Kolben Kulturhus, Kolbotn
August 23 – 24, 2024
Text: Runar Pettersen. Photos: Diana Blajan
Hellbotn is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, and to mark the occasion, Cecilie Dahl-Jørgensen Pind, mayor of Nordre Follo, attended to offer her praise for the festival and celebrate with cake and flowers. Those of us who have attended most years have watched the festival grow from a cramped basement space at Kolben Kulturhus, where fire alarms frequently went off, to a well-organized event with two halls in the main part of the same building. I would argue that this year’s festival is the best yet in terms of lineup, organization, and atmosphere. It also seems to be the most attended year so far, as it is packed from the start.
For me, however, the festival came to an abrupt end after just one day. I woke up on Saturday with a fever and a sore throat. I was lucky enough to have caught Covid and had to spend the following week coughing. So, I apologize for a slightly reduced review. But I will do my best to give a good impression of the festival.
The first band to take the stage is a new Norwegian band called Galgeberg. This is a band that will likely pique the interest of many classic black metal fans, as their drummer is Bård “Faust” Eithun, who previously played in Emperor. However, Galgeberg is not black metal. They play a mix of death, thrash, and punk, with plenty of d-beat and energy. Faust is joined by his longtime friend Pete Evil, on guitar and vocals, whom he has played with in bands like Blood Tsunami and Mongo Ninja. That should give a little indication of the musical territory Galgeberg operates in. However, it is a bit difficult to categorize them just yet, as this is the first time I am hearing the band. Galgeberg has not released any music yet, and this is only their second concert, following the Hellbotn kickoff party in June. But the first impression is solid, and I look forward to hearing more from Galgeberg. It sounds just dirty enough and energetic enough to become a live favorite.
The black metal band Funeral Harvest hails from Trøndelag, Italy, and Germany. So far, they have released a self-titled EP in 2020 and an album, “Redemptio,” in 2022. The band has not played many concerts yet; in fact, you can count them on one hand, so this is my first encounter with them. They go for a classic black metal stage setup, with candles, incense, and corpse paint. But it quickly feels like something we have seen many times before. The music is also not particularly original, and as the concert progresses, I find myself getting more and more bored. Unfortunately, the Funeral Harvest concert did not appeal to me, and the whole experience turned into a dull affair where I was just waiting for it to be over.
Lowest Creature comes from Örebro, Sweden, and plays thrash metal. The band started back in 2013, and in 2019 they released their debut album, “Sacrilegious Pain.” In 2023, they followed up with “Witch Supreme,” their latest release. I am immediately impressed by what the band delivers, as it sounds tight, energetic, and fresh. It is clear that this is a band that has rehearsed and knows what they are doing. Lowest Creature is not particularly original or groundbreaking, but they excel at what they do, and it is evident that the members are enjoying themselves on stage.
If there is one band that is original and innovative, it is Slagmaur from Fosen in Trøndelag. The band plays a form of black metal infused with elements of eerie film music. They also perform in elaborate costumes, with the drummer wearing a goat mask, the bassist a pig mask, the guitarist dressed as an old man, and the vocalist as a plague doctor. They made more of an impact when they played at Inferno Metal Festival in 2017, where they staged a live witch burning. Now, they do not add much extra spectacle beyond playing their set. But the sound is good, and I like what I hear. Admittedly, the guitars are a bit too dominant in the speakers at first, but it balances out, and the overall sound improves as the set progresses. Slagmaur is dark, visually striking, and offers something unique that is not often seen on stage. So even though I have seen them better before, it is always cool to see them live.
It is a bit odd that Nekromantheon is placed on the small stage, given their relatively long career. Additionally, the band plays a blistering form of thrash metal, so it would have made much more sense to have them on the big stage. But Nekromantheon handles the small stage well and delivers an intense performance, even though the view is not the best. They blast through song after song, and it all sounds flawless. Christian “Kick” Holm is an underrated drummer, as the performance is extremely tight and solid. Eventually, they bring up Sergeant Salsten from Deathhammer to sing a song. It is a bit of an odd combination, as it seems like the guys in Nekromantheon take their performance very seriously and show up sober, while Sergeant Salsten appears to be significantly drunk and stumbles around the stage like a madman. But he is an entertaining character and delivers what he is supposed to. Of course, I could be wrong, and maybe they are all completely wasted, but I would be surprised if that were the case. I do not immediately recognize the song, but it sounds like a track by Whiplash, a band that both Nekromantheon and Deathhammer opened for in 2009. With that, the concert is over, and it is safe to say that Nekromantheon once again delivers a strong performance.
The final band of the night is the legendary Tormentor from Hungary, which started all the way back in 1985 and is part of the first wave of black metal. The band has had cult status in the Scandinavian black metal scene from early on. Euronymous, for example, recruited Tormentor’s vocalist Attila Csihar for Mayhem after Dead’s suicide, and Swedish Dissection covered the Tormentor classic “Elisabeth Bathory” in 1993. In fact, Elisabeth Bathory is prominently displayed on Tormentor’s backdrop, along with Vlad Tepes. Attila Csihar is dressed as a hunchback and, with his whip, strikes both himself, the guitarist, and the bassist repeatedly throughout the concert. I am a bit surprised that Tormentor plays one of their biggest songs so early in the set, as “Elisabeth Bathory” comes as the third track. But luckily, Tormentor has more great material, so there are more highlights later in the set. However, they do not have an extensive catalog, as they have not released that much music. Most of the songs played come from their two demo tapes, “The 7th Day of the Doom” from 1987 and “Anno Domini” from 1989. Both are solid and have an unmistakable sense of darkness. Attila Csihar has an excellent voice and is strong on stage, using his voice between songs to create eerie soundscapes. This way, there is never any awkward silence between tracks. Later, he also changes costumes, now wearing a more familiar outfit with a large upside-down cross around his neck and a cape. However, another Attila in the band steals a lot of my attention—guitarist Attila Szigeti. The way this guy plays his instrument is insane, firing off one great riff and solo after another. Tormentor is not an especially technical band, but they often play at a blistering pace. They deliver a powerful set and deserve more recognition beyond just those deeply invested in music history.
Unfortunately, that was all I managed to see, as I was bedridden for the following week. But from what I did experience, Hellbotn 2024 was a success, and it is definitely something to look forward to next year. More and more people seem to be discovering the festival, as it is only a short train ride from Oslo. It is easy to get to and from, and it offers a great atmosphere with friendly people and plenty of good music.
About The Author
