CalyxWorks#NWTerrorFest2025
Thursday band #1:
#Axefear, crusty death from Seattle. Pretty great!
Prophetic End, by Axefear
8 track album
Axefear
#NWTerrorFest2025
Thursday band #3 (not going to do all 39, just the ones I really liked):
#ManyBlessings, a noise project from Ethan of #PrimitiveMan and #VerminWomb. He beat the crap out of that deck, the entire bar was rapt!
TRUE LOVE, by Many Blessings
11 track album
#NWTerrorFest2025
Thursday band #4:
#Xoth from Seattle, I’d been looking forward to seeing their science fiction metal experience. Blackened death power metal?! Super fun!
Tyler from #Xoth (vocals/guitars) looks a lot like someone who wants to go get sushi and not pay! 🫢
#NWTerrorFest2025
Thursday band #5:
#Noroth, PROPER death metal from Oakland. Among the things I like very much, this is definitely one. Bought a patch.
(Love how you see the next band peeking through the side door – happened almost every set! 🖤)
Sacrificial Solace, by Noroth
8 track album
#NWTerrorFest2025
Thursday band #6:
#ViciousBlade from Pittsburgh, first time out west! LOVED this band, blackened thrash loaded with catchy riffs and charisma.
I tried to buy a patch but they were out – so they gave me a free sticker. :)
Relentless Force, by Vicious Blade
9 track album
#NWTerrorFest2025
Thursday band #8:
The one and only #Sonja! Gothy trad metal from trans icon #MelissaMoore. Sounded SO much better live than on record, really fun set. 🖤
LOUD ARRIVER, by Sonja
8 track album
#NWTerrorFest2025
Thursday band #9):
#Vorlust, “Oakland Beast Metal!”
Wild blackened death/thrash, another really fun set. None of the photos I took captured their awesome weird vibe, I’m sorry to say. Bought another patch!
https://vorlust.bandcamp.com/album/lick-the-flesh-venom-yellow-vinyl
That’s really all I can manage from the first night. 14 bands is a LOT of bands. I’ll just leave you with this vibe shot from #VerminWomb’s set.
#NWTerrorFest is a great festival in a great venue, year after year. I’ll post the next two days later – picture me prepped with ibuprofen and comfortable shoes. 😅
#NWTerrorFest2025
Friday band #1:
#Torrefy, blackened thrash from Victoria BC.
/takes a knee/
“Let’s bring it down for a minute, I want to talk about something serious, something close to my heart… Dungeons & Dragons!”
/crowd goes wild/
Necronomisongs, by Torrefy
8 track album
#NWTerrorFest2025
Friday band #3:
#JohnHaughm of #Agalloch, in Fields of the Nephilim drag.
Post-metal guitar and noise electronics. Started with video/audio of an old western train to which he synced guitar loops, adding & evolving. Powerful!
John Haughm
John Haughm (Sonic Architect) The abstract expressionistic work from the founding member of Agalloch and co-founder/curator of the Dämmerung Arthouse. Most of these sound creations are built with various instrument layers or pedal settings in accordance with dates, coordinances of places, or other personal numeric maps and grids.
#NWTerrorFest2025
Friday band #5:
#Turian, Seattle metallic hardcore (with keyboards!), lyrics from a Native American perspective. They RIPPED.
Blood Quantum Blues, by TURIAN
10 track album
#NWTerrorFest2025
Friday band #6:
#TerrorizerLA, old-timey LA grindcore. Terror Fest excels at getting bands you never thought would play again onto their stages, and it rules. Grey hair and bald spots, baby!
World Downfall, by Terrorizer
16 track album
#NWTerrorFest2025
Friday band #8:
How good are #SpectralWound?! 🖤 One of my most anticipated sets, and they delivered. Bonecrushing, icy black metal from Montreal that somehow goes down smoooth. (Are we calling them black-and-roll?)
https://spectralwound.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-blood-and-mire
Songs of Blood and Mire, by SPECTRAL WOUND
7 track album
#NWTerrorFest2025
Friday band #12:
#Panopticon, the epitome of US atmospheric black metal. Austin & Co never disappoint – after a heartfelt thanks to guests & organizers, you could hear crowd chatter everywhere adding up to THAT WAS AWESOME. 🖤
https://thetruepanopticon.bandcamp.com/album/the-rime-of-memory
The Rime Of Memory, by Panopticon
6 track album
#NWTerrorFest2025
Friday band #13:
#Agalloch. “Got good news and bad news. Good: these assholes from Portland are in your town again. Bad: we’re playing your favorite song.”
Never thought I’d see these black metal legends in the flesh. EPIC.
(I was trying not to buy too much merch this weekend, but I accidentally bought a shirt. What a way to finish out day #2)
Marrow of the Spirit, by AGALLOCH
6 track album
#NWTerrorFest2025
Saturday band #1:
#FallsofRauros. Perfectly cromulent atmospheric black metal from Portland the Elder. Bonus points for playing so dark when there’s literally sunlight streaming in through an open doorway next to the stage. 🖤
https://fallsofrauros.bandcamp.com/album/key-to-a-vanishing-future
Key to a Vanishing Future, by FALLS OF RAUROS
6 track album
#NWTerrorFest2025
Saturday band #4:
#RippedToShreds – Andrew Lee’s Chinese-history-themed death metal was on the small stage back in ‘22, leveled up to the big one this year with good reason! 🤘
(note: three headless guitars?!)
Sanshi, by Ripped to Shreds
10 track album
#NWTerrorFest2025
Saturday band #5:
#Witching – the first ever West Coast appearance from one of my favorites. You guys know how much I love this band, and they were FANTASTIC.
Blackened doom from Philly. Bought a patch, met the singer. ☺️🖤
Incendium, by Witching
7 track album
#NWTerrorFest2025
Saturday band #7:
#WitchVomit needs no introduction in the Pacific Northwest. I hope you like death metal with your death metal! 🤘
https://listen.20buckspin.com/album/buried-deep-in-a-bottomless-grave
Buried Deep In A Bottomless Grave, by Witch Vomit
7 track album
#NWTerrorFest2025
Saturday band #8:
#HoukagoGrindTime: somehow the silliest/hardest set of the festival: “NON STOP WEEB BLASTING”
(The 2nd photo is a body pillow of Andrew Lee. 😂 Click the link for clues that may leave you more confused)
Koncertos of Kawaiiness: Stealing Jon Chang's Ideas, A Book by Andrew Lee, by Houkago Grind Time
18 track album
#NWTerrorFest2025
Saturday band #9:
#BrainOil, Oakland: I’d never heard of these guys, but they looked like wizards and played crusty super heavy sludge – and were so happy to be here! 🖤
“Here’s one off our new album from nine years ago!”
Singularity to Extinction, by Brainoil
7 track album
OK, that’s probably enough posting. 39 bands in three days, caught nearly every one!
I love this festival – 4th year in a row for me, and they never fail to deliver old favorites and new gems.
There’s always a diversity of styles as well as people – and the vibes are immaculate.🖤
Jake in the desert@CalyxWorks I hadn't heard of em either but first listen is promising 🔥
@jake4480 They were great. And funny!
@CalyxWorks nice - I hadn't heard Axefear, pretty choice. Just checked out the lineup this year- pretty wild. Did you go all 3 days? Last day was Houkago Grind Time, I dig them haha
@jake4480 all three days, yes – including HGT, lol. One of the most fun sets of the weekend!