…Because the second day starts very early, at 11 am. And I’m even awake before the alarm rings but enthusiasm is something different. Well, first coffee and an extended breakfast…

:: pics ::

First band of day 2 is :: RABENWOLF :: and I don’t wanna miss them. Epic melodies with a proper Folk note, rough singing and sing along refrains is what RABENWOLF is about and what the first hundred peeps get up and awake in the venue. Yes, that makes fun, even at this damn early time. I liked the flute, which added an extra to the music. Much likeable bunch of people!
Setlist: Aufbruch, Ewiger Kampf, Sturmzeit, Gezeiten, Feld der Steine

:: ASENBLUT :: were surely here to promote their brand new album Von Worten und Taten, a great piece of blackened Thrash/Pagan Metal. But it is actually fronter Tetzel who impresses and attracts most attention. There’s something on the tip of my tongue but hey, I know how to behave… ;)
Setlist: Was Angst ist, Klingenschmiede, Tatenklang, Wahn & Chaos, Die Nibelungenmär', Die letzte Schlacht der Fünften, Asenblut

During :: NORTHLAND :: and :: MIDNATTSOL :: I take another break and am back on time…

…For :: UNDER THAT SPELL :: And with them my so called “hometown run” begins (to put them broad-minded near my hometown ;)). As one might know two members of them played formerly in Helrunar, a hint you can clearly hear out as especially guitarist Dionysos has this distinctive guitar play I love(d) in Helrunar and love in UNDER THAT SPELL too.
Setlist: Set The Fire, Zenith, Abyss, Black, Their Last Creation, I Am The Prophet

:: IN VAIN :: are on tour right with Vreid and Solefald (playing a little later) and play a great show of progressive Black and Death Metal with wonderfully alternating singing between Andreas Frigstad and Sindre Nedland as well as bassist Kristian Wikstøl. Actually do all band members sing ;) Again a band with a new album (Ænigma) out IN VAIN play three songs from. One little drawback of a great show was the absence of light. Well, you know, photographers… ;)
Setlist: Captivating Solitude, Against The Grain, Det Rakner!, October's Monody, Image Of Time, Floating On The Murmuring Tide

Another band that has blown me away is :: MALADIE :: Founded back in 2009 MALADIE gather many known faces of current and past bands and serve their music with three singers, all of them totally insane *laughs*. MALADIE seek and destroy and leave nothing than scorched earth. I’m pretty sure, after a regular and full MALADIE show you are ready for the nuthouse. Definitely the highlight of the second day!

And then, they are back, these wonderfully flickering Black Metal guitars I love so much. :: EÏS :: formerly known as Geïst, who have released atmospherically dense and intensive records under both names. Also EÏS have a surprise for their fans: singer Seuche of German Black Metal band Fäulnis contributing guest vocals to Kainsmal. And he sounded utmost sick.
Setlist: Mann aus Stein, Galeere, Auf kargen Klippen, Kainsmal, Helike, Winters Schwingenschlag

Not only the RAGNARÖK FESTIVAL celebrates its birthday, so do :: OBSCURITY ::, their 15th band anniversary. As they did in 2011 they also offered us a fantastic fire show in 2013 too. Too bad photographers were not allowed to enter the pit. OBSCURITY played a best-of set through all records and got five (5!) enthused guest singers on stage during Obscurity, who won this part in a competition on the band’s website.
Setlist: Varusschlacht, Bergische Löwen, Fimbulwinter, Tenkterer, Obscurity, Blut&Feuer, Nach Asgard wir reiten, Die letzte Schlacht, Bergischer Hammer // Nordmänner

During the :: RIGER :: show there was not that much to see. Only smoke and stroboscopes and some shadows. Sound was bad and singer Ingo seemed to have a sore throat. Here I actually expected new songs, but no. If RIGER work on a new album I don’t know either.
Setlist: Prolog, Hinter Mauern aus Stein, Des Blutes Stimme, Angriff, Brandschiff, Zunft der Lügner, Germania, Streyf, Auf die Ahnen!

:: HELRUNAR :: luckily have a better sound and singer Skald Draugir is pleased to play RAGNARÖK FESTIVAL for the fourth time. He says, that makes the venue to his living room, almost ;) And a HELRUNAR show is always great.
Setlist: Kollapsar, Unten und im Norden, Unter dem Gletscher, Schwarzer Frost, Nebelspinne, Aschevolk, Älter als das Kreuz

Again I allow myself another break and miss :: MENHIR :: (who, so I got told, had the worst sound and left the stage abruptly before its end). :: NOCTE OBDUCTA :: I actually wanted to see in its entirety but make it to the last two songs only. But those one gave an impression of an outstanding show.
Side note: Some might remember the lyric-clash between NOCTE OBDUCTA and a certain Kanwulf (Nargaroth, what brings me back to my problem I was nagging about in the beginning). Those Kanwulf was there as a VIP guest and walking around. Seems there was some trouble around…

When :: SOLEFALD :: entered the stage I was fully awake and present. I never have seen them playing live before. No wonder, their last show in Germany was 1998 and they didn’t play at all since 1999. The show starts with singer Cornelius Jakhelln sitting on a chair in the middle of the stage, writing, with wonderful classical music running in the background. I would like to know which composer that was. Anyway, a great scenery that somehow reminded me if Hemmingway. I don’t know why. However, what Cornelius was writing there is a poem; he just did to celebrate the 10th anniversary of RAGNARÖK FESTIVAL. And he wrote this poem in German! And the recited it before the show! It is not perfect, but the idea itself is just wonderful. I am deeply impressed. SOLEFALD surprisingly played many songs from the 1997 debut album The Linear Scaffold and besides one of (almost) every other. And the fans respond frenetically and still wanted more. Exceptional show, really!
Setlist: Jernlov, CK II Chanel No 6, Red View, The USA Don't Exist, Backpacka Baba, Sun I Call, Vitets Vidd I Verdi, Philosophical Revolt, When the Moon Is On The Wave

Well, after I have seen Nattefrost last night staggering and creeping on stage with Shining I did not much expect from tonight’s :: CARPATHIAN FOREST :: show. And again, Nattefrost was dead drunk, dealt more with his Whiskey bottle than with his show and audience or was busy scrolling through his lyric book, what actually didn’t matter, because you couldn’t understand anything of his slurred speech and singing. Though, the show wasn’t that bad as it was supposed to be. Nattefrost is much used to this kind of performance and the rest of the band made the best of a bad job.
Setlist: Intro Damnation Chant, The Suicide Song, Mask Of The Slave, Hymne To Doden, The Frostbitten Woodlands Of Norway, One With The Earth, Carpathian Forest, Bloodlust & Perversion, Skjend Hans Lik, Knokkelmann, Morbid Fascination Of Death, Return Of The Freezing Winds, Black Shining Leather, It's Darker Than You Think, The Well Of All Human Tears, Shut Up, There is No Excuse To Live, He's Turning Blue, Diabolism

Following Norse black metallers :: VREID :: kicked off with two songs of their smashing new record Welcome Farewell, to go back in history right after. Those who already fell asleep got mercilessly woke up by the sirens of Alarm. Again I’d loved a little bit more of lights.
Setlist: The Ramble, The Reap, Songen Åt Fangen, Welcome Farewell, Arche, Alarm, Sights Of Old, Raped By Light, At the Brook, Pitch Black

Last but not least, it is up for :: SECRETS OF THE MOON :: to close this year’s edition of RAGNARÖK FESTIVAL. I think it’s a pity to let play such awesome band as a closer of a festival at this late time. They would have deserved a better slot. Of course, audience has thinned out this time but luckily not that strong as I was afraid of ;) SECRETS OF THE MOON had a lot of candle and fires on stage for a very mystic atmosphere and I loved it. It’s also great to see how the band gets better and better on stage, playing more harmonious and to attach importance for the little things that add this special atmosphere. During Lucifer Speaks Torsten of Nocte Obducta/Agrypnie appeared on stage and sang this, not his best performance, if you ask me, but it didn’t ruin anything either. It was outstanding show, one of the best of SECRETS OF THE MOON I experienced so far and definitely the highlight of the whole festival!
Setlist: Blood Into Wine, Seraphim Is Dead, Serpent Messiah, Lucifer Speaks, Nyx, Shepherd, The Three Beggars

Ok, here we are at the end of the 10th anniversary festival of RAGNARÖK 2013. It was a great festival, no doubt, but as for me, not so special a 10th anniversary would have deserved it. Many of the bands that played yesterday and tonight I already have seen 2, 3 and 4 time at this single festival. Regarding attendees, it seems that less have been here as in the last years. Maybe time has come for changes?

story & pics © Dajana