Midgardsblot 2025 — days 1 and 2

Set among ancient Viking burial mounds in Borre, Norway, Midgardsblot is both a music festival and a cultural gathering. Metal and folk musicians perform alongside reenactments, lectures, and ceremonies, creating an atmosphere where history, heritage, and modern creativity meet. This year, it took place from 13 to 16 August.

The weather was gracious this year — we did not experience major downpours, except just once. For the first two days, only the small Valhalla stage was in use, I am guessing because of financial reasons. The festival is recovering (so far so good) from a major finanical debt that happened a few years ago.

The day before the festival, I took a refreshing walk to the mounds. The weather was great, people at Utgard (a tent camp for Midgardsblot) were welcoming, and the place was very peaceful.

This review, admittedly, covers only maybe about a third of what one can catch at Midgardsblot. There are Mimir Talks in Midgard Vikingcenter, and there are many acts to catch.

The Opening Blot

Opening the blot is a traditional ritual that opens the festival — one pays respect to the idols and paints their face with animal blood. The ritual is inspired by historical blots, but is not historically authentic. Some people conside it just an opening for the festival, while for some it bears more spiritual meaning and they take it very seriously. This year it felt a bit crowded and rushed, likely because the only stage was located just next to the place and it would not be possible to continue the blot in parallel with the first gig. I however, think it tainted the impression somewhat — the ritual calls for certain solemn atmosphere and immersion,a slowed down pace in front of the pagan altar, while it was a bit of a crowded space. It was simply hard to isolate subjects on a photo as someone else was coming there in the same time.

Vǫluspá

Norwegian Vǫluspá was set to open the festival. Festival spans four days and this one of the bands that had a second performance on the third day. The band, which specializes in Nordic Folk/Metal, sports large amount of stage props and has a song named after the festival. Below are images both from Wednesday and Friday.

Gaahls Wyrd

Fronted by Gaahl (Kristian Espedal, ex-Gorgoroth, a person with a very colorful biolgraphy spanning from black metal roots and some prison time to theatrical plays and fashion collections), Gaahls Wyrd is a black metal band; however, it has ties to Nordic Folk, as Gaahl appears on Kati Ran’s SÁLA and had featured Einar Selvik on the first live release. Without a doubt one of the most intence moments of the first day.

Nebala Liminal

The Gildehalleng gigs are special. Unlike two outdoor stages, they have limited capacity, which often causes controversy (to get in, you basically have to miss a previous gig staying in line), but in the same time the closed space provides the best ambience for folk performances. Nebala Liminal was essentially an improvisation set by the leader of Nebala, Jonas Lorentzen, and a multi-instrumentalist, Ghili Prati, whom Jonas met at one of the blots. While the gig was not as intense as future ones by Lili Refrain and Runahild, it was definitely a good time.

Eivør

Eivør was headlining the first day — as usual, an enchanting gig. It is a bit hard to write something specific — her songs to the Nordic Folk community is something of a given, something as resounding as Heilung and Wardruna anthems. Visiting her concert is not a discovery, perhaps, but a reconnection with melodies that are embedded in the subculture for years.

Bonfire

The after-festival bonfires are considered a true heart of Midgardsblot. Due to my load, I was only able to attend ones on the first and last days. This is the time to hang out with people who you just met or whom you remember from last years.

Hrafngrimr

The second day of the festival started for me with Hrafngrimr, a French “Nü Nordic / Dark Pagan” band.(Yes, I admit having difficulties reading the name).

The 3rd and the Mortal

The 3rd and the Mortal is a Norwegian rock band founded in 1992, which had several lineup changes and dplit in 2005. However, a reunion happened this year to celebrate 30th anniversary of the first albums, fronted by Kari Rueslåtten, who was also the vocalist on the albums. Kari is known also for her solo carreer.

Folket Bortafor Nordavinden

A “home band” for the festival, Folket usually plays on almost every day in different corners of the festival. It does not maybe attract a huge crowd like on Mayhem, but invariably creates a great warm atmosphere.

Oranssi Pazuzu

Oranssi Pazuzu is a psychedelic black metal band formed in 2007 and one of the acts coming from neighboring Finland.

Lili Refrain

The recent issue of Metal Hammer also reported on Midgardsblot festival (which happens once in a blue moon). Given the abundance program, the author could not really cover much on the page allocated in the magazine, so he was forced to make a choice by selecting only a few acts. Lili’s Gildehallen showdown made the cut. “Her looped incantations building up into states of overwhelming grandeur and pagan intensity, riven with an operatic voice that could level civilisations”. It might sound like an exaggeration, but it is actually not. Lili starts by walking from the audience to the stage, ringing just a tiny bell, and the show quickly escalates to a powerful performance, full of electric guitar sounds and drumbeats. One of the core experiences of this edition of the festival, hands down.

Hypocrisy

The second day of the festival was concluded by mighty Hypocrisy, who literally pierced the cold Norwegian forest night with their Swedish melodeath. Peter Tägtgren looks as dramatic as ever.

Visitors

Visitors are a massive addition to the music lineup. The festival has a reenators’ area, Folkvangr, which is a familiar medieval market setting. There are dedicated events for reenactors, such as buhurt combats, and many people enjoy visiting the festival in historical or whimsical outfits. While there are metalheads proper too, donning usual battle wests and such, it looks like they appear only during headline metal gigs, and then disappear completely until the next metal band takes the stage.