Maryland Deathfest 2014
HUGE photo essay!
Part One

Text and Photos: Adam Murray

I know what you’re thinking – “This was like, over a week ago.”

There’s a lot of coverage of MDF out there, lots of pictures out there, lotta content. If you didn’t go, but have been keeping up on the internet, you know about and have seen more of this fest than anyone who was there in person did. Well, this is more coverage. I’m writing it right now, and you’re reading it. You may find it different from the rest. Maybe you won’t.

Before the sun had even set on Day One, my camera seized up, and there was no bringing it back, at least not in Baltimore. The local camera repair shop said I could bring it in on Tuesday, when I would already be back home. So I had to swallow my disdain for mobile phone concert photography and shoot the entire rest of the weekend on my mobile phone. So be it, nothing I could do. I will admit that I came ill prepared. My phone was more or less loaded to the gills, and I ended up deleting every app that I didn’t absolutely need, as well as a sweet Saint Vitus video that never made it’s way onto youtube, plus countless other pictures (lotta mid-set editing going on, always fun), all to make more room for more pictures. I could’ve been bummed about the temporary demise of my cammy cam, my right-hand dogg, who has been with me, attached to my hand like a hand itself, to document the last eight years of blood sweat n beers, but I was having too good of a time at this super excellent festival for it to even phase me!

To start, MDF’s lineup is always enough to stoke the feathers of any member of the hessian race, this year being no exception. Each and every band is capable of headlining their own tour, which many of them do, but a good two thirds of the bands selected pretty much never play the U.S., and some of them have actually NEVER played the U.S., and may not ever again. So that alone is worth congratulating.

The fact that they managed to pull off near-seamless interludes between alternating stages is even more impressive. Sure, that is the idea for multiple stage festivals, but let’s be honest – rarely does it actually happen. In addition to that, security were helpful, protective, and visibly enjoying themselves. Like big doting bears, they would lift crowdsurfers from the mire, cradling them to safety, patting them on the back, “now go, get back out there ya little scamp!”

Normally I would do a rundown of highlights (Nocturno Culto awkwardly fiddling with his camera phone on stage when he should be doing anything else; finally seeing Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats and hearing their sweet notes ring out over the crowd as the sun made it’s descent toward the horizon, Baltimore sitting in the background, giant curls of weed smoke snaking through the crowd; taking a bruising during Asphyx; At The Gates, Dark Angel, Tankard, Sacrifice, fucking Candlemass!), but I have to spare you all the details, I’ve already taken up too much real estate as it is, and there are plenty of places to read all about it, as I’m sure you already have. You must know that every band turned in greatly memorable performances. There was such a high bar set from the get-go, and they all held it up there together (the bar being the festival itself, ya dingus).

Anyway, have a look, enjoy the pics. I do have to thank Aaron, Kim, and Mike, without whom I quite lit’rally would not have been able to go. And of course the LAMDF krew, and my dear Cvlt Family, who has stuck with me all this time, just like a family does!
<3 <3 <3

CASTEVET

MGLA

MGLA

MGLA

NECROS CHRISTOS

THE RUINS OF BEVERAST

TAAKE

TAAKE

TAAKE

TAAKE

CANCER

CANCER

CANCER

AGALLOCH

AT THE GATES

AT THE GATES

AT THE GATES

INCANTATION

INCANTATION