Back from Arvika festival

It’s been a couple of years since last time, but it felt good to be back in the forest. The first days were scorchingly hot but the last one surprised us all with a lightning storm that came from nowhere and almost swept the festival away. Incredible amounts of water started to pour down on us. I was fortunately under a roof listening to a band when it started, but I found a video of the mayhem that ensued at the camping area:

Don’t miss the demonic laughter at 2:20 with people running and screaming. It’s almost better than Cloverfield!

After an hour of intense rainfall the stages were drenched and the crew were frantically digging ditches to lead the water away. Soon there were puddles and mud instead of a lake, which was a great improvement. Luckily most of us got solid boots and the mud provided a better setting for Combichrist, perhaps the best gig during the festival.

I also enjoyed Suicide Commando (in the linked video, one of the arms up front is mine), And One (but I missed Panzermensch), In Strict Confidence, Rotersand, Cruxshadows, Lola Angst, Alice in Videoland, Deathstars, Behemoth and more.

Spock did their 9th gig at Arvika, which also coincided with their 20 year anniversary as a group and were rejoined by old member Eddie Bengtsson on stage.

The glorious camping site. My empire of dirt.

The camping was nice as well with sunny weather (except for a few unbelievable hours), Patrik impersonating a zombie cone-head and the mysterious pig who kept snatching my beer away. One of the neighbors at the camp happened to be Mattias from April Tears, an old favorite band of mine.

See you all next year at Camp Glenn!

• More photos from Arvika

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