Psychorizon – Tour News MMXIX Pt. II

Tags

Austria, Blues Pills, Century Media, Cher, Deep Purple, European Tour, Faith No More, Germany, Green Day, Hurricane Festival, Judas Priest, Lucifer, No More Tours, Ozzy Osbourne, Portugal, Prince Of Darkness, Punl Rock, Rock Hard, Southside Festival, Southside Touring, Spain, Sweden, The Kelly Family, The Offspring, The Third Commantment, Tons of Rock, Tour Dates, US, Visions, Weezer

With the current year coming close to its end and most bands wrapping up their onstage activities, it’s time to take a look into the future and things to come in 2020. With only one concert I’ve missed out in 2019 due to some health issues and an emotional crisis, I could’t be more excited to get out a litte more again. And as much as I’m still bummed for not being able to actually see Cher live in Cologne, I got some more arena shows to enjoy in December and yes, I AM talking about finally catching up with the Kelly Family. And once again I will try and see Lucifer as well, as they will hit the road The Third Commantment tour throughout the month of may.

Another Swedish band about to get back out in the open is Blues Pills who are working on a new album right now. Be sure to check them out at a festival near you like Tons Of Rock alongside Deep Purple or the German double trouble that is Hurricane Festival and Southside Festival. Guess there will be more dates announced sometime soon. As for festivals, next year will be seeing some of the biggest names from the nineties, like The Offspring and oh yeah, Faith No More. Not to mention the most amazing package of Green Day and Weezer, who sold out way to fast for me. And then there is the reunion of Rage Against The Machine that really needs a decent run of European dates, Let’s see if that will happen. Also US punk legends Bad Religion will celebrate 40 years of raising their voices on the road in Spain and Portugal. And last but certainly not least, the Prince Of Fuckin’ Darkness himself Ozzy Osbourne will be joined by special guests Judas Priest for the second part of his rescheduled No More Tours tour. Check out all German and Austrian dates below.

11.11.20 Dortmund – Westfalenhalle
16.11.20 AT-Wien – Stadthalle
24.11.20 CH-Zürich – Hallenstadion
26.11.20 München – Olympiahalle
28.11.20 Mannheim – SAP Arena
30.11.20 Berlin – Mercedes-Benz-Arena
03.12.20 Hamburg – Barclaycard Arena

DIE 90ER LIVE IN BONN – Zeitreise für Fortgeschrittene

Tags

Alice im Wunderland, “I got to give it up, Babe, Bicycle Race, Blümchen, Boomerang, Boyband, Brian Harvey, Captain Hollywood Project, Captain Jack, Caught In The Act, CITA, Coco Jambo, Computerliebe, Culture Beat, Dancefloor, David Hasselhoff, Diddl, Die 90er live, Don't Walk Away From Me, East 17, Eurodance, Feel the Heat of the Night, Fun Factory, Generation Of Love, Gib mir noch Zeit, Gibson, Gold, Got To Get It, Herz an Herz, House Of Love, I Give You My Heart, I Wann Be With You, It's Allright, Jasmin Wagner, John Hendy, John Terry Bull, Kleiner Satellit (Piep Piep), La Bouche, LayZee, Les Paul, Love Is Everywhere, Markus Krampe, Masterboy, Melanie Thornton, Mister President, Mola Adebisi, Mr. Vain, Old Daddy Duisburg, Oli P, Oliver Petszokat, One-Hit-Wonder, Ooops Up, Queen, Rheinaue Bonn, Rheinkultur, Rhytm Is A Dancer, Riot Girrl, Schimanksi, Slayer, Snap!, Sonnenallee, Sonnenfinsternis, Stay Another Day, Tartort, Techno, Terry Coldwell, The Kelly Family, The Power, Thunder, Tony Mortimer, Trance, Twenty-4-Seven, Ultras, Up ‘n Away

Das Finale einer der wohl verrücktesten Dekaden der Menschheitsgeschichte ist bald bereits 20 Jahre her und die glorreichen Neunzigerjahre endgültig Geschichte. Zwischen Sonnenallee und Sonnenfinsternis ging nicht nur ein Jahrzehnt, sondern ein Jahrtausend zu Ende, das Millennium war völlig zurecht Wort des Jahres. Zurück in der Zukunft ist die Zeit des gefühlten Aufbruchs aktueller denn je und Parties, die sich an die kollektive Kindheit und Jugend erinnern, landesweit jedes Wochenende der absolute Hit. Wer allerdings eine Art interaktive Zeitreise unternehmen möchte, muss dieser Tage ein Konzertticket käuflich erwerben und sich zu einer der zahlreichen Veranstaltungen aufmachen, die sich vor der Vergangenheit verneigen und mit einem Hauch Melancholie gedenken. Für Nostalgiker und ewig junggebliebene Musikfreaks genau das Richtige, also auch für mich.

Wegweiser sind hier nicht von Pappe & die Erfrischung stilecht!

Also zurück zur Bonner Rheinaue, wo ich zuletzt 2011 der dortigen Rheinkultur beiwohnte. Dank zwei Ortskundiger im passenden Look mit original Vintage Haarschmuck erreiche ich pünktlich gegen 14 Uhr das Eventgelände – im Hintergrund gibt der deutsche Danceflooract Fun Factory seine Hits zum Besten. “I Wanna be with you” direkt zum Mitsingen, eine passendere Begrüßung hätte ich mir nicht vorstellen können. Akustische Untermalung während meiner ersten Erkundung vor Ort, gibt’s dann noch von den reaktivierten La Bouche, die auch ohne Sängerin Melanie Thornton einige der absoluten Ober-Ohrwürmer präsentieren. Wer hier stumm bleibt, hat sich ganz klar in der Adresse geirrt. Für mich persönlich ist der Trip auf der Straße der Erinnerungen 2019 einfach passend, denn meine Biographie ist aktuell übersät mit Jubiläen und auch meine allererste Konzerterfahrung lasse ich noch einmal aufleben, wenn ich 25 Jahre und drei Tage später, mir zum zweiten Mal in meinem Leben die Kelly Family angucke. Damals 1994 waren sie in Duisburg in einem Zirkuszelt im Sportpark Wedau aufgetreten, 2019 ist es die Arena Oberhausen, in der ich sie passend zur Weihnachtszeit sehe werde. 1994 war zudem das Jahr, in dem ich mir die erste CD von East 17 kaufte und die berüchtigte britische Boyband, die auch Jungs cool finden durften, Hauptgrund, mir Die 90er live in Bonn reinzuziehen.

Hier sitzt jeder Ton & Tanzschritt: CITA

Von meinen Freunden durchaus belächelt, aber derartige Reaktionen haben mich noch nie interessiert. Das war es auch, was ich in den 90s mochte und auch immer noch liebe: Jeder kann die abgefucktesten Klamotten tragen, komische Musik hören und doch haben sich irgendwie alle lieb. Zugegebener Maßen ist das eher eine romantisierte Sichtweise auf das, was damals war und hat mit tatsächlicher Erinnerung wenig zu tun, aber genau darum geht es heute auch: Sich auf das besinnen, was damals wirklich oder zumindest  gefühlt besser war. Und gefeiert haben wir in den 90ern, auch ich und angefangen habe ich in der Duisburger Kult-Disco schlechthin, dem Old Daddy. Dort gastierte einst schon Tatort Kommissar Schimanski und heute ist die Institution fast wieder so beliebt wie früher. Nach einem ersten musikalischen Marsch plus Gepäck in Form meines Diddl-Portemonnaies und den Klängen von Captain Jack samt seiner leicht bekleideten Kompanie attraktiver Damen, bin ich voll da im Moment. Also zurück ins Jetzt und während ich noch die Örtlichkeiten aufsuche, stürmt ein niederländisch-englischer Exportschlager die Bühne, der mich als Teenie minimal tangierte. Für Caught In The Act war ich als waschechtes Riot Girrrl einfach zu cool und die Jungs einfach nicht mein Fall, doch “20 Jahre später und 40 Kilo schwerer” holen mich die mittlerweile sehr gereiften Männer plötzlich komplett ab. Auf einmal sind all die Songtexte wieder da, die sich irgendwo zwischen Amygdala und Stammhirn erfolgreich eingenistet haben. “Babe”, “Don’t Walk Away From Me” und natürlich der Dauerbrenner “Love Is Everywhere” bringen mich zum Tanzen, Singen und Lachen. Und ich glaub, ich bin jetzt auch Fan!

Die Bad Boys aller Boybands: East 17 (Ultras) 

Auch wenn Culture Beat kein klassisches One-Hit-Wonder sind, von denen es in den Charts der Nineties nur so wimmelt, wird doch schnell klar, dass außer dem Überkracher “Mr. Vain” und dem etwas weniger kultigen “Got to Get it” hier nicht viel Substanz zu erwarten ist. Schade, aber manche Songs funktionieren aus der Konserve eben weitaus besser. Da kann die Tranceformation Snap! ein deutlich umfangreicheres Repertoire aufweisen und überzeugt mit Stücken wie “The Power”, “Ooops Up” und natürlich DEM Eurodance-Dauerohrwurm überhaupt “Rhythm is a Dancer”. Und dann ist er endlich gekommen, der Moment, in dem sie da sind und eine dezent verstrahlte und musikverrückte 12-Jährige in mir ausrasten möchte, denn über 25 Jahre musste sie warten, um endlich diese Typen in Echt anschmachten zu können: East FUCKIN’ 17! Mit “Steam” – Album UND Single –  haben sie mein Herz und Gehör erobert, aber auch die diversen Hits davor und einige danach sind für mich seither unvergesslich. Da sind sie also, live, in Farbe und voller Größe und somit kleiner als ich – das zumindest trifft auf das einzige Originalmitglied Terry Coldwell zu. Mein Favorit der Truppe, John Hendy, ist leider im vergangenen Jahr ausgestiegen, von Hauptsongschreiber Tony Mortimer und Leadsänger Brian Harvey will ich gar nicht erst anfangen. Es ist wie es ist und ich bin dennoch völlig hin und futsch. So surreal ist es, diese live Songs zu hören, und einen blauen Fleck vom Körpervollkontakt davonzutragen, als John Terry Bull nach kurzer Tuchfühlung mit dem Publikum zurück auf die Bühne springt. “It’s Allright”, “Thunder”, “House of Love”, “Gold”, “Steam” und “Stay Another Day” (hab ich noch was vergessen?!) sind nach einer guten halben Stunde viel zu schnell schon wieder vorbei und ich muss erstmal klarkommen.

Captain Hollywood Project: Call me, Mister (not so vain)

Es folgt die mit Abstand größte Überraschung des Tages, denn die tanzbaren Überreste von Twenty-4-Seven in Form der Nürnberger Dancefloor-Formation Captain Hollywood Project überzeugt mich vor allem durch ihre Liveband: Drei langhaarige Typen, der Bassist mit Slayer-Shirt, der obligatorische Glamrocker im Netzhemd und dann dieser rothaarige Gitarrist mit einer schwarzen Les Paul, höchstwahrscheinlich von Gibson und Bikerlederjacke. Irgendwann fliegt sein Hut und das Feuer flammt auf; also ich bin begeistert, nicht zuletzt von dem kleinen “Flirt”, der sich zwischen Bühne und Fotograben und uns beiden anbahnt. Da kann auch schon mal der Reiß- oder vielmehr Reizverschluss klemmen. Aber hey, hier und heute bleibt eben keine Hose ganz geschlossen und die Emotionen sind mindestens so heiß, wie die Pyrotechnik. Doch einer hat heute ganz klar den Preis für das mitunter beste Bühnenoutfit verdient: LayZee fka. Mister President kann nicht nur mit seinem Hüftschwung überzeugen. Im beigefarbenen Anzug, weißem Hemd und Sneakern wirken “Coco Jambo”, “Up ‘n Away” und “I Give You My Heart” fast schon seriös. Dass an diesem Samstag einfach alles möglich ist, wird auch in der kommenden Stunde deutlich, denn es folgt eine Aufwartung von Veranstalter Markus Krampe höchstpersönlich. Der bedankt sich zunächst bei den 25.000 Zuschauern und hat dann noch eine ganz besondere Mission: Ein Geburtstagsgeschenk an den äußert verzückten Oliver Petszokat überreichen, denn der feiert seinen 41. und das zur Freude aller Beteiligten. Und dann schnell rückwärts an den Bühnenrand und für die wartende Masse noch mal nach vorne stürmen, aber vorher hat auch das Geburtstagskind noch einen Auftrag. Denn nicht nur das Älterwerden wird in der Bundesstadt gefeiert, sondern auch die Liebe und so werden wir heute Zeuge eines Heiratsantrags mit Happy End, hach. Aufgetreten ist Oli P. dann auch noch und hat mit eigenen Stücken und Covern alle abgeholt. Für mich gibt es dann zwei Fotos vom Meister der Selfies und selbsternannten größten David Hasselhoff-Fan aller Zeiten selbst geschossen, nachdem mein Smartphone plötzlich auf der Bühne und in Olis Händen ist, was für ein geiler Typ!

Star zum Anfassen: Oli P. sind Berührungsängste völlig fremd

Als nächstes dann Masterboy, die ich schon gar nicht mehr auf dem Schirm hatte, die aber dennoch im allgemeinen Unterbewusstsein gut verankert sind und auch ich stimme bei Tracks wie “Feel the Heat of the Night”, “I got to give it up” und dem quasi leitmotivischen “Generation Of Love” ein und freue mich des Lebens. Nachdem nun auch die Sonne über Bonn untergegangen ist, wird es noch mal richtig spannend. Dank Moderator Mola Adebisi und Live-DJ von Radio Bonn wird es auch zwischen den Bands und Künstlern nie langweilig. Aber erst beim Grande Finale blüht die ehemalige Hauptstadt der BRD noch einmal richtig auf, wenn Jasmin Wagner als Blümchen beweist, wie massentauglich Techno mit einer Priese Pop auch im 21. Jahrhundert ist. Mit knapp 40 Jahren überstrahlt die hochgewachsene Hamburgerin heute alle Sterne am Himmel. Die Bühnendeko zwischen Fitness-Studio und Alice im Wunderland sorgt für die optische Komponente. Doch auch ganz ohne Riesen-Einhörner, Rennrad und ihre Tänzerinnen und Tänzer wäre Blümchen der berichtigte Headliner des Abends. “Ich bin wieder hier” als Opener könnte kaum besser passen, denn bereits 2018 war das Nordlicht in seiner Paraderolle wieder aktiv und konnte auch in Bonn als reife Blume live überzeugen. “Computerliebe”, “Gib mir noch Zeit”, “Boomerang”, “Kleiner Satellit (Piep Piep)” und “Herz an Herz” kennt jeder und auch ihre Liebeserklärung an die “beste Band der Welt” mit ihrer Interpretation des Queen-Klassikers “Bicycle Race” verfehlt seine Wirkung wahrlich nicht. Um 22 Uhr ist dann Schluss und heute geht hoffentlich jeder glücklich nach Hause. Danke an alle, die mit mir gefeiert haben, ihr wisst, wer gemeint ist. Und dicken Dank für die exzellente Verpflegung im Fotograben. Wir sehen uns 2020.

Blümchen: Jasmin Wagner kann sich hören & sehen lassen

__________________________________________________________________

Die 90er live Homepage

Die 90er live auf Facebook

Die 90er live auf Instagram

ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2019 – Die Quadratur des Kreises

Tags

Amphitheater Gelsenkirchen, Anthrax, Black Mirrors, Cannibal Corpse, Carnivore A.D., Chapel Of Disease, Fifth Angel, Gamma Ray, Heir Apparent, Long Distance Calling, Possessed, Rhein-Herne-Kanal, Rock Hard Festival, Ruhrpott, Running Order, Skid Row, Symphony X, The Idiots, The Obsessed, The Vintage Caravan, The Vulture, TuRock Essen, Tygers Of Pan Tang, Tyler Leads, Visigoth, Wacken Open Air, Watain

Oder auch “Das Runde muss ins Eckige” – denn Sport-Allegorien machen im Ruhrpott weitaus mehr Sinn, als klassische Probleme der Geometrie und wer freut sich nicht über Fußball-Zitate? Im Fall des diesjährigen Rock Hard Festivals ist die Mannschaftsaufstellung zwar noch nicht vollständig beschlossene Sache, doch dank internationaler Topspieler, können wir auf ein spannendes Wochenende hoffen. Zwei Positionen sind bisher noch geheim, aber sicher wird hier nicht die Ersatzbank der globalen Metalszene in Anspruch genommen werden. Auch für mich persönlich geht es nach den ersten zehn Spielzeiten dieses Jahr tatsächlich doch noch in die Verlängerung beim alljährlichen Stelldichein im Gelsenkirchener Amphitheater. Auch wenn hier, anders als in der Arena Auf Schalke keine Länderspiele ausgetragen werden, besticht die Location mit ihrer traumhaften Lage am Wasser direkt am Rhein-Herne-Kanal.

Da mir Nachwuchsförderung schon immer sehr am Herzen lag, freue ich mich ganz besonders nach meinem letzten Treffen vor fünf Jahren in Wacken, den isländischen Classic Rock Exportschlager The Vintage Caravan endlich wieder zu sehen. Wer es nicht zu Pfingsten schafft, kann die drei Jungs aktuell auf Tour zusammen mit den Belgiern Black Mirrors sehen. Kommende Woche machen die beiden Bands Halt im TuRock Essen und das pünktlich zum Oster-Sonntag.

Alle bisher bestätigten Bands könnt ihr hier finden – und hoffentlich in den kommenden Tagen mitsamt finaler Running Order auf der RHF Homepage.

ANTHRAX
GAMMA RAY (Erste NRW-Show seit 2015!)
CANNIBAL CORPSE
WATAIN
POSSESSED (Exklusive Festival-Show in Deutschland!) MAGNUM
SKID ROW
SYMPHONY X
FIFTH ANGEL
CARNIVORE A.D.
THE OBSESSED
TYGERS OF PAN TANG
LONG DISTANCE CALLING
THE VINTAGE CARAVAN
HEIR APPARENT
VISIGOTH
CHAPEL OF DISEASE
THE IDIOTS
TYLER LEADS
THE VULTURE

+ weitere 2 Top Acts!

__________________________________________________________________

Rock Hard Festival Homepage

Rock Hard Festival Facebook Page

Psychorizon – Tour News MMXIX

Tags

(Dolch), Alexander Örn Númason, Óskar Logi Ágústsson, Black Mirrors, Bullet, City Girl, Coven, Demon Head, European Tour, Gateways, Guðmundur Óli Pálmason, Horisont, Jex Thoth, Jinx Doawson, Johanna Sadonis, King Dude, Linnéa Olsson, Look Into The Black Mirror, Lucifer, Maggot Heart, Magickal Chaos Tour 2019, Marcella Di Troia, Nicke Andersson, Pierre Lateur, Roadburn Festival, Spell, The Gateways Tour, The Hellacopters, The Oath, The Ruins Of Beverast, The Vintage Caravan, Ván Records, Wicked Woman, Witchcraft Destroys Minds And Reaps Souls, Wucan

Three months and three days into 2019 and so far there’s not too much on my schedule. But with spring ahead, some really decent tours are on the horizon and some will even head my way. While US-audiences always seem to get a much bigger piece of the cake, there’s no reason to complain on my end.

Kicking off 13 days from today, Sweden’s Lucifer will cross the big pond for an extended North-American tour with very special guests Spell. Furthermore the band will join forces with The Hellacopters to glance Europe with their collective Rock’n’Roll shenanigans.

Lucifer & The Hellacopters 

13.05. Cologne, Germany, E – Werk

14.05. Hamburg, Germany, Markthalle

15.05. Berlin, Germany, Astra

16.05. Copenhagen, Denmark, Vega

And as the US will be welcoming yet another amazing tour package featuring King Dude and Maggot Heart, traveling the opposite direction, will be none other than Coven. After I missed out on their headlining appearance at Roadburn 2017 as well as the entire tour last year, I hope to finally catch of with Jinx Dawson and her fellow musicians as they return to European soil this summer.

Teaming up again this year will be Iceland’s finest The Vintage Caravan and Belgium’s very own Black Mirrors. After the first part of The Gateways tour last year, the two bands will hit the road once more throughout April and early May. Two years ago on this day, Black Mirrors released their eponymous debut EP. Their full-length followup “Look Into The Black Mirror” came out on August 30th, 2018. With their third album at hand, The Vintage Caravan will also be supporting Swedish Heavy Metal outlaws Bullet for a few selected dates.

 

MUSKELROCK PÅ TYROLEN 2018 – 10 Years Anniversary Visuals

Tags

About Time, Ann-Sofie Hoyles, Ashbury, Astral Seer, Blood Moon Rise, Bullet, Cirith Ungol, Death Alley, Exterminator, Hällas, Honeymoon Disease, Horisont, Jex Thoth, Killer Machine, Lucifer, Manilla Road, Muskelrock på Tyrolen, Night Viper, Queen of Doom, Queen Of Spades Photography, Rolling Home, Slægt, Spiders, Star Rider, Summon The Dead, The Transecendence, Time Warriors, Två Sidor Av Horisonten

While I was enjoying an extra day off at home right after this years Rock Hard Festival, my partner in crime Queen Of Spades Photography was out and about for some Swedish shenanigans to celebrate ten years of Muskelrock.

Swedish Killer Machine: Spiders

The first edition of this fine event was held in June 2009 and it was a success right from the start. Now it has become a tradition and every year about 1500 headbangers come to the small amusement park Tyrolen to meet old and new friends and listen to good heavy metal music.

Summoning the living: Night Viper

The creators and organizers of the three-day festival have always had a reputation for inviting only the best bands available and this anniversary edition was no exception with legendary acts like Ashbury, Cirith Ungol and Manilla Road garning the line up next to up and coming ones like Death Alley and Slægt. Local bands like Bullet and Horisont shared stages with the likes of Hällas, none of them would miss the chance to play an event like this in their native Sweden. And with Jex Thoth, Spiders, Lucifer, Honeymoon Disease, Night Viper and more, the ladies finally took over!

Star Riders on stage: Hällas

All pictures courtesy of Queen Of Spades Photography

__________________________________________________________________

MUSKELROCK PÅ TYROLEN Homepage

MUSKELROCK PÅ TYROLEN on Facebook

LUCIFER – Sharing The Magic & Casting A Spell On Europe This Fall

Tags

Black Sabbath, Blue Öyster Cult, California Son, Century Media, Deep Purple, Dreamer, Entombed, Europan Tour, Fleetwood Mac, Johanna Sadonis, Linnéa Olsson, Lucifer, Lucifer’s Friend, Maggot Heart, Nicke Andersson, Steppenwolf, Stevie Nicks, The Hellacopters, The Oath, The Second Coming

Kicking off a month from today, magically infused Rock revelation Lucifer will cast a Spell on Europe this fall. Lucifer is a multinational Heavy Rock band from Stockholm. Founded in 2014 in Berlin by The Oath front woman Johanna Sadonis who had then parted ways with former band mate Linnéa Olsson (Maggot Heart) just as their praiseworthy debut saw the light of day. Lucifer is defined by their very heavy 1970s Hard Rock sound, spiced with a good dose of Proto Heavy Metal and Doom Rock. Main influences are groups such as Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Blue Öyster Cult, Lucifer’s Friend, Steppenwolf, 70’s Heart and Fleetwood Mac. With a shift of constellation within the band in 2016 and Johanna Sadonis’ move from Berlin to Stockholm, Lucifer were ready for chapter two. With the critically acclaimed release of their long-awaited second album ‘Lucifer II’ via Century Media on July 6th 2018 and the videos for their new singles ‘California Son’ and ‘Dreamer’, Lucifer is facing a new grand chapter.

Lucifer corrupted the souls of many and achieved international recognition on their past tours. Starting this years live ritual on October 7th, the band will be homebound, playing the first show in the fair city of Stockholm. A most logical step as both sticksman Nicke Andersson (Entombed, The Hellacopters) and his now wife singer Johanna Sadonis call the Swedish capital their home. The newly weds tied the knot on Friday, July 13th 2018  – congrats to the happy couple!

Make sure to catch their magic and love live on stage at any of the upcoming dates in October – check flyer below.

__________________________________________________________________

LUCIFER on Facebook

LUCIFER on Instagram

LUCIFER on Twitter

 

ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2018 – Full Circle Celebration

Tags

Andy Brings, Armored saint, Attic, Axel Rudi Pell, Backyard Babies, Cirith Ungol, Coroner, Dawn Of Disease, Diamond Head, Dool, Doro Pesch, Double Crush Syndrome, Full Circle – Last Exit Rock’n’Roll, Get What You Deserve, Judas Priest, Leatherwolf, Marduk, Memoriam, Monsterpics, Night Demon, Nocturnal Rites, Onkel Tom, Overkill, Painkiller, Queen Of Spades Photography, Rock Hard Festival, Running Order, Saxon, Sodom, The New Roses, Thundermother, Tiamat, Tom Angelripper, Traitor, Uli Jon Roth, Yorck Segatz

2018 marks a special year for me and thus for Psychorizon as I am celebrating ten consecutive years as one of those cheap folks that hang around the VIP area, hardly ever watch all the bands and get a hotel room to stay at – or in my case sleep at home instead of enjoying the annual campout offered by any festival. And yes, it’s the enemy, the Rock’n’Roll writer, some might even call them members of the press. Back in 2009 I took part in the karaoke and ended up performing Judas Priest’s Painkiller in front of over 6000 people. 2010 I met former Sodom guitarist Andy Brings when none other than the Metal Queen Doro had her birthday party at Helvete Metal Club. 2011 we celebrated with Andy at RHF and of course it was a total blast. But nothing could compare to last years’ bday-bash, which saw me and my partner in crime Queen Of Spades Photography on the first ever DCS-Cruise. Currently Andy is working on his first ever rockumentary “Full Circle – Last Exit Rock’n’Roll“- and just in time for my personal party, it just so happened that my best friend and occasional writer for Psychorizon – Yorck Segatz – is on of the new guys in Sodom, being in the same spot our former neighbour Mr. Brings was way back in the days with the first ever Thrash Metal record I would listen to “Get What You Deserve” from 1994. I guess we all get what we deserve sooner or later and everything really ends up as a full circle. Hence I couldn’t be any more exited to see the first Sodom show with the new line up at Rock Hard Festival! Need I say more?

Sodom 2018 – picture courtesy of Monsterpics Fotografien

Yes, of course I need to say more. But enough of the personal flabbergasting. Although it was the nicest coincidence that the Running Order for this years’ event was published yesterday which just so happens to be Yorck’s birthday!

Without further ado here it is now.

See you in there, rain or shine! Celebrating the full circle!

Friday, May 18th

15:00 – 15:40 Dawn Of Disease
16:00 – 16:40 Attic
17:05 – 17:50 Dool
18:15 – 19:15 Diamond Head
19:45 – 21:00 Tiamat
21:30 – 23:00 Sodom

Saturday, May 19th

12:30 – 13:10 Traitor
13:30 – 14:10 Nocturnal Rites
14:30 – 15:15 The New Roses
15:40 – 16:35 Leatherwolf
17:00 – 17:55 Cirith Ungol
18:20 – 19:15 Marduk
19:45 – 21:00 Axel Rudi Pell
21:30 – 23:00 Overkill

Sunday, May 20th

12:00 – 12:40 Thundermother
13:00 – 13:45 Memoriam
14:10 – 14:55 Night Demon
15:20 – 16:20 Uli Jon Roth
16:45 – 17:45 Coroner
18:10 – 19:15 Backyard Babies
19:45 – 21:00 Armored Saint
21:30 – 23:00 Saxon

__________________________________________________________________

Rock Hard Festival Homepage

Rock Hard Festival Facebook Page

MAGGOT HEART – Showing Their Teeth & Banging Their Hair

Tags

Beastmilk, Berlin, City Girls, Cure, Death Alley, Dreancrash, Girl In A Vortex, Gottfrid Åhman, Grave Pleasures, Henk Jacobson, In Solitude, Jan Utrecht, Linnéa Olsson, Maggot Heart, New Hip Moon, No Future, Procession, Queen Of Spades Photography, Razor Head, Reveal, Show Them Your Teeth, Sonic Ritual, Sweden, Teratology Sound & Vision, The Oath, Uno Bruniusson, Uppsala

Strong, fearless, uncompromising – the next big thing.

For those who missed the show last night, here are some impressions!

Video courtesy of Queen Of Spades Photography

ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2017 – Dinner For One

Tags

Adam Nergal Darski, Alia O'Brien, Amen, Amphitheater Gelsenkirchen, André Kvarnström, Angel Witch, Battle Hymn, Behemoth, Blood Ceremony, Blood Of My Enemies, Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel, Blues Pills, Bochum Total, Carcass, DAD, Deep Purple, Devil Man, Dinner For One, Dorian Sorriaux, Dust Bolt, Electric Wizard, Elin Larsson, Fighting The World, Furor Divinus, Hail And Kill, Hammong organ, Helene Fischer, Helvete Oberhausen, High Class Woman, Horisont, Iron Maiden, Jefferson Airplane, Jethro Tull, Ketzer, Kill With Power, Lady In Gold, Lord Of Misrule, Lucas Gadke, Manowar, Messe Noire, Michael Carrillo, Michael Kelso, Miss Sophie, Ora Pro Nonis Lucifer, Queen Of Spades Photography, Robert Pehrsson’s Humbucker, Rock Hard Festival, Rockspektakel, Ross The Boss, Sean Kennedy, Somebody To Love, Steven Hyde, That Seventies Show, The Dead Daisies, The Eldritch Dark, The Satanist, The Vintage Caravan, Ván Records, Wasted Years, Welcome To The Night, Zack Anderson

Same procedure as last year, Miss Sophie? Same procedure as every year, James – Skål! This is not an untimely attempt to awake year festive spirit, which should be the case at least if you have the same country of origin as I do, but a bit of a nostalgic retrospect on the past 13 years of my annual event highlight. Though I missed the very first time of it, Rock Hard Festival has become the only event I have been visiting since 2004, skipped it three time between 2006 and 2008 (for very different reasons) and have been to every single year since 2009. This makes a total of eleven and nine consecutive years now and nine passes as well. Pretty excited to find out what bands will perform at my personal anniversary in 2018. But let’s take a look back on this years‘ event: The weather was amazing for the most, I watched quite some more bands than last year and met many old and new friends.

Love that Carcass shirt!

My plan for the first day was to hike all the way from my place in Essen to the Amphitheatre on Gelsenkirchen. But to the weather being at its very best, I feared to melt while in the sun and decided to drive as far as I could, using public transportation and just walk about half an hour through the Emscher Park. Thanks to the metal „dress code“ I didn’t even walk alone and arrived right on time to catch up with Susan – my sweet partner in crime, Queen Of Spades Photography. After a first bit of sight-seeing, it was time for the first few bands. Dust Bolt turned out to be a legit opener, while Robert Pehrsson’s Humbucker are more on the laid back side. A bit to „harmless“ if you ask me. Our great expectations regarding Mantar ended up sorely disappointed. This is just not the kind of music/band/stage acting, I enjoy and it’s not even that they are bad at what they do. It’s just not my thing. The Dead Daisies are the living proof that you can rock hard and enjoy yourself on stage even past an average age of 30. The current US „supergroup“ are easy on the ears and know how to entertain a sophisticated audience. After a rather sloppy dinner – well yeah, my pulled pork burger was really sloppy and lukewarm – it was time for Friday nights‘ headliner and my first must-see item: Blues Pills.

Don’t need anything to get high but their own music: Blues Pills

Can’t even say it for sure, but the last time I’ve seen Blues Pills must have been at Freak Valley Festival 2014 – the very same year they first appeared at Rock Hard. Back then they were a sweet afternoon treat and have been touring, promoting and working relentlessly for three years. Many discussions if they are worthy of headlining one of Germany’s most important metal festivals started upon their announcement. As someone who has known this band pretty much from the beginning and has worked with them in the past, I know that they do „deserve“ it. It’s not only that Blues Pills deliver, you can see, hear and feel during every single who how much they enjoy it themselves and not I single time I’ve seen them did Elin’s voice sound wornout. But let’s focus on what really matters: they were great! The setlist featured a very well selection of their two full-length records, EPs and two cover songs. Kicking off with the title track of their current album, „Lady In Gold“ which cracked the official German album charts on #1! Elin truly if a lady of gold with a golden voice and tonight she was also a lady in black, earning her the name „Helene Fischer of Metal“ from someone at the Deaf Forever forum. This is a great comparison, cuz both are blonde beauties from the north (in case you didn’t know, Helene was born in Siberia), great vocalists, talented performers and look amazing. Unfortunately I had to leave early, to catch a bus and missed out „Somebody To Love“ and one of my faves „Devil Man“. But I’ll be catching up with them at Bochum Total and Rockspektakel in Hamburg.

Setlist Blues Pills

Lady In Gold
Little Boy Preacher
Black Smoke
Bliss
Won’t Go Back
Little Sun
Outro
Elements And Things (Tony Joe White-Cover)
You Gotta Try
Astralplane
High Class Woman
Ain’t No Change
Gone So Long
——————
Somebody To Love (Jefferson Airplane-Cover)
Devil Man

Sweden’s sweetest temptation of Rock: Elin Larsson

Saturday started off as a wonderfully warm day with just two bands catching my attention. Not so much a day for a band like Ketzer to enter second one might think, but the Colonge-based five-piece. But hell, did they deliver. It might not have gotten dark across the waterside venue, but the spirit of their blackened trash was received by the masses. Weird to admit, but this was my first time watching and consciously hearing Ketzer and yes, they do have at least one new fan: me! And this will clearly not be the last time. Random note: Guitarist Chris has a cool The Devil’s Blood shirt and vocalist Gerrit (and yes, his last name is Schwarz, meaning „black“ in english!) has a pink kiddy umbrella, so cute!

Setlitst Ketzer

Satan’s Boundaries Unchained
Starless
The Fevers Tide
When Milk Runs Dry
Godface
He, Who Stands Behind The Rows
The Fire To Conquer The World

Master of Black Masses & Black Metal: Nergal

Taking the rest of the afternoon to relax on my couch, I return tot he dusty ground of RHF just as Exodus finished playing. Round to of festival food turns out to be a slightly overpriced case of asian noodles with hot sauce and a hint of veggies. Could have been worse, but it could have been better as well…And three songs and no flash of D.A.D. later, we find ourselves preparing fort he second headliner. Another first time sees the night, as I finally see Polish Black Metal masters Behemoth for the first time (those few minutes at Wacken 2014 while passing by in the Hell band bus does not count!). And even though I haven’t really been that big of a fan in the past I am totally intrigued by their 2014 massive musical monument „The Satanist.“ Right in time at dusk, the trio states ist first plead with „Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel“, followed by „Furor Divinus“ and „Messe Noire“. My personal black mass peaks with the infernal hails of „Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer“. If my neck and fiercely flying hair won’t summon the dark lord, vocalist and guitarist Adam „Nergal“ Darski most certainly will. „Amen“ to that and yes, this pun is of course intended. And if you haven’t guessed it yet, the band is playing ist current record in its entirety. Nothing to complain imho, cuz it really ist he only one I know song by song and happen to love it! Can’t even say at what point I leave the scene, but it’s my bus call again…worn-out, tired and sweaty I take off happy as one full-time music nerd can possibly be.

Setlist Behemoth

Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel
Furor Divinus
Messe Noire
Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer
Amen
The Satanist
Ben Sahar
In The Absence Ov Light
O Father O Satan O Sun!
Ov Fire And The Void
Conquer All
Chant For Eschaton 2000

Gone pro with stage props: Behemoth

The final festival day begins with a band I just recently discovered. While they were on tour with Angel Witch, Susan and I have been hooked on Night Demon. They are such an awesome live band and some of the greatest people you’ll ever meet, if you have the chance to. After their show at Helvete metal club, we partied with them till 4:30am. Oh yeah! Starting their appearance with the opener of their latest output “Darkness Remains” might seem a bit strange, cuz it’s a bright sunny day. Still „Welcome To The Night“ is inviting the slighty zombified masses to join them to one heck of a show. If you enjoy straight forward Hard Rock with a touch of NWOBHM, Night Demon from Ventura is your new favourite band. Last into their set is a very well-known and heartwarming received Maiden classic: „Wasted Years“. But this time the Amphitheatre has an audience that some headliners will not attract and only few bands to play first on the last day will ever see.

Welcome to the Night Demon!

Setlist Night Demon

Welcome To The Night
Full Speed Ahead
Maiden Hell
Curse Of The Damned
Ritual
The Chalice
Screams In The Night
On Your Own
Night Demon
Black Widow
Wasted Years

I’m under their spell: Blood Ceremony

Up next my favourite Canadian export enters the stage to bring some early darkness to the city of Gelsenkirchen. Blood Ceremony are the ever so charming and living proof that a Hammond organ and flutes do contribute to contemporary music and are still as present as Deep Purple and Jethro Tull. Throw in some of the most endearing female vocals you can imagine and you know what to expect from these four musicians. Their six track setlist features songs from the 2013 album „The Eldritch Dark“ and their latest creation „Lord Of Misrule“ from 2016. The latter one sounds like something a 60s garage rock band could have done and all members of the band totally live the spirit oft he hippie era throughout the show: Guitarist Sean Kennedy with his blue jeans, BC band shirt and brown suede vest ist he epitome of cool and let’s me think of „That Seventies Show“ – just image Hyde with Kelso’s head! Michael Carrillo changed his shirt in favour of w black wife beater; good thinking cuz as the drummer he might be sweating the most and with arms like that he might as well show the (off). Bassplayer Lucas Gadke took off his shoes and rocks the barefoot style, way to go bro. And last but clearly not least there the enchanting chanteuse, flutist and organist Alia O’Brien. To quote Susan on this: I realised my closet is in need of a blue velvet turtleneck onesie!

Setlist Blood Ceremony

Old Fires
Goodbye Gemini
Drawing Down The Moon
Half Moon Street
Lord Of Misrule
I’m Coming With You
The Magician

Ready to fight for any battle hymn: Ross The Boss

The final serenade for me will be that one band playing songs from that other band no one wants to admit to like but in the end everyone will go all crazy when any of their songs will be played in any metal club. You know that one, the one with the fur bikinis, striking poses and high-pitched vocals many opera singers will be totally jealous of. In one word: Manowar. And in three words today: Ross The Boss. So very bosslike the old hymns work at this very present day. With „Blood Of My Enemies“ I just let go and get lost into the music like there is no tomorrow. Night Demon’s Armand who watches the band along side Susan and me is no stranger to those metal anthems either. Some „Kill With Power“, „Fighting The World“ and „Battle Hymn“ later, I’m good to go (home that is). And what better note to end the event than „Hail And Kill“?

Setlist Ross The Boss

Blood Of The Kings
Death Tone
The Oath
Blood Of My Enemies
Kill With Power
Thor (The Powerhead)
Sign Of The Hammer
Fighting The World
Metal Daze
Battle Hymn
Hail And Kill

The event for the whole family: Rock Hard Festival!

All pictures courtesy of Queen Of Spades Photography

__________________________________________________________________

Rock Hard Festival Homepage

Rock Hard Festival Facebook Page

THE RUINS OF BEVERAST / KING DUDE / (D O L C H) – Invading Central Europe In Autumn

Tags

(Dolch), Acherontic Arts Fest, Alexander Frohn, Alexander von Meilenwald, Arioch, Asakku, Bifröst, Death in June, Europan Tour, G.ST, Gold, Helvegr, I Wanna Die At 69, Job Bos, John Grumptmann, Johnny Cash, Kathaaria, King Dude, Leonard Cohen, Licht, Licht. Maschine. Herz., Meilenwald, Michael Zech, Not Just Religious Music, Paria, Sex, The Devil's Blood, The Ruins Of Beverast, Thomas Jefferson Cowgill, Thomas Tomsen, Tour Dates, Towards Malakia, Urfaust, Ván Records, Woody Guthrie

Just as the third edition of the now annual Acherontic Arts Festival closes its doors, yet another live announcement comes from Germany’s very own (oc)cult label Ván Records. In October and November two of the rosters most relentlessly touring artists – King Dude and The Ruins Of Beverast – will be en route through central Europe. Joining in on the stage shenanigans will be one of the most mysterious acts, the label has to offer: (D O L C H).

As reverent as it is prophetic and stark, Burning Daylight pulls together the biblical sound and isolation of the northwest. King Dude draws from artists akin to Death in June & Leonard Cohen but sews together a hybrid of true folk tradition alongside the likes of Woody Guthrie and Johnny Cash. Last year’s release of King Dude’s debut full-length masterpiece, Love, saw a beautiful vision of what was in store for the future…and what future is now. Burning Daylight is the newest edition to the King Dude canon. Coal dust spirituals mined from the haunting backwoods landscape of the Pacific Northwest. Stories of the constant struggle of man’s turbulent affair with his Lord and the Devil. Burning Daylight produces a maturity and direction that is unparalleled…showing us the word, and way and the light.

Atmospheric and sustained music for the heart, soul and brain. (D O L C H)´s first two demos (Demo I + “Licht. Maschine. Herz.” ) showed a very melancholic soundscape, accompanied by sad voices and lyrics. Their live performances are as intense and honest as their songs, to say the very least.

“Beverast” is Meilenwald’s own derivation of the word “Bifröst” influenced by the old Norse term for the bridge between Midgard and Asgard. Thou art now profane in death.

Check out the flyer below for all confirmed dates of this prestigious package!

__________________________________________________________________

KING DUDE on Facebook

(D O L C H) on Bandcamp

THE RUINS OF BEVERAST on Facebook