by:Larm Black is finally back

by:Larm is a genre-crossing festival that aims to capture the pulse of trends and can be said to be an annual snapshot of the current and evolving music scene. From September 12th to 14th, the festival will take over venues in Oslo, Norway with Vulkan Arena and Pokalen showcasing a hot and fiery rock and metal scene featuring 14 bands that we will see much more of in the future.

Norwegian bands Aktiv Dödshjelp, Blomst, Cult Member, Deponi, Fights, Phantom Fire, ROSA FAENSKAP, Sylvaine, and The Cruel Intentions (SE/NO), along with international bands Hér (PL), Allt (SE), Eradikated (SE), SNAYX (UK), and SYL (DK), are ready to take the stage under the by:Larm Black banner.

When booking manager Joakim Haugland claimed back in 2016 that traditional guitar rock seemed to be absent from the new Norwegian music scene, it sparked a controversy. The debate was also featured in the conference program that year, asking the question: Is rock dead?

As the 2024 edition is presented, it’s clear that the genres again are popular, with bands that the festival believes will headline stages in the years to come.

- "We see a clear trend where fuzz and heavier genres are once again taking a more central place in the commercial soundscape, something that naturally warms the hearts of those of us with deep roots in rock and metal. With the much-anticipated comeback of by:Larm Black, we wanted to reflect the entire spectrum of these genres. This year's program is a testiment of that, with everything from Sylvaine's atmospheric and dualistic soundscape, through the energetic crossover punk of Fights, to the hard-hitting progressive metalcore of Allt," says Celine Høie of Indie Recordings, who is responsible for booking and is the project manager for this year's Black program.

- "We have managed to gather both niche and more commercial artists, thanks to collaboration with our fantastic partner festivals. It is a great pleasure to present 14 amazing acts that represent the best of the Norwegian underground, like Tromsø's own Cult Member, and exciting names from abroad like the British SNAYX and Danish SYL. The audience can expect everything from lightning thrash to deep post-metal, with a clear focus on diversity in genres, age, demographics, and gender. Vulkan and Pokalen will definitely explode with energy this year!"

Initiatives are born at by:Larm

When by:Larm Black takes the stage again this year, it will be for the eighth time. After the controversy in 2016, Erlend Gjerde from Indie Recordings reached out to by:Larm, and during an intense planning period, they presented a full program of both live performances and conferences that attracted much of the leading metal industry in Europe.

By:Larm Black Thursday is presented with: Summer Breeze Open Air (DE) and Midgardsblot (NO)

By:Larm Black Friday is presented with: Viva Sounds (SE) and Beyond the Gates (NO)

By:Larm Black Saturday is presented with: Mystic Festival (PL) and Buktafestivalen (NO)