The Midgardsblot festival, held at Borrehaugene (old viking grave mounds), outside the city of Horten, Norway, is mostly known for hosting acts within the metal genre in addition to some folk and viking inspired music.

This year, the festival first caught our attention with the announcement of Bel Canto as one of the headliners, followed by Gåte, Seigmen, Karin Park, Ledfoot, and others—definitely worth reporting on for Side-Line Magazine. And who knows, we might even discover some new bands. We headed there in mid-August to check it out!

(By our Norwegian correspondent, Jan Ronald Stange. Photos by Einar Låker and Jan Ronald Stange. Additional Dwaal photos by Jon Julius Sandal @ helvetesindrekretser and Birgit Fostervold @ knipselyst)

Side-Line’s chief editor, Bernard Van Isacker, was supposed to join me for the festival, but couldn’t make it due to a family emergency. His replacement, Einar Låker, brought his cameras and joined me instead. Since we had to attend meetings and handle some work during the day, we skipped the tenting area and set up base at a nearby campsite in a mobile home borrowed from my parents (thanks, Sigrid and Carl Edvard!).

After settling in, it was time to head to the festival grounds, which required a short hike through historic Viking graves. We collected our passes and entered the blót, an ancient Norwegian/Norse sacrificial feast.

The first act we saw was Kalandra, a UK/Norwegian band blending Celtic and Norse folk with modern arrangements. They’ve been around for over a decade, gaining recognition with their cover of Wardruna’s “Helvegen”. Since then, they’ve released several albums and composed scores for TV shows and video games.

After Kalandra, we explored the rest of the area, visiting the trade section Kaupanger, the Viking tent area Folkvangr, and the indoor stage Gildehallen (the “Feast Hall”). It was a sight to see people fully embracing the chance to step back in time.

We wrapped up the first day by watching the Swedish Viking rockers Amon Amarth, who had their fans completely enthralled—even getting hundreds to sit down and row in the middle of a song! 😊

Thursday was a rainy day, so boots and jackets were a must. We caught a bit of the Norwegian thrash band Inculter and the Polish death metal band Vader before heading inside Gildehallen for something entirely different: Trio Oro, a Norwegian world-folk fusion group featuring flutes, guitars, and percussion. They delivered a diverse set with tunes from Irish, Bulgarian, Norwegian, and other traditions. It was original and unexpectedly entertaining!

One of the main attractions, Gåte, had to cancel due to a band member’s illness and was quickly replaced by Hindarfjäll & Peter Franzen, a Swedish project that uses modern instruments to recreate the ancient sounds and atmospheres of Scandinavian/Nordic folk music.

Next, we escaped the rain by heading back into Gildehallen, catching the last few songs from local thrash band Mortal Fear—three teenagers with the drummer’s father on vocals. It was very entertaining!

The day ended with thrash metal titans Testament from California, USA, closing out the main stage at Heiheim.

Day 3 was special, with two bands from my hometown, Tønsberg, performing. Seigmen headlined the Helheim stage, while newcomers Fabbrica 82 were about to play their first-ever show in Gildehallen. We spent an hour there beforehand, chatting with the band members, Knut Ove Hansen and Lars Anders Berg, before their soundcheck and concert.

S-L: How did you come up with the band name?

Knut Ove Hansen: We started high school in 1982, and we chose Fabbrica because we wanted a name that could be associated with new wave. We went with the Italian version because “factory” was already overused in English, and I have a personal connection to Italy.

S-L: What were your first attempts at releasing music?

KOH: One of my early bands made our first demo tape at the local radio station in Tønsberg in 1985—it was actually the first synth-related demo recorded in Tønsberg! We played three gigs the following year as the band Some Bizzare, named after the famous compilation album where Depeche Mode, among others, had their first track on vinyl. We also had a third member, Bjørn Arnesen, who now lives in Peru. Lars reached out to me several times, in 2020 and again in 2023, asking if we should give it another try. I was hesitant at first, but then we made “Darkness,” and we were back at it.

Lars Anders Berg: Over the years, I’ve composed hundreds of songs, and I always wanted someone to sing to my tunes. After years of talking about it, we finally made it happen. It’s been a lot of fun, and we’ve quickly released several singles!

S-L: Any album in the making?

KOH: Yes, it’s what we’re working on. We also got another gig in October in Tønsberg. This is not where we thought we would be just six months after our first release – feels quite surreal! All because of the word of mouth in Tønsberg’s small “synth underground”, and it also spread to Oslo where we’ve gotten good feedback.

S-L: What’s your inspiration?

Lars Anders Berg: I listen to a lot of music, not just old synth, but many electronic genres. So, the process of creating themes, melodies, and tweaking knobs is an inspiration in itself.

As the hall filled with people, we noticed at least a dozen audience members already wearing fan T-shirts, and the band was thrilled after their first show.

As we left Gildehallen, we caught a few songs from Nytt Land on the Valhalla stage—a Siberian shamanic act that blends the vocal traditions of Northern Europe with traditional Siberian throat singing. It was a stark contrast after a synth gig and truly highlighted the diversity of the festival!

The last show we attended on Thursday was Seigmen at the Helheim stage. It was a fantastic performance, featuring a new song with guest Espen Winther from the medieval/folk band Eldrim, playing his harp. It was magical—a gig that later received well-deserved praise in reviews!

The last day of the festival started off relaxed, with a stroll around, soaking in the sights and atmosphere under the sun. Then Ledfoot (Tim Scott McConnell) took the Valhalla stage. This goth-blues phenomenon was someone I’d been wanting to see live for a while, and he didn’t disappoint. He delivered a set full of raw emotion—soreness, anger, longing—and impressive guitar playing.

I had been in touch with him before the festival, and we agreed to try for an interview. However, due to his soundman’s tight schedule, they had to leave the area minutes after the show, so we exchanged a few words via Messenger a few days later instead.

S-L: How was your gig at Midgardsblot?

Ledfoot: The audience was great, and there was such a good vibe there 🙏

S-L: Did the show or audience differ much from your solo gigs?

Ledfoot: No, it’s the same everywhere—I do my best and hope the audience appreciates it.

S-L: More music in the works?

Ledfoot: I’ve started on my new record, and hopefully it’ll be out by the end of the year.
And I’d like to say a big thank you to the audience and all the people working behind the scenes.
Hugs!

Next, we went to see Bel Canto, the pioneering Norwegian electronica band, performing a set that spanned their entire career, including a few new tracks from their latest album Radiant Green. As always, they delivered a top-notch performance, and Anneli’s voice remains as impressive as ever!

Making Bernard envious by sending him live photos was an obligatory part of attending Bel Canto 😉

I also managed to spend a few minutes in Gildehallen to check out another band with a Tønsberg connection, though mostly from Oslo—the doom-sludge-ultra-heavy Dwaal. The hall was packed, with a queue outside, clearly hitting their target audience perfectly. I later caught up with lead singer Bjørnar Kristansen to ask about their experience.

S-L: How did Midgardsblot treat you?

Bjørnar Kristansen: Midgardsblot was amazing. Right after the show, we said it was one of our favorite gigs, if not our favorite. The crowd’s energy from the first riff to the last deeply affected us. I asked for a ritual, and we got a ritual for sure. A true catharsis, both on and off stage.

S-L: How does playing at a festival like this compare to club gigs?

BK: Festivals are different from club gigs because the crowd is a more varied mix of people—those who already know Dwaal and those giving us a chance for the first time. Not to say anything bad about the Norwegian audience, but it seems like international music lovers are more open to discovering new music. They come from far away and want to engage with as much as they can, even if they’ve never heard us before. It makes for an intense experience in the best way.

S-L: Did you explore the festival area, try the Viking activities or food?

BK: Our drummer Anders went on Friday and had a great time at the Blot. The rest of Dwaal arrived on Saturday, and we had some time to explore the festival. It’s an incredible event. Everyone makes you feel so welcome and included. A huge recommendation from Dwaal!

S-L: Any upcoming releases, albums, gigs, or other news?

BK: As 2024 winds down, we’re hard at work on new music, with some exciting projects that push us out of our comfort zone, which we love. Our last regular concert of the year will be at Apollon Tønsberg on October 11th, with Uaar as support. On December 14th, we’re playing the Caliban Sessions, a yearly mini-festival hosted by Ole Petter Andreassen of Black Debbath, Thulsa Doom, and Cumshots fame. It will be a fantastic end to a great year for Dwaal, marking our tenth year as a band. There are plans for a gig in Oslo in 2025, so stay tuned for that announcement.

We’re also in talks for more live shows in Europe, though nothing we can confirm just yet. And of course, if Midgardsblot invites us back, we’d love to play again!

The last show in Gildehallen this time around was the one that probably impressed me the most—Karin Park from Sweden. Alone on stage, standing between two tables covered with synths, computers, and modular gear, she sounded and performed like a full band, delivering an incredibly energetic set. Crown her the Queen of Synth already! (go to https://www.facebook.com/748210539/videos/1540166493571503/ for videos, several in the comments!)

The Norwegian band Emperor, regarded as pioneers of extreme black metal, closed the festival on the main stage, Helheim, in front of a devoted audience.

To sum it all up: a festival well worth visiting! As they’ve expanded the musical genres in their lineup, there’s now something for everyone without losing their core purpose or audience. This approach also increases the chance to discover something new, which is always a plus!

A big shoutout to Runa Strindin, the driving force behind the festival, and her entire crew for making it such a success! Hopefully, they’ll continue for years to come, and perhaps the 10th anniversary next year will be even more special?!

PS: As a food enthusiast, I must mention the excellent variety of food, ranging from handmade hot dogs to Thai, Mexican, elk burgers, and elk kebabs! Most impressive was the food from the Norwegian Chefs National Association, Vestfold branch (Norske kokkers Landsforening, avdeling Vestfold)—their hot-smoked halibut dish was to die for! 😊

jrstange

Sometimes – when I’m not cooking, biking, listening to music or attending concerts, I write stuff for Side-Line.com. Mostly about Norwegian bands, but it’s been some Swedish, English, American, Danish, German and others too… 😉

www.facebook.com/jrstange

The latest Seigmen single “(Dyret) 23 bud” was released August 9^th, a week before the band attended the festival Midgardsblot, and had its premiere live performance there on Friday 16th as Seigmen was the final band on the main stage Helheim.

(By our Norwegian correspondent Jan Ronald Stange / Indie Recordings pressrelease. Photos by Einar Låker, Jan Ronald Stange)

“(Dyret) 23 bud» song’s lyrics consist of twenty-three “rules” from Seigmen of 2024, projected back through time towards the young band that just released their debut album «Pluto» in 1992. And to everybody else who needs to hear that you must have faith in yourself, you must believe to make your dreams come true.

With a steady pace of one album each decade since the turn of the millennium, Seigmen released their latest album «Resonans» in May 2024. Then they took us all by surprise by suddenly releasing brand-new single AND announcing a new album to be released next year! And another one in two years!

With this single release they also make a connection back to their first release “Pluto” in April 1992. The band’s symbol and logo, “Dyret” (eng. “The Beast”) among friends, was introduced to the world as it was radiating from the center of the deep, maroon cover. Fast forward to the summer of 2024 where the vibrations from «Resonans» still lingers, the single are the first taste from the bands next album; «Dissonans».

However, there are other and more tangible links to the past. When Seigmen played their first ever concert in their hometown of Tønsberg, they shared the stage with a local band called Floodland. The guitarist and vocalist in Floodland, Espen Winther, would later become a skilled instrument maker and a member of the medieval/folk band Eldrim. Going even further back to Winther’s teenage years we find him playing in a band with Seigmen drummer Noralf Ronthi and his brother younger Dag Reidar. Winther is the one that opens “(Dyret) 23 bud» in a majestic way with his home-made wooden harp called “Gnaal”.

The album trilogy has been the plan all along. Seigmen have made the most out of the last four years, during lockdown and health challenges, resulting in a long and involuntary hiatus from concerts and touring. «Resonans» was the first part of what in time will become a trilogy, consisting of «Resonans», «Dissonans» and «Substans». Three albums in three years, it seems almost surreal when you take the bands last 25 years of release history into account.

«Dissonans» will be the second part of the trilogy and is scheduled to be released on October 23rd 2025 on the 30th anniversary of the major breakthrough album “Metropolis”. The third and last part of the trilogy called “Substans” will follow in 2026 if all goes to plan. Three albums with a common thread running through them, but still three very diverse and different releases.

We managed to have a chat with guitarist Sverre Økshoff when he had a break after the band’s sound check.

Side-Line: What’s the story behind this surprising single release and albums announcement?

Sverre Økshoff: It’s been many simultaneous thoughts and actions these last 7-8 years, wondering if we’re still a band, then came corona and cancellations of shows, Alex’ health issues, so it piled up to a lot of reason for us being somewhat inactive outwards. But, in the meantime we’ve been working, started off with a weekend at an abandoned house on the beach, doing demos, me and Alex sleeping there so we could look after our equipment. First score was for “Arcadia Ego”, worked a lot on that, and got a good feeling that this was something we could have ownership and pride in.

The last years songs and texts keeps pouring out from Kim, and we started discussing if we should release single tracks like so many others, or if we should do something else with 30-something tracks. Or EPs? Or whole albums?  

S-L: A trilogy of albums, was that the idea from the start?

SØ: We had a long time quietly working without involving others, makings songs and having ideas how it should be presented, and it grew upon us that it should end up in a trilogy.

S-L: Must say it’s a clever naming of the albums! And now you have lots to do the next years?

SØ: Yes, Kim’s lyrics give clear lines for the naming of the albums. But if I am to say something about this with my perception and interpretation, it will be that “Resonans” (as already mentioned) resonates a long friendship and brotherhood between us guys. A bit pompous, but it’s a musical pact between us where either everyone is in or no one plays. So if one quits, Seigmen also disbands. “Dissonance” and “Substance” I haven’t quite got into yet. Something happens when the songs are released and played. Content and meaning are also processed. So, feel free to ask me again later.

Now we have a lot to do, we’re playing gigs again and will complete Dissonance in the next few months.

We do small sessions in the studio, during a weekend with a couple of songs at a time. It is new compared to before where we practiced for a long period and went into the studio and made the whole record in 3-4 weeks. Short cuts give the whole thing a slightly more spontaneous feel. Delicious actually.

S-L: Was it because of Midgardsblot you timed the release of the “(Dyret) 23 bud” single to just a week before?

SØ: Well, when seeing forward in time and having an idea about which instruments to use, it all came together as a good fit. And when involving Espen Winther we connected with pre-Seigmen history, Espen playing with Noralf and winning the Norwegian Rock Championship as the band Twilight Zone. Espen have been around the whole time, and now it was a good time for a collaboration with his harp and this festival.

S-L: With one single out there, a couple more are to be released before the next album – any info on them yet?

SØ: No, not decided which ones yet, so they’ll come as more surprises. I also think we’ve taken another steps backwards regarding the next album, and what I can disclose now is that it’ll be insanely fun to play!

S-L: How was this performance for Seigmen?

SØ: It was awesome to see the Vikings rocking in front of us! Very strange that so many people hang in there and were on fire at “Dyret”, a song that few had heard in its entirety! We are also really at home when we play in these areas. We had a fantastic night – thank you from the whole band!

jrstange

Sometimes – when I’m not cooking, biking, listening to music or attending concerts, I write stuff for Side-Line.com. Mostly about Norwegian bands, but it’s been some Swedish, English, American, Danish, German and others too… 😉

www.facebook.com/jrstange

(Photo by Tom Lund) Out via the Oslo-based label Indie Recordings is the newest Seigmen single “(Dyret) 23 bud”. “(Dyret) 23 bud” was recorded at Velvet Recording by Christer Krogh, mixed by Mike Hartung and mastered by George Tanderø. It was produced, written and arranged by Seigmen.

Unlike what you’d expect, the new single is not from the 2024 album “Resonans” but the very first offering from a brand-new album set to be released next year. That new album, “Dissonans”, will be part of an album trilogy.

The single “(Dyret) 23 bud” is out now in connection with the festival Midgardsblot, and will be performed live there for the first time.

Musically the song itself is a nod back to the young band that released their debut album back in 1992, accompanied by the symbol and logo “Dyret” that were to become their visual alter ego. Also featured on the single is Espen Winther who opens with his home-made wooden harp called “Gnaal”. As you might now, when Seigmen played their first ever concert in their hometown of Tønsberg, they shared the stage with a local band called Floodland. The guitarist and vocalist in Floodland, Espen Winther, who would later become a skilled instrument maker and a member of the medieval/folk band Eldrim.

“Resonans” was the first part of what in time will become a trilogy, consisting of; “Resonans”, “Dissonans” and “Substans”.

“Dissonans” will be released on October 23rd 2025. On that day, 30 years before, the band’s major breakthrough album “Metropolis” hit the record stores. The third and last part of the trilogy called “Substans” will follow in 2026 if all goes to plan.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

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