The inaugural Pyre Fest took place in Portland, Oregon, in November, leaving a lasting impression on attendees and performers. Spearheaded by Glashote’s Chad Johnson, the fest sought to provide a much-needed chance to join and celebrate the remarkable underground metal scene in Portland and the Pacific Northwest. For its first year, the festival showcased an impressive lineup of local and regional bands, leaning heavily, though not exclusively, into doom metal and related genres like sludge, death-doom, and atmospheric blackened doom. Spread across two venues with a pre-party to warm things up, Pyre Fest delivered an intense, immersive experience that was both musically diverse and emotionally resonant.
The Pre-Party: Setting the Tone at Brujos
The festival’s pre-party at Brujos, a small but atmospheric venue, provided an intimate start to the weekend. The lineup featured four acts. Alum Occulta opened the festival with a high-energy set of Cascadian black metal, setting a furious tone for the evening. Their set was blistering, made more special by Markov Soroka (of Aureole and Tchornobog) filling in on bass. Unhallowed Earth provided a dynamic take on doom metal (somewhere between atmospheric sludge, doom, and post-metal). The band wove sprawling, emotional soundscapes blending post-rock, black metal, doom, sludge, and even some hardcore influences. A captivated audience focused on every note as if spellbound.
Aequorea displayed a different approach to blending doom with post-metal, providing an intense and extraordinary performance. Their ability to weave clean, melancholic passages with bursts of dissonant heaviness showcased their dynamic range. The pre-party closed with Ninth Moon Black, whose cinematic, instrumental doom enveloped the room. Their atmospheric soundscapes, punctuated by slow-building crescendos and crushing climaxes, created a fully immersive experience made only more powerful by visuals projected on the wall as they played. The crowd’s enthusiasm was palpable, and the band’s finale was a fitting capstone for an unforgettable evening.
Night 1: A Thunderous Assault at Twilight Cafe
Night 1 of Pyre Fest moved to the Twilight Cafe, a cozy yet vibrant venue perfect for the fest’s underground vibe. The stacked lineup contained diverse talent culminating in one of the most anticipated performances of the weekend. Asphalt kicked things off with their raw and aggressive take on sludgy death-doom metal. Their set was brimming with energy with massive riffs that seemed to shake the venue’s walls. Despite being the first act, they played with the confidence of seasoned headliners, and the audience responded with fervor.
Glasghote delivered a performance that epitomized sludge’s crushing heaviness but with some newer material emphasizing speed and ferocity. Their dense, riff-driven sound hit like a sledgehammer, and their stage presence was commanding. Their ability to transition seamlessly between plodding, slow grooves and bursts of chaotic intensity kept the crowd hooked. Great Falls followed with an experimental blend of noise rock, sludge, and post-metal, pushing the boundaries of what extreme music can be. Their performance was abrasive yet captivating, with moments of dissonant beauty and pure emotion shining through the chaos. The band’s use of unconventional rhythms and textures added a layer of complexity that stood out in an otherwise riff-centric night.
The evening’s closer, Mizmor, was nothing short of transcendent. A.L.N. and three comrades in sonic mastery (including Bell Witch’s Jesse Shreibman on drums) brought the one-man blackened doom project to life. Mizmor’s set felt like a ritual, with slow, mournful passages giving way to blackened fury. The emotional weight of the performance was almost overwhelming, as each song seemed to channel deep existential despair. The set consisted of material from Mizmor’s most recent release (Prosaic) as well as a compelling performance of “Desert of Absurdity” from Cairn and concluding with “Woe Regains My Substance” from Yodh. Mizmor’s set was a highlight not just of the night, but possibly the entire festival.
Night 2: A Grand Farewell
Night 2 carried a bittersweet undertone as it included the final performance by Portland doom legends Usnea. The evening’s lineup created a crescendo of intensity that built to an emotional farewell. Dispossessed opened the night with a dark, oppressive take on death doom. Their set was immersive, with layers of reverb-drenched guitars and haunting vocals creating a cavernous soundscape. They proved to be the perfect opener, pulling the audience into their shadowy world.
Oxide took the stage next, their instrumental post-metal delivering a sonic pummeling. The band’s relentless riffing and thunderous rhythm section energized the crowd, with several attendees visibly headbanging along. Oxide’s raw, unfiltered aggression coupled with an almost shoegaze quality at times was excellent. Reburied, hailing from Seattle, shifted the focus to bone-crunching death metal with a set that was both punishing and emotionally devastating. The band’s ability to evoke both despair and catharsis left a profound impact on the audience. Fronted by Chris Pinto (also in the band Fórn), this band created the most intense crowd action of the entire three-day experience.
Finally, it was time for Usnea’s swan song. The band, a cornerstone of Portland’s doom scene, gave a performance that was both celebratory and heartbreaking. Their sprawling compositions, filled with mournful melodies and crushing heaviness, served as a fitting farewell. The band played material from the entire discography. As their vocalist/guitarist Justin Cory put it, “We wanted to play a range of our favorite songs from our four albums.” A fully engaged crowd was visibly moved by the weight of the moment. Usnea’s final song, “Healing Through Death,” from the 2014 masterpiece Random Cosmic Violence, was a powerful sendoff, ending their decade-long journey on a high note.
Overall Impressions
For a first-year festival, Pyre Fest exceeded expectations. The event was well-organized, with each venue providing an intimate yet powerful atmosphere that perfectly suited the music. The diversity in the lineup demonstrated the breadth of heavy music in the Pacific Northwest, showcasing everything from sludge to funeral doom to experimental noise influences. Meanwhile, performances themselves were stellar across the board. Each band brought something unique, making every set feel essential. Special mention must be made of Mizmor and Usnea, whose performances captured the emotional essence of extreme metal in its purest form.
While the music was the centerpiece, the festival also fostered a strong sense of community. Conversations about gear, favorite bands, and the future of the underground metal scene flowed freely between sets, and the camaraderie among attendees was evident. The festival also served as a reminder of the vital role smaller, independent venues play in supporting underground music. Pyre Fest has laid a strong foundation for what could become a cornerstone event in the doom metal calendar. Its thoughtful curation, passionate performances, and intimate setting made for an unforgettable weekend that celebrated the power and beauty of heavy music. If this first year is any indication, Pyre Fest has a bright future ahead!
