The biggest extreme music festival in the Baltic States, KILKIM ŽAIBU, has prepared a special surprise for its 2026 program – a unique chance to hear the songs of the legendary black metal band BATHORY performed live. Tribute to the band’s leader Quorthon, who passed away in 2004, will be paid on the KILKIM ŽAIBU stage by the tribute project BLOOD FIRE DEATH, bringing together top-level stars from the world of metal.
Inviting this group to the festival was a truly utopian ambition for us, and their performance will cost more than any world-class band that has ever played at the festival before. But this is KILKIM ŽAIBU – here ideology and authenticity always come first. For extreme music fans in Lithuania and neighboring countries, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that is unlikely to ever happen again.
Quorthon was one of the pioneers of black and viking metal, opening new paths and inspiring hundreds or even thousands of bands and musicians. Although he performed his music live only a few times and only at the very beginning of his career, his legacy is now brought to the stage by musicians such as Erik (WATAIN), Ivar Bjørnson (ENSLAVED), Blasphemer (VLTIMAS, ex-MAYHEM), Apollyon (AURA NOIR), and Faust (DJEVEL, ex-EMPEROR). They are often joined by Grutle (ENSLAVED), Frederick Melander (ex-BATHORY), Gaahl (ex-GORGOROTH, GAAHLS WYRD), Nergal (BEHEMOTH), Attila (MAYHEM), and other major figures.
As true professionals, the musicians perform BATHORY songs with a powerful black metal sound, revealing raw aggression, northern coldness, and the wild energy of the genre’s early days. As in Quorthon’s full discography, BLOOD FIRE DEATH performances naturally combine black metal with viking and thrash metal elements, while keeping the unique and authentic BATHORY sound.
Although there are other cover and tribute bands playing BATHORY music, BLOOD FIRE DEATH stands apart for its deep respect for Quorthon’s legacy and its highest-level performance quality.
More than ten metal festivals will take place across Europe on the same weekend, yet the musicians united to revive the spirit of BATHORY cannot perform at any of them. Their union in BLOOD FIRE DEATH is worthy of BATHORY’s memory. Even in his wildest dreams, Quorthon likely could not have imagined what these stage warriors are doing today. This is the finest monument to BATHORY and Quorthon, and a major event for the entire black metal scene.
This will be one of the most demanding and carefully prepared projects in the history of the festival. The band members are extremely selective about where they perform, so their decision to appear on the KILKIM ŽAIBU stage is a strong sign of trust in the organizers. The audience can expect a technically complex and unforgettable show with pyrotechnics, special choreography, a choir, and additional special guests. Each song will have its own unique setup, with different lineups and arrangements.
The KILKIM ŽAIBU festival will also feature extreme music icons such as CARCASS, SAMAEL, POSSESSED, UADA, VIOLENT MAGIC ORCHESTRA, and dozens of other well-known bands from around the world.
KILKIM ŽAIBU will take place on June 25–27, 2026, at its traditional location – the territory of the President Antanas Smetona Manor Museum in the Ukmergė district, on the shore of Lake Lėnas.
Photo: @sunvemetal
