A Metalhead in Norway: My Journey to the Inferno Festival – Part 3
As a metal
musician from Algeria, this third part of my journey recounts the Behemoth
guitar clinic, the third day of the Inferno Festival, and a brief sightseeing
tour of Oslo.
Saturday
arrived with a mix of excitement and a hint of melancholy—it was the final full
day of my stay in Oslo. After two intense days of music and discovery at the
Inferno Festival, the third day promised a few more memorable highlights.
Thursday and Friday had been quiet in the city, with most shops closed for the
Easter holidays, but on Saturday morning, stores were finally open, at least
for a few hours. Normally, I’m not much into shopping, but when you’re
traveling with family, it’s part of the deal. So I took a stroll through the
city center and grabbed a few souvenirs.
This meant,
however, that I missed the drums clinic with Kerim "Krimh" Lechner,
held at 10:30 at the festival hotel. Still, I didn’t regret it too much—I had
witnessed his jaw-dropping performance the night before during Septicflesh’s
set, and let's be honest, I’m a guitarist, not a drummer!
By 1:00 PM, it was time for something truly unique: the Inferno Metal Auction, hosted by Tore Bratseth of Bömbers at the Hub Bar. The vibe was festive, light-hearted, and filled with the energy only metal fans can bring. Rare items from the extreme metal scene—vinyl records, concert posters, cassettes—were all up for bidding. It was a celebration of underground culture and music history.
I seized the opportunity to contribute a piece of history myself: the first edition cassette of Dhal Ennar, released in 1999, which happens to be the very first officially released metal album in North Africa. Watching that tape be introduced to the crowd was surreal. After a lively bidding war between Lina Khatib of the World Metal Congress and a Norwegian metalhead whose father is originally from Algeria, Lina won the auction. It was a proud and emotional moment—connecting continents through a shared love of metal.
This was
the first time Behemoth had hosted such an event, and it felt like a
rare opportunity to get an intimate look behind the scenes. They shared
insights into their gear, their signature ESP guitars, and when they officially
partnered with the brand. Best of all, fans were able to ask questions directly
to the band members in a relaxed, informal setting.
I had seen
Behemoth live before—back in 2014 at the Bataclan in Paris—but this was the
first time I saw Nergal without his iconic stage presence and theatrical
makeup. In person, he looked paler than expected, but came across as
incredibly humble, generous, and attentive. Yes, humble—you read that
right. His advice to the audience was sincere, and he even sprinkled in some
humor throughout the session.
They
performed three songs live, with pre-recorded drums played through a
computer. All tracks were from their latest album—specifically the three
singles they’ve released so far. They kicked things off with "The
Shadow Elite," followed by the phenomenal "The Shit Ov
God." For the latter, Nergal admitted that he used AI on his voice
during the spoken-word break—an intriguing and bold move. They closed the
clinic with the majestic "Lvciferaeon." Before starting the
third song, Nergal apologized in advance for any mistakes, saying, “We’re
always learning.” A powerful reminder of his humility.
One of the most
memorable pieces of advice Nergal gave was about gear: many musicians tend
to borrow high-end instruments when heading into the studio, but he recommends
recording with your own guitar—the one you know inside and out. Just have it
checked and adjusted by a guitar tech. After all, it’s the instrument you
create with, so why not capture your sound as authentically as possible? I
couldn’t agree more.
Another
valuable insight he shared: you don’t always have to play a riff exactly as it
appears on the album. It’s okay—even preferable—to reinterpret it over time.
Music is art, not math. I used to be obsessed with replicating everything
note-for-note, but now I understand there’s no need to be rigid—expression
matters more than precision.
There was
also a sweet moment when a 14-year-old metalhead asked about the strings
Behemoth uses. They play in C# with 11/56 gauge. Curious, Nergal asked the boy
about his band. The kid proudly responded that his band, Machine, is
based in Norway, has 4,000 followers on Spotify, and is preparing to enter the
studio to record their first album. The entire room was amazed by his
confidence and passion. Nergal was clearly impressed—he gave the boy a guitar
pick and said, “You’re going far, kid.” And the best part? The boy
didn’t wait to be called up—he boldly stepped forward to ask for that pick.
That’s Norway for you!
Toward the
end of the clinic, Nergal brought up an interesting point about YouTube’s
algorithm. Their second single, "The Shit Ov God," didn’t
receive as many views as "Lvciferaeon." He suspects it may be
due to the controversial title. Honestly, with a name like that, it’s not
surprising that YouTube might apply some form of censorship.
As the
session wrapped up, it became clear that Nergal was far more approachable
than people might assume. I even had the chance to take a photo with him
and exchange a few words. Many fans lined up to do the same, and he graciously
took the time with each one. Before leaving, he reminded us all to come see
Behemoth perform live the following day.
Inferno
Festival – Day 3 Concerts Recap:
It’s the
second-to-last day of the Inferno Festival, but unfortunately for me, it’s my
final day here. I already missed two bands earlier—Cover at Rockefeller
and Schwein at John Dee. Maybe I’ll catch them another time, who knows?
Their set
was a mix of old-school tracks like "Innominate", where Anders
jokingly pointed out that their drummer is only 34, while the song is a year
older than him. They also played more technical and progressive pieces. It was
a solid performance all around—hats off especially to the upright bassist (yes,
I really mean upright bass!).
Right
after, over at the John Dee stage, Angist from Iceland took over.
They’ve been around since 2009, though they had a six-year break between 2017
and 2023. They play straightforward death metal but brought good energy, led by
guitarist and vocalist Edda Tegeder.
At 7:30 PM,
Aura Noir stormed the stage back at Rockefeller. Another Norwegian
act—and not the last. These Oslo-based black thrashers delivered sharp,
relentless riffs and shrieking vocals. The audience was all in, and the energy
was palpable. A guaranteed good time.
The next
band at John Dee was Abyssic, a name I hadn’t heard before. They play
symphonic death-doom metal and have been around since 1997 with three albums to
their name. Signed to Osmose Productions, their stage presence,
lighting, and execution were all in line with what you'd expect from a band in
this genre—a pleasant discovery.
Then came Rotting
Christ, and what a show! During April, they were part of The Unholy
Trinity European tour alongside Behemoth and Satyricon. And now, here they
were in Oslo, proving that the Greeks don’t do things halfway. After Septicflesh's
stunning set on night two, Rotting Christ were easily the highlight of
day three. Their performance was massive—it felt like 20 people were on stage.
Not a single misstep, excellent setlist choices, and flawless execution. After
38 years, the Tolis brothers are still standing strong. Hats off!
Special shoutout to the crowd, especially during the epic "Like Father,
Like Son"—what a moment!
The final
band of the evening at John Dee was Seth, a legendary French black metal
band from the '90s scene, alongside names like Belenos, Antaeus, Anorexia
Nervosa, and Vlad Tepes. It had been so long since I listened to
them, I almost didn’t recognize them. But yes, it was the real Seth. They
delivered classic black metal with symphonic layers reminiscent of the '90s
glory days. Their music hasn’t aged a bit. We were treated to iconic tracks
like "Metal Noir", "La Morsure du Christ",
and "La Quintessence du Mal". An excellent way to close the
night at John Dee.
It’s the
end of the third night—and the end of the festival for me, as I’m heading back
home the next day and will, unfortunately, miss the fourth and final day. But
my last evening wraps up in spectacular fashion at Rockefeller with none other
than Satyricon, who were also part of The Unholy Trinity Tour I
mentioned earlier.
Satyricon was, in my opinion, the most
anticipated band of the entire festival. And rightly so—they are pioneers of
the genre. The venue was absolutely packed; you couldn’t even take a single
step, and the crowd sang along to every song like a massive chorus. They
treated us to timeless classics like "The Pentagram Burns", "Black
Crow on a Tombstone", and of course the legendary "Mother
North", which everyone knows by heart. They ended on a majestic note
with "Phoenix", joined on stage by Sivert Høyem, a very
well-known rock singer in Norway. Their performance was unmatched—flawless in
every aspect. Hats off, guys!
And with
that, it’s over for me—not for the festival, of course. I would have loved to
see bands like Naglfar, Tsjuder, and also catch Celeste
and Behemoth again. But there’s always next time!
Special mention goes to the festival organization. Despite the passing of Jan-Martin, the founder of Inferno Festival, everything ran perfectly. Every show started right on time, the sound was impeccable from start to finish, the light shows were excellent, and most importantly, there were no incidents over the three days. Security was top-notch.
And let’s
not forget the audience—sometimes the venue was so packed it was hard to
move. It’s worth noting that nearly half the crowd were international visitors.
Tickets were sold all around the globe: China, Australia, Chile, Japan, Taiwan,
Canada, the US, Colombia, Argentina—you name it!
One thing
that truly impressed me: even with the packed crowds, the ventilation was
great—no stuffiness or unbearable heat like you often feel at other
concerts. It just goes to show that every detail was carefully considered. But
hey, that’s Norway for you!
Speaking of
Norway… this may be my last night here, but not quite my last day,
since I’m leaving tomorrow at 5:30 PM. So, let me tell you what happened
next...
Day 5 –
Departure and a Visit to Oslo
It’s my
last day in Norway. I wake up early, pack my suitcase, and head down for the
famous Norwegian breakfast—making sure to tuck a few fruits into my bag for
later. It’s only 10:00 AM, so I still have a good chunk of the day to enjoy.
Since I’m
staying in the city center, I notice people offering guided walking tours of
Oslo. But those take at least 3 to 4 hours, and I don’t want to risk missing my
departure. So I decide to head toward the waterfront, where I spot one of those
iconic “Hop-On Hop-Off” buses, just like the ones you find in major
cities across Europe—Paris, London, Rome, Lisbon, Vienna... and of course,
Oslo!
I take the full
loop on the Hop-On Hop-Off bus without getting off, which gives me a
comfortable and efficient way to see the whole city in about 1.5 hours. The
route covers all of Oslo’s key landmarks: the Royal Palace, National
Theatre, the famous boulevard Karl Johans gate, Vigeland Park
with its impressive sculptures, the Viking Ship Museum, the striking Oslo
Opera House, the Norwegian Parliament, and the National Museum.
It’s the perfect overview, especially when you’re short on time.
The bus
comes with an audio guide via headphones, which taught me a lot about
Norway. For instance, the country has just 5 million inhabitants, a low
unemployment rate of 2%, and is among the wealthiest nations per capita
in the world. Its economy is powered by oil and gas, but also benefits
from fishing, tourism, and a strong medical sector. I also
learned that Oslo was once considered the most expensive city in the world
back in 2016—but that’s no longer the case.
One
fascinating fact: Norway is the only country in the world to completely ban
deforestation, including the sale of tools used for it. The nation is
deeply committed to sustainability, innovative resource management, and
preserving its breathtaking natural landscapes.
Once the
bus tour ends, I take a walk over to the roof of the Oslo Opera House,
which offers stunning panoramic views—and a great vantage point to spot cruise
ships docked in the harbor.
Speaking of
cruises, there was actually a "Rock Cruise" organized by the
Inferno Festival team that I, unfortunately, had to miss due to timing. But
hey—there’s always next time!
With time
slipping away, I rush to catch the train to Oslo Airport. I arrive early
enough to do some last-minute shopping and pick up a few souvenirs. Then, it’s
time to board my flight back to Algiers, with a short stopover in Paris.
And just like that—I’m home.
Some Related Links:
CADAVERtheBAND | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree
Angist (@angisttheband) • Instagram photos and videos
Rotting Christ Official Website - rotting-christ.com
Seth Sanctuaire Officiel — Seth – French black metal pioneers – since 1995
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