Midgardsblot is an annual

extreme metal Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. It has been defined as a "cluster of metal subgenres characterized by sonic, verbal, and visual tran ...

and

folk music Folk music is a music genre that includes #Traditional folk music, traditional folk music and the Contemporary folk music, contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be ca ...

festival in Borre,

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...

. The festival has been organised since 2015 and takes place at , museum in a former

Viking Vikings were seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded, and settled throughout parts of Europe.Roesdahl, pp. 9� ...

settlement and largest

burial mound Burial, also known as interment or inhumation, is a method of final disposition whereby a dead body is placed into the ground, sometimes with objects. This is usually accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing the deceased and objec ...

site in

Northern Europe The northern region of Europe has several definitions. A restrictive definition may describe northern Europe as being roughly north of the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, which is about 54th parallel north, 54°N, or may be based on other ge ...

. The programme of Midgardsblot includes tours of the area,

battle reenactment Combat reenactment is a side of historical reenactment which aims to depict historical forms of combat. This may refer to either single combat, melees involving small groups, or nearly full-scale battles with hundreds of participants. Depending ...

documentary A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...

screenings,

lecture A lecture (from ) is an oral presentation intended to present information or teach people about a particular subject, for example by a university or college teacher. Lectures are used to convey critical information, history, background, theo ...

s and

panel discussion A panel discussion, or simply a panel, involves a group of people gathered to discuss a topic in front of an audience, typically at scientific, business, or academic conferences, fan conventions, and on television shows. Panels usually include a ...

s, as well as a Viking village, a Viking market and a games arena for

archery Archery is the sport, practice, or skill of using a Bow and arrow, bow to shooting, shoot arrows.Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 17 The word comes from the Latin ''arcus'', meaning bow. Historically, archery has been used for hunting ...

, axe-throwing, and other activities. Each year the festival begins with a ''

blót (Old Norse and Old English) or (Old English) are religious ceremonies in Germanic paganism that centred on the killing and offering of an animal to a particular being, typically followed by the communal cooking and eating of its meat. Old Nors ...

'' ritual as a way for festival goers to come together. The ritual acknowledges old Norse gods, but not necessarily in a religious way. It is a way for people to get in touch with their past, connect to one another and the natural world. Individuals put their own meaning on the ceremony as they choose. The ceremony includes music by Folket Bortafor Nordavinden to open the festival.

History

The first edition of the festival took place on August 20-22, 2015. It saw the live premiere of

Einar Selvik Einar Selvik (born 18 November 1979), also known by his stage name Kvitrafn ("white raven"), is a Norwegian musician known for being the drummer of black metal band Gorgoroth from 2000 to 2004, and for fronting the Nordic folk project Wardruna ...

's and

Ivar Bjørnson Ivar Skontorp Peersen, best known by his stage name Ivar Bjørnson (born 27 November 1977), is a Norwegian musician and composer. He is a founding member and the main songwriter of the extreme metal band Enslaved, and has previously been a memb ...

's collaboration album "Skuggsjá". Other bands and musicians performing at the festival included

Ihsahn Vegard Sverre Tveitan (born 10 October 1975), better known by his stage name Ihsahn ( ), is a Norwegian musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and composer who is best known for his work with the black metal band Emperor (Norwegian band ...

1349 Year 1349 ( MCCCXLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. Events January–December * January 22 – An earthquake affects L'Aquila in southern Italy with a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (''Extreme''), caus ...

Myrkur Myrkur is a solo black metal project by Danish singer Amalie Bruun. Initially, the real-life identity of the person behind the project was kept unknown. Her identity has since been made public. Myrkur has released four full-length studio albums ...

Solefald Solefald is a Norwegian avant-garde metal/black metal band that was formed by members Lars Are "Lazare" Nedland and Cornelius Jakhelln in August 1995, with Nedland singing and playing keyboard/synthesizer/piano and drums, and Jakhelln singing ...

Einherjer Einherjer is a Viking metal band from Haugesund, Norway, founded in 1993. Some of the band's albums are heavily Traditional folk music, folk influenced, while others have a more traditional symphonic black metal sound. Their lyrics retell Norse ...

, Kampfar, Glittertind, and

Thyrfing Thyrfing is a viking metal band from Sweden. The band is named after the royal sword Tyrfing from Norse mythology. History Thyrfing was formed in 1995 by Patrik Lindgren (guitar), Jocke Kristensson (drums), Peter Löf (keyboard) and Kimmy S ...

. The 2020 and 2021 editions of the festival were cancelled due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. In 2022, Ym:Stammen played its first concert in 23 years at the festival. The festival had around 5,000 visitors daily in 2022.

2016 (18–20 August)

Featured bands and artists such as: Enslaved,

(Skuggsjá),

Melechesh Melechesh is an ethnically Assyrian black metal band that originated in Jerusalem and is currently based in Amsterdam. Ashmedi started the band as a solo project in 1993. In the following year, guitarist Moloch and drummer Lord Curse were adde ...

Inquisition The Inquisition was a Catholic Inquisitorial system#History, judicial procedure where the Ecclesiastical court, ecclesiastical judges could initiate, investigate and try cases in their jurisdiction. Popularly it became the name for various med ...

, Tsjuder,

Månegarm Månegarm is a Swedish Viking/black/folk metal band from Norrtälje. Its name is derived from Mánagarmr, a wolf in Norse mythology. History The band was formed by Svenne Rosendal, Jonas Almqui, and Pierre Wilhelmsson in 1995. After findin ...

Skálmöld Skálmöld () is a Viking / folk metal band from Reykjavík, Iceland, formed in August 2009. The band's name is literally translated as ''Age of Swords'' and also means "lawlessness", referring to the Age of the Sturlungs of Icelandic history, w ...

Hamferð Hamferð is a Faroese doom metal band from Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, which formed in 2008. Biography John Egholm (guitar) founded the band in 2008; he called Remi Johannesen (drums) and they started jamming. The first show was in a band competit ...

, Kirkebrann, Folket Bortafor Nordavinden

2017 (17–19 August)

Featured bands and artists such as:

Týr (; Old Norse: , ) is a god in Germanic mythology and member of the . In Norse mythology, which provides most of the surviving narratives about gods among the Germanic peoples, sacrifices his right hand to the monstrous wolf , who bites it off ...

Sólstafir Sólstafir is an Icelandic post-metal band formed in 1995 and currently signed to Century Media Records, Century Media. Originally a black metal band, they transitioned to a post-metal-influenced style with slight traces of their earlier black m ...

, Gaahls Wyrd, Unleashed,

Aura Noir Aura Noir is a Norwegian black metal, black/thrash metal band from Oslo. Aura Noir is heavily influenced by early thrash bands such as Voivod (band), Voivod, Slayer, Sodom (band), Sodom and Kreator, to the latter they have also dedicated some of ...

Moonsorrow Moonsorrow is a Finnish pagan metal band formed in Helsinki in 1995. Musically, the band incorporates elements of black metal and folk metal in their sound. The band call their sound "epic heathen metal" and try to distance themselves from th ...

, Oranssi Pazuzu,

Winterfylleth Winterfylleth (Ƿinterfylleþ) was the Anglo-Saxon or Old English name for the month of October. It marked and celebrated the beginning of winter. The name of the month was recorded by Bede thus: See also * Anglo-Saxon * Germanic calendar * ...

Kari Rueslåtten Kari Rueslåtten (born 3 October 1973) is a Norwegian soprano singer, songwriter and keyboardist, who was well known for being the lead singer and songwriter for the Norwegian doom metal/experimental band, The 3rd and the Mortal. The 3rd and th ...

Heilung Heilung is a European experimental folk music band. Formed in 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark, the group is made up of members from Denmark, Norway, and Germany. Their music is based on texts and runic inscriptions from Germanic peoples of the Iron A ...

Sahg Sahg is a three-piece Norway, Norwegian hard rock/doom metal band formed in Bergen in the summer of 2004, by key figures in the metal scene of their country: Tom Cato Visnes (King ov Hell), Einar Selvik (Kvitrafn), Olav Iversen and Thomas Toftha ...

Tengger Cavalry Tengger Cavalry was a Heavy metal music, heavy metal band originating from Inner Mongolia and Beijing in China and based in New York State, New York and Texas. They combined elements of the traditional music of Central Asia and Music of Mongoli ...

, Trepaneringsritualen, Forndom, Superlynx, Virelai, Byrdi

2018 (16–18 August)

Featured bands and artists such as:

Dimmu Borgir Dimmu Borgir () is a Norwegian symphonic black metal band from Jessheim, formed in 1993. The name is derived from Dimmuborgir, a volcanic formation in Iceland, the name of which means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic lang ...

Watain Watain is a Swedish black metal band, formed in 1998.Eduardo Rivadavia: ''Watain Biography'' Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation. The band's name is taken from an early recording by the American black metal group Von.Ronald Ziegler''Merchandise w ...

Ensiferum Ensiferum (Latin: , n adj., meaning "sword bearing") is a Finnish folk metal band from Helsinki. The members of the band label themselves as "melodic folk metal". History Formation, demos and ''Ensiferum'' (1995−2002) ''Ensiferum'' was foun ...

Rotting Christ Rotting Christ is a Greek black metal band formed in 1987. They are noted for being one of the first black metal bands within this region, as well as a premier act within the European underground metal scene. They are also responsible for creat ...

, Garmarna,

, Årabrot, Mork, Abyssic, Saor, Grift, Folket Bortafor Nordavinden,

Nytt Land Nytt Land are a two piece Nordic folk band from Kalachinsk in Siberia, Russia. Started by husband and wife Anatoly and Natalya Pakhalenko in 2013, the band released their third album ''Fimbulvinter'' on Cold Spring Records in 2017. Style and his ...

, Kaunan, Darkher

2019 (15–17 August)

Featured bands and artists such as: Enslaved,

Gåte (; ) is a band from Trøndelag, Norway playing Norwegian folk music bred with metal and electronica. Their style has been referred to as progressive folk-rock. The band was put together by Sveinung Sundli (violin, keyboards) in 2000 and ori ...

(Hugsjá, Skuggsjá),

Deicide Deicide is the killing (or the killer) of a god. The concept may be used for any act of killing a god, including a life-death-rebirth deity who is killed and then resurrected. Etymology The term deicide was coined in the 17th century from ...

, Gaahls Wyrd,

Memoriam Memoriam is a death metal band from Birmingham, England. The band was formed in 2016 by former Bolt Thrower vocalist Karl Willetts, alongside Scott Fairfax (Ex Benediction & Ex Cerebral Fix) on guitar, Frank Healy (Ex Sacrilege, Ex Benediction ...

, Tormentor,

Vreid Vreid is a Norwegian black metal band formed in 2004 after the breakup of Windir following the death of lead singer and founder Valfar. The remaining members along with new guitarist Ese formed Vreid. The band's name is an archaic Norwegian word ...

, Ereb Altor, Zuriaake, Urarv, Whip, Narthraal, Folket Bortafor Nordavinden, Golden Core, Tempel, Jointhugger, Byrdi, Eldrim, Voluspå, Gost, Svartsinn, Treha sektori,

Raison d'être is a French expression commonly used in English, meaning "reason for being" or "reason to be." ''Raison d'être'' may refer to: Music * Raison d'être (band), a Swedish dark-ambient-industrial-drone music project * Raison D'être (album), ''Rai ...

2022 (17–20 August)

Featured bands and artists such as: Acârash, Agabas, Astralseid, Batushka,

Borknagar Borknagar is a Norwegian progressive metal band with black metal and folk influences. It was founded in Bergen in 1995 by Øystein Garnes Brun primarily as a black metal band before later switching to a more melodic and progressive style. Borkn ...

, Darkend, Dep, Djevel, Dødsdømt,

Eivør Eivor, Eivør or Øyvor is a female given name in the Nordic countries. In Sweden, 4,922 people bear the name. The average age is 78. The name perhaps originated from either the Proto-Norse word ''auja'', which is thought to mean "good luck", o ...

, Eldrim, Endezzma, Fleshmeadow, Folket Bortafor Nordavinden, Gaerea,

, Helheim, Hinderfjall, Kalandra, Koldbrann, Konvent, Kjell Braaten, KM, Lindy-Fay Hella & Dei Farne, Los, lucifer`s Child, Marekvist,

, Mork, Nagircalmmiid, Nebala, Northumbria,

, Primordial, Ragnarok,

, Rúnahild, Sophia, Sysselmann, The Devil & The Universe, Urgehal, Vanvidd, Vargvrede, Voluspaa, Vomitory,

Wardruna Wardruna is a Norwegian music group formed in 2003 by Einar Selvik along with Gaahl and Lindy-Fay Hella. They create musical renditions of Norse cultural and esoteric traditions and make significant use of Nordic historical and traditional instr ...

, Ym:Stammen, Zeal & Ardor

2023 (16–19 August)

Featured bands and artists such as: Folket Bortafor Nordavinden,

Finntroll Finntroll is a Finnish folk metal band from Helsinki. They combine elements of black metal and death metal with a type of Finnish folk music called humppa. Finntroll's lyrics are mostly in Swedish, the only exception being the song "Madon Laulu" ...

, Lili Refrain, Sylvaine, Nanna Barslev, Kampfar, Nebala, Vargvrede, Wulfaz, Vǫluspá, ISÁK, Iotunn, Sowlulo, Nordjevel,

Steve Von Till Stephen Francis Von Till Jr. is an American musician, best known as the guitarist of the metal band Neurosis (band), Neurosis, in which he also shared lead vocals with former member Scott Kelly (musician), Scott Kelly. Following Kelly's departu ...

, Wolvenwind, Enslaved, Gangar, Katarina Barruk, Skáld, Eternity, Vevaki,

, Blackbraid,

, Rúnahild, Orm, Garmarna, MÍO, Frigg's Døttre,

Mari Boine Mari Boine (born Mari Brit Randi Boine; 8 November 1956) is a Norwegian Sámi singer. She combined a form of Sámi joik singing with rock. In 2008, she became a professor of musicology at Nesna University College. Biography Mari Boine was bo ...

Naglfar In Norse mythology, ''Naglfar'' or ''Naglfari'' (Old Norse " nail farer") is a boat made entirely from the fingernails and toenails of the dead. During the events of Ragnarök, ''Naglfar'' is foretold to sail to Vígríðr, ferrying hordes of ...

, Nemuer, Tsjuder,

Mortiis Mortiis is an Electronic music, electronic band from Notodden, Norway fronted by Håvard Ellefsen, who is also known as the namesake of the band. The name is a misspelling of the word "mortis", which is the pronunciation used by the band. Morti ...

, Ruun,

My Dying Bride My Dying Bride are an English doom metal band formed in Bradford. Since their inception in 1990, they have released 15 studio albums, five EPs, one demo, one box set, four compilation albums, one live album, and one live CD/DVD release. Along ...

, Astraseid. Einherjer played two different sets. One set took place in the Gildehall including live, projected painting by visual artist, Costin Chioreanu. Chioreanu is a frequent collaborator with the band, including album covers and band merchandise. The festival included daily ritual suspension performances by Smertekirken, Church of Pain, in collaboration with Visobel Black and Morten the Maniac. Their performances were called Ritual of Resonance and Flesh. In 2023 a carved wooden statue of

Heimdall In Norse mythology, Heimdall (from Old Norse Heimdallr; modern Icelandic language, Icelandic Heimdallur) is a Æsir, god. He is the son of Odin and nine mothers. Heimdall keeps watch for invaders and the onset of Ragnarök from his dwelling Himi ...

, by Stian Antonsen was unveiled on the Viking Centre grounds. This unveiling coincided with Enslaved’s appearance at the festival and with their new album,

Heimdal Heimdal is a borough in Trondheim Municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. It covers the western and southwestern parts of the municipality. The main centre of the borough is also known as Heimdal and it is located in the central part of the b ...

2024 (14–17 August)

Featured bands and artists such as:

Amon Amarth Amon Amarth () are a Swedish melodic death metal band from Tumba, Sweden, Tumba, formed in 1992. The band take its name from the Sindarin name of Mount Doom, a volcano in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. Their lyrics mostly deal with Viking myt ...

, Astralseid,

Bel Canto , )—with several similar constructions (, , , pronounced in English as )—is a term with several meanings that relate to Italian singing, and whose definitions have often been misunderstood. ''Bel canto'' was not only seen as a vocal technique ...

, Brannos, Bærzerk, Deströyer 666, Dwaal, Eldrim,

Emperor The word ''emperor'' (from , via ) can mean the male ruler of an empire. ''Empress'', the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), mother/grandmother (empress dowager/grand empress dowager), or a woman who rules ...

, Ereb Altor, Fabbrica 82,

Fen A fen is a type of peat-accumulating wetland fed by mineral-rich ground or surface water. It is one of the main types of wetland along with marshes, swamps, and bogs. Bogs and fens, both peat-forming ecosystems, are also known as mires ...

, Folket Bortafor Nordavinden, Friggs Døtre,

Grand Magus Grand Magus are a three-piece Heavy metal music, heavy metal band from Stockholm, Sweden that draws influence from classic heavy metal bands and elements of doom metal. Career The band was formed in 1996 under the name ''Smack'' by former Ca ...

, Hindarfjäll, Heilung Hall, Inculter, Johnny Hexx, Kalandra, Karin Park, Kjell Braaten,

Ledfoot Tim Scott McConnell also known as Tim Scott (born March 23, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and 12-string guitarist who performs since 2007 under the artist name Ledfoot. The artist's repertoire consists solely of self-written songs. ...

, Lindy-Fay Hella & Dei Farne, Lumsk, Mortal Fear, Nattverd,

, Salige Syndere,

Seigmen Seigmen (formed in 1989 in Tønsberg, Vestfold, Norway) is a Norwegian alternative rock band who came into prominence in the early 1990s. The band's name is derived from Norwegian sweets brand Laban Seigmenn. The band went from a hard-edged gru ...

, Songleikr,

Testament A testament is a document that the author has sworn to be true. In law it usually means last will and testament. Testament or The Testament can also refer to: Books * ''Testament'' (comic book), a 2005 comic book * ''Testament'', a thriller no ...

, Texas Cornflake Massacre, Trio Oro, Uada, Unleashed, Vader, Vulture Industries.

References

External links

Official Midgardsblot website

Official Midgardsblot YouTube channel
{{in lang, en Heavy metal festivals in Norway Summer in Norway

History

2016 (18–20 August)

2017 (17–19 August)

2018 (16–18 August)

2019 (15–17 August)

2022 (17–20 August)

2023 (16–19 August)

2024 (14–17 August)

See also

References

Further reading

External links