Live Review: Kill-Town Death Fest – Sunday

Live Review: Kill-Town Death Fest – Sunday

6th September 2026
Words: Sam Jones

Perishing kick off gloomy Sunday all the way from Costa Rica. Half One in the afternoon may not be the typical time to play death/doom but the Kill Town crowds are already abundant and hungry for metal, especially with the Metal Marjet indoors too hosting a slew of vinyl and cassettes. Have to hand it to Perishing, they really go out of their way to help you feel the dread weight their sound possesses. My neck aches and yet the riff compels me. There’s a sizeable crowd already which, following the last three days, speaks volumes regarding Kill Town’s band quality

Dead Void are the first two-piece I’ve seen this year, just one guitarist and drummer, each sharing vocal responsibilities. On the backs of their latest record, Cranial Devastation, Dead Void have been rising in Denmark’s death metal scene and whilst Gloomy Sunday champions everything morose and filthy, Dead Void unveil a whirlwind of speed and ferocious riffs that pull everyone in with ease. How their drummer manages to perform vocals and drum at his tempo is beyond me.

Rothadas take to the black stage and when we got in for their performance the room was absolutely jam packed, I don’t think you could be more in if you tried. People thronged the stairs too to get a better look; Rothadas were veiled in silver light and fire the crowd up with enough bass to shatter the floorboards. Fronted by Cryptworm’s founder Rothadas sees death/doom performed in that Cryptworm vein only the speed is heavily reduced whilst maintaining that signature crushing sound. They’re easily the angriest and most ruthless death/doom band of the day thus far:

If Rothadas had some of the most crushing riffs today, Fossilization are certainly the most evil-sounding so far. With riffs penetrating the miasma and vocals bellowing from some primordial nether realm they launch into an assault yet unseen today. Gloomy Sunday may be Kill Town’s way of easing audiences out of the weekend but there’s scant evidence Fossilization got that memo since they’ve done nothing but tear our heads clean off.

I did not ever think I’d ever get to see Cenotaph live but here we are in a rare European performance. You have to respect Cenotaph for diving right into their performance, no drawn out introduction, they got right into it. Like myself many here may never get the chance to see these guys again so we make the most of it, a pit breaks out immediately, the atmosphere is one of ecstatic joy, even for Kill Town’s calibre this is a real treat. This is the kind of performance you actively watch; sure, you’ll headbang and have a blast with Cenotaph but give what a rarity this moment is your eyes are thoroughly looking the band up and down, appreciating everything this performance entails. For a band as old as Cenotaph are now, it’s striking how well they can still nail the sheer speed their early material is renowned for, blast beats and double bass drums pepper the air with power and intensity hardly equalled at this year’s edition.

Larvae are my final band of the festival and are amongst my most anticipated acts. The only band with a frontwoman I’ve seen at this year’s edition, Larvae make use of horror samples and a noxious soundscape to conjure imagery of vile horror. They’re easily one of my favourite up and coming bands and the chance to see them live is a joy. Cenotaph finished quite literally as Larvae are due to start so it’s a squeeze finding a good spot for them for practically everyone seems to be present. Larvae provide a more putrid outlet for Gloomy Sunday for their aesthetic reeks of putrefaction and rotting cadavers.

This year’s Kill Town has been incredible, full of wonderful people from every corner of the globe, amazing bands you rarely ever get the chance to see, nestled in the heart of Copenhagen’s historic city centre. Plenty of places to sit down and drink and have great times with your friends, more than enough bars to keep you happy, the ability to go in and out whenever you wish for wider bars and eateries, there’s so much to Kill Town. It’s a wildly rewarding festival that seconds as a European holiday that, personally speaking, is worth it and then some. It’s been my favourite time of the whole year and it’ll likely be the same for yourself the day you decide Kill Town greets you too.

For all the latest news, reviews, interviews across the heavy metal spectrum follow THE RAZORS’S EDGE on facebook, twitter and instagram.