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1 week ago

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

1 week ago

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

3 weeks ago

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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KEEP IT TRUE Festival

3 weeks ago

Please support my amazing friends Adam Neal ( Savage Master) and Stacey Savage in their hour of need. We are one scene and we help each other!! ... See MoreSee Less

Donate to Support My Fiancé During Chemotherapy, organized by Stacey Savage

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I’m raising funds for my fiancé after surgery and ongoing chemotherapy for colon c... Stacey Savage needs your support for Support My Fiancé During Chemotherapy

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KEEP IT TRUE Festival

1 month ago

KEEP IT TRUE RISING VI – TEUTONIC INVASION!THE FINAL TWO BANDS ARE CONFIRMED!The invasion is complete!We are proud to announce TALON and Axe Victims as the final two bands for the special TEUTONIC INVASION Thursday of KEEP IT TRUE Festival RISING VI!For the opening day of KIT RISING VI, we wanted to create something very close to the heart of KEEP IT TRUE: a complete celebration of classic and cult German Heavy Metal from the 80s.No trends, no compromises, just that very special sound, atmosphere and spirit that made the German Metal underground of the 80s so unique.TEUTONIC INVASION – FULL LINE-UP:Stormwitch – Old School Only SetLIVING DEATHVAMPYR TALONAXE VICTIMSFrom legendary names to true underground cult, this is exactly what TEUTONIC INVASION is supposed to be.Five bands representing a time when German Heavy Metal was raw, exciting and full of its own character. A time of tape trading, fanzines, underground demos and records that became lifelong treasures.KEEP IT TRUE RISING VITEUTONIC INVASION – Thursday, September 23rd, 2027Posthalle Würzburg, GermanyTickets:www.keep-it-true.de/tickets ... See MoreSee Less

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