Danish-Faroese progressive metal outfit IOTUNN have released the live EP "Waves Over Copenhell" via Metal Blade Records, capturing a landmark performance that many who attended consider one of the finest festival sets of 2023. The recording documents the band's appearance at Denmark's prestigious Copenhell festival, held annually on the former grounds of the Refshaleøen industrial area in Copenhagen, where IOTUNN showcased their epic blend of progressive metal with atmospheric and melodic elements to a crowd that grew exponentially as their set progressed.
The EP boasts remarkably clean production quality that translates the band's ambitious, multi-layered compositions faithfully to a live setting — no small feat for a group whose studio recordings feature intricate arrangements that weave between crushing heaviness, soaring clean vocals and delicate ambient passages. The fact that the Copenhell performance captures this complexity without sacrificing raw energy speaks volumes about IOTUNN's prowess as a live act.
IOTUNN have been gaining significant momentum in the progressive metal world since their 2021 debut "Access All Worlds," which announced the arrival of a band that combined the epic scope of ENSLAVED with the melodic sensibility of OPETH and the emotional weight of KATATONIA. Their critically acclaimed follow-up "Kinship" in 2024 deepened that impression, earning praise from publications across the metal spectrum and landing on numerous year-end lists. The band's Faroese roots lend a unique atmospheric quality to their sound — a sense of vast, windswept landscapes and oceanic isolation that permeates their compositions.
The "Waves Over Copenhell" release keeps fans engaged and the band's profile elevated while they work on their next full-length studio album, which is expected to further cement their reputation as one of progressive metal's most exciting contemporary voices.