GORGOROTH: Controversial Krakow Concert To Be Released On DVD

Video footage of GORGOROTH's infamous February 1, 2004 concert in Krakow, Poland will finally will see the light of day! Metal Mind Productions will release the first-ever GORGOROTH DVD, entitled "Black Mass Kraków 2004", featuring the legendary Polish concert, on June 9 in Europe and June 10 in the U.S.

GORGOROTH drew the attention of the international media in early 2004 after their show in Krakow. They were accused of "offending religious feelings" during the gig, as well as suspected of breaching Polish law concerning the protection of animal rights by using severed and impaled heads of sheep as part of their stage design. The controversial concert in Poland resulted in the group being investigated for the possible breach of Article 196 of Polish penal code concerning offense of religious feelings (the maximum penalty for breaching this article is five years in prison).

The Norwegian band, which is widely known for its antichristian ideology, had promised on its web site that the Polish concert would be an "amazing show with lots of pyro, gallons of blood, live crucifixion and nude models." Despite this, the employees of the Krakow branch of TVP claimed that they had no knowledge of what the musicians and the promoters had in mind until they saw the actual performance. The concert, which was recorded at the studio of a TV station in Krakow, "was never meant to reach the media," according to the band’s vocalist Gaahl. "Producers Metal Mind Productions bought the sheep heads at a butcher shop. We weren't involved in animal torture of any kind."

In one of the band's first interviews after this controversial concert, Infernus told Canada's Unrestrained! magazine, "We didn't plan to really have an outcome like that, our only intent was to go there and film the DVD. All the chaos and media reaction that came from this was a surprise of sorts." Asked if they "were worried when the authorities were called," Infernus answered, "Not worried, really. I mean, what was the worst thing they could do? Destroy the tapes? I don't think they would do that and I don't think they could really do any harm to us, though they might be able to put the Polish producer away in prison for a few years. For us, this will probably help us sell a few more records. As of now, I can only think that the DVD will be put out eventually. It would be almost like they are stuck in the Middle Ages in Poland if they destroyed the tapes by burning them. I hope to get them back one day… I hope."

The "Black Mass Kraków 2004" DVD will contain the Krakow show as the main feature. Additionally, it will include bonus video material performance footage recorded live at the With Full Force Festival in Leipzig, Germany in 2000, biography, discography, photo gallery, desktop images, weblinks, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and more. The DVD will be available in two versions: as a standard DVD and as a very unique star metalpack DVD edition limited to 5,000 copies.

"Black Mass Kraków 2004" (cover artwork) track listing:

Live in Kraków, February 2004:

01. Procreating Satan
02. Forces of Satan Storms
03. Possessed (by Satan)
04. Bergtrollets Hevn
05. The Rite of Infernal Invocation
06. Profetens Apenbaring
07. Of Ice and Movement...
08. Ødeleggelse og Undergang
09. Blood Stains the Circle
10. Unchain My Heart!!!
11. Revelation of Doom
12. Destroyer
13. Incipit Satan

Bonus video:

Live at With Full Force Festival, Leipzig, 2000 (bootleg)

01. Destroyer
02. Incipit Satan

Also includes:

* Biography
* Discography
* Photo gallery
* Desktop images
* Weblinks
* Logo
* Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

Check out photos from the gig at this location.

Polish TV report on the GORGOROTH concert in Krakow: