Post by Sneltrekker on Jun 27, 2006 14:35:02 GMT
Post your reviews here in this topic. I'll start with mine.
I wrote it originally on my blog:
sneltrekker.sin.khk.be/blog/archives/75
I'll copy it here without pictures because I'm too lazy to convert all the HTML to BB code.
Well, I promised a full review. So here it comes. About the lack of good pictures. Blame the camera, the moshers, the crowdsurfers and everything else but me.
Seeing as I needed to wait in line for the entrance and all, I was only inside at 12:00 so I missed most of Machine Men. I heard 1 song from the distance, and the last song I was at stage. 2 songs aren’t really enough to make a decision I guess, but it sounded like they definately improved their live skills since last September as Sonata’s support band.
Next was As I Lay Dying. Screamo isn’t really my thing, but they were quite good anyway. I ran into a mate from college and anyway, next was DragonForce on mainstage. It sucked I couldn’t get to the front to get a decent picture. But anyway, they totally owned. Definately one of the best bands of the day. Too bad they played mostly from their latest album.
After DF we split up and I went to Ensiferum. They played both really old songs and newer ones. And it was quite enjoyable. I managed to snap 2 pictures. Though the quality isn’t all that great.
Then it was back to mainstage for probably one of the lesser bands of the day called Armored Saint. Not sure what genre it is. Some kind of punkrock-metal hybrid maybe? Anyway, yank music it was. When the singer came up first I was thinking who let loose the Eminem clone on a metal festival by the way. I mean, basketball shirt … baggy pants … aaalriiight. Since I stood 3rd row for two songs I did manage to make some decent pictures though.
After Armored Saint it was time for a European band again, the Belgian black metal act Enthroned. Same thing applies really as with As I Lay Dying. Black Metal isn’t my style either, but they did give an interesting show nonetheless.
Back to mainstage then, for In Flames. They totally owned every band who played until then. They mostly played music from Reroute to Remain, but also one song from their very first album. I can’t remember the name but I loved it even more than their later music, I think I’ll get their older albums now. Inbetween the songs rastaguy also managed to make a few funny jokes about the weather and soccer. I managed to get 4 pictures that are semi-decent … 2 from the singer and two of blondie, since last time I saw them live Maky asked me about him. I really should learn their names sometime, in November I’m seeing them live 3rd time in a year, would be a shame if I keep referring to them this way.
After In Flames came Exodus and Ignite. Neither is really my style so I decided to check them both out. First I went to Ignite. They sounded like a bunch of yanks trying to be as loud as possible without any kind of music behind it. I figured it was just the first song that sucked, so I wanted to stay for the second song. But in between those songs the singer began to bitch about heaven and about the christian god, so I decided to leave already and move on to Exodus.
Awesome, yet another yank band. Or at least they sounded like one. What is it with yank metal artists and insulting the audience? Does it make them more tr00 or kVlt? That’s one of those things that just get on my nerves. European bands usually prefer to show respect to their audience and well, they can’t complain about their popularity can they? Anyway, the music itself was fine I guess. But still the band pissed me off.
Luckily Helloween was up next. This guy showed how to do it. He didn’t insult anyone, yet the audience was like wax in his hands. If he said scream, people screamed; if he said jump, people jumped. At one moment he announced a certain song though and they played another one, which was quite stupid, but they played the right song immediately afterwards. The music itself was great, they once more proved why every modern power metal band tries to sound like these guys. Also, because I managed to be in third row I did get a few nice pictures again.
After Forever came up next in the Marquee. It was too crowded by my tastes, so I stayed outside where I still had perfect sound, just couldn’t see them. I’m still undecided on who’s better, After Forever or Epica. I saw them both live now and I keep doubting. Anyway, doesn’t matter that much I guess, but it’s one of those polls that pop up on every Dutch metal forum.
Afterwards it was back to mainstage with Saxon. By this time I ran into some guys from the Dutch Sonata Arctica fanclub so I decided to stick with them and we went for something to eat. It sounded to me like classic Heavy Metal. It wasn’t bad. But nothing I couldn’t miss I guess.
Then came two bands again in the marquees. Arch Enemy and Cradle of Filth. I went to one CoF song anyway, I mean, now I can bitch about them with actual live experience. I must admit they gave a great show. Except for the band members they had some acrobat in a devil’s costume with wings doing summersaults and that shit on stage, so it all looked good. Now they just need to sound as good as they look still.
Arch Enemy definately owned them though. The marquee was filled to the brim and even outside people were standing thick because so many wanted to hear them. I took about 20 minutes to push and squirm to third row, where I wanted to take some nice pictures of the hot singer. Up until then I only managed to take photos of guys, so it would make a nice change. But a moshpit started right behind me, and there was a crowdsurfer passing over me every 10 seconds, so it was pretty fucked up. The crowd went wild. The music was great though. And yeah, I don’t like pits or crowdsurfers, they ruin the gig for people standing closeby. I can’t even count the amount of combat boots that ended up in my face anymore. And each muddier than the last one. For fuck’s sake, if you want to crowdsurf, do so at home.
Anyway, that was about the end of the night for me. I stayed for three Motörhead songs, but 70’s Hard Rock isn’t very much my preferred music. And since they were the last band to play I decided to leave. It was a 15 minute walk to my car, and I wanted to avoid the biggest crowd that would leave all at once after this show.
I did make a short stop by the shopping stalls and got myself two older shirts really cheap. A Nightwish shirt of Century Child, and a Slayer shirt from Diabolicus in Musica. 8 € each. Quite a nice price if you compare it to the 15-20 € you pay usually.
Now I can’t wait until the next festival. I still have to order my tickets for Wacken though.
I wrote it originally on my blog:
sneltrekker.sin.khk.be/blog/archives/75
I'll copy it here without pictures because I'm too lazy to convert all the HTML to BB code.
Well, I promised a full review. So here it comes. About the lack of good pictures. Blame the camera, the moshers, the crowdsurfers and everything else but me.
Seeing as I needed to wait in line for the entrance and all, I was only inside at 12:00 so I missed most of Machine Men. I heard 1 song from the distance, and the last song I was at stage. 2 songs aren’t really enough to make a decision I guess, but it sounded like they definately improved their live skills since last September as Sonata’s support band.
Next was As I Lay Dying. Screamo isn’t really my thing, but they were quite good anyway. I ran into a mate from college and anyway, next was DragonForce on mainstage. It sucked I couldn’t get to the front to get a decent picture. But anyway, they totally owned. Definately one of the best bands of the day. Too bad they played mostly from their latest album.
After DF we split up and I went to Ensiferum. They played both really old songs and newer ones. And it was quite enjoyable. I managed to snap 2 pictures. Though the quality isn’t all that great.
Then it was back to mainstage for probably one of the lesser bands of the day called Armored Saint. Not sure what genre it is. Some kind of punkrock-metal hybrid maybe? Anyway, yank music it was. When the singer came up first I was thinking who let loose the Eminem clone on a metal festival by the way. I mean, basketball shirt … baggy pants … aaalriiight. Since I stood 3rd row for two songs I did manage to make some decent pictures though.
After Armored Saint it was time for a European band again, the Belgian black metal act Enthroned. Same thing applies really as with As I Lay Dying. Black Metal isn’t my style either, but they did give an interesting show nonetheless.
Back to mainstage then, for In Flames. They totally owned every band who played until then. They mostly played music from Reroute to Remain, but also one song from their very first album. I can’t remember the name but I loved it even more than their later music, I think I’ll get their older albums now. Inbetween the songs rastaguy also managed to make a few funny jokes about the weather and soccer. I managed to get 4 pictures that are semi-decent … 2 from the singer and two of blondie, since last time I saw them live Maky asked me about him. I really should learn their names sometime, in November I’m seeing them live 3rd time in a year, would be a shame if I keep referring to them this way.
After In Flames came Exodus and Ignite. Neither is really my style so I decided to check them both out. First I went to Ignite. They sounded like a bunch of yanks trying to be as loud as possible without any kind of music behind it. I figured it was just the first song that sucked, so I wanted to stay for the second song. But in between those songs the singer began to bitch about heaven and about the christian god, so I decided to leave already and move on to Exodus.
Awesome, yet another yank band. Or at least they sounded like one. What is it with yank metal artists and insulting the audience? Does it make them more tr00 or kVlt? That’s one of those things that just get on my nerves. European bands usually prefer to show respect to their audience and well, they can’t complain about their popularity can they? Anyway, the music itself was fine I guess. But still the band pissed me off.
Luckily Helloween was up next. This guy showed how to do it. He didn’t insult anyone, yet the audience was like wax in his hands. If he said scream, people screamed; if he said jump, people jumped. At one moment he announced a certain song though and they played another one, which was quite stupid, but they played the right song immediately afterwards. The music itself was great, they once more proved why every modern power metal band tries to sound like these guys. Also, because I managed to be in third row I did get a few nice pictures again.
After Forever came up next in the Marquee. It was too crowded by my tastes, so I stayed outside where I still had perfect sound, just couldn’t see them. I’m still undecided on who’s better, After Forever or Epica. I saw them both live now and I keep doubting. Anyway, doesn’t matter that much I guess, but it’s one of those polls that pop up on every Dutch metal forum.
Afterwards it was back to mainstage with Saxon. By this time I ran into some guys from the Dutch Sonata Arctica fanclub so I decided to stick with them and we went for something to eat. It sounded to me like classic Heavy Metal. It wasn’t bad. But nothing I couldn’t miss I guess.
Then came two bands again in the marquees. Arch Enemy and Cradle of Filth. I went to one CoF song anyway, I mean, now I can bitch about them with actual live experience. I must admit they gave a great show. Except for the band members they had some acrobat in a devil’s costume with wings doing summersaults and that shit on stage, so it all looked good. Now they just need to sound as good as they look still.
Arch Enemy definately owned them though. The marquee was filled to the brim and even outside people were standing thick because so many wanted to hear them. I took about 20 minutes to push and squirm to third row, where I wanted to take some nice pictures of the hot singer. Up until then I only managed to take photos of guys, so it would make a nice change. But a moshpit started right behind me, and there was a crowdsurfer passing over me every 10 seconds, so it was pretty fucked up. The crowd went wild. The music was great though. And yeah, I don’t like pits or crowdsurfers, they ruin the gig for people standing closeby. I can’t even count the amount of combat boots that ended up in my face anymore. And each muddier than the last one. For fuck’s sake, if you want to crowdsurf, do so at home.
Anyway, that was about the end of the night for me. I stayed for three Motörhead songs, but 70’s Hard Rock isn’t very much my preferred music. And since they were the last band to play I decided to leave. It was a 15 minute walk to my car, and I wanted to avoid the biggest crowd that would leave all at once after this show.
I did make a short stop by the shopping stalls and got myself two older shirts really cheap. A Nightwish shirt of Century Child, and a Slayer shirt from Diabolicus in Musica. 8 € each. Quite a nice price if you compare it to the 15-20 € you pay usually.
Now I can’t wait until the next festival. I still have to order my tickets for Wacken though.