A Trilogy of Festivals Part III
Relaxation Tuesday
On the first of July, a Tuesday, the time has come, I’m getting ready for the third festival in a row without an interruption. The dismantling work at Rock & Metal Day’z is coming to an end, and in the afternoon the last dismantling team will leave the site by next year. For us, however, it means leaving for Ballenstedt after breakfast to attend the Rockharz Festival. This time, the journey there and back should be more relaxed and without major traffic jams and criss-crossing than in previous years. For the first time, different routes have been specified that lead to the various campgrounds which are caravan park, reserved area, VIP/inclusion/press area and the general area. In fact, we only get stuck in traffic for a very short time, not even long enough to get to know the people in front of us and have a first beer together while waiting. After less than an hour, we have picked up our accreditation documents and are setting up our old-fashioned canvas tent for the next few days.
It is very hot and there is almost no shade. The temperature even in this tent quickly rises to well over 30°C. On Wednesday, MDR-TV will even document 38.3°C during a live broadcast, and this tent with a ridge height of 3m is really well air-conditioned… We certainly don’t want to have to spend the night in a shelter half sized tent. Nevertheless, we treat ourselves to a freshly tapped beer in the evening at the Mutantenstadl, which is already open, and take a short stroll around the drinking and eating area until we are drawn back to the camping area to meet up with more friends. Of course, we also take a quick look at the still cordoned-off area of the infield. The impressive double stage, on which the bands will perform alternately on the Dark and Rock stages with a small break of five minutes in between so there is no overlapping, makes the usual stunning impression. Only minor details seem to need to be taken care of; in fact, it could almost start right away! Get surprised when you turn the pages!
Valley of Death Wednesday
For many, Wednesday traditionally begins with the obligatory hike up the Teufelsmauer. Traditionally… this year, only a few die-hards tackle the strenuous climb in the scorching heat and actually make it to the top. Over the next few days, we completely lose sight of this idea; the long days are exhausting enough as it is.
So we decide to wait in the little shade there is, cooling off until 15:00 when the infield finally opens completely and the stream of spectators spreads out in anticipation of what is to come, heading for the food and drink stands, the best spots in front of the double stage or the many merch stands. At 15:30, EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS are the first band of the festival to kick off with their extreme metal. Admittedly, their colourful stage outfits don’t quite match their musical style, but that doesn’t detract from the atmosphere, on the contrary.
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Next up are the warriors of TÝR. They are used to lower temperatures on the Faroe Islands, but they kick off with double lead guitar solos and harmonious Viking Metal as if it was a Midgard celebration.
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Things get more spring-like and red as usual with APRIL ART from Hesse. Lisa Watz and the boys immediately captivate the audience and tirelessly encourage them to actively indulge in their Sports Metal. We will encounter the band again and again on the infield over the next few days…
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PRIMAL FEAR gets off to a more frightening start, but they know how to thrill the audience with their thoughtful and catchy power metal, which is subtly darker. Talia, the left-handed guitarist, is particularly striking, not only visually.
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RHAPSODY OF FIRE then create an Italian atmosphere with their imaginative ‘Film Score Metal’, following on seamlessly from the previous act, albeit a little late. The audience loves it, and why wouldn’t they?
At what is an early hour for them, just after 19:10, THE dark Melodic Death Metal specialists take the stage: INSOMNIUM. It becomes very atmospheric, Finnish and melancholic, but a powerful, incomparable soundscape is woven that would have resurrected the dead even six hours later, well after midnight.
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They are followed by DARK TRANQUILLITY, so we remain true to the far north and the sub-genre. Nevertheless, they are true rays of sunshine in comparison, well, the sun is slowly beginning to set, the temperatures are becoming more ‘Nordic’ and bearable, just in time for another Scandinavian band.
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CLAWFINGER play with a carefree crossover of Rap, Nu Metal and electronic influences. Those who can, can, as they prove with flying colours.
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Things then get classical with none other than APOCALYPTICA. Classical in this case means cellos instead of guitars and bass, but also cover versions of classic trash metal pieces from Metallica, this time purely instrumental without vocals, but all the more alienated and distorted, which is a good thing, because they prepare the willing audience for Wednesday’s headliner.
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The British band SAXON is playing at the Rockharz Festival for the first time, and it will be their last performance for a few weeks. Singer Biff has to undergo an urgent surgery at short notice, so ten performances have been cancelled. The NWOBHM band members are not planning to return to live performances until the end of August at NOAF in Wörrstadt. The show is correspondingly spectacular, with the band in top form, delivering one of their hits from over 40 years ago after another.
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Max Cavalera‘s SOULFLY then bring the cheerful round dance to a close with a fast-paced set starting at 00:35. The crowd grooves, headbangs and moshes as if there were no tomorrow and no night you could use to sleep a few hours. COULD, if you don’t want to reflect on the day with a drink or two, take a walk around the campground to treat yourself to a free drink, or simply because you’re still too excited to fall into bed exhausted.
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