Not only am I able to finally attend, but I am fortunate to be a part of Roadburn’s programming. Sunday afternoon – prior to the final day’s performances – I have the honor of sitting down with Emma Ruth Rundle, Ethan McCarthy (Primitive Man, Spiritual Poison), A.L.N. (Mizmor), and Dylan Walker (Full of Hell) to discuss community and collaboration in heavy music. These talented panelists and I will dive into the impact that collaborating with each other has on their own creative output. We will also be talking about what the Roadburn community – and heavy music as a whole – has done for these musicians over the years. In addition to this, the panelists will be taking questions from the audience on these and similar topics. This panel is about community after all.

Our Sunday panel won’t be the only place you can find us all though. Emma, Ethan, A.L.N., and Dylan will all be performing throughout the festival. I, on the other hand, will be taking it all in as a fan of many of these bands and performances for the very first time. The benevolent minds behind Roadburn tasked me with compiling a list of the performances I am most looking forward to. I’m excited to see some of my favorite bands in a way I’ve never seen them before, as well as discovering some bands and seeing some legendary and underground acts for the very first time.

On the topic of our panel, I’ve been a huge fan of Emma Ruth Rundle, Primitive Man, Mizmor, and Full of Hell for years and I’ve seen them all perform multiple times already. I’m certain their Roadburn performances are going to show them all at their very best. Emma’s poignant and evocative compositions redefines what it means to be heavy. Primitive Man’s sludgy, noisy doom reinforces the preconceived notions of what it means to be heavy. I’ll continue to attest they are the heaviest band on the planet. Mizmor’s wholly doomed black metal hit its latest peak on his last LP, Cairn, and Full of Hell has been on an absolute tear over the last five years with Trumpeting Ecstasy, Weeping Choir, and Garden of Burning Apparitions. I will most certainly be planted front and center for all these sets.

Of course, it isn’t all blast beats and tremolo picking. There is such a unique array of musical stylings on display this year – much of which I’m prioritizing. HEALTH’s dark industrial music has been another favorite since I discovered Death Magic in 2016. They recently released a new album full of collaborations, DISCO 4: PART II, and their album, VOL. 4:: SLAVES OF FEAR has been one of my favorite albums since it arrived in 2019.

Elsewhere, I cannot wait to check out the slew of black metal bands performing at Roadburn. I am hooked on the Dutch collective Haeresis Noviomagi’s music. Seeing Solar Temple perform – in a special collaboration with Dead Neanderthals no less – is very high on my list of things to see. Their countrymen, Terzij de Horde and blackened doom group, Ggu:ll are collaborating as well. Wiegedood and Sordide are two other performances I will be seeing. They will be performing their newest albums in their entirety; both records are stellar. The list doesn’t end there however. Lamp of Murmuur, Alkerdeel, Dödsrit, Silver Knife, and Faceless Entity are all locked in on my schedule.

Kristin Hayter’s magnificent work as Lingua Ignota is so powerful to experience in a live setting. She continues to set herself apart from her peers with her continued work. Sinner Get Ready was a momentous leap forward for Hayter and continues to show the immense talent she possesses. Her ability to combine classical music, various singing styles, power electronics, and a visceral subject matter is unparalleled.

GGGOLDDD just released an incredible new album, This Shame Should Not Be Mine. They’re one of the first bands I ever wrote about many years ago when I was operating my own little music blog (RIP to The Amalgam) and it’s been incredibly exciting to watch the band evolve over the years. Milena Eva and Thomas Sciarone are curators for this year’s line-up, and I can only imagine their performance is going be as special as their artist selections.

Roadburn has also been known to bring out some incredibly unique collaborations. Aside from the black metal collaborations mentioned earlier, there are a few other experiences I will be checking out. Firstly, the Vile Creature and Bismuth performance of A Hymn of Loss and Hope is literally a once in a lifetime opportunity. Both bands have been working on this piece for a couple of years now. Multi-disciplinary electronic genius, Kevin Martin aka The Bug, is coming to Roadburn alongside MCs Flowdan & Logan who all worked together on The Bug’s Fire album – one that was very infectious and critically acclaimed. Martin is a Roadburn alumnus of the highest order who has been known for his captivating performances.

There is a lot I am looking forward to during Roadburn’s live return this year. The line-up is jam packed with extraordinary diversity and skill and I am excited to take it all in for the very first time with so many friends. Even with all these anticipated performances, I am certain I will run into so many other bands and performances that were not on my radar initially. Ultimately, the rare combination of quality and quantity in music speaks to the power of Roadburn and its prestige its garnered over the years. It’s an honor to be a part of it in some small way.