On a freezing 1 February 2025, the levels of pent-up anticipation and excitement were running fever-high, all down to the fact that I was letting myself in for a night with Heavy Metal’s finest new blood. This was the 11th round of When Copenhell Freezes Over, and Guttural Disgorge, 802, Gradience, Kōya, Vulvatorious, and LIVLØS would share the stage.
When Copenhell Freezes Over
Store VEGA, Copenhagen – 1 February 2025
Words: Lea Wagner
I was bracing myself for a best-case scenario that would sound like Danish butchery at its best. This was my first experience of what is an annual rite of passage and a strong collaboration between Copenhell, MXD and Vega.
Here the bands have been given an enormous opportunity to take the sacred stage at one of Copenhagen’s most iconic venues in front of exclusively invited festival top guns, record label honchos, and a proper dyed-in-the-wool Metal crowd.
The bands playing here have all been carefully selected as they are believed to have the potential to make a massive impact. “What we are aiming for at WCFO,” Jeppe Nissen, Director of Copenhell, told MetalTalk, “is a diverse mix of acts that we feel have an international potential. Maybe not on day one, but down the road. Then we try to select as many different genres as we can under the heavy umbrella.”
In his role, Nissen has seen trends and patterns change over time. “The style of Gutteral Disgorge was pretty stunning,” he said. “They are really young, and their use of samples and general approach to the genre brings some freshness to the table.”
For Juan Ortiz de Zaldumbide, owner of That Music Agency, When Copenhell Freezes Over has become an essential part of his journey as an agent. “When I moved from Colombia to Malmö seven years ago, I quickly became fascinated by the energy and untapped potential of Nordic, and especially, Danish bands,” he told us.
“In 2022, just as I was launching That Music Agency, a booking and consulting agency connecting the European and Latin American music industries, I was invited to attend WCFO for the first time. That event led to my first Danish booking: Konvent, a band I saw at Copenhell and whose agent I met at WCFO.
“The result? They played Rock al Parque in my hometown of Bogotá to an audience of 80,000 people. In 2024, I booked Afsky for the same slot at the same festival, marking two consecutive years of bringing Danish Metal to Latin America.
“Beyond bookings, WCFO has helped me build invaluable industry relationships and even expand the exchange of talent between Europe and Latin America. In 2024, I curated the European Talent Buyers delegation for the Bogotá Music Market (BOmm), inviting Copenhell
as a guest.
“That connection led to the first-ever Colombian band, Syracusae, being booked to perform at Copenhell in 2025. This growing collaboration has solidified WCFO as a key platform for bridging these two vibrant music markets.”
Copenhell Festival 2025
This is not a competition but a showcase. MetalTalk spoke to each of Guttural Disgorge, 802, Gradience, Kōya, Vulvatorious, and LIVLØS in an article to follow, but we did wonder if there was something that the hosts were particularly looking for or if anyone, for them, were a standout.
“This year, I was eager to discover new bands,” Juan Ortiz de Zaldumbide said. “Five out of the six on the lineup were completely new to me. But equally important was the networking aspect. WCFO is the perfect space to connect with industry colleagues, strengthen relationships, and get business done.
“Guttural Disgorge delivered an intensely brutal set. It was only their third-ever live show, making it even more exciting to witness their early potential. 802 had been on my radar since last year, and their performance exceeded expectations. Their unique sound, stage presence, and overall energy made a lasting impression. I have no doubt that doors will open for them after this show.
“Livløs had been on my must-see list for a while, and their experience was evident in their performance. A great choice to close the event. I was glad to see Kōya again, my third time in under a year. I first saw them when I was on the international jury for the Wacken Metal Battle Denmark and then at Mono Goes Metal in Aarhus. They took the stage in Copenhagen on a much bigger scale, and it was amazing to see their rapid growth in such a short time. Plus, they’re great guys!
“Both Vulvatorius and Gradience commanded the stage with powerful, intense presence. Though each operated within their own distinct musical realm, at times feeling worlds apart, they remained connected through the sheer force of their vocalists, whose raw energy raged over a relentless, heavy sonic backdrop.
“Overall, all these bands have great potential abroad, and when the time is right, I would love to help make it happen.”
For Jeppe Nissen, there were also times when his heart rate was jumping. “My personal overdrive moments were Gutteral Disgorge, Vulvatorious and Koya,” he smiles. “Total hammer time! I think it was one of the best editions of WCFO. We moved the event into the large room, and that really worked out well.
“And the lineup was a great mix of the talent that is in the Danish scene at the moment. The future looks bright!”
Juan Ortiz de Zaldumbide says his true highlight is the atmosphere. “That’s what makes my heart rate go into overdrive every time I am there,” he says. “The people behind it, the international and local delegates, the informal hangs with the bands, everything about the event
fosters connection and discovery and the overall vibe is just great.
“And beyond that, there’s a special feeling in seeing new bands for the first time and experiencing that rare moment when something truly fresh and exciting clicks.
“A standout moment is always the hours after the event when I talk with colleagues and hear, ‘I need to book this band for my festival next
year,’ or ‘I’m offering them a booking or a record deal.’
“I have seen this happening at WCFO, year after year. It’s a place where real opportunities are created, both for the bands and for the industry people. It works!”
And on that note, let me tell you what really happened when Denmark’s most promising Metal bands took total centre stage. And control!
You see, when Guttural Disgorge, 802, Gradience, Kōya, Vulvatorious and LIVLØS all came together for that one significant night when Copenhell froze over, Vega and I witnessed something truly extraordinary.
These rising, metallic, sharp-edged stars aligned so perfectly on Copenhagen’s cracking, cold Winter sky. And they shone like the Sun on fire.
Look up and watch that space. These stars are going to shine unfadingly through the darkest of seasons.
Coming up, MetalTalk presents a focus on each of the six bands that played When Copenhell Freezes Over.
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What Happened The Night Copenhell Froze Over? first appeared on
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