As the civilized world dithers over whether to open back up and suffer some ‘rona casualties or stay closed for a prolonged sequel to the Great Depression, business including the music business goes on where it can, even if it must be done from home, which is where you can stream Voivod, Borknagar, Insomnium and a bunch of random bands on May 14th.

Century Media had its bands record live sets from their practice spaces, probably while practicing “social distancing,” and will stream all of them in sequence like you were at a real festival, except that you are going to be watching on your phone, at your desk, or from your living room. This should be an interesting experiment.

Streaming from the Century Media YouTube channel, Isolation Festival 2020 will feature the following bands:

• Angelus Apatrida (Spain, Thrash Metal)
• Baest (Denmark, Death Metal)
• Bonded (Germany, Thrash Metal)
• Borknagar (Norway, Avantgarde Black Metal)
• Dead Lord (Sweden, Hard Rock)
• Deserted Fear (Germany, Death Metal)
• Hideous Divinity (Italy, Death Metal)
• Insomnium (Finland, Melodic Death Metal)
• Lucifer (Sweden, Heavy Rock)
• Omnium Gatherum (Finland, Melodic Death Metal)
• Svart Crown (France, Death/Black Metal)
• The Offering (USA, Progressive Metal)
• Voivod (Canada, Progressive Sci-Fi Metal)

The label issued the following statement:

Century Media Records, in cooperation with EMP, proudly present the ISOLATION FESTIVAL. The Century Media ISOLATION FESTIVAL is a free online festival that will be hosted on Century Media’s YouTube channel on May 14th, 2020. The stream will begin at 8pm CET / 2pm EST / 11am PST and is going to be available online for 24 hours.

Even though there is no way to fully replace a real live experience, Century Media and EMP would like to bring at least a kind of similar festival atmosphere to everyone’s living room. Therefore, the label is happy to host the ISOLATION FESTIVAL together with thirteen Century Media Records artists from all over the world, who recorded and filmed exclusive sets to premiere during the event!

In times where most of us are isolated at home, a festival breaks us free, gives us hope and, most importantly, shows us that the music we love is still out there. We cannot bring you a full festival experience right now, but who said you can’t build up a tent in your living room, enjoy canned ravioli and cheap warm beer indoors?

Tags: century media, isolation festival, Voivod