Norway’s leading extreme metal festival, Beyond The Gates, has announced the first wave of bands for the 2025 edition of the festival, taking place in Bergen from July 30 - August 2. Organizers have issued the following:
"We’re extremely happy to be able to announce the first eight bands for Beyond the Gates 2025.
“For the first time in 19 years, King Diamond will return to Norway with his fantastic horror infused heavy metal spectacle. The King will grant us with a show second to none. The ‘Saint Lucifer’s Hospital Tour’ has been wreaking havoc in the US lately and we can’t wait until it arrives at these shores”, says festival booker, Torgrim Øyre.
"For those of you who saw Mercyful Fate in Grieghallen a few years back will know that this will be the ultimate way to experience King Diamond and his amazing show. We’ve been hard at work to get King Diamond to Norway for quite sometime and what a treat it is to finally be able to announce this gem.
"King Diamond will be joined by the might Abbath Doom Occulta who will bring his incredible ‘Return to the Raven Realms Tour’ to Bergen for the first time. The epic show includes a set consisting wide array of Immortal classics from his tenure in the band.
Going even further back in the history books. Triptykon will perform a full set of Celtic Frost classics, while German thrash pioneers, Destruction, will celebrate the 40th anniversary of their magnum opus, Infernal Overkill. If that’s not education enough, David Vincent and Pete Sandoval will bring you the finest death metal available when I Am Morbid is diving into the Morbid Angel catalogue.
Former Nifelheim singer Hellbutcher has delivered one of the best albums this year, who hasn’t twisted some neck muscles after hearing The Sword of Wrath. Next year you can experience this masterpiece live on stage. Scotland based Hellripper has taken the thrash world by storm over the last few year. This force of nature has quickly become one of the hottest underground acts around. If you’ve attended one of their concerts you will understand why.
Last but not least, Dark Sonority, formerly known as Kaosritual.this ensemble is well known throughout the underground as the epitome of Sorcerous Black Metal, alongside other Nidrosian Black Metal bands such as Mare and Celestial Bloodshed with whom they share members. This will be one of their very few concerts next year.
The 2025 edition of Beyond the Gates is the 13th chapter in the festival saga and will showcase why the festival has grown into the international metal gathering it has become. Attracting visitors from 50 different countries around the world, Beyond the Gates has become a global phenomenon.
The festival is taking place in the city center of Bergen, using several venues spread across town, including the legendary Grieghallen and USF Verftet. Welcome to four days of darkness in the heart of Bergen."
Get tickets here.
