Prophecy Fest announce a 2022 edition of the festival in Germany. Following the massive success of the 25th anniversary festival last year, there will be more dark, forward thinking music with an attitude in one of the world’s most fascinating cultural locations, the legendary, natural Cave of Balve (“Balver Höhle”) this autumn.
Prophecy Productions proudly present a three day event starting on Thursday, September 29 and finishing on Saturday, October 1.
The following acts have already been confirmed with many more to be added soon: The Vision Bleak, Arthur Brown, Darkher, Austere, Camerata Mediolanense, Saturnus, and Arð. Please see below for more details.
Martin Koller comments: “We are thrilled to announce Prophecy Fest 2022!”, writes the label’s founder. “The massive success of last year’s edition that put big smiles onto the faces of guests, bands, and crew alike basically left us no choice but to do another one. So here we go. Prophecy Fest has always been intended to showcase the bands on our label as a big, happy family gathering and we will continue this tradition in 2022. Please watch this space for more great bands joining the line-up very soon and more announcements regarding Prophecy Fest. See you all in Balve end of September!”
Tickets: 3-day-passes incl. programme book are available for 99 Euro (same as last year) at http://tickets.prophecy.de/titel/prophecy-fest-29-09-01-10-2022-balve-de/
Members of the Grand Supporter tiers of the PROPHECY CLUB will be able to attend the festival free of admission charge. Please check here for availability and conditions (subscribe button under each Grand Supporter paragraph): https://en.prophecy.de/en/Prophecy-Club-Membership
Location: Prophecy Fest was founded in 2015 and already already sold out at the first edition. This singular event for dark and innovative music takes place in the Balver Kulturhöhle (“Balve culture cave”) in the Hönnetal (“Valley of Hönne”) near the town of Balve in the Sauerland region of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The naturally formed karst cave has been used by humans already during the palaeolithic age. Is is an important archaeological site that yielded remains from many periods up and until medieval times. According to legend and the old Icelandic Thidreksaga, the mythical blacksmith Wayland learned his magical trade from dwarven masters in this cave. The gravity of its history and the special acoustics of the Balver Cave provide a unique atmosphere that fits the musical programme of the Prophecy Fest perfectly.
For detailed information on accommodation, travel, and parking please consult the Prophecy Festival page: https://fest.prophecy.de
Confirmed bands:
Horror metal stalwarts The Vision Bleak featuring EMPYRIUM mastermind Markus “Schwadorf” Stock and singer Tobias Schönemann aka Allen B. Konstanz already scored a hit with their 2003 album debut “The Deathship Has a New Captain”, and each following album was acclaimed by critics and fans alike. Not a band to play very often, the show of this unique outfit should not to be missed in Balve.
Arthur Brown made eyes pop and jaws drop with his last appearance at the cave. Widely considered to be the wonderful surprise of last year’s festival, this amazing voice of rock will now return with the brand new album “Long Long Road” in his bag that will be released on his 80th birthday on June 24. Expect an even more flamboyant performance from the legendary showman.
Darkher just scored a 7/7 in the German edition of Metal Hammer and that is just the tip of a massive iceberg of glowing reviews for their latest album “The Buried Storm”. Jayn Maiven’s unique blend of Northern English doom metal, folk elements, and other influences creates an emotional roller-coaster ride through darkness, hope, and despair. This stunning lady is now bound to conquer Balve.
Austere have previously announced to end their decade-long dormancy with the release of their third full-length this year. Coming in all the way from Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia the veteran depressive black metal duo will deliver their German stage debut in the most fitting environment for a band as mysterious and occult as they are: the ancient Cave of Balve.
Camerata Mediolanense are an ensemble of Italian musicians who gained recognition in the neoclassical scene by blending darkwave and post-punk with the musical spirit of the Renaissance and the Baroque period. Founded in the originally Celtic settlement, the city of Milan in 1994 by musicologist Elena Previdi, the name literally translates as “a group of chamber musicians from Milan”.
Death doom veterans Saturnus are determined to return in 2022 with the release their first full-length after their fourth album “Saturn in Ascension” came out in 2012. The Danes are not putting all their cards on the table yet, but there are signs that they might consider a special show in Balve to herald their forthcoming 30th anniversary in 2023 at Prophecy Fest. Nothing will be promised, but watch this space for later announcements.
The story of the epic journey of St. Cuthbert’s relics told on “Take Up My Bones”, the first full-length of Northumbrian monastic doom project ARÐ has created a massive buzz. The project of WINTERFYLLETH keyboard player and bestselling author Mark Deeks is sure earmarked for newcomer of the year and best debut album 2022 by many. Make sure to attend the first German or maybe even first live concert ever of Arð!