The extreme metal festival marks its first decade this year with a line-up that sees some of Malta’s biggest names come together with newer acts for a celebration of metal. Festival founder Edward Tagliaferro shares some thoughts with Ramona Depares.
What is the concept behind the festival?
Xtreme Metal Assault exists mainly to showcase local talent in the vein of Xtreme Metal, better known as heavy metal. It brings together bands showcasing various styles within one event.
And how was the idea born?
Back in 2007, a similar event got cancelled and I ended up doing the first edition myself at a time when it was the only similar event of the year in this style of music.
How you have seen it grow through the years?
The scene is what it is, in the sense that you will not see a large increase in attendees over the years. However, some people will miss a year while some new faces will attend another, so the positive thing is that we have remained constant and strong through the years.
What are the biggest challenges to organise it?
In a nutshell, bringing it all together. On some occasions it was a nightmare finding an appropriate venue and on others you get an inexplicable 15 per cent attendance drop. Finding the courage to start again is also challenging.
This is the 10th anniversary – are there any special surprises planned?
I did try to bring over a foreign band or a locally-born band that is now playing only abroad. However, there are now many other events that include foreign bands so I thought to keep it to the traditional XMA formula with local bands.
This is the first time we are using this particular venue, though, and it’s also the first time we have a roof on our heads, meaning that we start the first performances away from the glare of the sun.
The genre is quite niche – would you say there’s been an increase or a decrease in popularity? Or have things stayed stable?
Popularity is rather stable, but there has been a big increase in yearly events during the past year. So, as organisers, we can only hope that this will bring new interest and haul new people to these events.
How would you describe the Maltese metal scene nowadays?
There are over 20 active metal bands on our tiny island. Most of them have professional recordings and a nice number are now playing abroad often. The recent addition of two newer bands is also very positive, so, yeah, we are pretty much doing a good job in keeping the metal faith.
This year’s line-up
Decline the Fall
Five musicians who have merged into one style, the band has seen its fair share of changes in line-ups, and it was only towards 2015 that it upped the ante and took things to the next level. The first two singles were released at the end of the same year, and were fast followed by another. July 2016 saw the last change in line-up, with the addition of Matthew Mercieca bringing yet another complex style to the band to complement the dynamics between Ehren Fenech, Fabio Negro, Kris Farrugia and John Gatt. The root of the band’s music is Progressive/ Metalcore, but all members have their own particular influences, such as Melodic Death and good old Heavy Metal. The band is currently working on the launch of its debut album.
Align the Tide
Born in September 2015, when they hit the scene with debut single The Golden Throne, the band is made up of Kyle Farrugia on vocals/lead guitar, Alston Cacciatolo on rhythm guitar, Danny Dalli on drums and Gabriel Camilleri on bass guitar.
Rising Sunset
A female fronted Symphonic Gothic metal band that combines melodic metal harmonies with symphonic elements. Focusing on themes like spirituality and divinity, hope and personal struggles, and life and mythology, the band is made up of Christa Calamatta, Carlo Calamatta, Joseph Camilleri, Clifford Smith and Ian Spiteri. With every new album, the band prides itself on pushing the boundaries by reinventing their distinctive style, with nothing stopping it despite having to face various line-up changes.
Repugnance
The self-described brutal death metal band was formed in late 2011 by all the current members of the band. Early in 2014 the band was signed to Anopsys Records and released its first EP, Seeds of Oppression, to much positive response both locally and overseas. The band played its first overseas shows in the UK three days later, followed by festival appearances in Austria and Italy. Since then, Repugnance has toured extensively and was recently signed to Rising Nemesis Records.
Angelcrypt
Way back in 1997, Angelcrypt was born when founder Shawn Mizzi, together with his former band mates at that time, had the idea of developing a new style of metal mixing power melodies together with the aggressiveness of thrash. Throughout the years, the musical style evolved into the band’s music today – a blend of old school thrash/death with groovy riffs, power melodies and in-your-face crushing vocals. With a loyal fan base, Angelcrypt has taken part in the main festivals on the island and self-released a number of albums.
Fallen Icon
This band juxtaposes ancient mythology and Near Eastern history and cults with the experiences of personal internal conflicts. Fallen Icon songs feature heavy riffs that experiment on the combination of grooves and all-out trash beats combined with harsh growls. Since its inception in 2011, the band members have experimented within their musical scope with roots implanted in the story of the song.
Anima Mortua
Influenced by various styles such as thrash metal, power metal and speed metal, Anima Mortua was formed in 2015 by ex-Relicuia members Juan Xerri (vocals), Clayton Cini (guitars, also Thy Legion drummer) and Josef Bray (drums). Rounding out the line-up with Steve Azzopardi on bass and, eventually, guitarist Emanuel Portelli from Victims of Creation, the band quickly found its own style, incorporating melody in the guitars and topping it off with powerful melodic vocals.
12th ode
In 2010, 12th Ode started off as a classic rock band, but gradually shifted from covering classic hits to issuing original material. With a sound that got progressively heavier, the band has been a staple presence on most of Malta’s metal festivals and released its debut full-length album, The Awakening, in 2015.
Saħħar
A one-man Black Metal band since 2006, with Marton Saliba being the name behind the concept. Citing metal, ambient music and drone as his influences, Saħħar has released seven recordings, described as anthologies, with each anthology representing a specific theme and each having its own particular sound. His first live performance happened in 2015 to mark the release of the eighth recording, Kruha u Kefrija.
Loathe
Known as a heavyweight among the metal bands, Loathe has played a number of legendary gigs, including two headlining Malta’s main metal festivals. On the live circuit, Loathe is a constant presence and the band has criss-crossed the UK many times over, sharing stages with bands such as Evile, Detonation, Sabbat, K.O.Kaine and others. The band is made up of David Fenech, Karl Cachia, Kurt Pace, Mark Debono and Max Vassallo.
Insurgence
Formed by Daniel Buhagiar, James Spiteri and Jolen Galea in June 2006, the band debuted in 2007 with then vocalist Leo Busuttil and keyboardist Nathan Gatt. After a string of promising performances the band went through a few line-up changes as the band’s music and stage performances grew in intensity. The band is today made up of the original three members and Cliff Falzon on vocals. After a long absence on the scene, the band recently released a new single, Heart of Gold, in memory of former bandmate Matthew Azzopardi, who passed away earlier this year.
Abysmal Torment
In true metal fashion, the band emerged as a violent death metal bullet destined to spread ear-crushing brutality. Abysmal Torment hit the stage for the first time in 2002, relying on speed stimulated tempos, breakdowns, technical riffing and a dual assault of varying gurgling vocals. A glance at the lyrical content illustrates that there is no ordinary gory mentality at work here and the knowledgeable treatment of the subject matters add more depth to the Abysmal Torment mix.
Martyrium
In the year 2000 MartYriuM bestowed an arsenal of authentic tracks at a local venue, introducing the black metal genre to the Maltese metal scene, summoning a captivating response for its controversial nature. The following year, the first album, Withering in Voluptuous Embrace, was recorded in Temple Studios. Last year, the band signed with Art Gates Records and released its fourth full-length album, Destiny Wore A Bondage Mask. Martyrium was also behind the launch of last year’s Voices of the Succubi, which saw two extreme metal festivals taking place in Malta and bringing together local and foreign acts.
Xtreme Metal Assault takes place on Saturday, from 5pm onwards, at The Warehouse, Żurrieq.