Dark Essence Records presents: Beyond The Gates Warm-up 2024 // Stereo

Beyond the Gates, en av Norges største ekstremmetalfestivaler, arrangeres 31. juli - 3. august i hjertet av Bergen. I den anledning arrangerer vi i Dark Essence Records en oppvarmingskonsert den 30. juli på Stereo, der bandene Madder Mortem og Vestindien varmer opp til festivalen. 

Dørene åpner kl 19.00, og første band går på kl. 20.00.

From July 31^st to August 3^rd, Beyond the Gates, one of Norway’s most prominent extreme metal festivals, will take place in the heart of Bergen. In light of this occasion, Dark Essence Records is organizing a pre-festival concert on July 30th at Stereo, featuring performances by Madder Mortem and Vestindien to warm you up for the festival.

Starting life in 1993 as Mystery Tribe, Madder Mortem was one of the early bands from the contemporary Norwegian Metal scene to break away from set genre boundaries. Having started off with a more straight doom metal sound, the band has continued to develop with each album, following a flawless transition towards an experimental and diverse progressive metal band with a unique sense of groove and contrasting arrangements. This diversity is clearly reflected in the band’s unforgettable live performances.

Their 8^th studio album “Old Eyes, New Heart” was released in January, to rave reviews. Lyrically and musically, the album deals with hope, disappointment, and the ambivalence between them. It is music from old hearts and deep roots, with new eyes open to the unlimited possibilities of 12 notes, but always with the desire to write a good, honest song. Recorded and produced by guitarist BP M. Kirkevaag, it shows one of Norway’s most interesting bands embracing a multitude of directions spanning from post-metal heaviness to soft Americana grooves and everything in between.

With a name taken from the last known brothel in Bergen, the band Vestindien was formed in 2009 as a hardcore band with a heavy metal twist. But only one year after the release of their 2011 EP “We are the Lords of Hellfire”, and despite having built up a solid following eager to experience the band's frenetic live shows, Vestindien called it a day. A few years later, though, the band re-emerged with a new sound. There are still hints of their hardcore roots, but the band has engulfed itself in a dark shroud conjuring the essence of black metal, punk and old school rock’n’roll. The songs are dark, desperate and desolate, with hard punches of energy and groove.

On their second album “Verdande”, released this May, the band still only answers to their own standards and expectations, delivering eight tracks of psychedelic proto-metal with a gloomy twist.

Doors open at 19.00, and the first band will go on stage at 20.00.