Alcatraz Line up: 2022

In recent years few bands have made such a lasting impression on us as the Ukrainian combo 1914. As the band name suggests, these guys share a fascination for the Great War. In his home country frontman Dmytro Kumar is a war archaeology expert and with 1914 he managed to combine this with his other passion: extreme metal. The result is a recipe for success because 1914’s explosive mix of death, black and doom is almost as intensive as the artillery barrages around the Ypres Salient, the scene of some of the fiercest fighting in WWI. Still, 1914 doesn’t always play at Howitzer grenade speed because their music is dotted with slower passages and doom interludes that enhance the impact of the full-throttle attacks. 1914 is an all-in package because the visual aspect of their shows is as gripping as the music. They take to the stage dressed in uniforms of the various warring countries (they don’t take sides) and chilling war images are projected in the background. Also, we’re expecting spectacular visuals for Alcatraz because there are few places where the Great War took a heavier toll than in the Westhoek. The erstwhile battlefields are just a stone’s throw away...