Sonic Solstice Festival
24th of September 2005
Oslo, Rockefeller

Bands playing this night: Tjusder, Red Harvest, Confessor, Arcturus. Nattefrost didn't play even though that initially was announced,

Back to Norway. We left Geneva airport early Friday morning. Arrived in Oslo at noon and took the train from the airport to the city. We went to the good record shops and enjoyed their impressive selections, spent quite some hours there. Then we got hungry and went to a bad Italian restaurant and got some horrible fish, a bad pizza and a not so good plate of spaghetti carbonara. Later we had some beers at the Elm Street Pub. It was a nice place, and we met nice people, some we knew and many others we met for the first time. The price on beer is still very high, but when you're partying and get thirsty it's difficult to avoid it. Several beers later it was time to go back to the hotel and on the way back we picked up the "famous" 7Eleven pølse before bed time!

Saturday was a damn nice day. Breakfast at the hotel. The sun was shining. A walk in town and as we were walking by the Rockefeller we met the guys of Arcturus and they invited us for the evening's gig. Thanks to them for giving us "guest passes", it was a cool gesture and a nice surprise! Then we had beers with our friend Weird, a whole bunch of beers. The atmosphere was good and got better and better as we headed for the Sonic Solstice Festival organized by Season Of Mist at the Rockefeller.

The venue wasn't all to crowded and not all tickets had been sold, so there weren't as many people as I thought there would be. But all the bands did strong performances. The show was also broadcasted live on the internet and at least six cameras filmed the entire festival for a future DVD release.

 
TSJUDER 

Tsjuder was opening the evening. The sound during the set was good and a flavour of Dissection-like inspiration in the sound could be felt as well. I think Tsjuder started with 'Unholy Paragon', they also played 'Malignant Coronation'. I can't tell much more because the only album of theirs I know is "Desert Northern Hell". The light show was very good. Guitarist Draugluin was impressive, he played very well and he also sang on a couple of songs. The drumming was fast and precise. Singer/bassist Nag had a real evil voice. Good concert.

 
RED HARVEST 

After a smoke outside and talking with many different interesting people it was time for Red Harvest to hit the stage. They had a huge sound, a great light show and the presence on stage was damn good. They played many songs from their latest album. On CD it's powerful but on stage the impact is even bigger. They did also play tracks from older releases which went out well. It will be cool to see them again on the Arcturus/Red Harvest European Tour.

 
CONFESSOR 

More beers, merchandise and T-shirts to buy and a cool aspect about the venues in Norway, is that while drinking your beer you meet and talk to great musicians like Cato of Enslaved (ex-Red Harvest), Frost of 1349/Satyricon and Faust now with Blood Tsunami/Aborym (ex-Emperor) like in this instance, all together at the same table drinking beers, it seems incredible but it happens in Norway.

Then it was time for the Americans in Confessor to enter the stage. I saw them once in '93 and it was nice to see them perform live again. They played their strange technical doom metal. The vocals are very good, kind of special as well, the screams are high and it gives something special to the whole ambiance delivered. I think they did a good gig. Confessor played songs from their new album "Unraveled" and also older ones which were great to hear again.

 
ARCTURUS

Then it was time for the gig we actually came for. Arcturus at home. First show on the "Shipwrecked in Europe" 2005 tour. It was once again impressive. They were musically really good and the presence on stage had a great impact.

Hellhammer on drums was impressive, he played like a machine. Hugh seemed like he was in his own world when he played and the sound of his bass was warm and rolled over the crowd.
Knut gave much feeling with his guitar playing, he's got something magic in his playing. Sverd was concentrated but seemed glad to play and did a great show and his possessed solo was excellent. Tore on guitar was very expressive and did something I didn't expect, he played the singing part that Silje Wergeland does on 'Shipwrecked Frontier Pioneer', it was amazing. And last but not least, Simen is a hell of a frontman. He has this incredible voice, talks to the crowd in between the songs and has, in a way, theatrical movements when he performs.

The gig opened with 'Ad Absurdum' and gave the atmosphere to what would follow.

'Nightmare Heaven' was the next piece of musical art we got. It's a perfect live track from a great album. Then the madness started, tracks from the new album "Sideshow Symphonies" started to come. 'Shipwrecked Frontier Pioneer' to begin with, it was killer, this song is fantastic and live it grows even more on you.

Sverd had a twisted keyboard solo and 'Alone' continued the show perfectly. The immense 'Deception Genesis' almost made me loose my voice. The two dancers' choreography was beautiful and in a way mystical to see.
 
Right after, they played 'The Chaos Path' and the stage was invaded by an incredible circus: The strongest man on earth, a magician, a women dancing with a skeleton, a stage diving white bear (or was it a sheep?),  minstrels etc… A great theatrical moment on one hell of a song, mesmerizing and funny as well.

Tore Moren cast a spell on the audience with his guitar solo and the last notes of it dived in the second track from the new album of the evening, the excellent, 'Deamonpainter'. I really like Simen's vocal line on that song and the whole band performed it damn well. It was the second time I heard this song live and there was something improved about it or maybe it's because I know the track by now.

'Nocturnal Vision Revisited' was next to come. Sverd, if I remember well, extended the intro a bit on this brilliant new track. Back to "La Masquerade Infernale" with 'Painting My Horror', and what is there to say? it's simply an outstanding song both to listen to and take a look at being performed, memorable.

If I had made a bet, I would have lost it. I was sure it wouldn't be on the set list but the joyful/melancholic 'Hufsa' suddenly emerged from the speakers. What a track, I was so glad they played it.

Was it already over? Arcturus left the stage, and the crowd wanted them back. Luckily it wasn't over yet! They played the powerful 'Master Of Disguise' and Knut followed with a great solo and 'White Noise Monster' shook the venue right after.

We also had the chance to experience the instrumental 'Reflections' live which was simply a beautiful moment… Time stood still for a moment. Arcturus played six new tracks and it seems like they all have been carved for the unique moments on stage.

One more track was left and we got served the masterpiece from the "Aspera Hiems Symfonia" album, 'Raudt & Svart'. I'm sure my neck wouldn't be in the best shape after this incredible set list but I know it got worse due to the last song which I adore so much.

Bravo to Season Of Mist and Rockefeller who organized a really nice festival, it was worth loosing time at the airports, to have our ears filled with excellent performances from each bands present this night. I am looking forward to see Arcturus and Red Harvest again in October.