Bleak Metal is very excited about the inaugural Beyond The Redshift Festival which is taking place across three London venues on May 10th. The Cult of Luna curated event is primed to be a wonderful day of interesting music with each band carefully chosen due to the aesthetic and atmosphere they bring to the live arena. Having been lucky enough to witness a few of these bands on stage already, I’m very much looking forward to experiencing their full aural attitude along with some new names to my ears and eyes.

I wanted to bring attention to a few of the bands I am already eagerly anticipating – both acts that I know will enthrall as well as those which I am yet to encounter. The line-up is incredible and for the very first event is downright too good to be true. Let us take a closer look at Beyond The Redshift and the bands involved.

Cult of Luna’s Johannes Persson says:

“We will have Klas join us for a special two-hour set. We don’t like talking about set lists so we won’t discuss what songs we will play. We’re taking the audience through a show, a rollercoaster of dynamics; we don’t want to destroy the surprise element.

We’ll reveal exact stage times for all bands soon, but you should know that all the other bands in The Forum will play full one-hour sets, as will Amplifier in The Dome. The venues are a 7-8 minute walk apart, and The Forum and The Dome won’t clash, so hopefully you’ll be able to see everything you want to see.

The cosmological redshift is caused by the expansion of space. The wavelength of light increases as it traverses the expanding universe. Unable to assume that we have a special place within this universe, the redshift suggests to us that everything is moving away from everything else…

We may not be able to go beyond the redshift, but we can certainly think beyond it. We are bringing together artists who expand within their space – artists who create something special within this space.”

The Kentish Town Forum will be hosting Cult of Luna, God Seed, God Is An Astronaut, Jesu, Amenra, and Syndrome of which I’ve had the chance to see all but two.

Cult of Luna and God Seed both played at Damnation Festival last year and both blew me away. Cult of Luna for their precision and God Seed for their presence. In fact, I walked into a room during the day to see Gaahl less that two metres away and promptly walked right back out again. Something about him terrified me despite him being an artist I admire. Perhaps bravery will be more forthcoming this time around.

Jesu I saw a few years ago at a three day ICA event named Reverence. It was wonderful and I’m very much looking forward to seeing the band again. Amenra I also saw at a Damnation Festival although it was a year before God Seed and I’ve caught them one other time at the Garage which was claustrophobic, intense and cathartic (and also with Cult of Luna).

Of the bands playing the Forum, I’ve yet to see God Is An Astronaut (not through want of trying) or Syndrome (a project from Mathieu Vandekerckhove of Amenra and these two in particular are going to be highlights.

Below are live performances from a couple of these acts that showcase why they must be seen.

CULT OF LUNA

AMENRA

The second and third venues that will host Beyond The Redshift are contained within the same building – The Dome being the larger, upstairs venue and The Boston Music Room being the smaller, downstairs space.

The Dome will be showcasing Amplifier, Bossk, The Old Wind, Esben & the Witch, Blueneck and pg.lost.

Now, I’ve seen Amplifier on one previous occasion – with Anathema – and I’m not sure that I enjoyed them. It may have been that I was too into seeing Anathema (they are a dear favourite) and as such that excitement spoiled the support. It happens, but I will endeavour to watch them if possible as I feel they’re a band I would enjoy.

Bossk, on the other hand, are a band I have seen a lot over recent years and they never fail to deliver. Their recent 30 minute slot with Old Man Gloom was gorgeous and I hope to see them for a lot longer this time around. They’re a band who need as much space as possible. Finally, I’ve caught Esben & The Witch one other time and I’m very much looking forward to shuffling around and staring at my feet for their set.

I’ll admit that I’m not overly familiar with The Old Wind, Blueneck or pg.lost but after doing a little checking out, I’d be an idiot not to try and see a little of their sets.

BOSSK

THE OLD WIND

The final venue is The Boston Music Room which will see Greg Haines, sleepmakeswaves, Thought Forms, Dirk Serries, Hark, Further Down, Petter Carlsen, Abraham, Shield Patterns, Atlantis and Canaya play.

I haven’t seen any of these bands perform before and I’m not particularly familiar with all of them but I’m aiming to see as much as possible in order to experience new sounds and find something completely surprising.

SLEEPMAKESWAVES

CANAYA

Tickets can be purchased here and more information can be found on the Beyond The Redshift facebook page.

Bleak Metal will be reviewing the event so stay tuned for that!