NWN/Hospital Fest Osaka 2024

[Eoin McLove]

April 6th & 7th 2024 in Osaka, Japan.

Beherit playing both nights. The first night is a black metal set and the second night is an electronic set with a line up of NWN and Hospital bands covering metal and harsh electronics.

Blasphemy, Departure Chandelier,  Masonna and Genocide Organ announced so far. I'm not up on the electronic bands but maybe I'll give them a little listen over the next year.

[mickO)))]

Genocide Organ are great. I can't see how the Beherit BM show will be any good. By the time this show comes around it will have been what 23 / 24 years since they last played live. They are all touching 50 now as well. As others have said I wouldn't be surprised if this is Von in London all over again.

Blasphemy are well past it also. First time I saw them was great but every time since they were just going through the motions and very sloppy. Last time I saw them was NBM V and they were awful. Also wasn't the show in Mexico last December suppose to be there last? Yet they played Brazil a few weeks after that. I guess advertising it as potentially the last show is a good way to shift tickets.

[Eoin McLove]

Another way of looking at it is that Beherit have a year to get a really strong set together. I'm not going to write them off in advance anyway and hope they can put on a convincing sonic and visually interesting show.

I've seen Blasphemy live twice and they are fine. Not the most riveting band to watch as they are fairly static but they can command a stage. I'm not a huge fan anyway so I'm not going to feel too short changed if they don't deliver the goods. I'll just take that time to talk shite, have a pint and/or buy merch.

April is Cherry Blossom season in Japan so it's a perfect time to head over there. We'll do two weeks and make a proper holiday out of it is the plan 

Edit.  I never got into Von. I see people giving out about their reunion so what was the problem? Shit sound or performance?

[mickO)))]

I am hoping to finally be making my way to Australia not too long after the Emperor gig here next year and the plan was always to stop off in Japan for a week or 2 beforehand so if things work out I will go to this myself but I wouldn't be making trip from Ireland specifically just for this if it was OFC again then maybe I would.

I think it was Erik from Watain that organised the Von show and it ended up being awful. Shite performance, songs were not played correctly etc. Never been big on Von myself either I would put them into the highly overrated group along with Blasphemy. That Venien lad has also done everything in his power to destroy the legacy of Von. I did see Von Goat at NWN 2 he had Brandon from Bone Awl playing bass they played a lot of Von songs in the set which I found very enjoyable.

[Eoin McLove]

I saw Bone Awl at one of the NWN festivals in Germany- the one with Mystifier and maybe Blasphemy- and they were fucking savage live. A highlight of the weekend for me. I would be happy to see them added to this festival and seeing as they have worked with both labels it's hardly beyond the bounds of possibility.

Yeah, I agree about Von being overrated. I wonder if Varg hadn't worn their tshirt in court would they be considered so important? Maybe that's unfair but sure...

[mickO)))]

Yes that was NWN 2 that OFC headlined that is also the one that Von Goat played at. Does the Bone Awl drummer not run or did run hospital? If I remember correctly that was the label that released all those Raspberry Bulbs LPs about 10 years ago.

[Eoin McLove]

The BA dude ran, or runs, Klaxon and Seed Stock I think.

[mickO)))]

Something like Sadistik Ex if announced would be very appealing to me and after a Beherit BM set has been announced I don't think Sadistik Ex is out of the realm of possibility. The full line-up has apparently been confirmed and will be announced slowly over the next few months.

Had a quick look at the hotels in the area and the prices are insane (in a good way) 4 - 5 nights for 2 people is about the same as what you would have paid for one night in Dublin back in 2019 I expected it to be a lot more expensive.

[Eoin McLove]

The missus is already after booking a place close to the venue so I'm going to book my tickets over the weekend. Lock and load 

[astfgyl]

Whatever about the tunes, I've an idea in my head for years that visiting Japan would be class so I'm jealous of you there

[Eoin McLove]

Yeah, it looks like an interesting place.

[Mithrandir]

April 6th & 7th 2024 in Osaka, Japan.

Beherit playing both nights. The first night is a black metal set and the second night is an electronic set with a line up of NWN and Hospital bands covering metal and harsh electronics.

Blasphemy, Departure Chandelier,  Masonna and Genocide Organ announced so far. I'm not up on the electronic bands but maybe I'll give them a little listen over the next year.

Have tickets to this myself, will be interested to see who's added outside of the usual NWN crew. I know nothing of the electronic/hospital stuff.

[Eoin McLove]

Yeah, hopefully a few nice surprises on the NWN side of things. Same as yourself, the Hospital side of things will likely all be new to me and I'm not much of a noise fan but it will be an experience to witness.

[mickO)))]

Full lineup announced.

Saturday April 6th - NWN Day:

1. BEHERIT (FINLAND - Black Metal set)* – Beherit's diabolical miasma descends upon Japan for the first time.
2. BLASPHEMY* (CANADA) – Canadian black metal tyrant's first desecration on Japan soil.
3. DEPARTURE CHANDELIER* (CANADA/USA) – The live debut of Napoleonic War Black Metal in anticipation of the forthcoming album "Satan Soldier of Fortune."
4. SABBAT (JAPAN) – NWN! stalwarts. Venerated black metal masters representing the host nation.
5. DEATH WORSHIP* (CANADA/GERMANY) – The Superion returns. R. Forster's most recent project is, conceptually and sonically, the direct descendent of the mighty Blasphemy.
6. WITCHCRAFT* (FINLAND) – The next generation sworn to the oath of black blood.
7. BLOODY VENGEANCE* (GERMANY) – Reanimating the Brazilian deathcore spirit with Germanic fervor.
8. ABIGAIL (JAPAN) – Carnal depravity and vile intentions from Japanese veterans of perversion.
9. EVIL (JAPAN) – The most compelling blackened speed metal of the last decade.
10. SEX MESSIAH (JAPAN) – After performing in the U.S., Mexico, and Europe in the past year, Osaka's own Sex Messiah delivers their blackened deathrash steeped in sadism.

Sunday April 7th - Hospital Day:

1. BEHERIT (FINLAND - Electronic set)* – Nuclear Holocausto Vengeance will perform a solo Beherit set of electronic/noise doom synthesis. Bridging the gap between metal and electronics.
2. GENOClDE ORGAN (GERMANY) – Mannheim's pure Industrial committee returns to Japan for the first time in over a decade.
3. MASONNA (JAPAN) – The unprecedented return to the stage of Japanese hard noise cult psychedelia.
4. PRURIENT (USA) – Doom electronics. Flagship project by Hospital Productions founder Dominick Fernow.
5. AGONAL LUST* (USA) – Japanese debut of leading contemporary esoteric PTSD pain music.
6. LINEKRAFT (JAPAN) – Minimalist metal percussion and tape industrial decomposition. One of the premier contemporary Japanese artists with prominent releases on Tesco and Hospital.
7. YELLOW GAS FLAMES* (USA) – Churning noise freak-out noise from Mike and Tara Connelly.
8. THIRDORGAN (JAPAN)– Mythic master of alien sound manipulation cacophony.
9. SKIN CRIME* (USA) – American death noise. Long standing project associated with the legendary Self Abuse Records.
10. CULT OF YOUTH (USA) – Pagan Post Punk returns after releasing their first new album in 9 years.
11. OLD TOWER* (NETHERLANDS) – Dark draconic ambient from the Netherlands.
12. LUSSURIA* (USA) – Phantasmal electronics domain from one of Hospital's veteran artists.

*First performance in Japan

DJ BECKA DIAMOND (USA)
DJ SATOSICK (JAPAN)

Pretty underwhelming if I am honest.

The only interesting things for me from what has just been announced on day one is Death Worship (Who I will already be seeing later this year and the live footage I have watched does not look great). Abigail who are great live but I have seen them 5 or 6 times already. Witchcraft who seem to be good live but not something I would be losing sleep with excitement over.

I have seen Sabbat a few times but never liked them either live or on the studio recordings. I don't recognise any of the new names for Day 2 except Old Tower who I don't like.

[Eoin McLove]

Day 1 looks good to me. Interested in seeing Witchcraft, and Sabbat, Abigail and Evil are bands I'm currently diving into a bit, or intend to.