Maryland Death Fest 2009 - LIVE
date: 22 – 24 May, 2009
venue: Sonar, Baltimore, MD, USA
photos credits: Rev Aaron and Return To The Pit
Maryland Death Fest (MDF) has been a talked about three day festival for some time, but this years fest charged into previously uncharted territory and far exceeded expectations. Now through its seventh year, North America’s Biggest Underground Metal Party rests until next year.
This fest continues to provide one of the best experiences for metal fans worldwide by maintaining a diverse selection of bands, adaptation to crowd sizes by adding an extra outdoor stage, and providing an atmosphere where people gather for a good time, lots of booze and heavy music.
The people in attendance, for the most part are there to see the bands playing and have a good time. Only a very small number of people intentionally cause issues, which are usually handled quickly by venue security. This no drama atmosphere enhances the mood of the fest, and keeps the party atmosphere solid.
The acts that perform at this fest are of the highest caliber as well. The fest does not hold itself to one genre, but instead branches out to all forms of extreme music. Many of the bands that perform over the weekend have either never played in the USA before, or only a small number of times. MDF prides itself in giving bands a change to perform here for the first time, hopefully allowing enough exposure to create new US touring opportunities.
Bringing in different styles of music from different countries also makes the crowd incredibly diverse. People don’t just come from the US, but also Latin American countries, Australia, Europe and many others. MDF allows for like-minded people from many different nations to enjoy their favorite bands together.
However, MDF is not without it’s share of trials and tribulations. With many bands and fans travelling from abroad, border issues are unfortunately a re-occurring issue. Also given the large number of people inside one club, it is difficult to maintain a climate-controlled venue. Over the duration of the fest, the club started to run low on one of the most important items for a metal fest, beer. Outside, confrontations with local law enforcement and security can cause problems as well.
Minor problems aside, MDF showcases some of the greatest bands in the world in a single weekend. Fest goers are treated to top-notch entertainment, and a great party atmosphere. One visit to the festival will create long time patrons who will return year after year. MDF will continue to be one of the best festivals for many years to come.
This year’s MDF contained performances from the following bands: Abscess, Absu, Agenda of Swine, Antigama, Asphyx, Atheist, Aura Noir, Birdflesh, Bolt Thrower, Brutal Truth, Catheter, Cattle Decapitation, Cephalic Carnage, Complete Failure, Crowpath, Despise You, Destroyer 666, Devourment, Drugs of Faith, The Endless Blockade, Flesh Parade, General Surgery, Gnostic, Hail of Bullets, Hero Destroyed, Immolation, Jig-Ai, Kill the Client, Krallice, Lair of the Minotaur, Magrudergrind, Marduk, Maruta, Mayhem, Misery Index, Napalm Death, Pestilence, Phobia, Pig Destroyer, Pigsty, Pretty Little Flower, The Red Chord, Rotten Sound, Sayyadina, Sigh, Splitter, Trap Them, Triac, Unearthly Trance, Venomous Concept, Victims, Weekend Nachos, Wolves in the Throne Room, Yakuza
venue: Sonar, Baltimore, MD, USA
photos credits: Rev Aaron and Return To The Pit
Maryland Death Fest (MDF) has been a talked about three day festival for some time, but this years fest charged into previously uncharted territory and far exceeded expectations. Now through its seventh year, North America’s Biggest Underground Metal Party rests until next year.
This fest continues to provide one of the best experiences for metal fans worldwide by maintaining a diverse selection of bands, adaptation to crowd sizes by adding an extra outdoor stage, and providing an atmosphere where people gather for a good time, lots of booze and heavy music.
The people in attendance, for the most part are there to see the bands playing and have a good time. Only a very small number of people intentionally cause issues, which are usually handled quickly by venue security. This no drama atmosphere enhances the mood of the fest, and keeps the party atmosphere solid.
The acts that perform at this fest are of the highest caliber as well. The fest does not hold itself to one genre, but instead branches out to all forms of extreme music. Many of the bands that perform over the weekend have either never played in the USA before, or only a small number of times. MDF prides itself in giving bands a change to perform here for the first time, hopefully allowing enough exposure to create new US touring opportunities.
Bringing in different styles of music from different countries also makes the crowd incredibly diverse. People don’t just come from the US, but also Latin American countries, Australia, Europe and many others. MDF allows for like-minded people from many different nations to enjoy their favorite bands together.
However, MDF is not without it’s share of trials and tribulations. With many bands and fans travelling from abroad, border issues are unfortunately a re-occurring issue. Also given the large number of people inside one club, it is difficult to maintain a climate-controlled venue. Over the duration of the fest, the club started to run low on one of the most important items for a metal fest, beer. Outside, confrontations with local law enforcement and security can cause problems as well.
Minor problems aside, MDF showcases some of the greatest bands in the world in a single weekend. Fest goers are treated to top-notch entertainment, and a great party atmosphere. One visit to the festival will create long time patrons who will return year after year. MDF will continue to be one of the best festivals for many years to come.
This year’s MDF contained performances from the following bands: Abscess, Absu, Agenda of Swine, Antigama, Asphyx, Atheist, Aura Noir, Birdflesh, Bolt Thrower, Brutal Truth, Catheter, Cattle Decapitation, Cephalic Carnage, Complete Failure, Crowpath, Despise You, Destroyer 666, Devourment, Drugs of Faith, The Endless Blockade, Flesh Parade, General Surgery, Gnostic, Hail of Bullets, Hero Destroyed, Immolation, Jig-Ai, Kill the Client, Krallice, Lair of the Minotaur, Magrudergrind, Marduk, Maruta, Mayhem, Misery Index, Napalm Death, Pestilence, Phobia, Pig Destroyer, Pigsty, Pretty Little Flower, The Red Chord, Rotten Sound, Sayyadina, Sigh, Splitter, Trap Them, Triac, Unearthly Trance, Venomous Concept, Victims, Weekend Nachos, Wolves in the Throne Room, Yakuza
