ARTISTS 2023
KREATOR (Germany)
Finally, House of Metal will be able to close the circle. The festival has previously been visited by Tankard, Sodom and Destruction. But now we can finally proudly present the last piece in the so-called “Teutonic Thrash Metal Big 4” – with none other than Kreator! With their start in 1982, and a name change to Kreator in 1984, the band is today considered as one of the most influential and classic bands within the Thrash Metal genre. With no less than 15 full-length albums, countless singles, EPs, boxes, Live DVD’s and world tours a around the the globe a number of times, we will finally get to witness this legendary band on Idun-stage in Umeå during this year’s festival. Hate Über Alles!
RAISED FIST (Sweden)
Luleå-based Raised Fist is going out on the road this autumn with their “Unsinkable Tour” and of course we’ve taken the opportunity to invite them to House of Metal. The band last played at the festival in 2016 and offer energetic music with strong roots in Hardcore, Punk, Metal and Rock. From the start, they have gone their own way and are today one of Sweden’s biggest music exports when it comes to hard music. They have toured the world with their explosive and award-winning live performances. There’s always something to see, and something to miss, when Raised Fist is on stage, so don’t blink!
ECLIPSE (Sweden)
Eclipse is the band that, with their melodic Heavy Metal/Hard Rock, has succeeded in playing sold-out concerts around the world in recent years, from Japan to Australia, in the USA and numerous tours in Europe. The band’s latest single “Viva La Victoria” has been streamed over 24 million times on streaming services such as Spotify. The band will also release a new album in autumn 2023.
NAGLFAR (Sweden)
Naglfar are Black Metal-veterans that formed back in 1992 in Umeå and that have since then released seven full-length albums, where “Cerecloth” (2020) is the latest in the line. Naglfar visited House of Metal on the more intimate Studion stage back in 2016 and were also booked for HoM 2022 which was cancelled. Now, however, it’s once again time to show up on the big stage where the band last played in 2013. Since the pandemic, the band has performed acclaimed shows at Graspop Metal Meeting, Dark Easter Meeting and Gefle Metal Festival to name a few.
TRIBULATION (Sweden)
Swedish band Tribulation has reaped success around the world since the release of their 3rd full-length album ”The Children of the Night” (2015). The band was booked for the 2021 edition, which did not take place – as well as already back in 2015, but unfortunately had to cancel at short notice due to a clashing US tour together with Behemoth, Cannibal Corpse and Aeon. Now, however, this Grammy-winning band will enter the Idun stage during this year’s festival to offer their peculiar mix of Gothic metal colored by both the black and death metal scene.
THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA (Sverige)
Multiple Grammy-nominated The Night Flight Orchestra was already booked for the 2022 festival, which was cancelled, but of course we take the opportunity to invite the band back in 2023. Formed by friends from several other famous rock bands (Soilwork, Arch Enemy, Mean Streak) almost a decade ago, the band has brought us acclaimed live shows worldwide and six albums. Their music is a loving flirtation with the 80s but with a constant variety of expressions and emotions – from rock to ballads.
THE CROWN (Sweden)
The Crown (formerly known as Crown of Thorns) celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2020. The band’s 11th full-length “Royal Destroyer” was released in 2021 and it is planned for the release of a new album in 2023. Musically, the band offers, quite frankly, a fist in the face! It’s got it all – the early 90s death metal stuff, the haunting melodies, the thrash, the punk, the grind, the heavy metal and the more epic and doomy stuff.
BLOOD RED THRONE (Norway)
Norwegian death metal kings, BLOOD RED THRONE, celebrates 25 years in the scene and is still going strong with their 10th and strongest release so far, “Imperial Congregation”, released by Nuclear Blast in 2021. A new single called “Latrodectus” was also released this year from then bands upcoming 11th album. The band is known for their energetic live-shows and has toured many parts of the world the last 20 years. Both as headliners, but also on support tours with Dimmu Borgir, Enslaved, Suffocation, Cryptopsy… to name a few. They have done big festivals as Wacken, Hellfest, Bloodstock, 70.000 Tons of Metal and many more.
THYRFING (Sweden)
Thyrfing can easily be counted as one of the older (if not the oldest ?!) Viking/Black Metal bands from Sweden. The band has since 2007 been fronted by the former Naglfar singer, Umeå-raised son, Jens Rydén and they did a fantastic gig during House of Metal 2014. With the fresh full-length “Vanagandr” (2021), it is time again for the band to set sail to the Studio stage at Umeå Folkets Hus once more.
HORNDAL (Sweden)
Horndal is a relatively new, but already strong, name in the metal scene. The band’s second full-length “Lake Drinker” was released during 2021 on none other than Prosthetic Records (1349, Testament, Skeletonwitch, Venom Prison and other great acts). In terms of genre, Horndal is a rather mixed bag of Sludge, Hardcore and Heavy Metal with some progressive elements.
GATES OF ISHTAR (Sweden)
On Friday 10th November 2023, it will be almost 28 years to the day since Luleå’s black death melodists GATES OF ISHTAR last played in Umeå. The band was formed in 1992 and managed to release 3 albums before breaking up in 1998, where the debut album “A Bloodred Path” is considered by many to be a classic within the genre. Now we can announce with great joy that the band will reunite in 2023 and play a long-awaited exclusive Sweden gig at House of Metal.
MEZZROW (Sweden)
MEZZROW are back after 30 years! The Swedish Thrash Metal force released their second and new studio album “Summon Thy Demons” on April 21st on their new label Fireflash Records. The band built themselves a name in the Thrash Metal scene during the late eighties with their critically acclaimed demo tapes, “Frozen Soul” and “Cross of Tormention”. In 1990 they released their classic debut album “Then Came the Killing” through Active Records, a subsidiary of Music for Nations. The album is still today considered as one of the best, if not the best, Thrash Metal releases from Sweden and Scandinavia.
FERAL (Sweden)
Feral, with their roots in Norsjö, started back in 2003 and has since then refined their HM-2 Death Metal to great heights. The band was booked for the 2020 festival but unfortunately had to cancel at short notice, so of course they will get another chance. With three full-length albums in the baggage, the latest in the form of “Flesh for Funerals Eternal” (2018), it is finally time for this Northern band to return to a stage at the festival which they last visited in 2008. The band is releasing a split this autumn together with the Swedish band Crawl.
SCITALIS (Sweden)
Scitalis from Umeå have been active since 2020 and released their debut EP “Awakening” via Vendetta Records in 2021 and it wasn’t long before the band released their debut full-length “Doomed Before Time” (2022) on the same label. The band was booked for the HoM 2022 festival, which unfortunately did not take place. Scitalis does not directly have the classic Scandinavian Black Metal sound, but with inspiration taken from both the Polish and Icelandic scenes. The band has also played actively around Europe during 2022.
CRAWL (Sweden)
Active since 2012, Crawl has proven that it is possible to combine death metal with crustpunk without having to compromise or take sides. Acclaimed ‘Rituals’ will be followed up with upcoming album release ‘Altar Of Disgust’ via Transcending Obscurity this Autumn/Winter. Violent, raw and uncompromising describes their music and with a number of live performances at both festivals and larger/smaller venues, Crawl is ready to worship death with us!
CAVERN DEEP (Sweden)
Cavern Deep is a slow, heavy band, founded 2019, by members from Zonaria and Swedish retro riffsters Gudars Skymning. The band released its first self-titled concept album through Interstellar Smoke Records to critical aclaim topping on #7 on The Doom Charts.The second album is called “Part II – Breach” and is a continuation on the concept of the first album and features Susie McMullan of Brume, Johannes Behndig of Sarcophagus Now and Thomas V Jäger of Monolord (On the bonus track). The album is now available through Bonebag Records and the Cavern Deep Bandcamp.
LÝSIS (Sweden)
LÝSIS is a melodic metalcore band from Falun. The band also weaves in elements from other subgenres within metal such as melodic death metal and symphonic metal which the band puts their own stamp on to make their music sound unique and modern. The name LÝSIS takes inspiration from when the outer layer of a cell is destroyed, exposing the cell. This process reflects the themes and topics that the band presents in their music by venting and identifying feelings and thoughts that can feel destructive at first, you come out as a stronger person. The band released their first EP in 2019 and have since released several singles and gained fans around the world. Since its inception, the band has played on stages such as Fredagsmangel, Klubb Slammer and Krylbomangel to name a few. The band is currently working on new music that is planned to be released in 2023.
TERRA BLACK (Svweden)
Terra Black is the Stoner/Doom quartet from Gothenburg that delivers fuzz rituals and a soundscape for the atmospheric. Heavy dank Doom filled with subtle textures of Folk, Prog and Post-Metal that can just as easily brush your cheek with a manicured finger as it can smash your nose to a pulp with a heavily ringed fist since 2020.
EYETOOTH (Sweden)
Stockholm-based band that’s been playing together since 2020. The band creates music that they like with influences from various metal scenes such as Thrash, Groove and death metal. Two EPs released, “Empress” (2020) and “Ignorance” (2021), and the third is sent for mixing and mastering.
ARTISTS 2023
KREATOR (Germany)
Finally, House of Metal will be able to close the circle. The festival has previously been visited by Tankard, Sodom and Destruction. But now we can finally proudly present the last piece in the so-called “Teutonic Thrash Metal Big 4” – with none other than Kreator! With their start in 1982, and a name change to Kreator in 1984, the band is today considered as one of the most influential and classic bands within the Thrash Metal genre. With no less than 15 full-length albums, countless singles, EPs, boxes, Live DVD’s and world tours a around the the globe a number of times, we will finally get to witness this legendary band on Idun-stage in Umeå during this year’s festival. Hate Über Alles!
RAISED FIST (Sweden)
Luleå-based Raised Fist is going out on the road this autumn with their “Unsinkable Tour” and of course we’ve taken the opportunity to invite them to House of Metal. The band last played at the festival in 2016 and offer energetic music with strong roots in Hardcore, Punk, Metal and Rock. From the start, they have gone their own way and are today one of Sweden’s biggest music exports when it comes to hard music. They have toured the world with their explosive and award-winning live performances. There’s always something to see, and something to miss, when Raised Fist is on stage, so don’t blink!
ECLIPSE (Sweden)
Eclipse is the band that, with their melodic Heavy Metal/Hard Rock, has succeeded in playing sold-out concerts around the world in recent years, from Japan to Australia, in the USA and numerous tours in Europe. The band’s latest single “Viva La Victoria” has been streamed over 24 million times on streaming services such as Spotify. The band will also release a new album in autumn 2023.
NAGLFAR (Sweden)
Naglfar are Black Metal-veterans that formed back in 1992 in Umeå and that have since then released seven full-length albums, where “Cerecloth” (2020) is the latest in the line. Naglfar visited House of Metal on the more intimate Studion stage back in 2016 and were also booked for HoM 2022 which was cancelled. Now, however, it’s once again time to show up on the big stage where the band last played in 2013. Since the pandemic, the band has performed acclaimed shows at Graspop Metal Meeting, Dark Easter Meeting and Gefle Metal Festival to name a few.
TRIBULATION (Sweden)
Swedish band Tribulation has reaped success around the world since the release of their 3rd full-length album ”The Children of the Night” (2015). The band was booked for the 2021 edition, which did not take place – as well as already back in 2015, but unfortunately had to cancel at short notice due to a clashing US tour together with Behemoth, Cannibal Corpse and Aeon. Now, however, this Grammy-winning band will enter the Idun stage during this year’s festival to offer their peculiar mix of Gothic metal colored by both the black and death metal scene.
THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA (Sweden)
Multiple Grammy-nominated The Night Flight Orchestra was already booked for the 2022 festival, which was cancelled, but of course we take the opportunity to invite the band back in 2023. Formed by friends from several other famous rock bands (Soilwork, Arch Enemy, Mean Streak) almost a decade ago, the band has brought us acclaimed live shows worldwide and six albums. Their music is a loving flirtation with the 80s but with a constant variety of expressions and emotions – from rock to ballads.
THE CROWN (Sweden)
The Crown (formerly known as Crown of Thorns) celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2020. The band’s 11th full-length “Royal Destroyer” was released in 2021 and it is planned for the release of a new album in 2023. Musically, the band offers, quite frankly, a fist in the face! It’s got it all – the early 90s death metal stuff, the haunting melodies, the thrash, the punk, the grind, the heavy metal and the more epic and doomy stuff.
BLOOD RED THRONE (Norway)
Norwegian death metal kings, BLOOD RED THRONE, celebrates 25 years in the scene and is still going strong with their 10th and strongest release so far, “Imperial Congregation”, released by Nuclear Blast in 2021. A new single called “Latrodectus” was also released this year from then bands upcoming 11th album. The band is known for their energetic live-shows and has toured many parts of the world the last 20 years. Both as headliners, but also on support tours with Dimmu Borgir, Enslaved, Suffocation, Cryptopsy… to name a few. They have done big festivals as Wacken, Hellfest, Bloodstock, 70.000 Tons of Metal and many more.
THYRFING (Sweden)
Thyrfing can easily be counted as one of the older (if not the oldest ?!) Viking/Black Metal bands from Sweden. The band has since 2007 been fronted by the former Naglfar singer, Umeå-raised son, Jens Rydén and they did a fantastic gig during House of Metal 2014. With the fresh full-length “Vanagandr” (2021), it is time again for the band to set sail to the Studio stage at Umeå Folkets Hus once more.
HORNDAL (Sweden)
Horndal is a relatively new, but already strong, name in the metal scene. The band’s second full-length “Lake Drinker” was released during 2021 on none other than Prosthetic Records (1349, Testament, Skeletonwitch, Venom Prison and other great acts). In terms of genre, Horndal is a rather mixed bag of Sludge, Hardcore and Heavy Metal with some progressive elements.
GATES OF ISHTAR (Sweden)
On Friday 10th November 2023, it will be almost 28 years to the day since Luleå’s black death melodists GATES OF ISHTAR last played in Umeå. The band was formed in 1992 and managed to release 3 albums before breaking up in 1998, where the debut album “A Bloodred Path” is considered by many to be a classic within the genre. Now we can announce with great joy that the band will reunite in 2023 and play a long-awaited exclusive Sweden gig at House of Metal.
MEZZROW (Sweden)
MEZZROW are back after 30 years! The Swedish Thrash Metal force released their second and new studio album “Summon Thy Demons” on April 21st on their new label Fireflash Records. The band built themselves a name in the Thrash Metal scene during the late eighties with their critically acclaimed demo tapes, “Frozen Soul” and “Cross of Tormention”. In 1990 they released their classic debut album “Then Came the Killing” through Active Records, a subsidiary of Music for Nations. The album is still today considered as one of the best, if not the best, Thrash Metal releases from Sweden and Scandinavia.
FERAL (Sweden)
Feral, with their roots in Norsjö, started back in 2003 and has since then refined their HM-2 Death Metal to great heights. The band was booked for the 2020 festival but unfortunately had to cancel at short notice, so of course they will get another chance. With three full-length albums in the baggage, the latest in the form of “Flesh for Funerals Eternal” (2018), it is finally time for this Northern band to return to a stage at the festival which they last visited in 2008. The band is releasing a split this autumn together with the Swedish band Crawl.
SCITALIS (Sweden)
Scitalis from Umeå have been active since 2020 and released their debut EP “Awakening” via Vendetta Records in 2021 and it wasn’t long before the band released their debut full-length “Doomed Before Time” (2022) on the same label. The band was booked for the HoM 2022 festival, which unfortunately did not take place. Scitalis does not directly have the classic Scandinavian Black Metal sound, but with inspiration taken from both the Polish and Icelandic scenes. The band has also played actively around Europe during 2022.
CRAWL (Sweden)
Active since 2012, Crawl has proven that it is possible to combine death metal with crustpunk without having to compromise or take sides. Acclaimed ‘Rituals’ will be followed up with upcoming album release ‘Altar Of Disgust’ via Transcending Obscurity this Autumn/Winter. Violent, raw and uncompromising describes their music and with a number of live performances at both festivals and larger/smaller venues, Crawl is ready to worship death with us!
CAVERN DEEP (Sweden)
Cavern Deep is a slow, heavy band, founded 2019, by members from Zonaria and Swedish retro riffsters Gudars Skymning. The band released its first self-titled concept album through Interstellar Smoke Records to critical aclaim topping on #7 on The Doom Charts.The second album is called “Part II – Breach” and is a continuation on the concept of the first album and features Susie McMullan of Brume, Johannes Behndig of Sarcophagus Now and Thomas V Jäger of Monolord (On the bonus track). The album is now available through Bonebag Records and the Cavern Deep Bandcamp.
LÝSIS (Sweden)
LÝSIS is a melodic metalcore band from Falun. The band also weaves in elements from other subgenres within metal such as melodic death metal and symphonic metal which the band puts their own stamp on to make their music sound unique and modern. The name LÝSIS takes inspiration from when the outer layer of a cell is destroyed, exposing the cell. This process reflects the themes and topics that the band presents in their music by venting and identifying feelings and thoughts that can feel destructive at first, you come out as a stronger person. The band released their first EP in 2019 and have since released several singles and gained fans around the world. Since its inception, the band has played on stages such as Fredagsmangel, Klubb Slammer and Krylbomangel to name a few. The band is currently working on new music that is planned to be released in 2023.
TERRA BLACK (Svweden)
Terra Black is the Stoner/Doom quartet from Gothenburg that delivers fuzz rituals and a soundscape for the atmospheric. Heavy dank Doom filled with subtle textures of Folk, Prog and Post-Metal that can just as easily brush your cheek with a manicured finger as it can smash your nose to a pulp with a heavily ringed fist since 2020.
EYETOOTH (Sweden)
Stockholm-based band that’s been playing together since 2020. The band creates music that they like with influences from various metal scenes such as Thrash, Groove and death metal. Two EPs released, “Empress” (2020) and “Ignorance” (2021), and the third is sent for mixing and mastering.