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Extreme is the way

XXVII Agglutination Metal Festival

Live report of the 27th Edition of the Lucanian Festival

CHIAROMONTE (PZ), Municipal stadium - 12/08/2023

In memory of Eric Ivone

Here we are again, proud and punctual at Italy’s longest-running metal festival. The 27th edition of Agglutination, officially confirmed in April, faced its fair share of challenges along the way.

Originally, eight bands were scheduled, with that ever-present “T.B.A.” on the poster that remained unchanged until just a few weeks before the event, only to be removed without replacement. On paper, this sounded like a negative sign, hinting at a potentially underwhelming festival with limited attendance. But looking at the rest of the lineup, it was clear that things would turn out differently.

Once again, festival organizer Gerardo Cafaro proved his foresight by crafting an infallible formula, assembling a lineup that spans nearly every subgenre of metal and featuring some of the best acts in each. At the top of the bill were the Carcass, hitting the festival stage for the second time, after headlining Luppolo in Rock and Rock in Roma, flanked by two exceptional guests: the depressive black metal stalwarts Nocturnal Depression, active since 2004, and the seasoned NWOBHM exponents Sacrilege, who, after years of inactivity, proved themselves worthy representatives of their movement.

The rest of the lineup was entirely Italian, encompassing bands with different genres and attitudes that together completed the festival’s atmosphere. From the punk energy of Plakkaggio to the destructive thrash of Xenos A.D., to the classic heavy tones of Essenza and the technical, complex modernity of Coexistence, every facet of metal was represented.

The festival returned to Chiaromonte, held in the now-traditional middle school field, which welcomes the growing throngs of metalheads from all over Italy, ready to deliver an experience that exceeds expectations.

COEXISTENCE

At 5 PM, the August heat bears down on Chiaromonte as the first crowd gathers at the gates. The layout remains the same: merch and vendor stands to the right, food and drink to the left, audience space in the center, and the stage at the far end. After final preparations, the festival officially kicks off with Coexistence. The band from Siena, tasked with opening the festival, succeeds brilliantly despite the still-sparse audience. In their short set, they captivate attendees with tracks from their debut full-length Collateral Dimension, delivering progressive death metal reminiscent of Cynic, Atheist, and Beyond Creation. The only real drawback was the limited set time, but it was enough to showcase one of the most promising acts in the Italian underground scene.
 

SETLIST COXISTENCE:

Collateral Dimension
Eclipse
Detach From the Abyss
Floating in the Celestial Wave

ESSENZA

The festival quickly shifts gears, taking us on a journey to the past. Essenza, with over thirty years of history in the Italian scene, continues to deliver classic heavy metal with undeniable charisma. Their setlist speaks for itself: The Song Inside is a true gem for nostalgic fans, while Edge Of Collapsed World channels the Bay Area sound of old. Their performance flows seamlessly, winning over a steadily growing audience and culminating in a triumphant exit.
 

SETLIST ALGEBRA:

Devil’s Breath 
Rock’n’Roll Blood 
The Song Inside 
Edge of Collapsed World 
Dance of Liars

XENOS A.D.

The heat persists, amplified by the incendiary presence of Xenos A.D. Hailing from Sicily, the trio is known for their destructive, hellish thrash, which they unleash fully on stage. Tracks like The Healer and So Old, So Cold, along with a cover of Megadeth’s Holy Wars, electrify the crowd. Their impact is so strong that a repeat is requested, but time is short. Nevertheless, they leave the stage having delivered the explosive jolt the festival needed.
 

SETLIST XENOS AD:

Intro
The Healer
So Old, So Cold
The Dawn of Ares
Filthgrinder
Holy Wars (Megadeth cover)
Interceptor

PLAKKAGGIO

As the sun sets, the stage darkens, creating the perfect atmosphere for Plakkaggio. Expectations for the Colleferro band are sky-high, as they are the only act leaning toward Oi! punk. And they don’t disappoint. Frontman Gabriele Calvano (vocals/guitar) immediately engages the audience alongside Francesco Fiacchi (bass) and Valerio Marziali (guitar), sparking a continuous moshpit with tracks from Verso La Vetta (2022) and Ziggurath (2015). From the celebratory anthem Colleferro to their cover of 883’s Rivolta, the crowd never stops moving or shouting. The band delivers a performance that will go down in festival history for its energy and playful irreverence.
 

SETLIST PLAKKAGGIO:

NWOBHMOi!
Palaeoloxodon 
Colleferro
Verso la vetta 
Missione disagio 
Birra in lattina 
Ziggurath 
Leggenda
BPD
Rivolta 
Granito
I nostri anni

SACRILEGE

By 8:15 PM, night falls, setting the stage for Sacrilege. Active since 1982, the Gillingham veterans remained largely in the shadows until their late-debut full-length in 2011. However, their NWOBHM roots shine through in every song. Tracks like In Hell, with a Sabbath-inspired vibe, and Rock ‘n’ Roll with the Devil transport the audience back 40 years. The crowd is fully focused on the trio, especially drummer Neil Turnbull, who wears masks corresponding to each song’s lyrics. Their set concludes appropriately with Welcome To The Dragon’s Den, leaving a satisfied audience eagerly awaiting the festival’s final acts.
 

SETLIST SACRILEGE:

Pandemonium
Sanctuary
The Court of the Insane
Cry of the Night 
Ashes to Ashes 
Bring Out Your Dead 
In Hell
Rock ‘n’ Roll with The Devil
Lies
The Dragon’s Den

NOCTURNAL DEPRESSION

With a now sizable crowd, the evening reaches its crucial moment: Nocturnal Depression. Stylistically distinct from the rest of the lineup, their depressive black metal seems worlds apart from thrash, death, or classic heavy. Yet experience and skill bridge that gap. Half the band comprises masterminds Lord Lokhraed and Sattvahr, with the rest consisting of Forgotten Tomb members Algol Comerio (bass) and Asher Rossi (drums). Against a backdrop of medieval Florence dominated by death, they open with Tides of Despair, immediately setting a dark, captivating mood. From Spleen Black Metal (2015), they perform Acédie and Spring, followed by Nostalgia, a slow, melancholic piece that pierces the audience’s hearts. Despite injuries and physical limitations, Lord Lokhraed performs flawlessly, apologizing in perfect Italian for not playing “well enough”—though the reality is that the performance is impeccable, making this set one of the festival’s most impressive.
 

SETLIST NOCTURNAL DEPRESSION:

Tides of Despair 
Acédie 
Spring
Nostalgia
When my Time has Come to Die
Her Ghost Haunts These Walls
Dead Children

CARCASS

Finally, the festival’s climax arrives: Carcass, the headliners everyone came to see. Though they’ve played Agglutination before, anticipation remains sky-high. From the first note of Buried Dreams (from the masterpiece Heartwork), the crowd erupts. Jeff Walker commands the audience with his iconic stage presence, while Bill Steer delivers top-tier riffs and arrangements, particularly on Incarnated Solvent Abuse from Necroticism – Descanting the Insalubrious. The band controls the stage from start to finish, leaving no room for boredom and escalating intensity with tracks like Death Certificate, Ruptured in Purulence, and the Black Star / Keep Rotting in the Free World combo. There are no lulls, no weak moments; everything is executed flawlessly. When the audience calls for an encore, Carcass delivers with Exhume to Consume, Tools of the Trade, and 316L Grade Surgical Steel, closing their set with a perfect finale and leaving fans thoroughly satisfied.
 

SETLIST CARCASS:

Buried Dreams
Kelly’s Meat Emporium 
Incarnated Solvent Abuse
Under the Scalpel Blade 
Mortal Coil 
Tomorrow Belong to Nobody
Death Certificate
Dance of Ixtab 
Black Star 
Keep Rotting in the Free World 
The Scythe’s Remorsless Swing 
Corporal Jigsore Quandary
Ruptured in Purulence
Exhume to Consume
Tools of the Trade
316L Grade Surgical Steel

WRAPPING UP

Another memorable day comes to a close, marking an edition that, despite initial underestimation, proved to be a resounding success. As noted at the start, the premises weren’t ideal, yet the organization once again exceeded expectations in management, sound, services, and band selection. The classic formula of mixing genres remained victorious, and the lineup—headliners and supporting acts alike—showcased the undeniable talent thriving within the Italian underground metal scene. Attendance numbers are hard to quantify (certainly more than last year), but the atmosphere remained consistent: familiar, peaceful, and fun, made up of people who feel metal in their very core. Who will appear on stage at Agglutination 2024 remains unknown, and whether the festival will continue is still uncertain. Yet we remain confident in Gerardo Cafaro’s dedication and skill, which have consistently maintained one of Italy’s most beautiful and long-standing musical institutions.

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