This year, worlds of classical music and black metal will meet for the very first time at Brutal Assault – CULT OF FIRE will play a special set commissioned by Brutal Assault, to pay a tribute to BEDŘICH SMETANA and his works. The band has joined their dark forces with the BOHEMIAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRAGUE, led by Martin Šanda, and this expanded group of musicians will deliver an experience not yet seen at Brutal Assault before – and rarely elsewhere.

Year 2024 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of one of the biggest composers in the history of Czech classical music. BEDŘICH SMETANA, born on 2 March 1824, rightly earned a special place in the hearts of his contemporaries and generations that followed. And his music and his passion for the Czech culture have helped pave the path for the Czech modern era nation.

More than a century and a half later, an extreme metal scene started forming in what was still Czechoslovakia. A handful of bands planted seeds for what would later become part of the so-called second wave of black metal. True to this tradition, CULT OF FIRE have picked up the torch of the black flame and become one of the very few internationally known metal bands emerging from the homeland of Brutal Assault. By now, they have brought their music and visual experiences to most continents of the world, and have grown into a headlining act for many special events.

This unique performance will exclusively feature new music by CULT OF FIRE, directly and indirectly inspired by BEDŘICH SMETANA. While you may have seen black metal bands with symphonic orchestras before, you have not seen one at Josefov Fortress yet. It’s important to note that this is not a usual concert of a metal band playing their own songs with orchestral arrangements. This is a commissioned piece of music, written by Vladimír Pavelka (CULT OF FIRE) and arranged by Martin Šanda for the band and BOHEMIAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRAGUE, paying homage to a classical composer – either by directly reworking BEDŘICH SMETANA’s music, or writing their own music inspired by his works. This performance may as well become the fastest one in the history of the BOHEMIAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRAGUE (or any other such metal-meets-symphonic collaborations on that matter), as CULT OF FIRE bring their fury along with the passion for one of the greatest composers in the Czech history.

This special project is poised to become yet another milestone in the history of Brutal Assault. One that has to be eye-witnessed.