ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2018 – Full Circle Celebration

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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

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Rock Hard Festival Homepage

Rock Hard Festival Facebook Page

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FEVERDANCE RITUALS & OCCULT SABBATH – To Join Forces

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Attic, Bathsheba, Black Sea Of Power Tour, Death Penalty, Feverdance Rituals, Heavy Nova, Michelle Nocon, Occult Sabbath, Path Of Samsara, Resonanzwerk Oberhausen, Saturnalia Temple, Serpent Cult, Shrine Of Insababilis, Ván Records

A new depth a dark is about to rise upon the centre of the European shores as the renowned event & promotion organisation Occult Sabbath will join forces with the new entity called Feverdance Rituals. Both Germany-based and with a unique yet mutual artistic focus, this unholy matrimony is a perfect match. Their initial summoning will be part of the “Black Sea Of Power Tour 2016“. Third partner in crime, Heavy Nova Presents, produces a vast variety of shows and is best known for covering  several Genres all under the DIY-banner.

Occult Sabbath VII // Feverdance Ritual II // Heavy Nova

Occult Sabbath started in 2012 and has gone far and beyond, presenting music but also fine arts, with events in Germany and Belgium. Feverdance Rituals was spawned in late 2015 and seen its birth on October 17th. An illustrious evening, gathering some of the finest new bands of the Occult Rock & Black/Doom Metal scene like Shrine of Insanabilis as well as a hand selected art exhibition. Handing out wooden rosaries  – all handmade pieces of work by German artist Soth Arts – to all musicians and crew members, Feverdance Rituals clearly know how to do things with style.

Alongside Swedish headliner Saturnalia Temple will be German Heavy Metal Act Attic as well as labelmates and compatriots Path Of Samsara – both part of the Ván Records family. And to give the ritual a tough of magic, you may gather around the Witch and hail the Oath of Doom, as Belgian Doomsters Bathsheba – fronted by former Serpentcult & Death Penalty vocalist Michelle Nocon – will give the honor this night.  Taking place on March 5th, 2016 at Resonanzwerk, Oberhausen, this will be a most solemn finale for the “Black Sea Of Power Tour 2016”. 

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FEVERDANCE RITUALS on Facebook

Occult Sabbath on Facebook

Eventpage on Facebook

ROCK HARD – Final Running Order & Ticket Sale

Tags

Ashes Of Ares, Attic, Audrey Horne, D-A-D, Denial of God, Desaster, Ensiferum, Fleshcrawl, Gospel Of The Horns, Hellish Crossfire, Horisont, King Diamond, Motorjesus, Mustasch, Nachtmystium, Naglfar, Orchid, Orden Ogan, Queensryche, Rock Hard Festival, Running Order, Sepultura, Signing Sessions, Slingblade, Tank, Ticket pre-sale, Trashhold, U.D.O.

The running order for this years’ ROCK HARD FESTIVAL is now available and still keeps a big secret to all visitors. Who will be “Very Special Guest”, playing on sunday right before the big headliner KING DIAMOND??? Still over a month to go before we will found out.

The time-table for the signing-sessions is still not online – but keep checking ROCK HARD FESTIVAL and Psychorizon on Facebook!

Friday – May 17th

21:30 – 23:00 U.D.O.
20:00 – 21:00 ASHES OF ARES
18:30 – 19:30 AUDREY HORNE
17:10 – 18:00 DENIAL OF GOD
16:00 – 16:45 FLESHCRAWL
15:00 – 15:40 HELLISH CROSSFIRE

–

EDIT: NACHTMYSTIUM announced the canccelation of all live acticity and thus won’t play RHF. They will be placed by DENIAL OF GOD. Very Special Guest on sunday will be SEPULTURA!

–

Saturday – May 18th

21:30 – 23:00 QUEENSRYCHE
19:45 – 21:00 D-A-D
18:15 – 19:15 ENSIFERUM
17:00 – 17:45 NAGLFAR
15:50 – 16:35 DESASTER
14:45 – 15:30 MUSTASCH
13:45 – 14:25 HORISONT
12:45 – 13:25 SLINGBLADE

Sunday – May 19th

21:30 – 23:00 KING DIAMOND
19:15 – 20:30 Very Special Guest
17:45 – 18:45 THRESHOLD
16:15 – 17:15 TANK
15:10 – 15:55 ORCHID
14:05 – 14:50 ORDEN OGAN
13:00 – 13:45 GOSPEL OF THE HORNS
12:00 – 12:45 ATTIC

This month ROCK HARD FESTIVAL also offers a limited amount of one-day-tickets, due to the large number of requests. If they are gone, they’re gone.

The limited presale-day-tickets are available at the following prices:

Friday: 31,90 Euro

Saturday: 42,90 Euro

Sunday: 47,90 Euro

All prices include booking-fee and can now be ordered via the known address online at www.rockhard.de/shop (E-Mail: versand@rockhard.de) or via phone at +49231-562014-40.

Also available are the regular festival tickets at a price of 70€ (plus ten percent booking-fee).

HELL OVER HAMMABURG – Metalizing The North

Tags

Adrenaline Distractions, Amsterdam Recording Company, Anton Fingal, Attic, Christoffer Svensson, Dejan Rosić, Denial of God, Die Burg, DJ Krugi, Essenz, Gold, Harm Haverman, Hell Over Hammaburg, Henrik Petersson, High Roller Records, Igor Wouters, Interbellum, Jess and the Ancient Ones, Johan Berg, King Diamond, Kristina Karlsson, Markthalle, Marx, Mercyful Fate, Milena Eva, Nick Polak, Niclas Svensson, Peter Henriksson, Phoenix, Pieter Kloos, Rock Hard Magazine, Screamer, Slingblade, Sure Shot Worx, Svart Records, The Devil's Blood, The Scams, The Void, Thomas Sciarone, Tobias Ander, Vanderbuyst, Ván Records, Willem Verbuyst, Wolf Mühlmann

SCREAMER: Dejan & Christoffer – Courtesy of Andreas Schulz

Word-of-mouth and online promotion was really big with the very first edition of HELL OVER HAMMABURG Festival, taking place on first saturday in march at Markthalle, Hamburg. It was even big enough to bring quite a number of metalheads from the Ruhrarea, among others a delegation from Rock Hard Magazine and the Rhineland all the way up to the north, bumping into each other as if it was any other weekend settled between Dortmund and greater Cologne-area. Turning out anything BUT usual, HOH is crowded with visitors from all corners of Germany and beyond. Several hundreds of people would even cause a bit of a jam in between sets, as the two halls of the venue has bands playing at the same time and the smoking area is placed right in the midst of them, thus delivering a true “Sold Out”-atmosphere.

SCREAMER: Anton & Henrik – Courtesy of Andreas Schulz

Initializing the festival at its more spacious part of the venue, Swedish Metalheads SCREAMER prove to be just the best choice for an opener at this hour. Young and sparkling full of energy the four musicians from Ljungby and Malmö easily get the entire audience going along with their forceful action. With their latest record “Phoenix” just out for about a month and a handful of well-known tracks from the previous one “Adrenaline Distractions”, choruses echo through a few dozens of spectators, spreading even more joy between band and fans. SCREAMER are able to live up to their reputation as one of the most frequently touring bands, as well as a guarantee of full power and a damn good time. An extended review on the SCREAMER shows in Hamburg and Cologne can be found here!

Up next at the big venue are the highly acclaimed ATTIC, that apparently like to raise a lot of tension with their endlessly long intro. One word about ATTIC from my personal point of view: I have never been much into KING DIAMOND and/or MERCYFUL FATE, hence my slighty awkward feeling when it comes to ATTIC and their vocalist in particular. Their show is at least consequent with make-up and a seemingly sacral stage decor. But this won’t keep me lingering for the entire act.

GOLD Vocalist Milena Eva – Courtesy of Andreas Schulz

Leaving early from the ATTIC show gives me the chance to make my way to the front row of the other venue hall called “Marx”, which has a capacity of about 300 and reminds me of some of the local clubs from the Ruhrarea, specially concerning the amount of oxygen available in the cause of a night…Breathtaking is an attribute one might use to describe dutch newcomers GOLD or rather their singer Milena Eva. If it’s not her hair or her nose that gets the audience’ attention, it is for sure her wiggling ass in those glitters pants! The colour perfectly matches with that of the drumset, turning the lower part of her body into an interactive lava-lamp, so to speak. Those who won’t get mesmerized by her siren-like voice will so by her loose pelvis. But enough about visual aids, GOLD are a great live band, which they demonstrate really well tonight in Hamburg. Former THE DEVIL’S BLOOD guitarist Thomas Sciarone, drummer Igor Wouters and bassist Harm Haverman as a reliable rhythm section and the latest addition, second guitarist Nick Polak totally jam the small stage. Their debut “Interbellum”, which was Recorded in the summer of 2012 by Igor Wouters and VANDERBUYST fronter Willem Verbuyst at Amsterdam Recording Company and Mastered by Pieter Kloos at The Void Eindhoven, was released via german label Ván Records, on December 7th 2012.

JESS AND THE ANCIENT ONES – Courtesy of Andreas Schulz

After a much-needed break during the sets of ESSENZ and DENIAL OF GOD it is time for a little more Swedish flair in the allegedly most beautiful city of germany: Stockholm based quintette SLINGBLADE plays straight forward Heavy Rock led by the raw vocals of their leather loving female fronter Kristina Karlsson. Besides SCREAMER yet another protegé of german label High Roller Records to perform at HELL OVER HAMMABURG. Together with lead guitarist Johan Berg, bassist Niclas Svensson, drummer Peter Henriksson and a stand-in for the unavailable second guitarist Tobias Ander, who is currently touring Spain with THE SCAMS, SLINGBLADE truly manage to entertain the crowded that squeezes itself inside the Marx.

Headlining a new festival might be enough of a challenge or probably even burden itself, with no one knowing how well the all over spirit will be at the final show of one long day. Filling the most important position with just a debut album out and a follow-up EP recently published  – both available on Svart Records – could be called a risk organiser Wolf Mühlmann of Sure Shot Worx & Rock Hard Magazine and his team take. Having a band, that has never played in germany before concluding an event is verging on insane. JESS AND THE ANCIENT ONES has become one of the most promising acts of the moment and expectations are above the roof as the finnish musicians enter stages this night. Even more so, they do combine all the factors named before and as good as their sound is, their stage acting is an edgy outbreak at best. After waiting to see JATAO for months, I am sorry to say that they could not fulfill the self-created rumors about rituals that have been spreading online in advance of HELL OVER HAMMABURG.

JESS AND THE ANCIENT ONES – Courtesy of Andreas Schulz

Altogether a successful start of a new event, going on sometime until 2am, when DJ Krugi (“Die Burg”) shut down his modern-day turntables.
A major thanks to everyone working this day! Second edition of HELL OVER HAMMABURG will take place march 15th, 2014 at Markthalle, Hamburg. All information available at the festival homepage.

SCREAMER – No Sleep ‘Til Hammaburg

Tags

Adrenaline Distractions, All Over Again, Anton Fingal, Attic, Can You Hear Me, Christoffer Svensson, Dejan Rosić, Demon Rider, Eleminator, Far Away From Home, Hell Over Hammaburg, Henrik Petersson, I Know, Keep On Walking, Markthalle Hamburg, Mr. Noman, MTC Cologne, No Regrets, No Sleep 'TIl Hamilton, Phoenix, Rock Bottom, Screamer, Slavegrinder

– Hamburg –

The first weekend of march 2013 for sure has become anything but ordinary! Along with three others I find myself on the way to Hamburg to attend the very first edition of HELL OVER HAMMABURG Festival – a total of twelve international acts, covering a large amount of genres, set in the two halls of “Markthalle Hamburg”. Besides the fact that all bands in those two parts of the venue play simultaneously, you wont find any trace of organisational failure.

No regrets necessary: SCREAMER

Opening a festival during the unyielding winter does not seem to be a very grateful job. Playing at a new event might be cool but always risky. The result of both factors combined is quite a challenge. Swedish Metalheads SCREAMER turn out to be the perfect choice for this task. From the very first note, the four young musicians get hold of the entire and constantly increasing audience. The selection of songs turns the late afternoon into the days’ first and maybe even most fun-filled moshpit, covering ages from 15 to 50. Summing up the entire festival day, which lasted from doors at 4pm until sometime around 2am, when the after show party was finally shot down, SCREAMER are not only one of the best openers I have ever seen, but become my personal headliner. And of course the 30 or 45 minutes set with songs of their new album “Phoenix” and the previous one “Adrenaline Distractions” (I did not check the time as they played, neither did I count the songs) is over way too fast. But it wouldn’t be for long for me to see them again.

– Cologne –

Just two days later, while I am still coping with the wasted feeling of the previous night/day/whatever, SCREAMER and their german tour support ATTIC, who also played at HELL OVER HAMMABURG arrive in Cologne. And since I’m having a hard time saying no, when it comes to live shows, I find myself on the road yet again. Playing on a monday night ends up to be not such a good idea, but touring has it, that any day off stage is not only a waste of money, but might even turn into additional costs.

Out Of The Fire – Even on a monday night!

On my arrival local support ELEMINATOR has just finished their set and after a short break of decorating the stage and themselves, ATTIC play rather long set. Still with a slight delay some of those present tonight are forced to leave before SCREAMER even start…what a pity! Much to my surprise ATTIC do not entirely make me sick, which is the first time ever. Finally at about 11pm guitarists Anton Fingal and Dejan Rosić, vocalist/bassplayer Christoffer Svensson and drummer Henrik Petersson take over club MTC by storm. Those who managed to stay will witness true and honest Rock’n’Roll at its best.

Successfully distracting adrenaline!

Even with a sore throat and wrecked back it always feels great to be at a club show, being able to actually face the band and feel the atmosphere within the audience, plus of course a noticeably longer set. With their overwhelmingly enthusiastic and joyful attitude, it is really hard to NOT like SCREAMER. The much decreased number of spectators still party like at least a hundred fanatics, some of them – including myself – headbanging through the whole show. In the end the final song on the setlist, which would have been “No Sleep ‘Til Hamilton” is left out. Presumably due to the fact that just about 20 people are still standing in front of the stage after a short encore.

Setlist:

Demon Rider

No Regrets

Slavegrinder

Can You Hear Me

Keep On Walking

Phoenix

Adrenaline

All Over Again

I Know

Mr. Noman

Far Away From Home

Rock Bottom

(No Sleep ‘Til Hamilton)

– to be continued –

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Screamer Homepage

Screamer on Facebook

Screamer on YouTube

ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2013 – All Loud On The Western Front

Tags

Amphitheater Gelsenkirchen, Ashes Of Ares, Attic, Audrey Horne, Desaster, Ensiferum, Fleshcrawl, Gospel Of The Horns, Graveyard, Hell Over Hammaburg, Horisont, King Diamond, Mercyful Fate, Mustach, Nachtmystium, Naglfar, Orchid, Orden Ogan, Rock Hard Festival 2013, Tank, The Devil's Blood, The Mouths Of Madness, Threshold, U.D.O., Witchcraft

Less than three months to come before this years’ edition of famous German ROCK HARD FESTIVAL will roll over the Ruhr area. Just about time, specially with the current return of winter, to start counting the days for it. First true highlight of the 2013 RHF is certainly going to be the appearance of MERCYFUL FATE vocalist KING DIAMOND. After trying to get him on the event’s billing for several years, the organizers are totally thrilled about his confirmation. And if this wasn’t enough, one of Germany’s most promising young acts ATTIC will also pay their respect on the rocking grounds of Amphitheater Gelsenkirchen. The Essen-based quintet just started in 2011, but its members are sure no newcomers to the local underground scene. Specially after hitting the road along side the recently disbanded THE DEVIL’S BLOOD, ATTIC will know how to convince tha audience. For those of you unwilling to wait till may, to get some piece of the action and catch a chance to see ATTIC, be sure to attend HELL OVER HAMMABURG Festival – also presented by Rock Hard Magazine.

And with the ongoing Retro Hype, it is no surprise that the present line-up holds two of the most highly acclaimed acts of this genre: HORISONT and ORCHID. The Gothenburg scene had their most important outcome GRAVEYARD, that are touring the US right now, playing at ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2012 – let’s hope the sun will have mercy with their townmates HORISONT. And to make the long journey worth while, ORCHID will not only release their long-awaited new record “The Mouth Of Madness” in April, but also do an extended tour with their genre buddies WITHCRAFT.

For all bands that are currently announced for ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2013, check the list below and keep checking Psychorizon for further updates on the running order, signing sessions and other news!

KING DIAMOND

U.D.O.

ENSIFERUM

THRESHOLD

TANK

NAGLFAR

DESASTER

ORCHID

ASHES OF ARES

AUDREY HORNE

MUSTASCH

FLESHCRAWL

ORDEN OGAN

GOSPEL OF THE HORNS

NACHTMYSTIUM

HORISONT

ATTIC

HELL OVER HAMMABURG – Event Preview

Tags

Attic, Black Shape Of Nexus, Denial of God, Desaster, Die Burg, Essenz, Gold, Hell Over Hammaburg, Ice Rock, Jess and the Ancient Ones, Obelyskkh, Rock Hard Festival, Screamer, Slingblade, Venenum, Wahammer

As the year comes to an end, it is just about time to take a glimpse at all things ahead. With Swiss Open Air ICE ROCK coming up next week, Psychorizon targets the first occult Ritual of 2013: HELL OVER HAMMABURG.

An international Line-Ep including some of the finest and most promising of today’s artists: GOLD (NL), OBELYSKKH (GER), DESASTER (GER), ATTIC (GER), SCREAMER (SWE), VENENUM (GER); JESS AND THE ANCIENT ONES (FIN), DENIAL OF GOD (DK), SLINGBLADE (SWE), BLACK SHAPE OF NEXUS (GER), ESSENZ (GER) and WARHAMMER (GER).

Live shows will take place March 2nd, 2013 in Hamburg, on two stages – Aftershowparty and Metaldisco features DJ Krugi (Die Burg, Rock Hard Festival etc.).

All info on how to purchase tickets are also available on the event’s facebookpage!