Sepulchral sounds _{by Alessia Belsito-Riera}

Unrelenting volume and total sonic punishment are about to be unleashed on Valhalla. On Saturday the 7^th of March, Merciless Deathfest II rises from its sepulchre after a brutal first strike to deliver an unforgiving metal ritual.

Featuring black metal, death metal, heavy metal, metallic hardcore, and traditional metal colliding in one action-packed punch, the programme is “all killer, no filler”, organiser and drummer Steve Francis says.

“The goal of Merciless Deathfest is to put together a diverse lineup of bands who all bring something a little different to the show. As a keen gig attendee myself, I enjoy shows where the bands are not all sounding the same. All the great festivals in Europe have many genres covered.”

Wellington black metal whirlwind band Windswept, with whom Francis plays drums, has a debut album incoming – playing all their original bangers plus new ones. Wolfshead is traditional heavy metal rebellion forged in Auckland and fuelled by old-school spirit and raw power. Standover is aggressive, with a dark metallic hardcore sound built for haunting. Pagan death metal band Jörmungandr from the wind-battered reaches of Wellington is defined by blackened, thrashy riffs and epic mythic storytelling that’s sinister and unmissable. Wellington death grind institution Slave Grinder says only one thing: prepare for the pit.

“Metal fans are all in. It's not like something they like in passing or listen to occasionally,” Francis says. “They live and breathe the music”.

Merciless Deathfest II will be nothing short of death defying.