Gathering of Sick IV

Dark metal, black metal. With Agrypnie, Causam & Avataria

Agrypnie (only Swiss show in 2026)
Post-black metal

Founded in 2004 by songwriter Torsten H., who is also active in the bands Nocte Obducta, Theotoxin and Suel as well as other musical projects, Agrypnie has become a fixture in the black metal scene over the years. What began as a solo project was expanded into a full band in 2007, one year after the release of the debut album F51.4 (Supreme Chaos Records), so the project could perform live.
With nine releases, including six full-length albums, Agrypnie has built an extensive discography that reflects the diversity and depth of its musical universe. This year (as of 2024), the release of its seventh album is due, while drum recordings for the eighth album have already been completed.
Over the years, Agrypnie has played numerous tours, festivals and club shows, captivating audiences with its intense stage presence and ferocious performances.
The 2021 album Metamorphosis, the band's first release on the renowned record label AOP Records, reached number 29 in the official German album charts. The German edition of Metal Hammer also named it one of the top five black metal releases of 2021. These recent successes, along with earlier achievements, highlight the band's continuous development.
Flo, drummer and songwriter for Theotoxin, drummer with Schirenc Plays Pungent Stench and a live musician for bands including Benighted and Schammasch, is the only other permanent studio musician alongside Torsten. The live musicians Lykanthrop (Batushka, guitar), Chris (Perchta, guitar) and Andi (Ex-Paul Di'Anno Band, bass) complete Agrypnie.
Agrypnie - Verwüstung (Official Music Video)

Causam
Post-apocalyptic black metal.
Relentless melodies fused with torn harmonies, massive double bass and blast beats, forged in the darkest hours. End-of-the-world lyrics about past crises, future apocalypses and the struggles in between - this is Causam.
Founded in January 2020 by Abaddon, Arcis and Arawan, the band was completed shortly afterwards with the addition of Andras and Grievas.
By the end of 2020, composition and studio work on the debut album "Doomsday Rapture" had been completed.
It was released on 12 February 2021, marking the band's arrival on the scene.
In early May 2021, Arcis announced that he was leaving the band for personal reasons to focus on recording and sound.
At the end of May, Surt joined as the new rhythm guitarist.
The band played its first show at Black Hole Fest II, opening the festival for headliners Afsky and Dark Funeral.
In July 2022, the band announced that Surt would take over vocals from Grievas, who had left the band for personal reasons.
The second album, "Holistic Despair", was released in May 2023.
After a year full of concerts in 2024 and a tour in 2025, Causam released the single "Brainwashed" in February 2026.
Causam - Wasteland Utopia (Official Lyric Video)

Avataria
Dark black metal
AvatariA was founded in 2009 and has since become a legend of dark metal. With their blackened dark metal, the Berliners combine gothic, black and death metal into a unique style that defies categorisation and has developed a character all of its own. With five albums released, AvatariA has built a loyal fan base through live performances and concerts. For fans of Behemoth, Samael and Rotting Christ, AvatariA is an absolute must.
AvatariA was founded in late 2009 by Tommy Avadark (guitar/vocals), emerging from another musical project. After completing the lineup in 2010, the band immediately began composing its own songs.
A common thread has run through AvatariA's musical work from the beginning. After an initial demo titled "Fallen Angel" (2010), which leaned towards dark gothic metal, the genre boundaries became much less distinct with the debut album "The Matrix Falls" (2011). Thematically, the band's first album explores the collapse of self-imposed illusions.
In 2014, the band released the EP "Enneagram", which continued the musical and thematic direction of its predecessor. The third album, "New World Order", followed in 2016, with remarkable musical force and atmospheric depth.
In 2018, the German-language single "Dunkelheit" was released, accompanied by a music video that same year.
In 2019, AvatariA signed a record deal with the label 7Hard (7us Media). The band's new album and fourth release, "The Last Falling" (2019), came out on the label. "The Last Falling" is a blend of thrash, death, black and gothic metal.
In October 2022, AvatariA moved to the underground label "Dark Metal Records". At the end of 2022, AvatariA decided to perform as a trio from then on, with Tommy also taking over lead guitar.
In early May 2023, the album "Memoirs of Humanity" and the single "Harmageddon" were released, along with a video for the single.
The EP "Downfall" came out at the end of May 2025. It reportedly features a remastered black metal version of AvatariA's first song, "Fallen Angel".
AvatariA - Joker (Official Video)

Mournful Winter

Mournful Winter is a neoclassical black metal band from the Black Forest. Their music seeks to combine the raw energy and distinctive atmosphere of black metal with melodies and concepts from classical music, while also making use of atypical instruments such as the clarinet and mandolin.
Their compositions move between fast-paced, emotionally charged passages and introspective moments. Lyrically, their music explores existential themes such as transience, inner turmoil and the isolation of the self.
The latest release, "Mother's Demise", came out in 2021 and marks the band's third full-length album. On it, they further refined their sound with more complex song structures and a broader sonic landscape, without losing touch with their classic black metal roots.