Hole in the Sky

August 26, 2011

Performed at USF Verftet in Bergen, Norway

2011 would mark the last year of this metal festival, the organizers announced the final chapter with the message:

“Twelve years is a long time and we’ve always invested a lot of time and effort in making the festival the best it possible can be and never compromise.

Hole in the Sky has been a thing we’ve taken great pride in and it would be a very sad thing to let the festival suffer due to other commitments and responsibilities that comes along as you get older, so basically we want go out on a high note when we still feel inspired and on top of the game. Mind you, we will go out in a spectacular fashion.

Hole in the Sky started out with the aim of showcasing the best the underground metal scene has to offer.

Norway has been on the forefront of extreme metal since 1991, that’s 20 years and counting, so we’ve decided to invite four of the most crucial acts in terms of developing the scene. To close the final Hole in the Sky chapter: THE LAST SUPPER, we give you Immortal, Satyricon, Mayhem and Enslaved (The Big 4 of extreme metal?).

Immortal opened the very first Hole in the Sky festival in 2000 and will close the proceedings on the 2011 festivals final day. Satyricon has headlined the festival with huge success two times earlier. Enslaved has delivered some historic sets, both the anniversary concert in 2009, featuring a wide array of metal royalty, and them playing the whole Eld album in 2005.

Mayhem are the godfathers of the scene and went at it in spectacular fashion in 2007. We’re glad to have them back for on final round this year."^[1]

Ghost would be one of the first bands that was teased to appear on the festival’s FaceBook page, although some guessed correctly their fame had not risen to a point where all knew who was being hinted at right away.^[2] They were officially announced on February 11th:

“Who these much talked-about Swedish gentlemen actually are remains a mystery, but their modern-day classic «Opus Eponymous» was probably THE most revered metal/doom-rock album in 2010. In light of that it is with great pleasure we can present Ghosts very first live performance in Bergen and Hole in the Sky. Known for their spellbinding live rituals, this will no doubt be a blinder.”^[3]

Early Poster for Hole in the Sky before all the bands were announced

Ghost would grace the stage of USF for Hole in the Sky: The Last Supper, Part 3: Dawn of a New Age at 6:50pm^[4]

Photos by Jarle H. Moe

Papa Emeritus sings into a microphone at Hole in the Sky

Making intense eye contact with the crowd

Mid-set stretching gets more important the older you get

Smoke Show

Still, the same complaints of Ghost's limited material lingered on:

"No doubt one of the most visible and popular bands at festivals this summer has been Swedish Ghost. With their striking stage outfit and a recognizable Marshall sound they stand out in any company. Ghost´s debut album, an undisputed masterpiece Opus Eponymous is the only album they´ve released so far so there was no need to guess tonight either which songs they´d play. The show at USF was entertaining and enjoyable to listen to and the band got to perform to a full house. According to their official website they are now recording some new material. What a perfect timing as the same songs, as catchy as they are, won´t carry Papa Emeritus and the Nameless Ghouls much further doing shows at this fast pace and, of course, the fans insist on more." -Jane Oliver & Meri Tikkala^[5]

All in all not a bad thing, since it's like saying the biggest problem with Ghost is that there isn't more Ghost.

• [1]Metal Underground, Hole In The Sky 2011 To Be The Last Edition of The Festival, Immortal, Mayhem And More Confirmed by Diamond Oz
• [2]Facebook, Hole In The Sky Bergen Metal Festival's Post
• [3]Hole in the Sky, Marduk, Ghost, Negative Plane (via archive.org)
• [4]Hole in the Sky, Running order and time tables are up, Pagen Altar pulls out. (via archive.org)
• Stalker Magazine, Hole in the Sky XII 2011 by Jane Oliver & Meri Tikkala

Invisible Oranges, Live Report: Hole In The Sky--The Last Supper by Stefan Raduta

Hole in the Sky, Ghost (via archive.org)

Pyro, 10 spørsmål med Torgrim Øyre fra Hole In The Sky by Totto Mjelde