Thursday
On Thursday, the infield opened its doors a few hours earlier than on Wednesday, and the first band is a true gem. I had just seen them a week earlier at Rock & Metal Day’z, and I was already very impressed by FINAL CRY. So, at 11:50 am, it is time for them to prove me right, and they do just that. Vocalist Kai is media and communications spokesman for ROCKHARZ, so some of you may already know this great guy. The band will be here for the whole festival, and they’re great fun, although Kai will be quite busy. Read what my buddy Daniel has to say:
This is the first time I have seen this band perform, and they were great. The vibes they give off are awesome, and they made all of us in the crowd happy and part of it. Their music reminded me of the ‘Devil May Cry’ game, which has great music that makes you feel like you are in the scene in real life.
.
At 12:25, the Hannover-based band DIE HABENICHTSE take the stage with an entertaining set of folk music and ‘Schmierentheater’. This German phrase cannot be translated, but ‘farce’ might come close.
.
MITTEL ALTA present a sophisticated set inspired by medieval music, rap, techno and metal at 13:05. You will either love it or hate it, but either way, it is a very entertaining set.
.
Next, it’s the turn of all female HAGANE from Japan, who play an interesting and convincing set of traditionally costumed power metal, drawing inspiration from bands such as Helloween, Dragonforce and Frozen Crown. Each member has great technical skills, so it’s only a matter of time before we hear and see more of them.
.
At 14:30, STAHLMANN turn up the volume and play some industrial “Neue Deutsche Härte” music. And no, they are not copying a well-known band from Berlin — STAHLMANN celebrate their own unique style, in terms of both their songs and their shows.
.
SAGENBRINGER, performing at 15:15, are a pleasant surprise at the festival, captivating the audience with their pagan-inspired medieval fantasy music and show. I’m sure that next time, SAGENBRINGER won’t perform in the early afternoon again! Once again, Daniel raises his voice:
My German is still basic, but the music sounds awesome, and they bring great vibes to the crowd.
.
When they finish their set, things become kind of religious… All-female band DOGMA present their highly choreographed hard rock show, which specifically appeals to a male audience. It’s a sexual show, but not overly so – after all, they are naughty and sinful nuns. Overall, however, all five are highly skilled musicians, even though the show takes precedence.
.
Shortly before 17:00, it becomes ‘slightly’ more progressive with WARMEN, the project of Children of Bodom keyboardist Janne Wirman. While the previous band were the eye-catcher, they are the ear-catcher.
.
Groovy metal takes over when Poland’s metal heroes DECAPITATED enter the Dark Stage at 17:50. Their technical death metal (did I mention that I really “like” to classify bands in sub-sub-genres?) convinces the crowd with its technical brilliance.
.
At 18:45, when BETONTOD let the guitars scream, it’s time for some Deutschrock. Whether you like it or not, the crowd is enthusiastic, so they can’t be too wrong!
.
From 19:40 onwards, American hardcore punk veterans AGNOSTIC FRONT fire one guitar volley after another into the crowd. With nearly 45 years of live experience, they know exactly what they are doing.
.
Do you love the TV show The Walking Dead? Then you’ll feel right at home at 20:35. Zombie metalists DOMINUM celebrate their extraordinary power metal as if the apocalypse were happening today and there were no tomorrow. Daniel adds:
It was my first time seeing them, and they were really good. Their covers sounded very clear and good overall.
I don’t know if there will be a tomorrow when the next band, AVATAR from Sweden, perform their very theatrical metal show at 21:40. It’s a wild mix of The Joker, The Crow, and Harley Quinn, preparing us for tonight’s headliner. Here is Doro’s comment:
Really good music and a really good show. Tirelessly energetic, good Swedish metal. The whole band headbanging in unison never ceases to impress. They’re solid and keep the crowd entertained and really get them going. It was the singer’s birthday, and he really rocked the stage.
Daniel continues:
This is the second time I’ve seen them live, and they were just amazing. The singer was really funny, and he knew how to make people laugh, create a good vibe, and connect with the crowd. You could also hear him very clearly while he was singing, and you could understand everything he sang. He’s a really great singer, and the band is just awesome. I love them! They were my favourite so far at the festival and I would love to see them again here in the future!
.
At 22:45, ALICE COOPER and his famous live band, sadly without guitar goddess Nita Strauss, who is a new mother, but Anna Cara did a damn good job, teaches us a lesson in shock rock, theatre metal and pure entertainment. We enjoy all the gimmicks and effects that we love Alice for in 75 minutes, including being beheaded in front of more than 25,000 metalheads — a much bigger crowd than saw Louis XVI lose his head in early 1793.
.
.
HÄMATOM closed Thursday with their midnight show. Welcome to their old-school sanctuary of punishment and lilliputianism. I’m not sure if I like it, though it does have its big moments. Even though most of the remaining audience seem to enjoy it, some seem kind of “irritated”.
.
Anyway, tomorrow is another day. The first band starts even earlier, so it’s time for one or two last beers at the campsite before bedtime. Read part two of the ROCKHARZ report soon!
Online:
Please buy merch and physical music or downloads from the bands’ official sources and don’t stream it for free, because that steals the artists’ income.
Text by Mr. Deep, photos by Friend.X and Pendi