of 2016 will be at the FALL OF SUMMER festival so here’s a rare chance to go in full fist banging mania with the Bröderna Hårdrock, namely Tyrant (bass) and Hellbutcher (bass) plus their accomplices. You don’t agree with us? As the band continuously keep saying then: FUCK OFF!!!! 
[ENG] If you’re reading this, you probably know already that FALL OF SUMMER stands proudly for fucking old-school metal, as if the 80’s never stopped. So you can imagine how proud the whole staff felt when it was officially announced that WHIPLASH would come to seek and destroy on this third edition… Yes, WHIPLASH, the one cursed, yet cult, thrash band per se, responsible among others of one of the genre’s most raging debut ever, 1986’s ‘Power and Pain’. A giant in the making whose path was sadly cut short by label problems and multiple line-up changes. Even their peers wouldn’t argue with that statement and it was no coincidence that when Dave Lombardo abruptly left SLAYER for a couple of months after the release of ‘Reign of Blood’, it was WHIPLASH own skinbasher, Tony Scaglione, who was chosen to fill his shoes. Through thick and thin, the band have survived despite the trends and are still guided in 2016 with an iron fist by their original guitarist, Tony Partaro, who recently recruited a brand new and hungry drummer, Tom Tierney. So as they themselves famously said once : thrash ‘til death !!!!
[ENG] Like many other things in life, Death Metal is a big vicious circle. As we’re about to celebrate its thirtieth birthday, the genre has seen many highs and even more lows. But the fact is that whenever it’s been deemed as ‘passé’ or ‘finished’,there’s always been one glorious out-of- nowhere band to pick it up again and put it back on its feet, waking up the scene in the process and urging all the other acts – young and old – to reassess their game and join the party. In the recent years, one of those proved to be DEAD CONGREGATION, despite the fact that they’ve released only two albums in their thirteen years plus career. But what albums! First 2008’s “Grave of the Archangels” and six years later “Promulgation of the Fall” literally crushed everything on their (war)path with their oppressive yet dominant take on the genre. While some of their past gigs have already gone down in history as ‘monumental’, such as their headlining spot for the last ever edition of the ‘Killtown Deathfest’ in Copenhagen in 2014, in 2016 it’s at the FALL OF SUMMER that you’ll be able to feel their wrath… Are you ready??? 
[EN] When we talk about Funeral Doom, we obviously think about the genre’s pioneers, THERGOTHON and SKEPTICISM. These guys never left the scene and still have a vision of this music that achieves to get unanimity for each album. Even though the Finnish are taking their time to release each LP - five in twenty-five years - because they want to refine each track, each single word and each idea. Their last album, Ordeal, released last year, is the proof that they manage to evolve in a very definite music genre, in order to keep their uniqueness. Indeed, the album was recorded live in front of an audience, with an outstanding performance. There is no surprise on the SKEPTICISM status of cult band, despite their slow activity. During the show in Fall of Summer, the audience will witness a real funeral experiment, carried by heavy riffs, doomed rythms and bewitching yet uncanny organ melodies. SKEPTICISM will for sure doom the festival, for the sake of slow and intense music fans, since the Finnish guys are a great value of Funeral Doom, in any situation.
[ENG] Drugs are bad, we all know that right ?! But extreme metal under drugs is altogether a whole different kind of proposal. Then again, thanks to the fine lads in ORANSSI PAZUZU, we don’t have to guess anymore how it’d feel like. After all, what ESOTERIC did to doom, they did it to black metal, turning the genre inside out by bathing in an acid pool of psychedelic hallucinations and mind bending tricks. Those Finns have already smacked down dead the esteemed ROADBURN festival despite its bulletproof jacket so one can expect the FALL OF SUMMER to enter a whole new level of existence with them. You’ve been warned… 
[EN]
[EN] Those who think that french heavy means corny heavy have apparently never heard of ADX. Active since 1984, except a few hiatuses, a couple of line up changes and shitloads of cult records full of furious speed metal and lyrics about history of France and classical litterature, ADX are far from being dead and still host three original members, now joined by two young headbangers from death, power and thrash metal scenes. Over orgies of double bass and harmonized guitars, you'll meet Caligula, le Marquis de Sade, Attila the Hun, le Maréchal Ney, Gilles de Rais, Bloody Mary and many more. The tenth and last record named Non serviam focuses, in the exact spirit of the early albums, on heresy, dissidence and revolution, topics that should inspire many…
[EN] In 1982, VENOM released “Black Metal”, an album considered as a milestone. In 2005, a bunch of Swedish lads, not really clean, took the song Die Hard as band name. There is no surprise to know that they play an old school thrash/black metal, with a 80’s feeling sweating from each spike. Sharpened riffs, fast battery patterns, harsh vocals, all the codes are respected. This is a real back to the future, thanks to spikes, ammunition belts and reversed cross in His name. Because on top of the drummer, DIE HARD share with NIFELHEIM the taste for provocation, and we should witness a competition for the most Metal band that will take place between them two at Fall of Summer. If you’re into VENOM, SODOM, DESTRUCTION or ONSLAUGHT, you should be at ease with the Uppsala guys. Far from modern thrash, DIE HARD continue to perform a stinky thrash metal, the one who shows up at parties already drunk, and who will be kicked out after messing things up. What is for sure is that they will expect the audience to kick asses in the pit as hard as they kick asses on stage. Thrash ‘til Death !
[ENG] Let’s face it: how many bands coming seemingly out of nowhere (more precisely Wichita, Kansas in that case) do you know, who have become legends in their own rights and are revered like gods in countries like Greece or Germany while still putting out albums almost four decades on??? Yep, based on that assumption alone, both MANILLA ROAD and their mastermind Mark Shelton remain unique. The band themselves have released no less than seventeen (yep, seventeen) albums and remain a reference in epic heavy-metal, a sub-genre they almost solely created. As for Shelton, the man’s always had a vision - fuelled by Celtic legends and the writings of Robert E. Howard, creator of Conan – and never betrayed it, despite the many struggles he had to face. Besides, MANILLA ROAD always had a special relationship with France as this was the very same country which gave them their big break back in 1985, with the then Paris-based label BLACK DRAGON which released their legendary Open the Gates album. So it’s a true honour for the FALL OF SUMMER festival to welcome those warriors that will urge you to drag your women by the hair and hold your swords high. By Crom!!! 
[ENG] GRIM REAPER are sadly one of those too many bands with amassive potential yet whose career was crushed way too early by the evil ways of the record industry. If you ask any self-confessed New Wave of British Metal fan, yes that very same movement which gave metal a whole new lease of life back in the early 80’s with a solid dose of punk attitude, what is according to him or her the best ten albums of that period, he/she’ll most probably end up citing either See You in Hell (1983) or Fear No Evil (1985). Based on those two records alone, GRIM REAPER should still be hailed as the true indestructible powerhouse they were then.
Alas, the wrong record deal, the wrong label and the wrong manager were enough to destroy all those promises, leading to the band early demise in 1988. But the story doesn’t end there as one man decided that it should not stop there: since 2006, their legendary former vocalist Steve Grimmett has been fighting to keep their name and repertoire alive. Back up by his solo band, he’s been playings gig since then with a setlist exclusively made up of songs taken from the three GRIM REAPER albums, performed with respect yet with a rejuvenated sense of passion. Being an old-school (and proud of it!) festival that refuses to forget its roots, the FALL OF SUMMER is super proud of welcoming this NWOBHM legend. See you in Hell! 
[ENG] After the Japanese invasion of SABBAT and METALUCIFER last year, this year’s representative of the Land of the Rising Sun had to be ABIGAIL. Starting with traditional Black Metal music, they went to a rawer and more direct music, with a Thrash and Punk feeling. Following the underground metal legacy, ABIGAIL is releasing every year tons of discs (no less than seven releases in 2015), and mainly live recordings from their gigs around the world. Live music is one of the main reasons for ABIGAIL to be, so be sure to experience an intense, violent and straight to the face gig. ABIGAIL will throw a bleak vibe on Fall of Summer with their favorite lyrical themes which are Satan, porn and bitches. After all, the self-appointed “most evil band in Japan” will land in our region in order to pervert our souls. 
[EN] Despite having left the scene for a few years, PHAZM came back on stage in 2012, then in 2016 with their fourth album, Scornful of Icons. Eight years have passed between this album and the previous one, during which PHAZM have grown and matured their music and their lyrics. If their black/death’n roll feeling is still present in the background, Lorraine guys are now playing black metal with Nordic spirit, straight and without compromise. The past groove is now replaced by shamanic and folk spirit, while keeping their war vibes. After all those years of silence, and despite some line-up changes, Pierrick kept his rage, and he will definitely look for allies in the audience to continue his battle. If you like cold and furious black metal, the meeting point is in front of the stage, PHAZM will not disappoint you !
[ENG] MERRIMACK is one of the few still active french black metal bands founded in the 1990’s, and above all still devoted to its initial identity. Despite many line-up changes in the past, the last original band member Perversifier managed to gather individuals now bounded since 2010. Even though Parisians have matured their music, spreading a more spiritual and dogmatic black metal, their managed to keep this particular old school spirit. While fierce assaults are rarer, creeping and grim parts go together with impious lyrics in one putrid entity. MERRIMACK can count on an experienced line-up and a charismatic singer, Vestal, being literally possessed by the words. Together, they will lead the audience towards abyss, wrapped with bleak melodies. Fall of Summer will be the time for a new black metal ceremony, proclaimed by a band which has nothing to prove. Let the MERRIMACK’s venom going though your veins. 
[EN]Born five years ago, HEXECUTOR have a strong live reputation despite having released only one demo, one EP, and one split album with MANZER. While their first album is not yet out, Breton guys have done big bunch of gigs, from tours to festivals, and are now recognized for their intense live act. They are taking their roots in the German and American old school scene, especially DESTRUCTION or WHIPLASH. HEXECUTOR’s recipe is rather simple: hysterical old school thrash metal, high tone vocals, wild solos and rhythm riffs reminding heavy metal. Everything you are expecting for a furious headbanging, and for some ass-kicking in the pit. The new main act of the french thrash metal scene will set Fall of Summer on fire, for the delight of the battle jacket, belt-bullet and the old school sneakers lovers. Thrash ‘til death ! 
[ENG]Celebrating 15 years of living, HELL MILITIA will play this year at Fall of Summer. The Parisians prefer to give fewer shows yet more qualitative ones, in order to keep the same impact each time they play live. The reason is that the band has a stage will that makes it impossible to miss for all black metal maniacs. With years, their music is less straight to the point, yet more insidious and more creeping, however the live shows are still bloody intense. Even if they hired a new singer in 2013, HELL MILITIA still has its genuine rage, and he brought more evil influences to songwriting and to live acts. The public is being squeezed by this dirty, filthy, angry and impious black metal whatever be the condition: clubs or open airs. HELL MILITIA takes its source from the roots of black metal, and brings punk elements to strengthen it. Their black mass should awake the filthiest instinct in the public, and they shall rejoice.
(by Christian ‘Skay’) |
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