Doom is Coming Home

Doom Over Vienna XIX – Announcement

Escape Metalcorner Vienna, Austria 20251107-08

With just over a week to go, the countdown is on for the 19th edition of this recognised festival, personally one of my favourite ones on the calendar. True to its name, the event is dedicated to the different subgenres and variants of doom metal. Over the years, Doom Over Vienna has distinguished itself by showcasing the vast spectrum of sonic and aesthetic proposals that coexist under this same major term: from traditional doom and death-doom, through epic, sludge, stoner, and funeral doom, to gothic and black doom (or depressive black metal), to name the most well-known.

The festival, which presumably takes its name from Reverend Bizarre’s renowned anthem “Doom Over the World” (first published in 2004 but recorded a few years before), has been organised consistently since 2006, just with a brief hiatus in 2020. Escape Metalcorner has been its primary, although several editions have also taken place at Viper Room. Originally a single-day affair, Doom Over Vienna extended to a two-day format from its 7th edition in 2012, thus cementing its status as one of the most long-running, extensive, and comprehensive events in the global doom scene.

Furthermore, the organisers have constantly curated a diverse international line-up, even featuring bands from the “end of the world”, such as Peru’s Reino Ermitaño in 2014, and a striking contingent of Chilean doomsters over the years, including Poema Arcanus (2012), Procession (2014), Bitterdusk (2019 and 2024), Marchafunebre (2023), Mortajas (2023), Blackflow (2024) and, this year, Mourners Lament and Wooden Veins.

As published just a few hours ago, the programme will begin on Friday, the 7th of November, with Austrians Dúath (melodic doom) and continue with the aforementioned Chilean act Wooden Veins (post-doom). Next to take the stage will be the Maltese band Hemplifier (stoner doom), followed by the also Chileans Mourners Lament (funeral doom/death). The first night will be brought to a close by the Germans Angel of Damnation (traditional epic-tinged doom), who have just released their latest album, Ethereal Blasphemy.

The second evening (Saturday, the 8th of November) will be opened by Deumus, participants in the 2019 edition of the festival and whose recent concert in Graz I reviewed not long ago. The line-up continues with Kielkropf (sludge), the Dutchs Ditch (stoner), and the Swedish band Void Moon (epic-tinged doom). Headlining the second night will be Romania-based Clouds (atmospheric doom/death), who also closed the 14th edition of Doom Over Vienna back in 2019 and performed at Escape in October 2023. Daniel Neagoe, the band’s founder and vocalist, is also one of the creatives behind the festival’s visual design.

As you can see, the lineup and atmosphere at Escape are truly promising. With five bands each day of pure heavy and slow metal, Doom Over Vienna represents one of these essential events of the year. See you there, and stay doom!

Tickets

Day tickets are available (€30) by e-mail: willi[at)escape-metalcorner.at. Festival tickets (€50 plus fees) are still available via ticketmaster.at or at the Escape Bar.

While the video quality is quite raw, it perfectly captures Mortajas’ crushing performance at Doom Over Vienna 2023.