Sunday was the last day of the Inferno Metal Festival this year, and it was a day for old school black and death metal, grindcore and doom. Norwegian, British and Swedish bands. As the preceding days, the venue was packed, and all in all the Inferno has never sold as many tickets before. And to a very international crowd from many different countries. (Photo above: Nattefrost from Carpathian Forest)

The 18th Inferno Metal Festival is over, and it has been a successful edition this year. The festival may have had more big names earlier years, but Emperor, Satyricon, Tsjuder and Carpathian Forest keep up the Norwegian black metal tradition and keep it alive. With the addition. of Fleshgod Apocalypse, Obituary and Swedish Dark Funeral, Shining and Grave, the crowd got what they wanted.

Sunday opened with Djevel from Oslo. They started in 2009 and have released five albums so far, with a new release just around the corner. Dark and sinister black metal.

After Djevel, the veterans in Tsjuder entered the stage. They are one of the early Norwegian black metal bands, formed in 1993 and still active. The band is one of my favorites.

The British veterans in Napalm Death played at Inferno in 2009, and were back again this year. Their punkish grindcore and singer Mark “Barney” Greenway’s spastic movements was a welcome variation from the other bands, and the crowd formed a moshpit from the first song.

Next out was another British band, Electric Wizard. They play doom metal and projected old videoclips as their backdrop during the set. Interesting band with the only female guitarist, Liz Buckingham, of the bands I saw during Inferno.

Grave is a Swedish death metal band that was formed in 1986, with guitarist and singer Ola Lindgren as the only remaining founding member. The band played at John. Dee, which was filled to capacity during the concert.

Last out at the Inferno Metal Festival 2018 was Carpathian Forest, Nattefrost’s black metal band that he formed in 1992 together with Nordavind. The band has had several changes in personnel, and the recent members are all from 2017, with Nattefrost as the only remaining member from the old band.

All photos are © Per Ole Hagen and must not be used without written permission.