Norway’s Inferno Metal Festival has unveil the first bands for next year’s festival! As always, the festival takes place in Oslo, Norway, during Easter – which in 2026 falls on April 2–5. The bands that are announced are Deicide, Old Man’s Child, The Kovenant, Kanonenfieber, Incantation, Whoredom Rife, Darvaza, Perchta, and Myr.
DEICIDE
Deicide is one of the true classics of death metal, formed back in the ‘80s in Tampa, Florida. The band originally started in 1987 under the name Amon, before changing it to Deicide in 1989. They’ve released a string of legendary albums, including their self-titled debut in 1990, Legion (1992), Once Upon the Cross (1995), and Serpents of the Light (1997). But it didn’t stop there – Deicide has continued delivering strong albums over the years, with their most recent release, Banished by Sin (2024), being nothing short of crushing. The band remains a force to be reckoned with and is still one of the very best death metal acts out there. Deicide has rarely played in Oslo, and their last appearance was all the way back in 2013 – also at Inferno Metal Festival.
OLD MAN’S CHILD
Old Man’s Child was one of the most powerful Norwegian black metal bands from the mid-90s until Galder joined Dimmu Borgir. Their first three albums – Born of the Flickering, The Pagan Prosperity, and Ill-Natured Spiritual Invasion – are all of the highest calibre. When Galder joined Dimmu Borgir in 2000, Old Man’s Child stopped performing live and became a studio-only project until 2009. After a long hiatus, the band is finally back – and with an absolutely killer line-up. They’ve already done a few shows, and the level has been top- notch. Now that the band is hitting its stride again and working on new material, we’re beyond excited to welcome Old Man’s Child to Inferno Metal Festival – for the very first time.
THE KOVENANT
We go all the way back to 1992, when Nagash and Blackheart started the band under the name Covenant. After a couple of early demos, the debut album In Times Before the Light dropped in 1997. Just a year later, Nexus Polaris hit like a thunderclap and put the band on everyone’s lips. In 1999, they were forced to change their name to The Kovenant, due to a Swedish band having trademarked the original name – although we all know who the real Covenant is. Animatronic and SETI followed, ushering in a more industrial and futuristic sound. Live appearances became increasingly rare, but The Kovenant did deliver memorable performances at Inferno Metal Festival in both 2003 and 2010 before going dormant. Now they’re fully back – and it’s only fitting that they return to Inferno. What they’ll bring to the stage this time remains to be seen, but all signs point to something truly spectacular.
KANONENFIEBER
German blackened death metal outfit Kanonenfieber has generated a lot of buzz recently – and for good reason. The mastermind behind the project goes by the name Noise, and has released two albums under the Kanonenfieber banner so far. He’s also the creative force behind Non Est Deus, who recently played Inferno, as well as black metal band Leiþa. Clearly, this is not a man who rests. Kanonenfieber played in Oslo last year to great acclaim – the praise for that performance came fast and heavy. Now they’re back, this time on the Inferno Metal Festival stage. This is a show you don’t want to miss!
INCANTATION
Incantation is an old-school American death metal band, formed way back in 1989. With thirteen albums to their name, the music represents the brutal, uncompromising essence of what death metal was always meant to be. As Incantation now makes their very first appearance at Inferno Metal Festival, they’ll be taking us on a journey back to where it all began – with a special set based on their iconic 1992 debut Onward to Golgotha. This will be the first and only performance of this set anywhere in Europe in 2026 – so make sure you’re there!
WHOREDOM RIFE
Whoredom Rife is a black metal band from Trondheim, Norway, formed in 2014. Since then, they’ve released four albums, the most recent being Den vrede makt, which came out last year on Terratur Possessions. Over the years, Whoredom Rife has built a loyal following and is now regarded as one of the strongest black metal bands from the Trøndelag region. They’ve already played Inferno Metal Festival twice before – and we’re thrilled to welcome them back once again in 2026.
DARVAZA
The Norwegian-Italian project Darvaza was formed in 2015, and has already made a deep impact on the black metal underground. Not surprising, considering the band’s two founding members have been involved in close to 50 bands since the early 2000s – including Mare, Ritual Death, Behexen, Celestial Bloodshed, Dark Sonority, Blut Aus Nord, Misþyrming, Whoredom Rife, Dødsengel, and One Tail, One Head. Darvaza’s bleak and uncompromising black metal has made them a highly sought-after name on the festival circuit – and we’re excited to have them back at Inferno!
PERCHTA
Perchta is an Austrian music project founded in 2017 in Tirol. Combining ritualistic soundscapes influenced by black and pagan metal, Perchta creates atmospheric compositions performed in a unique regional dialect. The lyrics explore themes rooted in alpine nature, culture, and mythology. Using traditional folk instruments, ancient rituals and impressions of jagged mountain ranges are brought to life – offering a sonic journey through Tirol’s spiritual heritage. This will be Perchta’s first-ever concert in Norway – and we look forward to a truly unique and atmospheric performance at Inferno Metal Festival.
MYR
Myr is a new black metal band based in Norway. Their music pays tribute to the Scandinavian black metal tradition, drawing clear inspiration from bands such as Satyricon, Bathory, and Dissection. Their debut album Helvegen was released on June 25, 2025, and is available on all platforms. We strongly encourage you to check it out – and make sure not to miss their show at Inferno 2026. This could be a band to watch closely in the years to come.
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