Heute ist es nun also wirklich so weit: Psychorizon feiert zehnjähriges Jubiläum! Wer hätte das gedacht, also ich selbst wohl am aller wenigsten! Leider waren die vergangenen zwei Jahre recht ereignislos und bisher ist noch nicht absehbar, wann die Veranstaltungsbranche wieder zur alten bzw. neuen Stärken gelangen wird. Somit steht auch in den Sternen, wann und unter welchen Umständen es endlich wieder Berichterstattung von Konzerten und Festivals geben wird und ob sich Ende 2021 für mich ein weiterer Kreis schließen wird. Denn kurz nach Weihnachten 2020 habe ich mir eine Karte für die 'Irish Christmas Tour' von Angelo Kelly & Family gekauft und werde mit ganz viel Glück zusammen mit allen seinen 40. Geburtstag am 23.12.2021 in der Dortmunder Westfalenhalle feiern können. Wer Psychorizon intensiv verfolgt, weiß wahrscheinlich, dass mein allererstes Konzert am 23.12.1994 in Duisburg die Kelly Family war und wer im Kopf rechnen kann, wird feststellen, dass es Angelos 13. Geburtstag war.
Aber genug der warmen Worte, denn es geht heute um jede Menge großartige Momente und da ich in den vergangenen zehn Jahren genug geschrieben habe, möchte ich einfach Bilder für mich sprechen lassen. In diesem Sinne: Auf die nächsten zehn und hoffentlich ganz viele neue Highlights.
Daumen hoch gab es für das RHF 2014 und beste Aussichten im Pit. Neben den 'Best of Boots & Shoegaze'-Bildern, gibt es auch noch jede Menge Menschen in voller Größe und in Aktion - vor und auf der Bühne zu bestaunen. Aber ich habe seit langer Zeit eine Vorliebe, für derartige Schnappschüsse, die hauptsächlich Hosenbeine und Schnürsenkelhalter zeigen. So auch bei der Headline-Show von The Devil's Blood beim Rock Hard 2010, Maggot Heart im Helvete und Tribulation beim TuRock Open Air (beides 2018) und 2019 totally random-mäßig beim Rock Hard. Weiter geht es daher mit ein paar weiteren witzigen Impressionen, die während der zahlreichen Events entstanden.
Beim Wiedersehen mit 'Sexy Jexi' und meinem Tagesausflug zum Hammer Of Doom 2013, gab es ganz viel Liebe. Mindestens genauso herzlich und herzig war es auch im Folgejahr auf dem RHF sowie 2017, als ich es endlich geschafft habe, Electric Wizard live zu sehen. Dank bester Plätze in der ersten Reihe, wurde die Kölner Live Music Hall an diesem Abend zur Love Music Hall und ich völlig verzaubert von der großartigen Liz Buckingham. Zu guter Letzt gibt es noch den kompletten Mitschnitt des Blues Pills Auftritts beim RHF 2014. Neben Jex Thoth, The Devil's Blood und Blood Ceremony, eine der Bands, die ich am meisten verfolgt und auf der Bühne bewundern durfte. Und ja, ich bin einige Male selbst zu sehen, wie ich sehr enthusiastisch und intensiv abrocke.
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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
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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 to the dusty grounds of RHF just as Exodus finished playing. Round two 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 for the 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 do 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 its 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 is the 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!
The Netherlands-based festival comes out of the gate with its first announcements for Roadburn 2017 and immediately proves why it’s like nothing else happening on this poor pitiful planet we happen to occupy. To bring Coven back to the stage for the first time in untold decades and for their first European show ever? Come on. I don’t care where you live, that’s worth getting on a plane for.
Coven will play their first show in decades, and for the first time ever on European soil. Devil Horns, the Left Hand Path, Satanic Rituals, Black Magick, Sexuality, and a seminal debut-album that has had a lasting appeal since 1969. Coven’s Witchcraft Destroys Minds and Reaps Souls was not only ahead of its time, the iconoclastic troupe – helmed by high priestess, and the original wicked woman,Jinx Dawson – heavily influenced future generations of musicians, from Ghost to The Devil’s Blood, from Witchcraft to In Solitude, from Blood Ceremony to Lucifer, and even our festival.
We are equal measures excited, proud and overwhelmed to be able to announce that Coven will thrill Roadburn Festival to it’s darkened core on Thursday, April 20 at the 013 venue in Tilburg, The Netherlands. Jinx Dawson, and her unholy union will take their cult-ritual to the stage for the first time in decades – and for the first time ever on European soil.
Jinx Dawson commented: “Roadburn Festival’s intrepid ring master, Walter, hath stirred us from our Coven lair. We shall be performing a musickal ritual for the first time in many ages. We are wickedly delighted to travel to the Netherlands for this very special festival concert, and to bring our musickal form of Witchcraft once again to the live stage.”
Known by many classic rock fans for Jinx Dawson’s early seventies hit, ‘One Tin Soldier’, from the counter culture flick Billy Jack, the song was an anthem for hypocrisy and added more mystery to Coven’s occult imagery and aesthetics that laid the groundwork for hard rock and heavy metal.
The band’s diabolical mix of proto-metal paired with dark psychedelica and prog was dabbed in deeply occult lyrics, and has always been a celebration of all things Left Hand Path. Whether it’s the much sought after and talked about Witchcraft Destroys Minds and Reaps Souls, or the band’s third album Blood on the Snow, Coven’s output has terrified peers and audiences, as well as the moral-elite since their incarnation. Their extreme dark and shocking rites, thriving on a strong woman’s sexuality, was unheard of at the time.
Though Coven went clandestine not long after the release of Blood on the Snow, Jinx Dawson, and the band always remained a landmark within the metal community, and hailed as one of the 10 greatest heavy metal front women. Having battled with record companies, management, opposing religious organisations and law officials has only added to Jinx’s legacy to stay genuinely true to her own firm beliefs, based upon a very long lineage of Occult Adepts and Practitioners of the Ancient Arts.
With the release of 2003’s Goth Queen: Out of the Vault, and 2013’s album, Jinx, Dawson rightfully regained her throne as ‘the originator’ of the burgeoning occult rock scene – a movement that we have wholeheartedly embraced at Roadburn over the years, while offering a platform to her children of the damned.
Having the mysterious Jinx Dawson / Coven at Roadburn isn’t only a thrilling once in a lifetime event, it is also our way of paying a humble tribute to a woman that has been such an integral influence on the festival since its incarnation in 1999, and an inspirational heroine to many bands that graced our stages over the years. We couldn’t think of a more fitting ceremony, and welcome all of you to Jinx’s lair on Thursday, April 20 at the 013 venue in Tilburg, The Netherlands – don’t break the circle, and join us.
Who would have thought that this idea would last longer than any relationship I’ve ever had to this date – not me, that’s for sure! But this year, on August 1st, 2016, Psychorizon celebrates its fifth anniversary and what better way to do so, as to have a nice little party?
Without further ado, here now is the official flyer for Psychorizons celebratory event, coming up on July 31st, 2016 – joining me and all guests, will be four bands from three countries. Full coverage on all of them will follow in the upcoming weeks.
In the meantime you may check out their Facebook pages, as listed below.
Live on stage:
ArieZ – Psychedelic-Heavy-Blues-Rock and Ritual Doom from Gelsenkirchen
Upon the anticipation of their upcoming new album, which is due out on March 25th via London’s cult record label Rise Above Records, Toronto’s finest export item in the art of Occult, Blood Ceremony have released a first impression on what to conceive with “Lord Of Misrule”. The namesake of their fourth full-length attempt is to be found on “Coven Tree”, a most hypnotic tune of Blood Ceremony’s sophomore album “Living With The Ancients”.
The single track “Old Fires” displays an established band with vocals that stick out as a leading instrument much more than it’s been the case on previous releases. Please check out the video below to dive into this new magical journey.
Additionally, the band with their enchanting fronting witch, Alia O’Brien, the rhythm section consisting of bassplayer Lucas Gadke and sticksman Michael Carrillo as well as stringslayer Sean Kennedy, recently announced that Fresno, California’s Beastmaker will be joining them on their European tour. As chance has it, the doomy three-piece is not only on the same label, but will simultaneously unleash their debut “Lusus Naturae” through Rise Above Records.
PURSON welcomes you to Desire’s Magic Theatre… a technicolour trip through the mind’s eye of songstress / vocalist / guitarist Rosalie Cunningham, whose signature approach to her craft stands boldly centre- stage, blending progressive dexterity and cabaret romp into a compelling, multi-faceted rock ‘n’ roll show.
Desire’s Magic Theatre draws inspiration from the rock operas of the late sixties and early seventies; musically, visually and lyrically, it touches on a variety of realms, including folk, prog, psychedelic, gothic & classic rock, making telling use of classical instruments and complex arrangements, and fully exploring the outer limits of reel to reel tape.
Says Cunningham: “Desire’s Magic Theatre has turned out to be everything I’d imagined and more! My world has been so consumed by it that I’ve barely been able to reflect on what it has become: a technicolour variety show, a playful display of the musical whims only briefly hinted at in our previous work; a psychedelic rock opera dedicated to our good friends Sarge Pepper and Zig Stardust.”
PURSON – Cunningham, George Hudson (guitars), Samuel Robinson (keyboards), Justin Smith (bass), Raphael Mura (drums) – have recently returned from a six-week tour of North America Special Guesting with GHOST, following on from a stint on the Kiss Kruise IV plus a sold-out Los Angeles debut at the notorious Viper Room.
Desire’s Magic Theatre is set for release on March 25th 2016 under the Spinefarm / Machine Elf banner, supported by a headline UK tour plus selected European shows; summer festivals and visits to Australia and Japan will follow.
UK HEADLINE TOUR DATES
March 09 Bristol, THE LOUISIANA
March 10 Nottingham, ROCK CITY
March 11 Norwich, WATERFRONT STUDIO
March 12 Milton Keynes, THE CRAUFURD ARMS
March 16 London, 100 CLUB
March 24 Exeter, THE CAVERN CLUB
March 25 Plymouth, THE JUNCTION
March 26 Southampton, JOINERS
March 27 Brighton, THE HOPE & RUIN
March 30 Birmingham, THE SUNFLOWER LOUNGE
March 31 Manchester, NIGHT & DAY
April 01 Glasgow, AUDIO
April 02 Leeds, THE BRUDENELL
Two years after the release of their third, most highly acclaimed full-length record “The Eldritch Dark” and several successfull live rituals – including their performance at the 2014 edition of German Freak Valley Festival and a European tour with Swedish Garage Rockers SPIDERS, Canada’s finest BLOOD CEREMONY now announce a new album to be out in early 2016. “The Eldritch Dark”was released via Rise Above Records/Metal Blade in May, 2013, to great response from both critics and fans alike.
In the wake of its release, the band joined KYLESA on a six-week North American tour. After co-headlining Rise Above Records’ 25th anniversary show in London, UK, the band released a 7″ titled “Let it Come Down“.
BLOOD CEREMONY’s distinct style of flute-tinged witch rock evolves from an infernal marriage of occult-inspired acid folk and vintage hard-rock riffing. After a mind-numbing study of hundreds of trashy witchcraft films, the group began to pour their energies into crafting songs, transforming their fascination for horror into a profane musical vision.
Their sound bears witness to the heavy bands of yesteryear, fusing progressive rock elements with folk and an early ’70s downer vibe. Invoking the mischievous Pipes of Pan, BLOOD CEREMONY songs are distinguished by singer Alia O’Brien’s flute solos – accenting an instrument long-associated with a list of devilish figures.
SPIDERS was formed in Gothenburg in February 2010. A few months later the band appeared at one of Sweden’s most successful music festivals, Way Out West. It was around this time SPIDERS for the first time as a band stepped into the studio with producer Don Ahlsterberg (THE SOUNDTRADK OF OUR LIVES, THE INTERNATIONAL NISE CONSPIRACY) and started recording.
Photo by: Josefine Larsson
By the end of January 2011 SPIDERS released their debut record, a 10” vinyl EP on Crusher Records containing four tracks. The self-titled release was very well received and noticed in Record Collector as well airplayed on Sweden’s largest radio channel P3. In March 2011 those four previously released tracks came to be released in the USA as two separate 7” singles, one on Kemado Records the other on Valley King Records, the latter with an artwork made by well-known artist Alan Forbes.
Around this time drummer Axel Sjöberg, former drummer, left SPIDERS to work full time on GRAVEYARD and came to be replaced by Ricard Harryson. In May 2011 SPIDERS stepped into the studio for the second time recording a two track single to be released on vinyl by De:Nihil Records in August and digital by Crusher Records in September.
In June 2012 SPIDERS began recording songs for their debut album. In early October the very same year the album, entitled “Flash Point”, was released. The album immediately reached the Sverigetopplistan, the Swedish Sales Charts of most sold albums. In November and December SPIDERS went on European tour together with GRAVEYARD. By the end of the same year SPIDERS’ debut album was nominated by P3 Gold (Swedish Radio Award) for best Rock/Metal of the Year. In 2013 the band appeared on Sweden Rock Festival, toured Scandinavia, Spain and Portugal. Enter 2014 – On May 27th the new single “Mad Dog” was released on Reaktor Recordings / Universal Music. After touring in support of KVELERTAK in Scandinavia and BLOOD CEREMONY throughout Europe, SPIDERS have now been confirmed to play at Rock Hard Festival 2015, alsongside PENTAGRAM, AVATARIUM, VENOM, MOTORJESUS and many more!
Named after a demon and fronted by the bewitching Rosalie Cunningham, PURSON is the latest psychedelic proto-doom band with a mesmerizing female vocalist to cast a spell over everyone who hears them.
With elements of ’70s progressive and heavy rock, PURSON is in league with BLOOD CEREMONY and JEX THOTH, conjuring visions of Hammer horror and pagan rituals. What sets them apart are the incredibly catchy pop-like arrangements inspired by former bassist and founding member Ed Turner and Cunningham‘s borderline obsessive love of The Beatles. It only took a couple of songs on Soundcloud / Facebook to capture the attention of illustrious Rise Above Records and DARKTHRONE’s Fenriz, one of metal’s favorite arbiters of taste, made them band of the week!
Furthermore with a UK tour and the release of their new EP “In The Meantime” only a few weeks away, it is time for a gentle reminder… Tickets are available online through several ticket websites and most likely from the venues themselves. They are selling fast so snap them up now or regret it later!
A first taste of the EP is already available with the song ‘Danse Macabre’. Stated the band on its’ Facebook page: “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages… We proudly present to you ‘Danse Macabre’ the first track to be taken from our forthcoming Extended Player ‘In The Meantime’. We hope you all enjoy…“
Just to make it quick, Freak Valley Festival wasn’t all just mud, rain and rather low temperatures – but if you’ve been there right from the start, you’ve seen it all. And Psychorizon for one did.
Arriving in the rain covered outer part of Siegerland, Northrhine-Wesphalia, building up stages and setting up entrance fences is still an ongoing process, as my arrival from Donzdorf happens a lot earlier than expected. The other half of this years’ two person Festival coverage team shows up about two hours later and wouldn’t you know: It’s still raining by then. After a quick journey on sight, figuring out where to get our passes at and how to walk to the campground, we end up driving – with both cars – to the destined grounds uphill some 20 to 40 minutes walking distance from the actual Festival, depending on what corner your tent is and how bad your level of alcoholic consumption will slow your speed down. Anywho, plans of actually putting up a tent are out the door due to the severe condition and muddy state of ground, besides a car is at least a bit warmer at night, or so we thought.
Tent, Sweet Tent
With the set up entrance awaiting and rain finally disappearing we find ourselves on a surprisingly long and crowded cue to get in. Having moved the cars once to our final temporary home with part of the Cologne/Bonn crew, we’re right in time for doors and the opening act of Freak Valley Festival 2014.
After a first intense check of the Festival sight and the welcome discovery of flushable toilettes, we decide to return and hang out on top of that hill where we spend most of this first day after a big disappointment of the highly acclaimed BLOODY HAMMERS who turn out to be highly overrated – at least as far as our opinions are concerned and agreeing upon RADIO MOSCOW not being worth hiking all the way down again. (kp) After the disappointing HAMMERS, I anticipated PAPIR from Denmark. The three musicians made a great start, but after a while, the strictly instrumental jam-tracks seemed to repeat themselves over and over. In my opinion, the show would be much more intense at a club rather than an open air stage. The same applies to the first headliner of the festival: RADIO MOSCOW. However, I’m quite on my own with my opinion, as the band is very well received by the rest of the audience. The blues-influenced music set aside, I have to admit that the background projections are quite impressive on a stage of such dimensions. After the encore, the mediocre first festival day ends and a long and hard ascend to the camp site opens up…(ys)
Inventors of the “Selfie-Booth”
Day two starts off pretty much the same day one ended: Its way to cold to be outdoors all the time and this time the entire gang is late for the first band of the day. After a half way decent breakfast/lunch or whatsoever, everyone is in a good mood and finally I find myself walking down again to the place where all the magic happens this extended weekend.Between a first inspection of the merch offerings, STUBB and THE MIDNIGHT GHOST TRAIN the sun also joins in. As of some serious busyness we miss both MOTHER OF GOD and most of MOTHERSHIP since we conducted an Interview with BLOOD CEREMONY bassplayer Lucas Gadke. The Canadian Doom masters are one of the first bands, Psychorizon met along the way and its a great feeling to be catching up at this uprising annual event. One private signing session and a few sips of booze later, we find ourselves witnessing this first true highlight of FVF ’14, which is of course BLOOD CEREMONY in all their enchanting appearance. The setlist covers songs from all three full-length releases: Their eponymous debut from 2008 (‘I’m Coming With You’), “Living With The Ancients” (‘My Demon Brother’) (2011) as well as the most current one “The Eldritch Dark” (‘Goodbye Gemini’) which was released last year via UK’s cult label Rise Above Record.
The Good Witch of the North-West
Though some of the magic of the Toronto-based foursome is hard to touch when delivered on brought daylight, the audience is turned into one celebrating ritual gathering by the songs, mainly focusing on Witchcraft, other realms and Horror. Not to mention vocalist, flutist, organist and frontlady Alia O’Brien is just one bewitching entity all herself and has everyone in front of the stage and her fellow band members, guitarist Sean Kennedy, the aforementioned bassist and newest addition to this sonic coven, drummer Michael Carrillo, under her spell. While the day is fading, I find myself slightly drunk and not fully capable of watching either WO FAT or SÓLSTAFIR in full and get a necessary break before the Saturday headliner gives a most amazing conclusion for the day. (kp) Iceland’s best kept secret, SÓLSTAFIR, were given the honour to perform at Friday’s sundown. The band’s ingredients cover Post-, Black and Doom Metal as well as atmospheric soundscapes. These Metal Dudes looked a bit out-of-place among all the other bands, but charismatic band leader Aðalbjörn managed to infatuate the audience right away. Definitely one of my personal highlights this year!
Coolness Incorporated – SÓLSTAFIR
Damdamdamdamdamdamdamdam dadadaadaadaaa dadadaada: One of the most recognisable riffs in recent years heralds the coming of today’s co-headliner, TRUCKFIGHTERS from Sweden. These guys never seem to run out of fuel and deliver an energetic performance. Their blend of riff-driven Stoner Rock and psychedelic parts fits a festival stage quite well, something other bands seem to have more trouble with. The set is well received by the audience, but the aforementioned song Desert Cruiser still remains their very own „Ace of Spades“, no matter how much more acclaimed their recent albums are. (ys) Aspiring Blues Rock act BLUES PILLS might seem to be a little young to fill in the position, but not only do they prove to be worthy but are fully blowing away all doubts about this being the rightful place for the Sweden-based band with multi cultural origins. Furthermore they are putting aside the worn-out argument of age for all nay-sayers as they sound more mature than many so-called established acts. Elin Larsson with her dark and soulful voice in the vain of the great Janis Joplin, French guitarist Dorian Sorriaux is handling his fretboard like an elderly Rockgod while Zack Anderson becomes all one with his bass and the new sticksman is hitting his kit as if there is no tomorrow. And while the world is still waiting for BLUES PILLS to finally put out their debut album they easily manage to give a full set, including everyone’s favourite ‘Devil Man’ and the new mandatory sing-along tune ‘Highclass Woman’.
BLUES PILLS heating up a cold night
Not to make this a habit, but also on the final Festival day do we miss out on the opening bands – 11:30 on a Saturday just ain’t right! Mobilising forces takes even longer and the first act we get to see is the ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE. (kp) After taking an exhausting trip through the quiet woods of the freakish valley in order to find a cash machine, I arrived just in time for ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE. The group is famous for its completely improvised shows and manages to take off into the midday sun with yet another trippy performance, led by the one and only Dr. Space. (ys)
With yet another promising act on sight, Rise Above Records got Hastings trio THE ADMIRAL SIR CLOUDESLEY SHOVELL or simply THE SHOVELL with their first ever show on German ground well-placed at FVF ’14, that also presented the first ever Germany show of labelmates and fellow countrymen UNCLE ACID AND THE DEADBEATS in 2013. Not only does THE SHOVELL clearly deserve the award for best style but also for the coolest sideburns of the entire event. Playing songs from their two albums “Don’t Hear It…Fear It” and “Check ‘Em Before You Wreck ‘Em”, guitarist Johnny, drummer Billy and bassplayer Louis become my secret headliner for the day. This clearly calls for more or to say it with the giant pin they’re selling at there merch stand: “You’ve Been Shovelled”! (kp)
Johnny & Louis – “Best Bell-Bottoms” and “Best Sideburns”
SAMSARA BLUES EXPERIMENT were up next. Reduced to a three-piece due to personal reasons since April 2014, the German band put on a rock-solid show. Singer and guitar player Christian Peters seemed to be frantic about the fact that he had to play a JCM 800, the otherwise relaxed singer/guitar player even showed some real Rockstar attitude by kicking the full stack some time during the show. From my point of view (or should I say hearing?), the issues were not that dramatic, as the sound in front of the stage still kicked ass. SBE were followed by yet another promising trio: ELDER. Hailing from Boston, the band convinced with a heavy, Doom-laden approach to the Stoner genre: Sabbathian riffs clashing with psychedelic jams reminiscent of COLOUR HAZE, also featuring lots of headbanging action by guitar player/singer Nick DiSalvo. So far, the Saturday turned out to feature the strongest line-up, with the two major acts still to come!
„MOTORPSYCHO records are always something very special“ was my very first introduction to the co-headlining band of this year’s edition of Freak Valley. Ever since MTV host Markus Kavka spoke these words around 2001, I somehow missed each and every opportunity to see this band live. So my first encounter would be a two-hour headlining show with their very own stage set. Well, if Mr. Kavka would have talked about shows rather than records, he wouldn’t have lied either! A massive wall of sound, combined with an awesome light show carried me away right from the start and 120 minutes seemed to be over in a blink of an eye. (ys)
Purple Light Special featuring Lupus Lindemann
Featuring a German band on headlining position does not happen too often at German events, maybe cause people seem to shot off the greatness of their own country and the artists it provides. With Berlin-based Psychedelic Rockers KADAVAR the 2014 edition of Freak Valley festival not only has one hell of a headliner closing the final day with an extraordinary show, but also one of the most talked about and relentlessly touring acts we currently have at our fair scene. It only takes three men, subtle lights and two full-length records to create a kick-ass set and KADAVAR got it all. Proving to hold the title as a hardworking bunch that spends about every day en route, the trio just put out their first ever live record with the suitable title “Live In Antwerp”. A perfect blend of visual and acoustic live capture can be found at the lyric video for one of Psychorizon’s faves, ‘Goddess Of Dawn” – as seen below, enjoy! (kp)
Setlist KADAVAR
Liquid Dream
Living In Your Head
Doomsday Machine
Black Sun
Broken Wings
(Aqua Nebula Oscillator cover)
Eye Of The Storm
All Our Thoughts
Come Back Life
Goddess Of Dawn
Creature Of The Demon
Don’t need anything to get high but their own music: Blues Pills
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