The Oxfordshire based Candlelight Records hosted it’s now annual feast of delights from its current roster of bands at The Underworld in Camden Town, over 3 days. Sadly I couldn’t attend days 1 & 2 because of other commitments, but I hear from other notable attendees that Anaal Nathrakh laid waste to the subterranean venue on the Friday with Altar Of Plagues bowing out for good apparently on the Saturday with an emotional set. I wish that I could have been there.

However, I made it on Sunday for what was for me one of the best line ups for ANY gig/festival thus far in 2013.  After helping one of the artists lug some of their gear in, I was late to the Cnoc An Tursa party as they finished the opening track “Etterick Forest In November” after the gathering present had heard the “Piper O Dundee” heralding the beginning of the set.  Never before have songs about Scottish History tempted me to don a Kilt and do a William Wallace as “Bannockburn” is blasted with such intensity.  A performance, described by main man Alan Buchan as the “best gig” they have played to date, boasted great melodies in what I personally find very uplifting songs including storming brand new track “On The Braes O Mar” and finishing on a high with “The Lion of Scotland”.  These lads have a bright future and I would like to see them on English soil more often as they pack a real punch in the live arena.

Now Eastern Front have conquered the War Torn Black Metal scene for some time on these shores, and they always deliver a set of blast beats and mayhem to batter their audience into submission and tonight is no different. With the addition of Blitz (drums) and Zeichen (guitar) to the ranks, they are altogether a tighter and dare I say more professional battalion these days, and with Destroyer, Holocaust and Nagant at the helm, I understand they are promising more blitzkrieg with album number 2 in the works.   “Blood On Snow” left everyone in no doubt that these guys are here for the long haul to Moscow and beyond!

The second of the Scottish invaders took to the fore next, Falloch, whom I had seen play in London maybe 2 years ago with former front man, Andy Marshall.  He has since departed to work on some other fantastic projects including one which you need all to check out (Àrsaidh), which is another story.  The new frontman is Tony Dunn (Lost Persona) and has equally wonderful clean vocal chords with, I have to say, much more stage presence.  This is obviously a very positive effect on the bands overall performance and a confident set with highlight track “Beyond Embers & The Earth” leaves this old clad wanting more, as alas the set times are criminally short for all the artists today with only 30 minutes for all except Winterfylleth who get 45, more of them later!

Wodensthrone therefore made a 10 hour round trip to play 3 songs, but WHAT songs! “First Light”,  “Leodum On Lande” (from the Loss album) and finishing with the epic “The Name Of The Wind” from latest release “Curse”, delivering a set with such intensity the lads are clearly here to make the trip worthwhile.  Clad in the blue wode over the left eye of each member, signifying the sacrifice Woden made in giving his left eye in return for knowledge, Wodensthrone now have a settled line up and the twin vocals really work well in the live setting.  These guys are on the top of their game at the moment and one can only hope for a few more live rituals in the near future. Utterly spellbinding stuff!

After a swift wet refreshment, Mael Mórdha, the Horde from over the Irish Sea were hitting the stage clearly battle covered in wode and London was about to be sacked.  The imposing figure of vocalist, tin whistle player and horn blower “Roibeard” is centre stage as they play hits like “Geltract Mael Mórdha”, “The Doom Of The Races Of Éire” and new track “Bloody Alice (Of Abergavenny)” from the forthcoming album, soon to be released on Candlelight, “Damned When Dead” are blasted out to a packed Underworld. It really is great to see so many come out on a warm Bank Holiday Sunday to support Metal from the British Isles and Eire!

The headliners need no introduction to myself and judging by the crowd, which appeared to swell instead of dwindle (so often the case at Festivals), none was required either.  Winterfylleth have grown from a slightly obscure side project playing slightly suspect underground clubs to one of the best known bands in the British Metal scene.  This is due to playing regular gigs and getting out there to spread the word and it has worked for these engaging Englishmen.  I think people can identify with Winterfylleth and as people they never take themselves too seriously, which shines through in every performance.  That is not to say they are not serious about their craft, tonight’s set includes all the hits from the latest album “The Threnody of Triumph” and a first outing for the track “The Glorious Plain”, which is not an easy song to master vocally live, but they are willing push themselves to master their art.  Old favourites “The Ghost of Heritage”, “A Valley Thick With Oaks” from “The Mercian Sphere” masterpiece and leaving everyone with the sing along closer “Defending The Realm”, which even our Scottish friends were singing along to!

The whole day felt like a family affair with all of the bands getting along as friends and many familiar faces on the crowd, all it needed really was to have been in a field somewhere for the authentic Festival experience!  Maybe one day?