Just announced to appear at MDF 2009:

Bolt Thrower
Enslaved
Marduk
Absu
Victims
Swallow the Sun
Birdflesh
The Red Chord
Rotten Sound
Keep of Kalessin
Devourment
Trap Them
Catheter
Agenda of Swine
Pretty Little Flower
Complete Failure
Hero Destroyed

Bolt Thrower has released this bit of news regarding their first trip to the USA in 14 years:

“Due to the fact that we are not real festival lovers or great fans of flying, the chances of us ever coming to the States for a one-off show was always very small. But after years of relentless emails from Ryan we've finally given in. It's hard to believe that it's been 14 years since we last played in the US, so we are very happy to announce that we are finally coming back. Bolt Thrower will be playing Maryland Deathfest VII, on May 22-24, 2009, at Sonar, Baltimore, MD.
http://www. myspace. com/marylanddeathfest

Also, in a few weeks time we will be announcing the only European festival show we will be playing next year.


We'll keep you posted on both shows as soon as we have more info.


Cheers,
Bolt Thrower”


Here is a full list of currently confirmed bands for MDF 2009:

Bolt Thrower (England)
Mayhem (Norway)
Pestilence (Netherlands)
Asphyx (Netherlands)
Atheist (Florida)
Enslaved (Norway)
Marduk (Sweden)
Immolation (New York)
Brutal Truth (New York)
Hail of Bullets (Netherlands)
Abscess (California)
Absu (Texas)
General Surgery (Sweden)
Today is the Day (Tennessee)
Swallow the Sun (Finland)
Pig Destroyer (Virginia)
Birdflesh (Sweden)
The Red Chord (Massachusetts)
Keep of Kalessin (Norway)
Victims (Sweden)
Rotten Sound (Finland)
Phobia (California)
Devourment (Texas)
Sayyadina (Sweden)
Flesh Parade (Louisiana)
Jig-Ai (Czech Republic)
Trap Them (New Hampshire)
Antigama (Poland)
Splitter (Sweden)
Grief (Massachusetts)
Agenda of Swine (California)
Entrails Massacre (Germany)
Kill the Client (Texas)
Magrudergrind (Washington DC)
Lair of the Minotaur (Illinois)
Crowpath (Sweden)
Man Must Die (Scotland)
Gnostic (Georgia)
Unearthly Trance (New York)
Maruta (Florida)
Car Bomb (New York)
Weekend Nachos (Illinois)
Pretty Little Flower (Texas)
Hero Destroyed (Pennsylvania)
Complete Failure (Pennsylvania)
Drugs of Faith (Maryland)
Triac (Maryland)

Some great bands in there. My sister lives in Maryland, looks like I need to go visit her this May.

That show sounds like a fucking gold mine. I need to go. Fuck, Enslaved, Mayhem, Marduk, and now Bolt Thrower!!?

Maryland resident right here! first time I've actually been this happy to live where I do.

I attended the fest this year and it was one of the best weekends of my life. Everything was on time, when they went ahead of schedule they took a break. There was great beer selection, amazing merch stands, tons of records. I spent about 400 bucks on records and shirts.

No Repulsion..

Too bad those peckers cancelled last year..

Yeah that was such a bummer. The rumor was that they were confirmed for 09, but it's not looking that way. Bummertime.

No. I heard they were playing there final show at C.I.M. Atleast that is the rumor that has been circulating around my webzine. I asked Fish and he said he didn't even know. Appearantly the other guys don't tell him shit, hahaha

'Tis awesome to live in Maryland (sometimes).

I still feel as though Maryland Deathfest is becoming more commercial with each passing year.

It seems as though there are graduating classes in metal. Like the bigger underground bands (seniors) get more and more popular and sign to some shitty label and get big and go limp, and then there is another batch of underground bands (the freshman) who get more and more recognition, until they piss their roots away as well.. And then the cycle continues...

I completely agree. This next year has more bands that I'm not stoked on, however, there are still some true winners. For my tastes, it's still the best US fest.
Hell, I went to Dudefest this year for 3 bands. I just drank thru the rest. (Insect Warfare, Despise You, Iron Lung).

I'm happy to see Absu on there. Good black metal..

That's another thing. Maybe it is just me but I don't remember much BM on the previous MDFs..

would you reccmend a 15 year old to go to this? it sounds like there are some awesome bands and I live pretty close by will I get trampled or something?

I wouldn't worry about the pits, you can avoid those.. Just be kind of cautious of some of the kiosks.. Kind of adult material. I don't even know if you can bring minors in.. I was older.

What do you mean by adult material? and do you have to sleep there?

Hopefully their new album will be out and they will be supporting it.

Eh you know, gore, violence, blasphemy and such. If you are cool with your child seeing all of it then its fine. Sleeping there I don't think is even an option, but their are some pretty cheap hotels in the area.

lol I'm the fifteen year old and I wish my dad was cool enough to go with me but he is not. and I live close to Baltimore where the festival is so a hotel or anything is not a problem

It's at Sonar.

and isn't sonar in Baltimore?

this is their site
http://www.sonarbaltimore.com/

Yeah it's the venue.

Fuck! Absu, Enslaved, Mayhem and Marduk. I MUST go to this!!!

There is no reason for anyone on the east coast to skip a show with Absu, Bolt Thrower and Pestilence on the same bill regardless of the other bands. Hell I would sit through Hanson to see those three bands.

That is seriously a very diverse line up, musically and geographically

Aww come on, why the sudden influx of black metal. Bring back Rompeprop, Cock And Ball Torture, Coffins, Butcher ABC, etc. It's Maryland DEATH Fest!

Looks sweet.

Looks to be some damn good bands in there - Bolt Thrower(obviously), Immolation, Pestilence, Atheist and some stuff I'd like to check out. Might go to this.

I'm really liking that lineup. It's worth it, even if only to see Absu!

Cock and Ball Torture sucks. But the other bands you mentioned are pretty good.

Darn! wrong corner of the country...

Why don't we have this kind of shit on the west coast?? This line-up is 100 times better than anything Wacken '09 can offer. Fucking Pestilence and Asphyx and now BOLT THROWER! Can it get any better?
Maybe, only a Demilich reunion...hehe

This is exactly what I was thinking.

Quite simply, that is a ridiculously awesome lineup, straight up...

I'm not questioning the quality of any of the bands on the bill. I, just like SepticTomb did, wonder why the addition of Black Metal bands for next year's edition. It comes as a big surprise if you take a look at the line-up for all previous editions of the fest, don't you think?
I'll keep to myself my opinion about some probable reason for this move, though. Let's just pinpoint the fact it was unexpected.

Would love to go to this, the inclusion of black metal bands derails the whole point. Expect The Offspring to headline next year.. as they did recently at Download, what used to be a half decent metal festival in the UK.

Holy sheize! I would kill to see Immolation and Bolt Thrower.

Been there, done that!

If you look at whose headlining, calling it anything other than DEATH fest would be insulting to the headliners.

I'll try to go but its still a bit far from where I live. This lineup is just killer

God damn... I want to go to this one. Too bad I live NO WHERE NEAR MARYLAND and I don't have my license yet (will be getting it in a few months hopefully) I wish I could see this one... fucking badly...