By Bona Pjarren
It really doesn’t seem like two minutes have passed since last year. I’m sitting in the O2 Academy for probably one of my favourite events, HRH Vikings. It looks like a very strong line up.
Shadowflag are the opening act. They are not Viking metal though. Their sound draws more from the black and death metal genres, so I can forgive them for that. Formed in 2013 and with three albums under their belt they have built a solid following. Shadowflag use backing tracks to augment the dark sinister atmosphere of their heavy set. Big brooding riffs and driving rhythms make for a great start to the day.
Rannoch are a progressive thrash metal band from the Midlands. So still no sign of a Viking metal band. Although their most recent album, ‘Between Two Worlds’, did feature a collaboration between themselves and Haerken, a folk metal band also from the Midlands. Technically brilliant their songs bludgeon the audience, however some of the melodic features were lost in the sound for the first part of their set, this may have been a sound mixing problem. The drums were programmed as they are in the process of trying to find a drummer with the technical ability to play their songs. So if any of you are up for a challenge, contact them. They did produce some very nice vocal harmonies to compliment the death metal screams. Despite the start I did enjoy their set.
Stage Two hosts Deadwood Lake, a black metal band with an ambient and melodic side. Well it’s closer to Viking, but still not Viking: this is The Darkside speaking … I really enjoyed this band. I had just arrived as they started up and thought that this bodes well. They are based in the UK and were formed in 2016. They have a single, two EPs and two albums out. They put in a descent set and are tight as a band. They are perhaps the most melodic of the bands so far.
The Infernal Sea are on the main stage. Formed in 2010 they have an impressive list of support slots under their belt. Unfortunately, the sound engineer was having major problems with bass/mid feedback, so we decided to save our ears and have a break at this point. It was a real shame as they did sound good in the bits you could hear.
We arrive back just in time to catch Fen on the main stage. Formed in 2006 in the Fens (hmm, I wonder where they got their name from?) of East Anglia, they have been on my radar for a while after getting a copy of ‘Malediction Fields’ on the recommendation of Joe Stamps (Hecate Enthroned). Now, I know I’m a Fenman myself, but there is no favouritism involved here. Fen have a truly individual sound, dark, evocative and bleak like only a misty fenland morning can be. Fen really stand out on the British metal circuit. Their sound is more reminiscent of the unique explorative music coming out of the Icelandic metal scene. And you know how highly I rate that. They mix grunts and screams with beautiful clean baritone and harmonized vocals together with imaginative use of their guitars. While not Viking metal they do have another worldly charm to their sound that fits well with the genre. Fen are a band that take you on epic ambient metal journeys through the magical mist laden flood lands of the Wash. A must-see band.
Skyclad are on stage two, which feels a bit strange. Needless to say, they are playing to a room that is rammed, they really should have been on the main stage as they broke the capacity of the room and some fans had to be turned away. Featuring Georgina Biddle, a fiddle player from the gods, and Kevin Ridley with his great vocals and whp also got going on the acoustic guitar, which really added to the folky sound. The whole thing was complimented by a tight and accurate rhythm and bass unit. They were another great band and the first folk metal band on the itinerary. Sadly, I only caught the end of their set due to interview commitments. But thanks to Gofor Gordon for his contribution for this review. One good thing about being the headline band on stage two was that they were allowed a richly deserved encore.
Elvenking are on the main stage. And, as Skyclad have just finished, their audience just increased by a lot. I think I caught Elvenking about two years ago. I hadn’t rated them until I saw them live, their albums do not do them credit. And, again, a band more in keeping with the Viking theme. The only way to truly experience Elvenking is to see them live. I am at the moment fighting Carol from The Darkside off of this review, as it’s not her cup of tea. Anyway, all the melodic sides of their albums are still present but with an added grittiness. Fantastic musicians they mix folk with metal in all the right ways. They are party metal +++. If you have never caught Elvenking live, and you’re into folk metal, then you have not lived. They finish their set with a rousing version of The Loser. I managed to keep my distance from Carol just long enough to finish this review.
Skálmöld are next. Their name means Age of Swords. lt might be just the sort of thing to placate the ravening Carol. From Reykjavik, Iceland they should offer something a bit different, after all Icelanders don’t do average. And what an entrance they make, grinding out great slabs of heavy Viking metal. Like one of Iceland’s many volcanoes they erupt onto the stage. And true to form I am greatly impressed by yet another formidable Icelandic band. The crowd are immediately into it, moshing and generally having a great time. And with three-part close vocal harmonies to compliment the extreme metal growls they go from strength to strength. Skalmold really know how to work a crowd, I loved the way they organised the Moses pit. All in all, a great set. And Thrain Arni Baldvinsson came out to mix with the fans afterwards: I always like to see this, and what a lovely man he is.
The mighty Finntroll finish up proceedings (sic). From Helsinki, strangely most of their lyrics are sung in Swedish. Combining black metal with folk metal they have built a formidable reputation over the 22 years they have been active. So, Troll ears at the ready they invade the stage with their ferocious take on folk metal, and they are taking no prisoners. Now Finntroll’s name is taken from the traditional Finnish tale of Christian monks first encounter with a wild man who killed most of their party, the survivors recounted their tale of woe on their return blaming the Finn Troll. Most of their lyrics revolve around the Troll race. ‘Solsagen’ is a great song of magic welding ancestor conjuring fire and literally translates as a tale of the sun. Finntroll are proud of their fine heritage. Other highlights were ‘Grottans Barn’ and ‘Ursvamp’. A lively audience demanded more, and an encore was soon forthcoming with an incredible version of ‘Trollhamerin’, it had to be really, after all it is one of their greatest tracks.
- PHOTO CREDIT: All photos © Simon Dunkerley/Hard Rock Hell. Copyright remains with the photographer.
- HRH Vikings III has been confirmed for the weekend of 28-29 November 2020, again at Sheffield’s O2 Academy.
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