Reykjavík Grapevine - 07.06.2019, Blaðsíða 23

Darkness Rising
The Ascension MMXIX metal festival
shrouds the midnight sun
As the summer light increases and festi-
val season takes off, Ascension MMXIX
brings together the blackest of the black
metal and dark music in Iceland. Risen
from the ashes of the Oration festival,
held for the past three years, the newly
christened festival is set to be a bigger,
more all-encompassing event, with a
diverse lineup of cutting-edge metal
and oddball bands.
Put together by Stephen Lockhart,
an Irish import and producer at Stu-
dio Emissary, and his partner in crime
Gunnhildur Edda Guðmundsdóttir,
Ascension is an altogether new experi-
ence. “Sure, there is a red thread, as it's
organised by the same people with the
same aesthetic values, but that's about
as far as it goes,” says Stephen. “Our aim
was to create a different atmosphere to
Oration—a more festive vibe, as opposed
to just three nights of long gigs at a bar.”
Vision / execution
For this atmosphere to flourish, Ascen-
sion will take place in the Hlégarður
hall in Mosfellsbær, on the outskirts
of Reykjavík. “The venue is far better
suited to our needs than just about any
venue downtown, or at least a venue
that actually allowed us to execute our
vision to our liking,” says Stephen. “If
people can travel 15 hours across the
country or go to a different country to
see a festival, they can travel 20 minutes
to Mosfellsbær.”
The lineup consists of 30 bands from
over 13 countries on three continents.
In fact, only 13 of the acts are Icelandic.
The styles are dark and diverse, with
a strong emphasis on black metal, but
also comprising darkwave, post-punk
and esoteric doom acts. “When the de-
cision was made to start a new festival
after Oration, we were certain that we
wanted to host more than just black
metal bands,” Stephen continues. “I be-
lieve there is an aura given off by certain
bands that transcends genre tags, an
indescribable feeling that binds our line-
up together.”
Exceeding standards
Among the standout acts are Swiss pow-
erhouse Bölzer; first-ever live perfor-
mances by the bands Akhlys, Aoratos
and Kaleikr; exclusive one-off sets by
Sinmara, Carpe Noctem and Sólstafir;
and Drab Majesty and King Dude from
the cult American label Dais Records.
“They all provide an excellent twist on
the dark side of things, but without the
overt metal leanings,” says Stephen.
“There’s certainly something for ev-
eryone to check out.”
Along with the three days of non-stop
music, the festival will host art exhibi-
tions and be an all-around immersive
environment. “We are constantly trying
to push boundaries and raise the bar
with our festival,” says Stephen. “We are
not content with just having a 'cool gig'
at a bar that you forget about in a week,
we want to create experiences that leave
a mark. Ascension is a festival that aims
to exceed the standards of any metal or
metal-related festival that has taken
place in Iceland, and we are determined
to do so.”
Words:
Rex Beckett
Photo:
Woda i Pustka

Words:
Alexander Jean
de Fontenay
Photo:
Magnús
Magnússon
CULTURE
NEWS
ELECTRIC
DREAMS
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Bleak folk: no smiling at Ascension
The Search For
Different Angles
Ívar Sævarsson on Eyewitness Records, his medium
of choice and dance music experimentation
Eyewitness Records—E.W. for short—
is a Reykjavík-based record label re-
leasing a range of electronic music.
It launched last year as a sub-label of
Robotdisco Electronix (R.D.E.)—an
Icelandic outfit that has been releas-
ing electro music for the past decade.
We met up with E.W. founder Ívar
Sævarsson to discuss the label’s past,
present and future plans.
Info
Ascension MMXIX
takes place June
13-15 at Hlégarður
in Mosfellsbær. A
few tickets are still
available on tix.is
Music
Listen to
Eyewitness
Records’ most
recent releases
at ewrecords.
bandcamp.
com Go to their
monthly ‘Face
Your Fate’ club
night at Bravó
Ívar started organising parties
under the R.D.E. moniker around
the year 2010. “To begin with it was
called ‘Robotdisko Club,’” he says.
“You could say E.W.’s approach is
more flexible than R.D.E.’s—we sup-
port the so-called outsider genres of
dance music.”
E.W.’s aim is to look for different
angles and stay clear of traditional
dance music markers, such as house
and techno. “It’s music that relies
heavily on synthesizers and drum
machines, without focusing on one
specific genre,” Ívar explains. “With
drive towards a more in-depth style
of musical-experimentation.”
Ívar initially thought of his label
simply as a vessel for his own music.
“Our latest release is a four-track
cassette called ‘Global Times’ by my
own project E n c n t r,” he explains.
“Then others came along, like the
Copenhagen-based Somke, whose
seven-track tape of terrific slow-
style techno we released in March.”
Ívar’s affinity for releasing mu-
sic on cassette tapes is apparent. “I
manufacture the tapes and take care
of designing the whole package as
well,” he says. “Cassettes are fun but
we are planning some seven-inch
record releases, too.” Asked about
summer plans, Ívar mentions ‘Face
Your Fate’—a monthly club-night
that he organizes at Bravó. “And re-
member, keep on making moves—
the future is now!”
Fade In/Fade Out
What's the (Power)Point?
June 12th - 20:00 - Loft - Free!
Are you craving a one minute
PowerPoint comparing German
war-planes to puffins (and flying
potatoes)? Feeling like there just
isn’t enough Comic Sans, garish
transitions and dubious 90s
gradients in your life right now?
Then brush up on your clip art, grab
your clicker and prepare to learn
something very, very new at Loft
with comedian Kimi Tayler. We have
been assured that technical issues
are very much included. FR
Triple Threat Triple Treat
Jaakko Eino Kalevi, JFDR & Farao
June 11th - 21:00 - IÐNÓ - 2,500 ISK
Bowie-influenced Finnish wonky-
psych-disco-maestro Jaakko Eino
Kalevi, dark Norwegian simmering,
poetic pop princess Farao, and
Iceland’s own introspective, soulful
lullaby queen JFDR join forces for a
must-see concert at IÐNÓ on June
11th. The three sit amongst the
brightest stars of their respective
scenes, drawn together as friends
by an audible commonality and
aural chemistry that bridges the
genre divide. The vibes will be good,
and the music even better. JR
Icelandic Opulence
Drag-Súgur: Motherland!
June 7th - 21:00 - Gaukurinn -
2.500 ISK
Donald Trump doesn’t have to be
the only one who gets to meet a
Queen this week. Head to Gaukurinn
on Friday to see the astonishingly
fabulous Gógó Starr host a special
Icelandic-themed edition of
Drag-Súgur, Reykjavík’s premier
drag show. Last year Gógó led the
official Independence Day parade
as ‘Fjallkonan,’ Iceland’s national
mother figure. If previous form is
anything to go by, then this year’s
interpretation will only be more
extravagant. Expect glamour, glitter
and a glut of civic pride. JG