Hawaii-Friday
Colourful Morning
Friday’s the traditional Hawaii-day of the inglorious Grabenschlampen, the closing act tonight fits in very well. And I will have two interviews with Van Canto and Nanowar Of Steel. So it is quite clear for me that I will again miss some bands.
Anyway, opening act is Surgical Strike as short-term replacement for Defects. The Germans play a merciless, precise, and fast Thrash Metal.
The Night Eternal follows with some good old Heavy Metal in a modern garment. I’m sure, they will become bigger soon, the attendance of the audience already is promising!
I had a short side look at them during last year’s SBOA and the few songs impressed me. Now I have the chance to watch not only the last two songs but the full slot of League of Distortion. Their slightly Gothic, but mainly Modern Metal and stage presence convince not only me but the masses of Rockharz.
They make way for a funnier metal genre, Vogelfrey enter the stage with some Folk Metal. Good mood, singalongs and party time is guaranteed.They have a shawm on stage, the next band presents another uncommon instrument.
Spidergawd come up with a saxophone instead of an additional guitar. And it fits like a glove. Pure joy of playing and enthusiasm rules the stage for 45 minutes and sets the audience on fire.
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Splendid Afternoon
On the Dark Stage Unearth are ready to boil the audience even more with Metalcore. With it come of course circle pits, larger and larger, larger than life.
At tea-time a unique band enters the stage. Van Canto present A Capella Metal. Six different vocalists and a drummer imitate traditional instruments. Their set consists of original songs and cover versions. Legendary is their closer, Iron Maiden’s “Fear Of The Dark”. I interviewed Inka and Stefan short after Van Canto’s show. The interview will be publshed soon.
Afterwards it is time for some British Death Metal and Benediction. What a contrast! The band had its ups and downs in the past 20 years with a longer break in between, but this afternoon belongs to them and they still sound wild, fresh, and raw.
It becomes even tougher with next band, Dying Fetus, and their American Death Metal with Gore elements, at least in the older songs. Did you notice the different styles of these two bands? Which one did you prefer? I am more traditional, so…
I miss the next two bands, Unleash The Archers, and Kissin’ Dynamite. I know, it is a sacrilege, but things happen. Here are some impressions of the audience instead.
I return for Suicidal Tendencies on the Dark Stage. There is no need to waste a word on them. These Crossover Thrashers simply deliver like there is no tomorrow and they are celebrated by a thankful audience. Very, very well done!
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The Night Out
After an afternoon full of more extreme metal bands beside Glam and Power Metal, it becomes time for a little bit of Swedish Melodic Metal. Amaranthe with their three vocalists present a fine cross-section through their albums.
Alestorm make a complete U-turn in style. Can I describe their style as Beer-Metal? At least some of their song titles and the name suggest it. The infield is crowded, and the party goes on and on and on, all night long.
No, Dimmu Borgir interrupt it with their brutal and very black Symphonic Metal. The mood is gloomy, the sound is heavy, and the performance is very carried.
Party Metal returns with Italian Nanowar Of Steel. Don’t take them seriously, don’t simply see them as a fun band. Fun is serious and hard work. What seems so easy on stage is the result of very skilled musicians – even if they deny it again and again. They are the perfect closer tonight, before it is time for a last beer, mead, or whisky in the jar or simply bedtime.
