Friday 27th June
Have a look around
Before the infield officially opens, there is the opportunity to enjoy a hot or cold breakfast there from 9:00 on, which is certainly taken advantage of, as the prices are reasonable enough that it is not worthwhile for many to prepare their own food. Until the first band plays, there is plenty of time to take a closer look at the new, cosy grounds, check out the merch stands, buy raffle tickets, spin the wheel of fortune or visit the beverage stands, if you don’t want to retreat to the campground. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the bands arriving, who are guided around the grounds by their personal assistants, and this can lead to a little chat. That’s the advantage of smaller festivals: as a guest, you’re much closer to the bands and, of course, vice versa. Only those who really want to shield themselves and stay among themselves in the backstage area do so, but they are the minority.
Voltage 101
At 13:40, the moment has arrived: Voltage 101 climb the stairs to the stage right on time and kick off with a bang. Their straightforward, no-frills musical style in the best metal tradition catches the audience’s attention and ultimately drives some of the listeners on the campground to the infield at such an early hour.
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Valid Blu
Next up are Valid Blu with their charismatic vocalist Suzen Berlin. The lady and her band really have it all, and many know them from the Metal Frenzy Festival and know what show elements to expect. Musically, the band is beyond reproach, multi-layered and progressive, provocative and in tune with current events, the musicians know exactly what they are doing.
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Bury the Liar
Bury The Liar‘s extreme metalcore divides opinion. Not everyone can cope with the brutality and harshness of the music. Mind you, it’s an art to play so fast and so precisely and to express yourself half in a scream, half in a growl. Once you understand the concept, you can really enjoy the underlying aggression.
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Eradicator
Things get a little ‘quieter’ and less hectic afterwards with Thrash legends Eradicator. Visually striking, of course, is the magnificent hair of vocalist and guitarist Sebastian Stöber. In 21 years of band history, the four thrashers haven’t lost their touch and go full throttle from the first to the last minute. In addition, the guys, who are actually veterans despite their young age, later prove to be very close to the audience and simply mingle with the crowd. That’s how it is when you start your band at the age of around 15…
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Fury
The next band is my personal favourite as you might imagine from the amount of pics. Fury from Birmingham brings a more traditional and, above all, British vibe to the festival for the first time. The band, led by vocalist and guitarist Julian Jenkins and bassist Becky Baldwin, also known as the bassist for Mercyful Fate or through her former bands such as Dorja, Triaxis and Hands Off Gretel, plays pure old-school heavy metal in the best style of early Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Saxon or Def Leppard. No, not really, actually. The five musicians have developed considerably based on this, thanks in part to the great, bluesy voice of vocalist Nyah Ifill and Becky’s intricate bass lines.
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After their one hour-long performance, they actually want to go back to the hotel, put away their instruments, freshen up and come back, but as it happens, they stay and remain seated among the audience until the last band has played and they really have to go to the hotel, as they have to leave very early the next morning for Breda in the Netherlands for the last concert of their short tour. If you liked them, their new album ‘Interceptor’ will be released in early September.
Victory
Before the headliner takes the stage, Victory plays first. With them, it remains very traditional at first. They are in no way inferior to Fury. The style is similar, but different, old school heavy metal. Well done and thrilling the audience, but what else would you expect from a band that has been around for 41 years, with a few interruptions? Right, nothing except fresh, precise playing paired with their experience to put on a successful performance.
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Mr. Hurley und die Pulveraffen
Now it’s finally time for something Caribbean. It’s not Jamaica, but Osnabrück, but Mr. Hurley und die Pulveraffen transform the stage and the festival grounds into Tortuga and the elements of the seven pirate seas. Professional and experienced, they play their usual fun set, adapted of course to the small festival. After all, the band and their crew are currently on a festival tour. So they are well-rehearsed and function as precisely as clockwork. Every movement, every gesture is perfect, without neglecting a certain spontaneity.
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Darkness
With Darkness, it is now really dark, and things get metallic again. Lee Weinberg‘s band shines with the finest Thrash metal late in the evening. With over 40 years under their belts, they play like young gods who have been given a guitar and had all the knobs turned up to ten. On 27 September, they will be playing their official 40th anniversary show in Essen, so make a note of the date, it’s worth it.
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A long day is over, but not for everyone. Guests are still lining up at the beer and whisky stands to enjoy a nightcap or a drink on the way back to camp, and then it’s ‘brush your teeth, pee, off to bed’ 😉. Just have a look at the bands’ goodbyes and the fun of the audience.
