[Dajana] On time the doors opened and numerous fans flowed into the cave with highly anticipated faces. And the PROPHECY FEST 2017 got started with a world premiere. British one-man project :: NHOR :: performed for the very first time live. NHOR got supported by the gifted painter Jennifer Taylor, who - inspired by the music - painted live during the set. An otherworldly piece of art that later will be auctioned for Herefordshire Wildlife Trust.
The audience was as quiet as a mouse, very attentive and didn’t even clap to not destroy the wonderful atmosphere. I just hope, NHOR did not misunderstood the silent crowd as he only played 30 minutes, which was way too short. The set featured songs from all four of the seasons that make up the album Wildflowers. Only Spring and Summer have been released so far as EPs in sync with the seasons themselves. Wildflowers will be released as a whole album when that cycle ends.
[Psycho] Since the Friday was a normal working day for us, my wife and me were still approaching.
Setlist: Prophecy, Windowpanes, Wildflowers, There Was A Time When I Knew The Way, Moonfall, I Have No Stars Left To Wish Upon, Hibernal, Cruelty, Bereft, Mercy
[Psycho] But we were in front of stage right on time to welcome :: SOROR DOLOROSA ::. I haven’t heard of Andy Julia and his mates for a long time. Four years have passed since No More Heroes was released. Now they return with a powerful and energetic live performance, which, at the same time, proved that Gothic Rock/Cold Wave ain’t static automatically. The band’s style hasn’t changed since that - good for the guys as this style became more popular again.
[Dajana] The short Nhor show caused quite some confusion as SOROR DOLOROSA started 20 minutes earlier than announced. The organizers wanted to use the chance to prevent delays. Didn’t work out at the end. Well, we know them…
I saw SOROR DOLOROSA playing live only once, in 2012, supporting Alcest and Les Discrets (both bands were present at the festival). And I had forgotten that the French gents add some Post Rock-like guitars to their sound, which makes it irresistible.
SOROR DOLOROSA did not only play their 2009 debut EP Severance in its entirety but also 3 songs from their brand new album Apollo, due out on September 15 via Prophecy Productions. Great show!
Setlist: Beau Suicide, 43°, Dare Me, Trembling Androgyenous, Thousand Clouds, American Chronicle, Apollo, The End, Another Life, LSD
[Psycho] Next up was :: SUN OF THE SLEEPLESS ::, one of the many projects of Schwadorf, which, after two EPs in 1999 and 2000, has just released its debut full-length, To The Elements. Boosted with illustrious guest musicians SUN OF THE SLEEPLESS played its second concert ever at PROPHECY FEST. No worries, the band presented themselves well-rehearsed and tight. The sound was undifferentiated but the Ambient-touched Black metal scored. I would like to hear more…
[Dajana] Yes, I agree, the list of musicians was illustrious. I didn’t wonder to see Dornenreich’s Eviga playing guitar but I was surprised to see Helrunar’s drummer Alsvartr on second guitar :) And the performance also featured Eïs singer Alboîn.
The stage was decorated with fir-tree green and mossy limbs as torch holders for a more intensive ambience (plus Ivy the next day – seems the guys had a successful walk through the forest ;)). And… as the perfectionist as Schwadorf is, the 20 mins buffer was killed immediately ;)
Setlist: Intro (Prospero's Speech von Loreena McKennitt), Motions, The Owl, Romanze zur Nacht, Where In My Childhood Lived A Witch, In The Realm Of The Bark, Thou, Whose Face Hath Felt The Winter's Wind, Phoenix Rise
[Psycho] Well, I can’t remember when I saw :: ARCTURUS :: playing live last time. Must have been ages ago. Same goes for the band’s CDs in my player. Regarding their outfit and performance, some kind of psychedelic humor seems to have infected the Norwegians. ICS Vortex added an off-key-note to his singing and did some pantomime, which, in the long run, went on nerves. Unfortunately, sound is still undifferentiated (hardly any guitars to hear and too dominant keys) so that I found the show less successful. I better keep the earlier ARCTURUS in mind.
[Dajana] I have seen ARCTURUS live several times during the recent years and it always was a pleasure. But yes, I agree, the staginess has increased, not to their benefit. I actually love such kind of odd shows but here I missed the esprit the band displayed last year at Party San for example. The show was a bit disappointing to me.
Setlist: Intro, Evacuation Code, Painting My Horror, Arcturian Sign, Pale, Crashland, Game Over, Archer, Nocturnal Vision Revisited, Chaos Path, To Thou Who Dwellest, Angst
[Psycho] One of the latest signings at Prophecy Productions is Iceland’s own :: GLERAKUR ::. This band was highly recommended to me by several friends. And yes, this kind of instrumental Post Rock packed a punch. Monolithic sound walls in epic songs were built with passion and dedication, without to leave the listener behind. It worked fine to me too, without knowing the band and the tracks, which is always a good sign. The band was massively cheered and adored by the audience and I guess, commercial success wouldn’t be long in coming either.
[Dajana] Awww… GLERAKUR. After last year’s show my expectations were high, light-years high. But, as already mentioned, the debut album, The Mountains Are Beautiful Now, is such a captivating masterpiece (the blue vinyl edition changed hands) and so was the show. Once again. The crowd stood there with closed eyes and got electrified. The show was so intensive, mesmerizing, and unique. Caused goose bumps. Highlight of the day! This band is really an exceptional one. Love them ♥
Oh, by the way… Those, who have seen guitarist Heiða Eiríksdóttir roaming the cave but missed her on stage… she quit due to job-related reasons but is still such a great fan of the band that she couldn’t resist to accompany them once again ;)
GLERAKUR finished their set with a cover version of HAM’s Partýbær with the kind support of Sólstafir’s Addi and Svavar.
Setlist: Policide, Willowcide, Can’t You Wait, Fagurt er á fjöllunum núna, Strings, Partýbær
[Psycho] “We come from the land of ice and snow” :: SÓLSTAFIR ::, also hail from Iceland, yet are way more successful. And it’s the first non-label band of the festival. SÓLSTAFIR offered us two brand new songs from the just released Berdreyminn, surrounded by older material. So far, the band passed me by unattended. It was the first time that I was fully aware of their show. But, to be honest, it didn’t kick me off my socks. Maybe the band’s specialty, the combination of genre-crossing styles, doesn’t comes into its own at such a festival, where unusual bands and styles are the standard. The show was professional, at best. What we should give thought to when singer Aðalbjörn Tryggvason insults the audience for not listening attentive to his words, even if his concern was a serious one (he talked about a late friend of the band the song Necrologue is dedicated to). His reaction was surely not appropriated.
[Dajana] The stage and band was hidden in smoke and darkness. There was hardly anything to see. Besides, I’m still undecided how to deal with this band in the future. Ambivalent matter. So far, it was a great first festival day and it was time to fall into bed. Well-deserved.
Setlist: Intro, Silfur-Refur, Òtta, Nattmál, Ísafold, Necrologue, Fjara, Goddess Of The Ages
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