GALLERY

GALLERY: 15.8.2025 Midgardsblot Metal Festival – DAY 3 @ Borre, Norway

August 20, 2025

The third day of Midgardsblot arrived and we started it with the amazing VOLUSPA on stage. We were delighted by their beautiful voices and performance, including traditional folk instruments and a beautiful stage decorated with a lot of detail. Of course, many Viking decorations went well with the band’s theme. During a very sunny day, people enjoyed their morning at Midgardsblot, going for a swim to get ready for the shows ahead. We now had the opportunity to see a lot of Norwegian legends.

STAGE DOLLS started playing on the main stage, where there was going to be Rock and Roll for everyone. This band was formed in 1983 in Trondheim, Norway, and they were a very popular trio who traveled far, bringing their Rock and Roll with a glossy and classic American sound all around the world. In fact, they used to tour with TNT, another great Norwegian Hard Rock band we would see during the day. This band had huge success during the ’80s both in Norway and in America. I absolutely enjoyed their amazing guitars and voices, blended together for this incredible performance full of nostalgia and energy.

Everyone was having a great time around the forest and the beautiful natural landscape in Borre that Midgardsblot has to offer. This open stage was just what people needed for having even more fun during the late-night shows.

ISKALD is a black/thrash metal band founded in Bodø, Norway in 2005 by Simon Larsen and Aage Krekling. With a powerful cold sound from the northern Norwegian mountains, we experienced this crushing black thrash metal band that really captured the audience inside the Gildehallen. With a very melodic sound, captivating guitars, aggressive bass lines, hardcore drumming, and very technical vocals, this band was a delightful discovery for myself and others who enjoy Norwegian melodic black thrash. Their music sings about Norse mythology and Judgment Day, themes that were very aligned with the festival’s audience.

After the amazing STAGE DOLLS, we then enjoyed the legendary Norwegian/American hard rock band TNT, started in 1982 also in Trondheim, Norway. TNT was one of the most important Norwegian bands at the time, as they were among the first to blend Norse mythology with Heavy Metal. They really brought an amazing show to Borre with their brilliant guitar solos, sick riffs, and legendary melodies. The crowd was delighted—we could see some fans holding their albums hoping to get them signed, while others were dancing or simply gazing at the guitar solos and enjoying their time with some good Hard Rock.

The next show was an amazing solo performance by SYLVAINE, the multi-instrumentalist Kathrine Shepard. She can play guitar, bass, piano, and synthesizer, and has a magical voice that delivered a peaceful yet mesmerizing black metal performance.

We then had the chance to witness the black metal band MORK. This band had been awaited for this day especially by the black metal community at Midgardsblot, which this year was bigger than ever. They are very well known around Norway for their traditional sound, carrying the legacy of the second wave of Norwegian black metal with their descriptive cold sound, sharp guitar riffs, haunting growls, and stage presence. This became one of the best black metal shows of the day, and as a lover of the genre I personally loved this performance. They opened their set with the cold “Den Svevende Festning,” which was brutal, dark, and intense, leaving the crowd more than ready for what came next. We could see corpse paint all around and a nice mosh pit forming in the center, demonstrating the raw black metal style we enjoy from this genre. The final song, “Dype Røtter,” reminded us of true Norwegian black metal from the frostbitten lands of Norway where this amazing genre flourished.

The next show was FAUN from Germany. With amazing vocals and multi-instrumentalists in the band, the show was promising and interesting. They are one of the biggest and most famous bands when it comes to pagan folk and medieval music. With wonderful collaborations with important singers and musicians from all around, they also use many different languages including German, Latin, Greek, and others. They have always amazed me personally, and as it was my first time seeing them, I really had the chance to experience the blending of beautiful voices with historic instruments.

On the next stage we found a very acclaimed band, and for many people the headliner of the day: from Tokyo, Japan, SIGH. This band has its story connected to Norway, being part of Deathlike Silence Records back in the ’90s. Their demos sparked curiosity from Euronymous, and they signed with him to produce their first full-length album in Norway. With daunting singing, brutal black metal, and even a saxophonist, SIGH delivered a show that the fans loved. When you mention black metal from Japan, you can only think of SIGH, and they have earned this prestige with their music and presence on stage.

The next band was ENSIFERUM. Fans coming from Finland were very excited, and we could see Finnish flags waving across the festival grounds during the show. There was a lot of crowd surfing and of course their smashing setlist full of new and old hits, with a lot of energy from the members. As always, Petri Lindroos amazed the crowd with his incredible guitar skills. During this show we could see some of the Vikings who were earlier fighting as part of one of the festival’s activities joining the mosh pit and having fun with the rest of the crowd—a truly amazing Midgardsblot Viking experience.

To close the night we had one of the biggest bands from Norway, the classic MAYHEM, which that night delighted the crowd with many guests and former members on stage. The first row was full of fans with corpse paint, albums, and excitement to see their favorite band. Personally, this was one of the best MAYHEM shows I have witnessed. Their visuals and songs went from the beginning of their career—with older members playing and honoring the past—to the most recent members and songs. A truly unique experience delivered by the band in their home country of Norway.

FOLKET BORTAFOR NORDAVINDEN was the last show of the day. This band is one of those that truly represents the essence of Midgardsblot. Some of their members had changed, but we had the chance to hear new voices and instruments, which were very pleasing and loved by the crowd. I’m a big fan of their music, which is based on Norse mythology and paganism, and it really goes perfectly with the core essence of this festival.

Here are my captures of the third day!