UtF Looks Back on 2011 – and Looks Ahead at 2012

Yup, it’s that time of year: to take a look back on the year that was 2011. In female-fronted rock and metal music, of course. However, while every other media outlet out there shares Top 10 or Top 20 lists of favorite albums, we decided to do a different kind of year-end wrap-up.

Instead of highlighting albums, we chose to highlight bands. All of us at Unleash The Furies discovered a wealth of female-fronted rock and metal bands this past year – some of which didn’t actually release any albums in 2011, but got heavy rotation in our music players regardless. With this idea in mind, four of our staff writers sat down and picked their favorite discoveries of 2011. They also shared their predictions for up-and-coming bands who could make major breakthroughs in 2012.

Let’s start with…

Mark Your Calendar: Metal Female Voices Fest IX

What: Metal Female Voices Fest IX – the first and biggest female-fronted metal festival in the world!

When: Friday, October 21 – Sunday, October 23

Where: Oktoberhallen, Schrovestraat 18, in Wieze, Belgium

Tickets: Click here to find a number of ticket sellers for this year’s MFVF.

What Is It?: Any fan of female-fronted metal should know what Metal Female Voices Fest is. It was the first-ever festival to feature only female-fronted bands. Now in its ninth year, MFVF continues to raise the bar as the most prestigious and well-known event of its kind. (And yes, that’s right: 2012 marks the 10th anniversary of MFVF!) Past MFVF headliners include the genre’s biggest names: Epica, Nightwish, Lacuna Coil, Tristania, Leaves’ Eyes, Doro, Girlschool, Tarja Turunen, and Arch Enemy.

This year, MFVF brings back fan favorite Doro as the Day 1 headliner and welcomes Swedish operatic metal giants Therion for its first MFVF appearance as the Day 2 headliner. Other highlights that have already been announced: the release of the first MFVF DVD, which includes footage from the 2009 and 2010 editions; the world premiere of Diabulus in Musica’s first video for their upcoming second album; and the release of Skeptical Minds’ live DVD “Watch Your Live!” as well as their comic book series, “Broken Dolls.” Also, expect some guest performers during the sets for Diabulus in Musica and Leaves’ Eyes! Much more is bound to happen to besides all that. After all, this is MFVF – and surprises come in plenty there!

Below is the complete line-up for MFVF IX. Headliners are shown in bold. All bands previously featured here at UtF are shown in italics and links.

Friday, October 21st – Warm-Up Show

• Battlelore
• Xandria
• Bare Infinity

Saturday, October 22nd – Day 1

• Doro
• Leaves’ Eyes
• Diabulus in Musica
• Trail of Tears
• Dylath-Leen
• Benedictum
• Deadlock
• Amaranthe
• Kivimetsan Druidi
• Coma Divine
• Nemhain
• Hanging Doll

Sunday, October 23rd – Day 2

• Therion
• Visions of Atlantis
• Draconian
• Stream of Passion
• Midnattsol
• System Divide
• Triosphere
• Velvet Seal
• Operatika
• Diary About My Nightmares

If you already have your tickets, that’s fantastic! We’d love to hear how the festival went afterwards.  And if you don’t have your tickets yet and will be in the Weize / Aalst / Dendermonde area in Belgium next weekend, get your tickets NOW! You won’t want to miss this special event!

Visit these links for more information on MFVF:

Official Website

Facebook

Twitter

~ Sara