Early August. With the loss of the one and only Ozzy Osbourne still heavy in our hearts, we arrived at SonicBlast to be greeted by a massive banner honoring none other than Black Sabbath. A dense fog, coming from the Atlantic Ocean just some meters away, settled in place. This misty ambience, usually reserved for the stage, was spread across the entire festival ground, involving every corner and every sound wave. For the four days of the festival, the sun peeked shyly, but the nebulous atmosphere refused to lift. The sounds and riffs rose through the smoke and haze, hair caught in motion, as circle pits formed and collapsed into chaos. Bodies moving, casting shadows, driven by the pulse of doom, stoner, post-punk, new wave, kraut, among other sonorities.

Of all the SonicBlast editions we’ve experienced, this one certainly felt the most eclectic to date. Having Molchat Doma headlining the festival assembly, by itself, reveals that this edition is solidifying what has been growing through the most recent editions: the stoner is the foundation, but SonicBlast is home for all kinds of sonorities without them ever feeling out of place. Who else to gather Witchcraft, Circle Jerks, Amenra, and Emma Ruth Rundle, in a festival, by the sea? Someone did, and we are here to show you how unforgettable it was. Take a look at our photo report: