Harvesting Hell Open Air Festival, changed last minute to an indoor event, brought a diverse line-up of heavy metal and punk from regional to international scales to Edmonton, Alta.

Originally proposed as a “cultural gathering” for the growing metal communities across the province, the two locations considered to host the show outdoors were in counties which decided not to proceed due to concerns over permits and security. Regardless of those events, the Harvesting Hell crew did an impeccable job with the last minute changes, and put on a “hell” of a two-day celebration of sound.

Khapra, from Lloydminster, Sask., got things going on the first day at The Starlite Room, giving the crowd a good taste of original progressive thrash. Two bands from British Columbia’s west coast followed: Lummox, a punk rock trio from Vancouver, and Trollband, a folk metal five-piece.

Gnostic was the first international act on the bill to perform, a project kick-started by Atheist drummer Steve Flynn, and one that really demonstrates his jazzy tech-metal drumming style. Joining him for the set were Atheist guitarists Chris Baker and Sonny Carson.

Edmonton’s Begrime Exemious brought an always-brutal and intense set, while Exit Strategy too dominated the stage, introducing a couple of new songs that will hopefully be on the new EP they’re releasing at Noctis III Metal Festival in Calgary this month.

Florida-based headliners Atheist wrapped up the first night of the festival and were obviously the band the crowd was waiting for, and the group’s legendary progressive/technical death metal didn’t disappoint. Frontman Kelly Schaefer, who gave up playing guitar due to carpal tunnel syndrome, makes an excellent standalone vocalist, creeping across the stage and interacting with the audience, occasionally throwing a little old-school glam flare.

September 6 welcomed 20 bands on two stages: New City Suburbs and New City Likwid Lounge. The day started at 3 p.m., with Bogue Brigade taking to the upstairs stage, while Calculating Collapse invaded the downstairs at 6 p.m.

With 20 bands, and many sets overlapping, it was difficult to check out all the talented acts performing, but it was obvious the Harvesting Hell crew did an awesome job running everything efficiently and on time, and making room for most of the bands originally scheduled when the event was supposed to be a three-day outdoor show.

Every single band from both nights took the time to thank organizer Tyson Boyd and the rest of his crew for all the hard work that was put into making a festival of this scale happen in the area. Here’s hoping Harvesting Hell becomes an annual event, and one day takes on the open air format it was intended to be.

Enjoy these two galleries from Harvesting Hell!

Day One: The Starlite Room

Day Two: New City Suburbs and Likwid Lounge