The hotel bed was way too soft, so I was up early. After a good breakfast, I went on a short hike around the Ebberg to blow out head and mind. Literally, because it was very stormy (there was even a warning from the festival for the tent camp). After that, I sorted through the first photos and wrote the first lines for this live report, then it was time to head to Balve, where, in sunny weather, cheerful fans from all over the world stormed the venue in joyful anticipation.
The first stop for most of the attendees was the merchandise to secure tickets for next year. FALKENBACH as the headliner was on everyone’s lips; people were discussing them, and the band was warmly recommended to those who didn’t know them yet. To be honest, I never would have expected this band to generate such a buzz. And even less, in a million years, that the announcement of this band alone would sell out the entire festival in less than 24 hours.
Of course, plenty of apparel and recordings were bought too - after all, the best items sold out fast. I should’ve done the same, gosh darn it. I wanted to buy all my favorites in one go on Saturday. Well, too bad, baby, by then they were already gone. My fault…
BUT: There’s now a limited-time link to reorder the current »festival-Items« :)
:: pics :: FARSOT ::
German avant-garde black metallers :: FARSOT :: kicked off PROPHECY FEST 2026 on the main stage in the cave and finally made up for their 25th-anniversary show, which unfortunately had to be canceled in 2024 due to illness and during which they had planned to present their latest album Life Promised Death. Well, better late than never ;)
This year, FARSOT presented a set featuring songs from all four of their albums. I imagine choosing the songs wasn't easy, since all albums are concept albums. After all, the tracks have to fit together when performed live.
An excellent opening show in front of a full house. That, too, is one of the special things about PROPHECY FEST: the fans stand in front of the stage right from the start and show every band their attention and respect.
Band: X.XIX (vox), I.XVI (git), III.XXIII (git), XX.VIII (bass), XIX.XVIII (drums)
Setlist: Nausea, Adamantine Chains, The Antagonist, Circular Stains, Stray Dogs, Thematik: Tod
:: pics :: DOLD VORDE ENS NAVN ::
Black Metal, part two. One could say that :: DOLD VORDE ENS NAVN :: is the very essence of Norwegian black metal, as its members have played in about every band that once brought black metal into the world and fundamentally shaped it with all its (experimental) facets. This is perfectly encapsulated on their 2021 debut, Mørkere. A year later, they played at PROPHECY FEST, and now they’re back.
A new album hasn’t been officially announced yet (though they’ve mentioned they’re working on one), but DOLD VORDE ENS NAVN played five brand-new tracks. I guess we won’t have to wait much longer.
Last year, DOLD VORDE ENS NAVN parted ways with founding member and singer Vicotnik due to musical differences and a lack of time. Instead, they brought in Svik from Den Saakaldte to take over the mic. A good choice. His presence is different, Svik might not be as crazy as Vicotnik, but on stage he’s a force of nature ;) Great show!
Band: Svik (vox), Haavard (git), Morten Aaveren (git), Cerberus (bass), Myrvoll (drums)
Setlist: Min Nærestes Bane, Jeg vil ha det mørkere, Sannheten, Ensomhetens rytter, 12'ern, Løgnens abstinenser, Mørke Krok, Klaustrofoni
:: pics :: SPIRITUAL FRONT ::
The shift in musical style that followed couldn’t have been more drastic. After harsh black metal, now (nihilistic) suicide pop ;) But, as any PROPHECY FEST fan knows (and love) , that’s also one of the festival’s unique features.
:: SPIRITUAL FRONT :: celebrated the 20th anniversary of Armageddon Gigolo, the Italians’ fourth album, which is often described as the band’s groundbreaking album. They didn’t play the album in its entirety, only half of it, supplemented with songs from Rotten Roma Casino and Amour Braque. As always, it was a very lively show that had the audience dancing. As always, the show was accompanied by footage from Pasolini’s Mama Roma. Yes, it surely was a nice show, but nothing, I would call special, exclusive, or unique.
Band: Simone Salvatori (vox, git), Giorgio Maria Condemi (git), Andrea Freddy Nio (drums), Federico Amorosi (keys)
Setlist: The Shining Circle, Cruisin', Cold Love (In A Cold Coffin), I Walk The (Dead) Line, Jesus Died In Las Vegas, Darkroom Friendship, No Kisses On The Mouth, Slave, Bastard Angel, Children Of The Black Light
:: pics :: MAUNAH ::
A true revelation that followed was the very first live show outside of Denmark by :: MAUNAH :: The band is one of Prophecy Productions’ newest signings and will release their debut album, Hjarta, on September 18. The Danes’ album-release show was split into two sets, one on Friday and the second on Saturday, both on the small stage.
Two of the tracks have already been released as video singles, and I must say, especially to the title track I fell in love with. Such a beautiful song! The band was visibly nervous before the show, testing their instruments here and there (well, the cave is cool and damp, so instruments go out of tune quickly) and they didn’t have that much space on the small stage.
MAUNAH play a mix of traditional Nordic folk and melancholic doom metal, interspersed with massive riffs during which singer Søren really let loose. By the way, he reminded me time and again of a certain Ragnarr Loðbrók ;) Occasionally, he coaxed a few notes out of a rather large overtone flute (a traditional instrument in Nordic folk).
MAUNAH were enthusiastically received by the audience. No, they were celebrated frenetically. The fans were downright ecstatic, and the band could hardly believe what was happening in front of the stage. It was simply incredible! What an atmosphere! What a show! For me, it was definitely THE (unexpected) highlight of the festival!
Band: Søren Sol Koldsen-Zederkof (vox), Mads Laursen (git), Janus Holst Aaen (git), Jakob Kiilerich (bass), Danny Woe (drums)
Setlist: Saivør, Heimaland, Vætna, Hjarta
:: pics :: DYMNA LOTVA ::
At my last PROPHECY FEST, :: DYMNA LOTVA :: were still on the small stage and brought the back of the cave to a boil with their two sets.
In 2026, they took the main stage to present their new album, Vyraj, as part of an album release show. They performed the entire album, albeit in a slightly altered order. The Boat Of Despair for example, featuring Aaron Stainthorpe as guest vocalist, was saved for the grand finale. DYMNA LOTVA also had Ingvarr from Schreigarm joining them as guest vocalist for Return My Coffin Home.
Once again, it was a magnificent, highly intense show featuring a wild Nokt Aeon, who this time resembled one of the vampire women from Bram Stoker’s Dracula and, with her screeching like a siren, could stretch one’s nerves to the breaking point.
DYMNA LOTVA is one of the few DSBM bands whose embodiment of pain, suffering, and torment on stage is authentic in so many ways (if you know the band’s story, you know what I mean).
Band: Nokt Aeon (vox), Jaŭhien (git), Mikita (git), Bocian (drums)
Setlist: Zory, Veha, Viedźmieragina, Niama darohi, Ustań za mianie, Bu samoje, Return My Coffin Home, The Boat Of Despair
:: pics :: EMPYRIUM ::
I don’t think there’s anything left to say about Markus Stock and/or :: EMPYRIUM :: The band members, the music, the label, the festival… everything is closely intertwined, it’s all part of history.
This year, the show centered on the debut album A Wintersunset…, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Wow! Has it really been that long? How time flies… EMPYRIUM also chose not to play the album in its entirety; instead, they replaced The Yearning and the instrumental Ordain’d To Thee with songs from their demo and their sophomore.
Band: Markus Stock (vox, git), Hevnbrann (git), Oliver König (bass), Allen B. Konstanz (drums), Aline Deinert (violin)
Setlist: Moonromanticism, Under Dreamskies, The Franconian Woods In Winter's Silence, Mourners, Ode To Melancholy, Autumn Grey Views, A Gentle Grieving Farewell Kiss, My Nocturnal Queen
I don't think I've ever seen :: NEUN WELTEN :: perform the metal version live. If I had, it was a hell of a long time ago. At this show, there were only four members of the band left on stage - the core group, so to speak ;)
Musically, that’s a huge difference compared to their acoustic sets. Yes, NEUN WELTEN can rock hard, yet don’t lose sight of their original sound. Unfortunately, the set on the small stage was pretty short and the backside of the cave massively packed (that’s why I don’t have photos. I was to late to get in front of stage). In addition to Lorn from their latest album, The Sea I’m Diving, they played two tracks that were originally contributed to a label compilation called Scapes (Auerbach Tonträger).
Band: Meinolf Müller (vox, git), David Zaubitzer (git), Alexander Seidel (bass), Michael (drums)
Setlist: Lorn, Scapes 1, Scapes2 - Ancient Woods
:: pics :: ARTHUR BROWN ::
Ah, now it’s time to bow deeply and to salute in highest respect! This man is simply incredible, is celebrated as a legend, and rightly so! :: ARTHUR BROWN :: is 84 years old and hasn’t slowed down a bit. He’s still touring the world and releasing albums!
On this day, he celebrated the release of his new record, Nature, making this concert an exclusive album-release show as well. Mr. Brown transformed like a chameleon throughout the show, each costume better than the last - colorful, imaginative, glittering and flashy. He hopped and rocked across the stage like a youngster. Well, of course, you can tell he’s getting older. It visibly limits him and that seems to be the one thing he dislikes the most. No wonder… The man is unstoppable. Musically, it’s more like blues rock or psychedelic rock, and yet he manages to completely captivate and thrill a venue full of black metal fans. And of course, the god of hellfire set the stage ablaze one last time right at the very end of his performance.
What a show! What an artist! ♥
Band: Arthur Brown (vox), Jim Mortimore, Sam Walker, Daniel Smith, Robin O'Keeffe
Setlist: XXX
:: pics :: TIAMAT ::
After last year’s disastrous show at PartySan, I had, to put it mildly, zero expectations. Just a faint hope that it wouldn’t get any worse than that. Thank Buddha, it did not, but it wasn’t much better either. At times shaky, with lips painted black and bleeding the edge, with a crown of thorns (?) on his head, and wildly flailing a collapsible cane, Johan Edlund once again presented a very bizarre sight, and I found myself wishing he were on a sunny beach, where he might spend his twilight years far away from festival stages.
Of course, albums like Wildhoney and Clouds haven’t lost any of its magic, but Edlund no longer does them justice vocally. Even a skilled live band can’t help there, especially since its members change quite frequently.
For The Sleeping Beauty :: TIAMAT :: had invited Matt Korr to do guest vocals. He is an American living in Germany and who works at Studio Red Roof Loft Sound near Soest, which is nearby. He once contributed spoken-word parts to The Scarred People in 2012. At other festivals, TIAMAT invited other musicians to sing The Sleeping Beauty, like Moonspell’s Fernando Ribeiro for example (was there one at PartySan? I don’t remember…)
I left early, with Wildhoney still ringing in my ears, I turned my back on the cave to get ready for the second day of the festival.
Band: Johan Edlund (vox), Lars Sköld (drums), Simon Johansson (git), Tobias Cristiansson (bass), XXX (keys),
Setlist: In A Dream, Clouds, Smell Of Incense, The Sleeping Beauty, Divided, Wildhoney, Whatever That Hurts, The Ar, Visionaire, Do You Dream Of Me?, Church Of Tiamat (Skeleton Skeletron), Love In Chains, Vote For Love, Gaia
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