Prophecy Fest in the Balve Cave – Recap Day 1

 


PROPHECY FEST
in the
Balve Cave
–
Recap
Day 1
 
PROPHECY FEST logo

Yesterday, Friday, 12 September 2025, Prophecy Fest switched into full gear with the regular programme in the Balve Cave. 

The weather held out, cool but dry, so no complaints at all. KALL opened the main stage right on time. The Swedish depressive black metal stalwarts filled the cave right away and met the high expectations of the audience with a confident performance. On the side stage, the depressive mood continued, with the tongue-in-cheek HANGOVER IN MINSK – an offshoot of DYMNA LOTVA. With ANTIMATTER, the music remained dark, but the regulars from northern England still rocked the mood up nicely. Their compatriots DARKHER proved once again how beautiful darkness can be. This duo features drums and the exceptional frontwoman Jayn singing and playing guitar. After this stunning performance, their T-shirts sold like hot cakes. At the back of the cave, AUTUMBLAZE entered the ring. The German dark metal veterans were loudly celebrated by a knowledgeable audience for both their performances. The party continued with THE VISION BLEAK and their 20 Years of "Carpathia" album show turning out to be as eerily beautiful as it was enthusiastically intoxicating. The good vibes remained high. MYRKUR conjured up atmospheric Nordic ambient magic in the cave, which seems tailor-made for frontwoman Amelie Bruun's dark gaze. The performance of the Danes received a standing ovation, as did the following performance from ENSLAVED. For the Norwegian black metal legends, as well as for the reverent audience, it was an evening filled with premieres. The cult EP "Hordanes Land" was performed in its entirety for the first time, and the epic track 'Balfǫr' had previouslz only been played in Norway. Allfather Odin clearly looked down benevolently on the proceedings, as ENSLAVED delivered an all-round perfect and widely celebrated concert.

Festival founder Martin Koller commented: "As with every festival, there is sometimes a need for improvisation behind the scenes, but on stage, everything started on time and we stayed on schedule. We witnessed fantastic shows in the cave, and this special venue once again inspired the bands to perform at their very best. We are confident that the proceedings will continue like this today. We wish all guests a wonderful festival and tons of fun today!" 

Unfortunately, meteorologists have forecast showers and repeated rain for today. Thunderstorms are also possible tonight. If a thunderstorm rolls in, all campers will be required to take shelter in either their cars or the cave, which will be opened in case of such a weather scenario.

Exclusively for this year's visitors, advance tickets for Prophecy Fest 2026 in the Balve Cave are are already available for preorder.
 
ENSLAVED by Carsten Brand
MYRKUR by Carsten Brand
DARKHER by Carsten Brand
ANTIMATTER by Carsten Brand
Prophecy Fest has already announced the date as well as the first bands for the 2026 edition in the Balve Cave. Prophecy Fest 2026 will begin on Thursday, September 3, and the last performance will start shortly before midnight on Saturday, September 5. The price for the 3-Day Passes remains unchanged at €149 (plus service fees).

The 3-Day Passes for Prophecy Fest 2026 will be available in our online Ticket-Shop starting on Sunday,  September 14, 2025 at 00:01 CEST.

Guests of Prophecy Fest will be able to purchase 3-Day Passes for 2026 in advance of this exclusively at the official merchandise stand during this year's event in advance.

The first bands announced for the 2026 edition are legendary Norwegian doom act THE 3RD AND THE MORTAL performing "Sorrow" and "Tears Laid in Earth" with the returning original singer Kari Rueslåtten! Swedish gothic metal veterans TIAMAT will be offering their beloved breakthrough album "Wildhoney" (1994) in full at the cave. Prophecy Fest fan favourites EMPYRIUM will celebrate 30 years of "A Wintersunset..." (1996) live on stage and mastermind Markus Stock is also going to add a set with his ambient black metal band SUN OF THE SLEEPLESS to his tasks for next year. SECRETS OF THE MOON are reuniting with drummer Thelemnar and bass player Daevas for a 20 years anniversary show of "Antithesis" (2006), which is rightfully ranked among the most important German black metal albums. And last in this list but never least, Italian neoclassic ensemble CAMERATA MEDIOLANENSE have heeded the many requests for their return to the cave for a surely most memorable concert. Furthermore DORNENREICH will come back to Balve to make good for the inevitably cancelled metal show this year.

Please find further details about location, travel, and ticket options below.

Facebook Event: https://fb.me/e/9VItpdvxH
Prophecy Fest will bring dark, forward thinking music with an attitude to one of the world's most fascinating cultural locations, the legendary, natural Balve Cave ("Balver Höhle") again.

The three day event in 2026 will begin on Thursday, September 3 and it will conclude with a final concert starting before midnight on Saturday, September 5.

These acts have been confirmed (in alphabetical order): THE 3RD AND THE MORTAL, CAMERATA MEDIOLANENSE, DORNENREICH, EMPYRIUM, SECRETS OF THE MOON, SUN OF THE SLEEPLESS, TIAMAT.

These special shows have been announced: THE 3RD AND THE MORTAL performing "Sorrow" and "Tears Laid in Earth". TIAMAT "Wildhoney" show. EMPYRIUM celebrate 30 years of "A Wintersunset...". SECRETS OF THE MOON reunite for 20 years of "Antithesis" (2006). DORNENREICH metal show.
 
 
TICKETS 2026

3-Day-Pass 149 Euro + 10% service charge
 
Comfort supplement 75 Euro + 10% service charge
LOCATION & TRAVEL

Prophecy Fest was founded in 2015 and sold out its first edition. This singular event for dark and innovative music takes place in the Balver Kulturhöhle ("Balve culture cave") in the Hönnetal ("Valley of Hönne") near the town of Balve in the Sauerland region of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

The naturally formed karst cave has been used by humans since the early Stone Age (palaeolithic). This important archaeological site has yielded remains from many periods through the ages until medieval times. According to Germanic legend transmitted through the old Icelandic Thidreksaga, the mythical blacksmith Wayland came to this cave to learn his magical craft from the dwarven masters that were dwelling there.

The gravity of its history and the special acoustics of the Balver Cave provide a unique atmosphere that perfectly echoes the musical spirit of Prophecy Fest.

For detailed information about accommodation, travel, & parking, please consult the Prophecy Festival page: https://fest.prophecy.de

The page will be updated regularly towards the festival.

The first confirmed bands:
When THE 3RD AND THE MORTAL emerged as a doom metal band from Trondheim with their debut EP "Sorrow" in 1994, few would have guessed that singer Kari Rueslåtten was bound to become a major source of inspiration for such acts as NIGHTWISH and WITHIN TEMPTATION among many others. Next year, the reunited legends will give their debut concert in the cave. 
Sweden's TIAMAT started out as a death metal act but successfully changed direction with the release of the defining fourth album "Wildhoney" in 1994. With a more gothic sound and the captivating clear and warm vocals of frontman and mastermind Johan Edlund, the Swedes attracted masses of new fans and scored high praise and critical acclaim. You will get to hear this classic album in Balve!
As a given, Markus Stock will perform at Prophecy Fest with one or more of his bands. Next year, EMPYRIUM, the raison d'être for the existence of Prophecy Productions, will celebrate 30 Years of "A Wintersunset...". This masterpiece will be performed in full. Fans from across the globe will not want to miss this exclusive performance at the Balve Cave.
Talking about hotly wished-for anniversary shows, "Antithesis" (2006), the third album from SECRETS OF THE MOON, is still regarded by many as an important milestone of the German black metal scene. The band will reunite in a classic line-up to perform this masterpiece from start to finish at Prophecy Fest 2026. This will be a show absolutely not to be missed at next year's edition of the fest.
DORNENREICH were forced to postpone their planned exclusive metal show this year due to serious medical issues. But fear not, the Austrian band formed by frontman Eviga and ex-member Valnes in 1996 has every intention to triumphantly return to the cave in 2026. Originally inspired by melodic black metal, they had embraced a wider stylistic horizon by including acoustic elements.
SUN OF THE SLEEPLESS began their existence as an ambient/black metal act with the EP "Poems to the Wretches Hearts" in 1999, but already with the next release, the "Tausend kalte Winter" EP in 2000, the project founded by Markus Stock changed the style toward a more experimental approach including electronic elements for example. The show of this rare live treat should also not be missed.
Trying to fit every member of the multi-headed neoclassical ensemble CAMERATA MEDIOLANENSE into a small square image is bound to fail. On the plus side, the Italians will return to amaze their audience at the cave once again with the critically acclaimed current album "Atalanta Fugiens" in their luggage. Expect a huge cast of musicians on stage and pure musical alchemy to be presented!
About Prophecy Fest
Prophecy Fest was founded in 2015 by Martin Koller as a live event based upon the spirit and bands from the label Prophecy Productions. His declared aim was to offer friends and community that had evolved around the label a fest in the vein of a "family gathering". This singular event for dark and innovative music has mostly taken place in the Balver Kulturhöhle ("Balve culture cave") in the Hönnetal ("Valley of Hönne") near the town of Balve in the Sauerland region of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. One edition was held in the USA. Already the first edition in Balve was sold out.
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