Sweden’s Clawfinger can be seen as one of the Scandinavian pioneers in the Crossover scene, with their mix of rap, nu metal and industrial metal. With hits like “Nigger”, “The Truth and” Do What I Say “, they’ve played on big stages around the world since the 90’s. Last time the band visited Umeå was in 1994 and now, almost 25 years later, it is time for the band to take upon the Idun-stage during this year’s festival.

As with The Haunted, At The Gates also attended the 2015 year edition of House of Metal. Trendsetters and predecessors of what became to be known as “Gothenburg Death Metal” or the “Gothenburg-sound”. The band now returns to the Idun stage with their new album “To Drink From The Night Itself” freshly out of the printers.

Tiamat visited House of Metal during the 2012 edition and is once again welcomed back to the Idun stage. This time, the band will perform two of its most classic albums, “Clouds” (1992) and “WildHoney” (1994), in their entirety. A concept that has been very well received by both old and new fans of the band.

Swedish Thrash Metal band, The Haunted, is already familiar in the House of Metal context from when the band visited the festival during the 2009 and 2015 edition. Since the bands inception they have released nine full lengths and won the Swedish Grammy awards no less than twice in the category “Hard Rock of the Year”. With the band’s latest album “Strength in Numbers” (2017) in the luggage, it is once again time for this Melodic Thrash platoon to strike down on the Idun stage.

Necrophobic is one of the few Swedish bands that have sticked with their Blackened Death Metal since 1989 without losing their spark. With “Mark of the Necrogram” (2018) the band truly shows a magnificent display of how things should be done. The band visited the festival back in 2010 and is once again welcomed back, this time to the 13th edition of the festival.

Greek Rotting Christ belong not only to the country’s, but to the entire black metal genres, old behemoths. With a start in 1985, transforming from grindcore to black metal, the band has already visited Umeå once back in 2007. This will however be the band’s first performance under the roof of House of Metal. A highly welcome back visit with their latest album “Rituals” (2016) in the luggage. But also except a lot of classics from the band’s long career during the evening.

Taake was founded in Bergen in 1993 and goes under the banner “True Norwegian Black Metal”. This is something that can be heard clearly in the band’s music, which after all the years still possesses the cold atmosphere from the early years of Norwegian black metal. The band’s album “Noregs Vaapen” (2011) was nominated for “Best Metal Album of 2011” in Norwegian Grammy “Spellemanns-prisen”. The band has been touring all over the world during the recent years and it has finally become time for the band’s first gig in northern Sweden.

Germany’s Attic belong to the new school of Old School Heavy Metal, but with a bit more modern sound. The influences from bands like King Diamond and Mercyful Fate are although more than apparent. Be sure not to miss this celebration to the 80’s during this year’s festival.