HER OWN WORLD at Dark Malta Festival 2025

Dark Malta Festival – a story we’ll remember for a long time

Many artists dream of playing at prestigious festivals, and Dark Malta Festival had been on our wishlist for a long time. The event lasted for three days, from April 25th to 27th, 2025, and we played on Friday, April 25th.
Her Own World was invited by the festival organizer, René, who reached out to our label, darkTunes Music Group. As soon as Raph (the head of darkTunes) told us about the opportunity to play at DMF, we joyfully accepted and started planning our trip.

After landing in Malta, we were a bit surprised and slightly confused. Instead of being picked up immediately by our driver (a truly wonderful and warm person), we had to wait for a little while – turns out he decided to enjoy a cup of coffee when our flight was delayed by a few minutes. But everything fell into place quickly, and we arrived at the Seaview Hotel in St Paul’s Bay. The wind was really strong during the first days, blowing off hats and caps, but it didn’t stop us from exploring the island’s charm. Malta turned out to be a beautiful place, full of fascinating sights and attractions, which we enjoyed between festival activities.

The Dark Malta vibe
The atmosphere at Dark Malta Festival was incredible. Although the event is still relatively intimate, that’s exactly what makes it special – the closeness with fans and fellow artists is something truly unique. Each day, a pool party was held from noon until the concerts began, blending gothic vibes with summer sun and water – creating an unforgettable atmosphere.

A stage that consumed us
Our performance at Dark Malta was truly one of a kind. From the very beginning, we felt the energy flowing from the audience – warmth, openness, focus, and pure admiration. After we left the stage, we wandered around for quite some time, our hearts full of emotion, unable to believe we had been received with such intensity. It felt like home – and that was simply amazing. We believe René is the reason behind that magic. He poured his heart, dedication, and professionalism into the festival, and we felt deeply cared for on every level.

Concert inspirations
We also had the chance to experience some shows as fans. The performance that struck us the most was by Priest – dynamic, energetic, and entirely live. An absolute blast. We also enjoyed Diary of Dreams, Clan of Xymox (with whom we’ve played twice before in our hometown, Szczecin), Combichrist, Frontline Assembly, Nachtmar, Aesthetic Perfection, Corlyx and Ashbury Heights. Also our label mates SynthAttack gave an energetic and powerful performance
A special moment for us was Dawn of Ashes – a band we personally know and truly love. We’ve got a deep affection for their music and wild stage presence. A surprising discovery was Nel Buio, a black metal band that absolutely blew us away with their powerful masculine stage energy and massive sound.
We also met with the awesome guys from Mal di Luna with whom we made a song Moonlight.

The people who made this trip
Our festival experience wouldn’t have been the same without the crew that accompanied us. Lili and Riccardo from White Ritual hold a special place in our hearts. This year, they joined us as part of our team – handling photography and video footage. Riccardo, apart from being a musician, runs his own company Suprahead Studio, so we knew we were in the best hands.
But more importantly, they are our friends. We’ve played together in Szczecin, in Mannheim at European Dark Dance Treffen, and on May 31st we’ll be performing in their city – Strasbourg. We’ve shared so many stage and off-stage moments that our bond has grown stronger. Our vibe, the laughter, the jokes – it all made this trip even more unforgettable.

We also have to mention the entire Her Own World crew – our techs Einar and Kostaki, and everyone who supported us both logistically and emotionally. This adventure was a shared one, and it wouldn’t have been the same without them. This time, KATOD joined us on guitar since our regular guitarist couldn’t come – and he did an exceptional job.

Off-stage moments
The time spent off stage was just as precious. We explored beautiful Malta – the capital Valletta, the Strawberry Festival in Mgarr, the charming Mdina… We tried local food, absorbed the island’s vibe, and every moment felt like gold. We connected with fans, met new people from the scene – photographers (PIX666, Frau Fernweh), DJs (Arif aka Vade Retro), artists (Miss Fortune). Conversations with Bill Leeb from Frontline Assembly, hanging out with Clan of Xymox, goofing around with Dawn of Ashes – it all created a unique collage of memories.

Why it mattered
Dark Malta Festival was a step forward for us. Another prestigious event we were proud to be part of as full-fledged artists. We made new connections, received gig proposals – ones we can’t talk about just yet – but we feel like this stage opened new doors for us, and we’ll walk through them with our heads held high. We felt like we truly belonged – musically, aesthetically, and energetically. It was a perfect match.

What will stay with us forever
Taking part in Dark Malta Festival 2025 was more than just another show. It was an adventure that struck every chord in our emotional spectrum – from pre-show excitement, through the euphoria of being on stage, to the deep emotions that stayed with us long after.
We would absolutely love to come back – ideally as performers, but even just as attendees, we’d relive this journey all over again. And to all the bands out there: apply. This is a festival with soul, with heart, and with incredible organization. A true gothic paradise on Earth.