We always plan our journeys through mythology far in advance. Even while we were still lingering in the world of the Celts, it was clear: our next expedition would lead East – to Japan. The deities were chosen, and the beer recipes finalized. But one question remained: how do we celebrate this release in style?
Metal, Malt & Mythology
Since our Celtic series, we have been linking beer releases with live concerts. As passionate metalheads, this is a logical symbiosis for us: metal and beer go hand in hand like malt and hops. For the Japanese cycle, we looked for a band that musically embodies this Far Eastern flair. The name that immediately came to mind: the Finnish samurai metal legends Whispered.
But there was a problem: since 2018, things had gone quiet for the band. No shows, no new music, silence on their social media. Despite low hopes, we sent a message to the far north in July 2025. The answer came promptly and like a thunderclap: Whispered were secretly working on their comeback for 2026! The timing was perfect.
The “Training Arc”: From Jikininki to Whispered
Planning was in full swing, but in October, we hit a snag: Whispered had to cancel as headliners because they insisted on playing their official comeback show in their home country, Finland.
Instead of giving up, we had a flash of inspiration: why not act in secret? We suggested that Whispered perform under a pseudonym. Jouni (vocals/guitar) was immediately on board. What followed is what anime fans would call a “Training Arc”: together, we created the alter ego “Jikininki”. With its own Instagram channel and the teaser track “Red Whisper,” we dropped clues until the metal community began to suspect which samurai were hidden behind the mask.
The Day of Chaos: April 25, 2026
At 5:00 PM, we opened the gates of the brewery. It was our largest production to date: professional lighting, a massive sound system, and finally enough space for all the backdrops. To keep everyone fueled, our friends from the 12A Brewery Shop served a themed Japanese Kare-Raisu (curry).
The Line-up of Warriors:
- Nidhoeggr: The boys from Thun kicked things off. With their powerful set of warrior dragon epics, they immediately captivated the audience under bright sunshine.
- Battle Tales: These West-Swiss musicians brought the crowd to a boil with their mix of heavy metal and death growls. As a nod to the cult anime “Fist of the North Star,” a skeleton stood on stage holding a sign: “Omae wa mou shindeiru”.
The Return of the Samurai
At 8:30 PM, it was time for the reveal. A Jikininki banner? No, no, no… next to appear behind the stage was the official backdrop of Whispered! A goosebumps moment for us as a small “Gods Brewery”.
With the sounds of their brand-new song “Ikikaere,” Whispered celebrated their world premiere with us in Switzerland after an eight-year stage absence. It was a massive performance. When the head brewer himself was spotted crowd-surfing during the song “Jikininki,” it was clear: the training arc was complete, and they had passed the test with flying colors.
An Unforgettable Chapter
After a loudly demanded encore and a Children of Bodom cover to honor Alexi Laiho, a night ended that we won’t soon forget. Every drop of sweat and every month of planning was worth it.
A huge thank you to Nidhoeggr, Battle Tales, Whispered, and of course, all the helpers and visitors who made this evening legendary.
Until next time! Dani & Sara