Noctis Valkyries Metal Festival
Encyclopedia
The Noctis Valkyries Metal Festival (often shortened to "Noctis") is an annual metal festival held in Calgary, Canada. It is organized by Scarab Metal Productions.
The first festival was held at MacEwan Hall in 2007, and hosted several small local bands, as well as larger international acts such as Melechesh
and Wolves in the Throne Room
. In 2009, the festival was expanded to two days, and took place in two separate venues. It also included a conference with guest speakers from bands such as Woods of Ypres
and Novembers Doom
, as well as several record labels, including Metal Blade and Seasons of Mist.
MacEwan Hall Ballroom
MacEwan Hall Ballroom
October 2nd
The Distillery (Club Night)
Ramada Downtown Hotel (Metal Conference)
Live Interviews
Guest Speakers, Panels, and Q&A
October 3rd
MacEwan Hall (Main Stage)
The Den U of C (Second Stage)
Melechesh
whose acclaim is still rising worldwide since the 2006 release of their album Emissaries
, recently chosen as an album of the month by the renowned Canadian based international metal magazine, Brave Word and Bloody Knuckles. Also featured was the legendary black metal
band, Inquisition
in a rare Canadian show, which followed headlining summer festival appearances in Berlin and Los Angeles. Their 2007 release of Nefarious Dismal Orations was hailed as a rare gem from the black underground.
Rounding out bill was Canada’s black thrashers Infernäl Mäjesty
from Vancouver; folk heavy metal
act Verbal Deception
, and pagan black metal band Dark Forest, both from Calgary; Wolves in the Throne Room
, blackened folk doom from Washington, Insidious Omen, black metal from Edmonton
and three local openers, Norrath, Lords of the Mountain and Wargod.
, who made their first appearance on North American soil. Their use of genuine folk instruments, such as the juhikko, accordion and violin, along with a combination of rough and yoik vocals and “a fierce twist of metal” have earned them a spot as one of the most original acts in metal today. Fuelled by high energy and a love of beer, Korpiklaani is one of the most popular acts at metal festivals across Europe.
Also featured was underground Canadian black/doom/folk metallers Woods of Ypres
. Their most recent album Woods III: Deepest Roots and Darkest Blues was released to critical acclaim and was the best selling album for 4 weeks in a row at The End Records. The German funeral doom metal band Ahab (band)
also appeared in their first North American appearance. Their 2006 debut CD “Call of the Wretched Sea” retells the story of Melville’s Moby Dick and captured intense underground interest.
Rounding out the bill was support from folk/heavy metal act Verbal Deception
, and pagan black metal band DARK FOREST, both well-known Calgary metal acts; and BEGRIME EXEMIOUS, black/death metallers from Edmonton, who returned to the scene after a short hiatus and a line-up change. The metal fest also introduced URHEIMAT, an experimental black metal act from Calgary featuring members of Dark Forest, Nebucadnezzer and I Die Screaming.
(USA) whose comeback album Traced in Air earned critical acclaim after a 12-year absence in the metal scene. The show will also feature war metalers Destroyer 666
(AUS-NLD) in their first ever-Canadian appearance, fresh off the July release of their new album Defiant; and black thrashers Aura Noir
(NOR) who played the Maryland Deathfest this year. Headlining the show on “Club Night” at the Distillery on Friday Oct. 2, 2009 will be Chicago’s Novembers Doom
, with support from the underground folk/heavy metal favourites Slough Feg (USA), and death/thrashers ARES KINGDOM (USA).
Opening the shows will be Alberta bands: EXIT STRATEGY, BEGRIME EXEMIOUS, DEATH TOLL RISING, SACRED ALLY, KILYAKAI, NORRATH, AKAKOR, and the new, two-woman sludge band, TOSCA. An all ages band showcase featuring A BLOODSHED NIGHTMARE, HROM, and FORNICATION will open the second stage.
The Festival also now includes a METAL MUSIC CONFERENCE to be held on Friday October 2nd at the Ramada Hotel, downtown Calgary. A partial list of speakers includes guest appearances from Martin Popoff (Toronto) famed metal author/ music reviewer and the former Editor of the now retired Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles magazine; Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinert of Cynic, Michael Berberian, (France) CEO of Season of Mist Records, Mira Born (Holland) a freelance metal music photographer for metalshots.com, Metalhammer, and Terrorizer; Dan Rozenblum (Florida) Thunderdome Touring; David Gold (Ontario) from Woods of Ypres, and . Topics for the conference will include items of interest to metal bands and fans and will feature live interviews; discussions on what it takes to get signed to a label; how to get endorsements and distribution deals; the latest in DIY recording; how to promote your band; improving your live metal photography; etc.
The first festival was held at MacEwan Hall in 2007, and hosted several small local bands, as well as larger international acts such as Melechesh
Melechesh
Melechesh is a Assyrian-Armenian black metal band that originated in Jerusalem. Ashmedi started the band as a solo project in 1993. In the following year, guitarist Moloch and drummer Lord Curse were added to the line-up...
and Wolves in the Throne Room
Wolves in the Throne Room
Wolves in the Throne Room is a black metal band based in Olympia, Washington.Their sound is influenced by Scandinavian black metal, doom metal, dark ambient, crust punk, and folk music...
. In 2009, the festival was expanded to two days, and took place in two separate venues. It also included a conference with guest speakers from bands such as Woods of Ypres
Woods of Ypres
-Biography:Woods of Ypres was formed in 2002 by David Gold, Aaron Palmer and Brian McManus. The trio released the first Woods Of Ypres demo, Against the Seasons: Cold Winter Songs from the Dead Summer Heat, the same year. In 2003, David Gold moved to Toronto to begin working on a full-length album...
and Novembers Doom
Novembers Doom
Novembers Doom is a death/doom metal band from Chicago, Illinois. They are currently signed to The End Records. Novembers Doom is one of the earliest U.S. death/doom metal bands that are still active today along with Evoken and Rigor Sardonicous....
, as well as several record labels, including Metal Blade and Seasons of Mist.
2007: Noctis Valkyries
September 22, 2007MacEwan Hall Ballroom
- MelecheshMelecheshMelechesh is a Assyrian-Armenian black metal band that originated in Jerusalem. Ashmedi started the band as a solo project in 1993. In the following year, guitarist Moloch and drummer Lord Curse were added to the line-up...
- InquisitionInquisition (Colombian band)The band Inquisition was formed in 1988 in Cali, Colombia by Dagon. The band started as a thrash metal act, and in 1994 evolved into raw black metal....
- Infernäl MäjestyInfernäl MäjestyInfernäl Mäjesty is a Canadian thrash metal band, formed in Toronto in 1986. They are best known for their debut album None Shall Defy, released in 1987. However, the 1998 re-issue by Displeased Records inspired the band to get back together and recorded a new album, followed by a European tour...
- Dark Forest
- Wolves in the Throne RoomWolves in the Throne RoomWolves in the Throne Room is a black metal band based in Olympia, Washington.Their sound is influenced by Scandinavian black metal, doom metal, dark ambient, crust punk, and folk music...
- Insidious Omen
- Norrath
- Lords of the Mountain
- Wargod
2008: Noctis II - Age of Darkness
October 4, 2008MacEwan Hall Ballroom
- KorpiklaaniKorpiklaaniKorpiklaani is a folk metal band from Finland who were formerly known as Shaman.-Biography:While other folk metal bands began with metal before adding folk music, Korpiklaani started with folk music before turning metal...
- Woods of YpresWoods of Ypres-Biography:Woods of Ypres was formed in 2002 by David Gold, Aaron Palmer and Brian McManus. The trio released the first Woods Of Ypres demo, Against the Seasons: Cold Winter Songs from the Dead Summer Heat, the same year. In 2003, David Gold moved to Toronto to begin working on a full-length album...
- Ahab (band)Ahab (band)Ahab is a German funeral doom metal band founded in 2004 by Midnattsol guitarists Christian Hector and Daniel Droste and former Endzeit guitarist Stephan Adolph. The band is named after Captain Ahab, a character in the novel Moby Dick by Herman Melville...
- Verbal DeceptionVerbal DeceptionVerbal Deception is a Pirate Metal band formed in Calgary, Canada, in November 2002.-Biography:Formed in 2002 by original members, Kresho Klarich , Walt Fleming ,and Taylor Pierce ....
- Dark Forest
- Begrime Exemious
- Urheimat
2009: Noctis III - Tritagonist
October 2 & October 3, 2009October 2nd
The Distillery (Club Night)
- Novembers DoomNovembers DoomNovembers Doom is a death/doom metal band from Chicago, Illinois. They are currently signed to The End Records. Novembers Doom is one of the earliest U.S. death/doom metal bands that are still active today along with Evoken and Rigor Sardonicous....
- Slough Feg
- Ares Kingdom
- Kilyakai
- Norrath
- Tosca
- Truck
Ramada Downtown Hotel (Metal Conference)
Live Interviews
- Martin Popoff - Brave Words & Bloody KnucklesBrave Words & Bloody Knuckles-External links:* *...
- Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinert - CynicCynic (band)Cynic is an American progressive rock band, incorporating experimental music, alternative, metal and jazz fusion elements, founded in Miami, Florida and currently based in Los Angeles, California. Their first album, Focus, released on September 14, 1993, is widely regarded as a landmark release of...
- Paul Kuhr and members of Novembers DoomNovembers DoomNovembers Doom is a death/doom metal band from Chicago, Illinois. They are currently signed to The End Records. Novembers Doom is one of the earliest U.S. death/doom metal bands that are still active today along with Evoken and Rigor Sardonicous....
- Michael Scalzi and members of Slough Feg
- Chuck Keller and members of Ares Kingdom
Guest Speakers, Panels, and Q&A
- Michael Faley - President of Metal Blade Records
- Michael Berberian - President and CEO of Season of MistSeason of MistSeason of Mist is a record label and record distributor with subsidiaries in France and the United States. The record label was founded in 1996 by Michael S. Berberian in Marseille, France. From the start releasing black metal, pagan metal and death metal records, the label moved on to releasing...
France - EJ Johangton - President of Prosthetic RecordsProsthetic RecordsProsthetic Records is a record label specializing in heavy metal recordings. Founded by E.J. Johantgen and Dan Fitzgerald both former employees of Columbia Records, in Los Angeles, California in 1998...
USA - Dan Rozenblum - Thunderdome Touring
- David Gold - Woods of YpresWoods of Ypres-Biography:Woods of Ypres was formed in 2002 by David Gold, Aaron Palmer and Brian McManus. The trio released the first Woods Of Ypres demo, Against the Seasons: Cold Winter Songs from the Dead Summer Heat, the same year. In 2003, David Gold moved to Toronto to begin working on a full-length album...
- Mira Born - Freelance photographer, Netherlands
- Josh Hogan - Diminished Fifth Records Halifax
- Sacha Laskow - Divinity
- Greg Musgrave - Exit Strategy, Phantom Limb
- Therese Lanz - Exit Strategy, Kilbourne, Tosca
- Derek Orthner - Begrime Exemious
- Tomislav Crnkovic - Viathyn, Axe Music
- Pamela Porosky - http://pitchblack.ca
- James Stangroom - Freelance Photographer, Calgary
- Joshua Wood - Co-Host Megawatt Mayhem
- Kevin Woron - Co-Host Megawatt Mayhem
October 3rd
MacEwan Hall (Main Stage)
- CynicCynic (band)Cynic is an American progressive rock band, incorporating experimental music, alternative, metal and jazz fusion elements, founded in Miami, Florida and currently based in Los Angeles, California. Their first album, Focus, released on September 14, 1993, is widely regarded as a landmark release of...
- SuffocationSuffocation (band)Suffocation is an American death metal band that was formed in 1989 in Long Island, New York. The band comprises vocalist Frank Mullen, guitarists Terrance Hobbs and Guy Marchais, drummer Mike Smith and bassist Derek Boyer. Suffocation rose to prominence of death metal and created a blueprint for...
- Destroyer 666Destroyer 666Deströyer 666 is a black/death/thrash metal band formed in 1994 by guitarist K.K. Warslut. The group originated in Melbourne, Australia however moved to Europe.- History :...
- Aura NoirAura NoirAura Noir is a black metal/thrash metal band from Oslo, Norway. Aura Noir is heavily influenced by early thrash bands such as Slayer, Sodom and Kreator, to the latter they have also dedicated some of their songs...
- Exit Strategy
- Begrime Exemious
The Den U of C (Second Stage)
- Death Toll Rising
- Sacred Ally
- Akakor
- A Bloodshed Nightmare
- Hrom
- Fornication
2007
Calgary, AB Canada (September 10, 2007) Scarab Metal Productions was pleased to announce Noctis Valkyries, a Metal Fest at the University of Calgary’s MacEwan Hall Ballroom on Saturday Sept 22, 2007. Headlining the show was Sumerian black thrashersThrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
Melechesh
Melechesh
Melechesh is a Assyrian-Armenian black metal band that originated in Jerusalem. Ashmedi started the band as a solo project in 1993. In the following year, guitarist Moloch and drummer Lord Curse were added to the line-up...
whose acclaim is still rising worldwide since the 2006 release of their album Emissaries
Emissaries (album)
Emissaries is Melechesh's fourth full length album and third through Osmose Productions. The album introduces their new drummer Xul...
, recently chosen as an album of the month by the renowned Canadian based international metal magazine, Brave Word and Bloody Knuckles. Also featured was the legendary black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
band, Inquisition
Inquisition (Colombian band)
The band Inquisition was formed in 1988 in Cali, Colombia by Dagon. The band started as a thrash metal act, and in 1994 evolved into raw black metal....
in a rare Canadian show, which followed headlining summer festival appearances in Berlin and Los Angeles. Their 2007 release of Nefarious Dismal Orations was hailed as a rare gem from the black underground.
Rounding out bill was Canada’s black thrashers Infernäl Mäjesty
Infernäl Mäjesty
Infernäl Mäjesty is a Canadian thrash metal band, formed in Toronto in 1986. They are best known for their debut album None Shall Defy, released in 1987. However, the 1998 re-issue by Displeased Records inspired the band to get back together and recorded a new album, followed by a European tour...
from Vancouver; folk heavy metal
Viking metal
Viking metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its galloping pace, keyboard-rich anthemic sound, bleakness and dramatic emphasis on lyrical themes of Norse mythology, Norse paganism, and the Viking Age...
act Verbal Deception
Verbal Deception
Verbal Deception is a Pirate Metal band formed in Calgary, Canada, in November 2002.-Biography:Formed in 2002 by original members, Kresho Klarich , Walt Fleming ,and Taylor Pierce ....
, and pagan black metal band Dark Forest, both from Calgary; Wolves in the Throne Room
Wolves in the Throne Room
Wolves in the Throne Room is a black metal band based in Olympia, Washington.Their sound is influenced by Scandinavian black metal, doom metal, dark ambient, crust punk, and folk music...
, blackened folk doom from Washington, Insidious Omen, black metal from Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
and three local openers, Norrath, Lords of the Mountain and Wargod.
2008
Calgary, AB Canada (July 22, 2008) Scarab Metal Productions was pleased to announce NOCTIS II – The Age of Darkness Metal Fest, a Folk-Black-Pagan Metal Fest at University of Calgary’s MacEwan Hall Ballroom on Saturday, October 4, 2008. Headlining the show was Finland’s premier folk metal act, KorpiklaaniKorpiklaani
Korpiklaani is a folk metal band from Finland who were formerly known as Shaman.-Biography:While other folk metal bands began with metal before adding folk music, Korpiklaani started with folk music before turning metal...
, who made their first appearance on North American soil. Their use of genuine folk instruments, such as the juhikko, accordion and violin, along with a combination of rough and yoik vocals and “a fierce twist of metal” have earned them a spot as one of the most original acts in metal today. Fuelled by high energy and a love of beer, Korpiklaani is one of the most popular acts at metal festivals across Europe.
Also featured was underground Canadian black/doom/folk metallers Woods of Ypres
Woods of Ypres
-Biography:Woods of Ypres was formed in 2002 by David Gold, Aaron Palmer and Brian McManus. The trio released the first Woods Of Ypres demo, Against the Seasons: Cold Winter Songs from the Dead Summer Heat, the same year. In 2003, David Gold moved to Toronto to begin working on a full-length album...
. Their most recent album Woods III: Deepest Roots and Darkest Blues was released to critical acclaim and was the best selling album for 4 weeks in a row at The End Records. The German funeral doom metal band Ahab (band)
Ahab (band)
Ahab is a German funeral doom metal band founded in 2004 by Midnattsol guitarists Christian Hector and Daniel Droste and former Endzeit guitarist Stephan Adolph. The band is named after Captain Ahab, a character in the novel Moby Dick by Herman Melville...
also appeared in their first North American appearance. Their 2006 debut CD “Call of the Wretched Sea” retells the story of Melville’s Moby Dick and captured intense underground interest.
Rounding out the bill was support from folk/heavy metal act Verbal Deception
Verbal Deception
Verbal Deception is a Pirate Metal band formed in Calgary, Canada, in November 2002.-Biography:Formed in 2002 by original members, Kresho Klarich , Walt Fleming ,and Taylor Pierce ....
, and pagan black metal band DARK FOREST, both well-known Calgary metal acts; and BEGRIME EXEMIOUS, black/death metallers from Edmonton, who returned to the scene after a short hiatus and a line-up change. The metal fest also introduced URHEIMAT, an experimental black metal act from Calgary featuring members of Dark Forest, Nebucadnezzer and I Die Screaming.
2009
Calgary, Alberta. Canada (July 30, 2009) Scarab Metal Productions is proud to announce NOCTIS III: TRITAGONIST; a metal festival taking place over two days at the University of Calgary’s Den and MacEwan Hall; and the Distillery Nightclub in downtown Calgary. Headlining the Main Stage on Saturday, October 3rd, will be progressive metal veterans CynicCynic (band)
Cynic is an American progressive rock band, incorporating experimental music, alternative, metal and jazz fusion elements, founded in Miami, Florida and currently based in Los Angeles, California. Their first album, Focus, released on September 14, 1993, is widely regarded as a landmark release of...
(USA) whose comeback album Traced in Air earned critical acclaim after a 12-year absence in the metal scene. The show will also feature war metalers Destroyer 666
Destroyer 666
Deströyer 666 is a black/death/thrash metal band formed in 1994 by guitarist K.K. Warslut. The group originated in Melbourne, Australia however moved to Europe.- History :...
(AUS-NLD) in their first ever-Canadian appearance, fresh off the July release of their new album Defiant; and black thrashers Aura Noir
Aura Noir
Aura Noir is a black metal/thrash metal band from Oslo, Norway. Aura Noir is heavily influenced by early thrash bands such as Slayer, Sodom and Kreator, to the latter they have also dedicated some of their songs...
(NOR) who played the Maryland Deathfest this year. Headlining the show on “Club Night” at the Distillery on Friday Oct. 2, 2009 will be Chicago’s Novembers Doom
Novembers Doom
Novembers Doom is a death/doom metal band from Chicago, Illinois. They are currently signed to The End Records. Novembers Doom is one of the earliest U.S. death/doom metal bands that are still active today along with Evoken and Rigor Sardonicous....
, with support from the underground folk/heavy metal favourites Slough Feg (USA), and death/thrashers ARES KINGDOM (USA).
Opening the shows will be Alberta bands: EXIT STRATEGY, BEGRIME EXEMIOUS, DEATH TOLL RISING, SACRED ALLY, KILYAKAI, NORRATH, AKAKOR, and the new, two-woman sludge band, TOSCA. An all ages band showcase featuring A BLOODSHED NIGHTMARE, HROM, and FORNICATION will open the second stage.
The Festival also now includes a METAL MUSIC CONFERENCE to be held on Friday October 2nd at the Ramada Hotel, downtown Calgary. A partial list of speakers includes guest appearances from Martin Popoff (Toronto) famed metal author/ music reviewer and the former Editor of the now retired Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles magazine; Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinert of Cynic, Michael Berberian, (France) CEO of Season of Mist Records, Mira Born (Holland) a freelance metal music photographer for metalshots.com, Metalhammer, and Terrorizer; Dan Rozenblum (Florida) Thunderdome Touring; David Gold (Ontario) from Woods of Ypres, and . Topics for the conference will include items of interest to metal bands and fans and will feature live interviews; discussions on what it takes to get signed to a label; how to get endorsements and distribution deals; the latest in DIY recording; how to promote your band; improving your live metal photography; etc.