ARTISTS 2024 (A to Z)

AMBUSH (SWE)

In the year 2013 a new band took form in the midst of the dark forests of Småland. Inspired by the great metal heroes of the past Ambush was forged, out of cold raw swedish steel. Since then the band has released three full length-albums and toured South America, North America, Asia and Europe. Their albums “Firestorm” (2014), “Desecrator” (2015) and “Infidel” (2000) have been praised by both critics and metal fans around the globe. The band has quickly taken a steady position as one of the most promising bands of the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal, and they are here to stay. Prepare, an Ambush is imminent.

BENEDICTION (UK)

Benediction was formed in Birmingham in 1989. The band have since gone on to release many acclaimed albums and are now recognized as one of the originals in the death metal scene. They do however continually strive to deliver the goods and are still to this day thoroughly enthused by what they do as you clearly see when they are together, especially up on stage. This will be the band’s first show on Swedish soil since last year’s Gefle Metal Festival (R.I.P.).

BEWITCHER (USA)

Since their formation in early 2013, BEWITCHER has seen their signature “Black Magick Metal” sound go from humble beginnings to new heights of creativity and wild anthemic fervor. Expect an explosive show of Black/Heavy/Thrash/Speed Metal with a Rock’n’Roll-attitude.

DEFLESHED (SWE)

From the mid-90s to 2005, Sweden’s Defleshed churned out a white hot blend of Thrash, Death metal, and Grindcore, marking themselves as one of the most vital bands in all three of those genres. Having run out of inspiration and wanting to try other things they called it a day the same year they released their fifth album “Reclaim The Beat”, and ever since fans have hollered for their reunion.

In 2021 we got what we were asking for when the band’s core lineup – guitarist Lars Löfven, drummer Matte Modin and bassist/vocalist Gustaf Jorde – got back together. This resulted in the bands sixth album “Grind Over Matter” that was released in 2022. Prepare yourselves for a relentless display of Thrash, Death Metal and Grindcore when Defleshed enters the stage at this year’s festival.

DISMEMBER (SWE)

The legendary band Dismember is back since 2019 with its original lineup consisting of Fred Estby, David Blomqvist, Robert Sennebäck, Matti Kärki and Richard Cabeza. The band was founded back in 1988 in Stockholm and is considered as one of the most classic bands of the Death Metal genre.

The debut album “Like An Ever Flowing Stream” came out in 1991 and is today classified as a milestone for the then evergrowing Death Metal scene. And before the band threw in the towel in 2011, they released no less than eight full-length albums.

Dismember has toured around the world with bands like Death, Cannibal Corpse, Entombed, Grave and more so prepare yourself for a real cavalcade of old hits when the band takes the IDUN stage.

ENFORCER (SWE)

Many people probably agree that the 80´s delivered the best Heavy Metal music. But quality music never dies, and a new wave of True Heavy Metal has washed over us in recent years. One of the strongest Swedish bands in the genre is Enforcer, who released their first album in 2008 and have until today released 8 albums (including two live albums) where they administer the sound after bands like Anvil, Venom, Judas Priest etc. with that honor.

Enforcer belongs to the group of bands that succeed very well abroad, which has meant that they have hardly played in Sweden for many years, so take the opportunity to see them now on their Tour of Sweden with a date at this year’s festival.

LETHALITY (Sweden)

Lethality is a dynamic and energetic band from Umeå that started with Groove Metal, but has since then developed towards a powerful mix of Metalcore and Melodic Death Metal. The band has recently released their first EP “Cerberus”, which shows their musical evolution and intensity. In addition, they have strengthened their sound by welcoming a new singer to their ranks, taking their music to new heights. Don’t miss the chance to experience their explosiveness and passion!

LIITRA (Sweden)

A young Umeå-band that plays hard and intense Death Metal with strong influences from 90s Death Metal. Released their second EP ‘Trauma’ last winter and is now busy writing music for the upcoming debut album.

LOCH VOSTOK (SWE)

LOCH VOSTOK was born in the year 2000 out of necessity to create music that did not exist at the time. Refusing to stagnate. Unwilling to die. Combining raw beauty with complexity and finesse. Sometimes uncomfortable, but never boring. Harsh and soaring multi layered vocals. Pounding, complex and punishing rhythms. Shredalicious solos. Fat choruses and poisonous hooks. Extreme Progressive Metal featuring musicians from bands such as F.K.Ü., One Hour Hell, The Murder of My Sweet and more. New album “Opus Ferox II – Mark of the Beast” out in April 2024.

MÖRK GRYNING (SWE)

MÖRK GRYNING was founded in Stockholm, Sweden in 1993 by Goth Gorgon and Draakh Kimera. In 1995 they released their debut album “Tusen År Har Gått” via No Fashion Records, an album that by many is considered as one of the milestones of 90’s Swedish Black Metal. The band has since then released five more full-length albums and are working on a new album scheduled for release in 2024.

NECROPHOBIC (SWE)

Swedish Necrophobic may perhaps need no further introduction, but the band has kept the flag high ever since 1989 with their blackened death metal. Three decades later, with no less than 10 full-length albums in the bag, it is once again time for the band to return to the House of Metal festival. Expect a cavalcade of both old classics and newer material from the band’s latest album “In the Twilight Grey” (2024).

OBSTRUKTION (Sweden)

Obstruktion is a Gothenburg band that with their debut album “Monarchs of Decay” shows off a powerful and intense sound, created by Swedish Hardcore veterans. The album is unique and fresh, while paying homage to their predecessors and appealing to fans of bands like Hatebreed and Obituary. With a theme around the violence of culture and our inability to break this cycle, the music, production and art reflect the same level of darkness and aggression.

ORDEN OGAN (GER)

The German Power Metal band Orden Ogan started their career already back in 1996 with a bunch of demo-tapes, but it wasn’t until 2008 with the band’s debut album “Vale” that everything started to gain motion. With the subsequent album “Easton Hope” in 2010, the band found its sound, one that can still be felt today. The band has not stuck to any specific theme, but has made albums about everything from pirates, the wild west to AI, etc. The concert during this year’s House of Metal will be the band’s fourth ever in Sweden after receiving very good ratings for their performance at Sweden Rock Festival 2024 (4,5/5 Rocknytt).

ORM (DEN)

Epic/Melodic Black Metal from Denmark established in 2015. One of the band’s unique hallmarks is the epic format with long compositions and simultaneously personal and metaphysical narratives on human existence. When playing live, ORM is a spiritual experience, where the audience is transported into a chaotic realm where the raging ocean waves strike relentlessly at the ragged granite shores, breaking them apart and leaving behind a serene landscape, tranquil in its ravished emptiness. Live, ORM beckons you into their world, asking you to listen intently to discover the delicate detail hidden within their frantic wall of sound.

REAPER’S MARK (Sweden)

Melodic Death Metal from the dying community of Malmberget. The band’s first full-length “The Sick Man’s Farewell” was released in the lost year of 2020. And most recently, the band released a single “Glowing Ashes” in December 2023.

REVIVE (Sweden)

Revive is a Grunge/Metal band from Mjölby that was formed in 2020 and consists of singer and bassist Namejs, drummer Felix and guitarist Edvin. The band is known for its unexpected tempo changes, breakdowns and energetic performances that create a big and distorted sound. Their music must be experienced live to be fully understood.

SKITARG (SWE)

Skitarg is an extreme metal band that brings you the pleasure of heavy, violent and mean metal combined with humor and theatrical dildoesque madness. The balance between brilliant black/death and sometimes pure creepiness makes this band the boundary-breaking unwinding to bands like In Flames, Dark Tranquility, The Haunted and The Kristet Utseende. The band is known as an exceptional live act through their ability to command people’s attention with clown/corpsepaint, bloody diapers, dildo fights and good fucking metal.

VISIONS AND DREAMS (SWE/FIN)

Led by Umeå sons Emil Norberg (Persuader, ex-Savage Circus) and Fredrik Mannberg (Nocturnal Rites, Guillotine, ex-Persuader), this new band is in the final stages of production for their upcoming debut album. The band’s line-up is completed by drummer Pelle Åkerlind (Morgana Lefay, Axenstar, Trail of Murder, ex-Bloodbound), and from the neighbouring country to the east, the exceptional Mikael Salo (ex-Dyecrest, ex-Metal De Facto) on vocals. Just in time for the festival the first single “Risen” is promised, which, according to the band’s statement gives a proper slap in the face and a foreshadowing of what is to come.

WARMEN (FIN)

Finnish Warmen started in 1999 as a side project to Children of Bodom by Janne Wirman, keyboardist in Children of Bodom since 1997. He also had his brother Antti Wirman on guitar with him. Today’s line-up also includes i.a. Petri Lindroos on vocals, who also can be found in the Finnish band Ensiferum. The band released their latest album “Here for None” in 2023, a work that undeniably has a lot of CoB vibes in it, which feels completely natural. This will be the band’s first performance on Swedish soil, something we are really looking forward to.

ÖVERVÅLD (Sweden)

Primitive Death/Black Metal stripped down to the nerve, a merciless offensive with roots from Sundsvall, which leaves no one untouched. It is brutal, aggressive and in league with immorality.