If you keep up to date with the more underground side of metal music, you’re probably familiar with Pelagic Records by now.
Over the course of 15 years, the label has established itself as a household name for out there metal music. Founded by The Ocean mastermind Robin Staps in 2009, their artist roster is second to none, ranging from post-rock legends to remarkable post-metal newcomers to the most forward-thinking new progressive metal bands to some of the weirdest experimental stuff you’ll ever hear. Their expert curation is a stamp of approval at this point: if a band is on Pelagic, you can trust it’s good stuff. At the very least, it’s gonna be worth checking out.
Celebrating 15 years, the label is having one hell of a birthday party this August in the form of a special edition of the Pelagic Fest. The festival is finally back after their 2018 edition, and it’s heaping it’s awesome premise: a beautiful showcase of Pelagic‘s stacked line-up, along with some very special guests.
This time around, Pelagic Fest 2024 will be set in the dreamy city of Maastricht on August 24 and 25, filled to the brim with Pelagic Records veterans like The Ocean, EF, LLNN, and Briqueville, alongside exciting newcomers to the label like And So I Watch You From Afar and Oh Hiroshima, and a guest headline slot from the man himself, Ihsahn. Seeing a line-up like this and realizing it’s all Pelagic artists except for one really hammers it home just how stacked their roster is.
‘Stacked’ doesn’t begin to cover it.
It’s truly a once in a lifetime thing, as you only turn 15 once, right? I’m gonna be there, and I have a few reasons as to why you should consider stopping by, too.
Get your face melted by LLNN
I know a ton of really heavy stuff, but I’m yet to find something that is heavy like LLNN. Their music is like the manifestation of a Lovecraftian entity out to haunt you, crawl inside your skin and slowly make you lose your sanity one day of a time, until you’re ready to understand the true horror of the cosmos.
Sounds like a bit much? Well it is a LOT, and I mean it in the best way possible: LLNN is overwhelming, and their atmosphere is second to none.
Aggressive, cathartic, and filled with crushingly violent riffs, LLNN is sure to demolish that stage and melt some heads. I just hope I’m left standing when they’re done, because there will still be a lot more shows to see!
The Ocean is playing a special Pelagial set
Back in 2013, Pelagial pretty much changed the game. A monumental milestone not only to The Ocean‘s incredible career, but also to heavy music as a whole, the album saw the band embracing new territory with a beautiful voyage where their post-metal background and progressive metal influences met and formed a new era for their music.
It’s probably the one album that best represents their musical identity, and one that deserves its status as a post-metal masterpiece.
The Ocean is celebrating the album’s belated 10th birthday (better late then never), playing it in full on their Pelagic Fest headline slot. It’s a very important album to me, so of course I’m over the moon for this performance!
If you’ve listened to Pelagial, you’re already excited. If you didn’t, you should ditch this article right now and listen to it!
Get to know new bands like Spurv
One of the shows I’m looking forward to the most is Spurv, as their last album Brefjære was my personal favorite from last year.
The way that they incorporate that particular flavor of Nordic sorrow into post-rock structures is actually flawless. It made for a record filled with huge, intense songs that sound like the soundtrack to a valkyrie invasion and also emotional, cathartic pieces that speak to me very dearly and more than once made me tear up a bit.
It’s sure to be a simultaneously grand and intimate show, and they’ll be opening the second day of the festival with a bang. Also, strings.
It’s gonna be And So I Watch You From Afar’s birthday party, too!
Pelagic Records collects GOAT’s like they’re Infinity Stones, and one of the latest huge addition to their roster are And So I Watch You From Afar.
Known for their playful approach to post-rock, a trademark distortion and never repeating themselves, the band is also celebrating 15 years of life on 2024, so this is a big moment for them, too!
Oh, and they will also release their 7th full length Megafauna on August 9. One quick listen to any of the singles released and you already know it’s gonna be a must for post-rock fans this year.
Whether their festival slot is gonna be a career celebration with songs from their rich back catalogue or more focused on their new album, it’s gonna be a fun, beautiful time and it for sure classifies as an unmissable set.
Ihsahn is closing it up in grand style
Joining the Pelagic bands is the legend himself, Ihsahn. He needs no introduction at this point, but if you’re not familiar with the Emperor‘s mastermind solo work, you should.
With a vast catalogue that takes his black metal DNA and infuses it in powerful and experimental progressive metal and avant-garde music, he’s recently released a self-titled record that’s yet again new ground for him, with big influences from symphonic music.
Ihsahn doesn’t really play a lot of shows nowadays, so if you’re a fan, you know you can’t miss this!
It’s possible to see ALL the bands on the bill
If you’re an experienced festival-goer, you already know that clashes can be painful. You see a line-up with some of your favorite artists, they somehow end up on the same slot, and you keep dreading about who you’re gonna choose right up to the very moment.
Pelagic Fest 2024 makes this a non-issue, as it’s stages and timetables are structured in a way that allows you to see EVERY show if you want to. After a set is over, just stroll to the next one to catch the next show. That means that entire lineup is up for grabs! Maybe it’s a good idea to have an energy drink, though.
Honestly, I could just keep going, but I think you got the gist of it: it’s gonna be one hell of a time. If you can spare the time, you can still pick up tickets for Pelagic Fest and be a part of this sick, sick party!
