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KEEP IT TRUE Festival

1 day ago

KEEP IT TRUE Festival
KEEP IT TRUE 2027: THE GODS OF THE SUNSET STRIP ARE COMING TO EUROPE!ODIN (USA) FIRST EVER EUROPEAN SHOW, ORIGINAL CLASSIC LINEUP!Some bands become famous. Others become legends without ever receiving the recognition they truly deserved. And sometimes, after more than four decades, the time finally comes to write another chapter in Heavy Metal history!We are incredibly proud to announce one of the most exciting and long-overdue appearances in KEEP IT TRUE Festival history:The legendary Odin from Los Angeles will finally set foot on European soil for their FIRST EVER EUROPEAN SHOW at KEEP IT TRUE in April 2027!Formed in the early 1980s, ODIN were one of the most fascinating bands to emerge from the legendary Los Angeles metal scene. Long before the Sunset Strip became synonymous with commercial success and MTV, ODIN were tearing up the clubs of Hollywood alongside bands like W.A.S.P., RATT, ARMORED SAINT and DOKKEN.With their unique combination of powerful US Heavy Metal, outstanding musicianship, unforgettable melodies and the incredible voice of Randy O, they quickly became one of the hottest underground attractions in Los Angeles.Their legendary 1985 EP "Don't Take No for an Answer" remains an absolute cult classic, featuring timeless songs like "The Writer", "Shining Love", "Solar Eye" and the unforgettable title track. Together with their earlier "Caution!" release and the later "The Gods Must Be Crazy", ODIN created a musical legacy that has survived the test of time.The band also became immortalized through their appearance in the legendary 1988 documentary "The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years", which captured the madness, dreams and excesses of the Los Angeles metal scene like no other film.Despite their enormous potential and cult following, ODIN never achieved the worldwide breakthrough many believed they deserved. But for true believers in 80s Heavy Metal, their name has never been forgotten!And the story of these musicians certainly did not end with ODIN! Guitarist Jeff Duncan went on to become a longtime member of the legendary Armored Saint, while his brother, drummer Shawn Duncan, also made his mark with L.A. GUNS. Both brothers have remained active and respected musicians in the American Hard Rock and Heavy Metal scene, making this reunion even more special!And now, more than 40 years after their classic recordings, the impossible is finally becoming reality!ODIN will perform at KEEP IT TRUE with their legendary classic lineup:Randy O – VocalsJeff Duncan – Guitar (ARMORED SAINT)Aaron Samson – BassShawn Duncan – Drums (L.A. GUNS)This is exactly what KEEP IT TRUE has always been about: bringing forgotten heroes back into the spotlight, celebrating the music that shaped our lives and making dreams come true that seemed impossible for decades.DON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER!ODIN LIVE AT KEEP IT TRUE 2027!Secure your tickets now: www.keep-it-true.de/tickets ... See MoreSee Less

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KEEP IT TRUE Festival

2 weeks ago

KEEP IT TRUE Festival
I want to address some of the recent discussion about having a few more “extreme” bands at KEEP IT TRUE and explain my personal point of view as the organizer of the festival.Bands like SARCOFAGO, MASTER’S HAMMER, MORBID ANGEL or LEFT TO DIE don’t just fit into the KIT universe for me – historically, they are a natural part of it.Sometimes I feel that the term “traditional metal” is defined much more narrowly today than the actual scene was back in the 80s.To me, “traditional” doesn’t automatically mean that every band has to sound like classic Heavy Metal, NWOBHM or US Metal.Tradition is also about where a band comes from. When did they start? What did they contribute to this scene? Who did they influence? Did they help write the history of this music?When we talk about bands like HELLHAMMER, POSSESSED, SARCOFAGO, MASTER’S HAMMER, MORBID ANGEL or DEATH, their historical importance should be obvious. These weren’t bands jumping onto some trend years later. Their roots are in the 80s. They were there while this music was still being created, and some of them helped establish entire scenes and genres.HELLHAMMER and POSSESSED are perfect examples of why it sometimes makes little sense to look at the 80s through today’s strictly defined genre boundaries. HELLHAMMER were a crucial part of the early development of extreme metal, while POSSESSED stood right at the crossroads from which Death Metal emerged.That is also why the First Wave of Black Metal is absolutely part of our history for me, just as early Speed and Thrash Metal are. VENOM, HELLHAMMER, BATHORY, CELTIC FROST, SODOM, POSSESSED, DEATH, SARCOFAGO and many others were all part of this incredible evolution during the 80s.Back then, so much of it was simply UNDERGROUND METAL.Many of the strict genre boundaries came later.Of course, everyone is free to define “traditional metal” differently. That’s exactly the point – it is a matter of definition.But KEEP IT TRUE was never meant to spend 25 years representing only one tiny corner of Heavy Metal.And to be perfectly clear: I also have no desire to book the same bands over and over again simply because they fit 100% into some supposedly fixed definition of what KIT is allowed to be.How many times are we supposed to rotate the same 30, 40 or 50 bands?After all these years, I still want to feel excited about a KIT billing myself. I want to discover rare bands, make historical shows happen, bring musicians back onto a stage who are hardly ever seen anymore, and occasionally present something people didn’t expect.That has always been part of what makes KIT special.This does NOT mean that KIT is suddenly becoming a Death or Black Metal festival.The heart of KIT will always remain classic Heavy Metal, US Metal, Epic Metal, NWOBHM, Speed Metal and everything this festival has stood for over all these years.But there has to be room around that core for the historic roots and branches of our scene.KIT has also become an incredibly international festival. People travel from all over the world to be there, and many of them have musical tastes that go far beyond one particular genre.The same person can love MANILLA ROAD, HEAVY LOAD and CIRITH UNGOL and at the same time worship old HELLHAMMER, POSSESSED, DEATH, CELTIC FROST, BATHORY or SARCOFAGO.Why should that be a contradiction?For me, it isn’t.When MASTER’S HAMMER perform a rare “Ritual” show, when LEFT TO DIE bring those early DEATH classics back to the stage, when we can present the music of SARCOFAGO, or when opportunities arise to bring bands from that pioneering generation of extreme Metal to KIT, then that represents exactly what KEEP IT TRUE should be about:Keeping Metal history alive and creating moments you don’t get to experience every weekend somewhere else.I don’t want to organize a KIT where you can predict three years in advance which bands will appear on the next billing.I still want to search. I still want to dig deep. I still want to surprise people.Because after all:KEEP IT TRUE does not mean KEEP IT THE SAME.As long as a band is authentic, historically relevant, rooted in the scene we all love and can create something truly special for our audience, there will always be a place for it in the KEEP IT TRUE universe.And I believe that kind of openness is exactly what we need to keep KIT exciting, relevant and alive for many more years.And if you want to keep supporting us on this exciting adventure, please buy your tickets in advance. Your support and trust make it possible for us to keep taking chances, booking rare bands and creating these special shows.Tickets: ... See MoreSee Less
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KEEP IT TRUE Festival

2 weeks ago

KEEP IT TRUE Festival
MASTER'S HAMMER SATURDAY CO-HEADLINER KEEP IT TRUE APRIL 2027We are incredibly proud to announce one of the most legendary, unique and influential bands to ever emerge from the Eastern European underground:MASTER'S HAMMERFor KEEP IT TRUE Festival APRIL 2027, the Czech legends will take the stage as our Saturday Co-Headliner for an extremely rare and very special “RITUAL” SHOW!Ritual is an absolute cult album and one of those records that created its very own universe. Dark, strange, theatrical and completely unmistakable, Master's Hammer sounded like nobody else then – and they still don't today.Their live appearances have always been extremely rare, which makes this show something truly special. And we don't want to simply bring MASTER'S HAMMER to KIT for a regular festival appearance.Expect a special stage show created around the unique atmosphere of Ritual.For many of us, this is one of those bands we never thought we would have the chance to experience like this at KEEP IT TRUE.80% OF KEEP IT TRUE 2027 IS ALREADY SOLD OUT!So if you want to be part of this very special weekend, don't wait too long!GET YOUR TICKETS NOW:www.keep-it-true.de/tickets ... See MoreSee Less

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KEEP IT TRUE Festival

4 weeks ago

KEEP IT TRUE Festival
DEATH SS - 50 YEARS OF HORROR, MAGIC AND HEAVY METAL!In 1977, Steve Sylvester and Paul Chain created something in Italy that was completely their own. Long before horror, occult imagery and theatricality became widespread in Metal, DEATH SS had already built their unique dark universe.In 2027, Death SS celebrate 50 YEARS – and we are incredibly proud to celebrate this historic anniversary at KEEP IT TRUE RISING VI!Expect a very special show celebrating five decades of one of the most unique and influential cult bands of the European underground.And although most people should know this by now, we want to make it absolutely clear: DEATH SS have nothing whatsoever to do with right-wing politics or ideology. The name DEATH SS stands for “Death of Steve Sylvester” and, just like the band's imagery, is part of their world of horror, occultism and theatrical shock. DEATH SS are not and never have been a political band.This is exactly what KEEP IT TRUE is about: honoring the pioneers, preserving the history of our music and creating truly special moments.Tickets are available at:www.keep-it-true.de/tickets ... See MoreSee Less

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