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
One morning in June some twenty years ago, I was…15 and this is a totally different story. It was the end of May actually some 14 years ago when it all started, my personal Rock Hard history. After the very first and supposed one-off event, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Rock Hard Megazine, the second coming came and would be my initial visit to what became an institution not just among the international Metal madness, but in my life as well. It was the third festival I would ever visit, back then at the tender age of 21 – back in the days we didn’t have fucking facebook to keep up with what’s going on. Getting to know new people demanded to go to places and meet in person – it was a wild time and I loved it! The first two times as a more or less regular visitor and some time in between, attending Rock am Rind in 2006, being your typical broke student and a sick interlude, 2009 I finally had turned into one of those annoying media folks, attending RHF for ten consecutive years!
It was that very year, 2009, that I immortalized myself as part of the Rock Hard history, performing on the main stage as a winner of the karaoke contest that took place the first few festival editions. And I hadn’t had it any other way than screaming my lungs out with the Judas Priest classic “Painkiller” – not to mention I would have needed some painkillers afterwards to sooth my sore throat from performing in front of a 6000 plus audience, let alone at an open air event! What a time to be alive. Just like the magazine, the festival itself has always been dedicated to a wide range of genres and as a support of the underground. We saw bands working their way up from tiny club shows to entering the charts on the pole position. Yes, this is the story of Blues Pills – a band I’ve always loved and that will have a special place in my heart forever and ever. I will spear your all the personal anecdotes for now.
Within the course of 14 years I had some of the best times ever, crowd surfing while Children Of Bodom played, banning my head hard for Amon Amarth and having my boobs signed by the Swedish sons of Ozzy Osbourne, Hellfueled, all in 2005. After a short absence in 2006, I also caught up with Bolt Thrower at their second time at RHF in 2012. And who could forget King Diamond‘s theatrical act in 2013, still gives me chills. But most memorable for me will be The Devil’s Blood, headlining in 2010, since no one wanted the stage after their blood-ridden ritual. Besides all these great bands, Rock Hard has always been a festival for families and friends and it really is and has been for me. Some folks I would just see once a year during the pentecoast weekend.
Partner in Crime & BFF – Queen Of Spades at RHF 2018
You’ve come a long way within the past 15 years, dear Rock Hard Festival and for the past ten years I couldn’t even imagine being anywhere else around this time of year, but now I feel that it’s time to move on. So much has changed and not all of it for the better. But I will always treasure my memories, specially of spending time with some of my best friends at the annual festivities. Most of all teaming up with my friend Susan at Queen Of Spades Photography in 2015 after the untimely demise of Jörg Litges, my former partner in crime of two years. And 2018 will always be a very special one to look back at as my former band mate Sonja joined in the fierce fun and my bestie Yorck made his debut as a real Rockstar and latest addition to Thrash legend Sodom. It might have been the last time for me for now, but it was one heck of a ride! Thanks.
Festival, Fun & Friendships – Rock Hard Festival 2018
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!
Less than two months to go before Rock Hard Festival 2017 takes place. Today the official Running Order is finally available – please check below. Also check out the official Warm Up show at Lükaz Lünen next moth. Addtionally there will be single day tickets available at the following fees:
Friday: 39€
Saturday: 45€
Sunday: 49€
Friday, June 2nd
BLUES PILLS
CANDLEMASS
THE DEAD DAISIES
MANTAR
ROBERT PEHRSSON‘S HUMBUCKER
DUST BOLT
Saturday, June 3rd
BEHEMOTH
D.A.D.
EXODUS
ASPHYX
SKYCLAD
THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA
KETZER
MONUMENT
Sunday, June 4th
OPETH
DIRKSCHNEIDER
(„Farewell To Accept“)
FATES WARNING
ROSS THE BOSS
(„Manowar-Classics“)
DEMON
SECRETS OF THE MOON
BLOOD CEREMONY
NIGHT DEMON
Darkness will rise again and leading the forces of evil is none other than Polish powerhouse and one of Black Metal’s finest. Twenty-three years and ten albums into their career, that Behemoth is still in the ascendant is a statement to their commitment, determination and capacity for writing such powerful music. If ever a band was to go out on a high, The Satanist would make for one hell of a swan song, but don’t expect them to disappear any time soon. 2017 marks the first ever performance of mastermind Nergal, drumer Inferno, bassist Orion and guitarist Seth at the annual Rock Hard Festival.
The Satanist(s)
Summoning their secrets on their native soil, German Occult Rockers Secrets Of The Moon will also celebrate their inaugural appearance at Rock Hard Festival. The sun is both source of warming light and all-devouring fireball. Secrets of the Moon have named their sixth album after it, since it stems from the immediate experience of becoming and perishing, of ending and starting anew – not only in the musicians‘ private sphere but also within the band itself. In the wake of existential experiences, the new line-up created the band’s boldest and most intense album to date. On SUN, Black Metal is less of a dogma but intuitively transferred into a context of universally dark music, expressing the artists‘ spiritual catharsis and growth without restrictions. If with this album, Secrets of the Moon represent one particular current style, it is their very own, saturated with unwavering self-confidence and the will to live.
From the woods to the waterside: SOTM
Two piece monster from northern Germany – the berserker’s path – this is how Mantar describe themselves. And a monster they sure are, holding the flag of German metal diversity high and proving that sometimes you only need two guys. Where there is darkness, there is light and Blues Pills will clearly make the amphitheatre shine again with the second time at Rock Hard Festival since 2014. More bands and highlights will be announced next year, so stay tuned!
Confirmed bands:
BEHEMOTH
BLUES PILLS
FATES WARNING
D-A-D
EXODUS
CANDLEMASS
ROSS THE BOSS
ASPHYX
SKYCLAD
SECRETS OF THE MOON
MANTAR
NIGHT DEMON
Beginning as TOTEM in 2007 this sonic coven was reborn under the moniker JEX THOTH in 2008. Behind JEX THOTH’s fog of fuzz stand meticulously crafted, ear warming, fist pumping tunes guided by the immensely powerful voice of its visionary namesake. Alchemical doom is imminent. Vividly celebrating their most current release, 2013’s “Blood Moon Rise“, the ginger siren and her entourage will return to Europe with a full headlining tour this fall.
After a first offering of support rituals in March alongside BLUES PILLS, TRUCKFIGHTERS and THREE SEASONS, JEX THOTH will finally display of all their glory, musical mastery and enchanting stage skills to an ever-growing audience.
Kicking off August 29th in Jyväskylä, Finland a total of 30 shows will be held, ten of wich will take place in Germany. Check out below for all confirmed dates!
Multinational breakthrough-band of the year, BLUES PILLS have released the official music video for the current single, ‘No Hope Left For Me’. The clip was shot by renowned director Patric Ullaeus (WITHIN TEMTPATION, EUROPE and many more.
In other news, the band has been confirmed to play Rock am Ring and Rock im Park 2015. Once again the band has accomplished something incredible with just their debut out: The four-piece, fronted by charismatic vocalist Elin Larsson will appear live at the two biggest and most important German festivals, taking place from June 05 to June 06 at Meding airport at Vulkaneifel as well was Nuremberg Zeppelinfeld.
The great coronation of a fairytale like story – entering the German charts at position #4, remaining in the charts for eight long weeks, playing a largely sold out tour and being praised by both fans and critics is what paved the bands daily life for the past months.
Tomorrow the foursome will kick of the French leg of their ongoing tour. All dates listed below:
FRANCE TOUR
BLUES PILLS
presented by MyRock
06.11.2014 F – Strasbourg, La Laiterie
07.11.2014 F – La Roche sur Yon, Le Fuzz Yon
08.11.2014 F – Paris, Le Point FMR
UK TOUR
BLUES PILLS
10.11.2014 UK – Bristol, The Fleece
11.11.2014 UK – Birmingham, The Oobleck
12.11.2014 UK – Manchester, Star And Garter
14.11.2014 UK – Milton Keynes, Crauford Arms
16.11.2014 UK – Glasgow, Audio
18.11.2014 UK – The Dome, London
After entering the German Media Control Charts on a most overwhelming #4, BLUES PILLS have released a new video for their album track ‘Gypsy’ (A CHUBBY CHECKER Cover) as a way of thanking their fans.
Stated the band on their Facebook page: “We made a home-made music video to the song ‘Gypsy’ from our debut album. We wanted to give something back to the fans as a “thank you” for all the amazing support! We shot it one night on tour, in our hotel room in Frankfurt. Hope you dig it!”
Furthermore BLUES PILLS have just recently sold out the Hamburg show of their upcoming headlining run in October. The show has now been booked to a bigger venue, called Uebel & Gefaehrlich. More shows on this tour will be sold out soon!!! Be quick!
BLUES PILLS
THE VINTAGE CARAVAN
presented by METAL HAMMER, ECLIPSED, ROCKS, VISIONS, METALNEWS.DE, BLAST!, NOIZELETTER, MUSIX & ROCK IT!
02.10.2014 DE – Leipzig, Moritzbastei
03.10.2014 CH – Pratteln, Up In Smoke Festival
04.10.2014 DE – Nürnberg, Rockfabrik
06.10.2014 AT – Vienna, Arena
07.10.2014 AT – Innsbruck, Weekender
08.10.2014 DE – Ludwigsburg, Rockfabrik
10.10.2014 BE – Antwerp, Desertfest
11.10.2014 DE – Kaiserslautern, Kammgarn International Blues Festival
13.10.2014 NL – Nijmegen, Doornroosje
14.10.2014 DE – Essen, Turock
15.10.2014 DE – Hamburg, Headcrash
17.10.2014 DE – München, Keep it Low Festival
18.10.2014 DE – Berlin, Bi Nuu
19.10.2014 DE – Frankfurt, das Bett
FRANCE TOUR
BLUES PILLS
presented by MyRock
06.11.2014 F – Strasbourg, La Laiterie
07.11.2014 F – La Roche sur Yon, Le Fuzz Yon
08.11.2014 F – Paris, Le Point FMR
UK TOUR
BLUES PILLS
10.11.2014 UK – Bristol, The Fleece
11.11.2014 UK – Birmingham, The Oobleck
12.11.2014 UK – Manchester, Star And Garter
14.11.2014 UK – Milton Keynes, Crauford Arms
16.11.2014 UK – Glasgow, Audio
18.11.2014 UK – The Dome, London
With school pretty much taking most of yet another Friday, only one half of the Psychorizon Festival crew is able to make it on time for the first day of the annual Metal Whitsun celebration. On its 2014 edition, German Rock Hard Festival takes off with a bouquet of gloomy, doomy and thrashy encounters that turn the mighty amphitheater – despite the unmerciful sun – into a dark gathering, summoned by the sirens and preachers of their sonic coven. (kp)
Girl Power Metal Style – NOCTURNAL & Tyrannizer
Very first blood is shed by unholy Thrash-Sensation NOCTURNAL. Led by the aggressive shouting of charismatic front-screameress Tyrannizer, the band lived up to the honour of opening this year’s Rock Hard Festival. Old School Thrash attacks rolls off the stage and manages to attract already much more than the occasional drunken Metalhead. After 40 minutes of relentless riffing, it is left to another German band, ZODIAC, to calm down the audience. The blues driven mixture of Classic Rock and Stoner attitude is well received, but to be honest, the guys don’t excite me that much, so I decide to explore the camp site a little before coming back to see polish Death Metal Veterans DECAPITATED. A rock-solid show, but nothing very special in my opinion. Hooded Metal Avengers MIDNIGHT are up next and seem to be one of the most anticipated bands so far. Featuring perhaps THE coolest (or ugliest, it just depends…) backdrop of the festival, they deliver an excellent show and don’t shy away from one of the most cliché moves ever celebrated in the history of Heavy Metal, making it somehow cool again to smash guitars.
Second Coming of the Antichrist – Tom G. Warrior and TRIPTYKON return to Rock Hard Festival
Today’s headliner, TRIPTYKON, fully unleash the glacial period over Gelsenkirchen. Formed after the demise of CELTIC FROST, the music perfectly embodies the sick mind of band leader and elder statesman of extreme Metal, Tom G. Warrior. A dark and enigmatic atmosphere blends with progressive Doom Metal grooves modern bands like UFOMAMMUT would be proud of. As an important side note, the gig was dedicated by Tom to Götz Kühnemund. (ys)
Setlist TRIPTYKON
Crucifixus
Black Snow
Goetia
Circle of the Tyrants (CELTIC FROST cover)
Tree Of Suffocating Souls
Abyss Within My Soul
Visions of Mortality (CELTIC FROST cover)
The Usurper (CELTIC FROST cover)
Altar of Deceit
Messiah (HELLHAMMER cover)
The Prolonging
Winter (CELTIC FROST cover)
– Saturday –
Forgot to bring some chilly temperatures – Iceland’s hottest new band SÓLSTAFIR
Finally united and missing out most of the day’s early live encounters, the icy icing on the cake comes with Icelandic foursome SÓLSTAFIR, who face the first severe technical difficulties of RHF ’14. Checking and changing the settings of the guitar amps, the bands’ into becomes a ten-minute long test of patience, endurance and hope and finally all instruments work and Aðalbjörn Tryggvason, Guðmundur Óli Pálmason, Sæþór Maríus Sæþórsson and Svavar Austmann present their Epic Rock’n’Roll. Touring in support of their most current output “Ótta” and the 2011 charting success “Svartir Sandar“, SÓLSTAFIR make up to their name with the rays of light spreading all over the event sight, bewitching the audience with songs such as ‘Fjara’ – like most songs sung in their native language – or the mesmerizing ‘Goddess Of The Ages’.
Shiny Happy People – Circle Pit & Crowdsurfing during the OBITUARY show – pictures by Yorck Segatz
The main day of RHF ’14, a fully packed Saturday, ends with a most fierce Death/Thrash attack, starting with one of the elder statesmen of old school Death Metal at 6:15 pm: OBITUARY. Welcomed with frantic “Obi! Obi! Obi!” chants, Florida’s finest deliveres a set-list mostly consisting of songs from the first three albums as well as three brand-new tracks. Incited by an uncompromising attack of classic riffs, a massive pit starts right from the beginning. Although I’m more on the headbanging side, I couldn’t resist to let my self go and got carried away with the good friendly violent fun, as Exodus would have put it. The Tardy brothers (John on vox and Donald on drums) clearly enjoy the mosh-feast in front of the stage, while Trevor Peres windmills himself through the 15 songs. With the searing sun still shining relentlessly into the theatre, I was glad that most of the material was held in grooving mid-tempo, otherwise my muscles wouldn’t have survived long enough to celebrate tonight’s second Death Metal massacre: the mighty CARCASS! (ys) Going back even further in time, Arizona Thrashers SACRED REICH turn out to be the secret headliner of this day and the metal choir does not only sing as one with the 80s classic ‘Surf Nicaragua’ or the BLACK SABBATH cover ‘War Pigs’ and so it seems that with a first wave of departure, the real headliner of the festival will be hailed by fewer people but no less intense.
The only band with its own German Home & Hardwarestore: OBI(TUARY)
After re-setting stage props once more, it is finally time to “Wake up and smell the Carcass”! Having recovered from the disgrace of playing a half-hour support slot during last years’ AMON AMARTH tour, British Death & Grind masters CARCASS finally step onto their rightful place as headliners and play as if there was no tomorrow. Vocalist/bassist Jeff Walker and fellow legendary guitarist Bill Steer are as vivid as the bands’ new members, drummer Dan Wilding and second stringman Ben Ash. Their full 1 1/2 hrs set includes not only tracks from their reviving record “Surgical Steel” (2013) and the mandatory genre defining “Necroticism” (1991) and “Heartwork” (1993) hits, but also a showcase of the notorious “Swanson” (1996) – the album you love to hate. CARCASS are back and with the new line-up back on top. The clip show of mutilated body parts, the impressive backdrop and Jeff’s witty remarks are a sizzling combination. Eventhough his plan to sing the chorus of ‘The Granulating Dark Satanic Mills’ in German did not work out, the pure joy on stage is fully shared among us all. With the title track of their most acclaimed record to date, ‘Heartwork’, the furious foursome releases us into the night – tired but overwhelmingly happy!
The Gory Green Giants – CARCASS
Setlist CARCASS
1985
Buried Dreams
Incarnated Solvent Abuse
A Congealed Clot of Blood / Cadaver Pouch Conveyor System
Carnal Forge
Noncompliance to ASTM F 899-12 Standard
No Love Lost
Unfit for Human Consumption
Edge of Darkness / This Mortal Coil / Reek of Putrefaction
The Granulating Dark Satanic Mills
Genital Grinder / Pyosisified (Rotten to the Gore)
Exhume to Consume
Captive Bolt Pistol
Corporal Jigsore Quandary / The Sanguine Article
Encore:
Black Star / Keep On Rotting in the Free World
Ruptured in Purulence / Heartwork
– Sunday –
Shining brighter than the sun – BLUES PILLS vocalist Elin Larsson
Although aspiring Blues Rock sensation BLUES PILLS miss the Sunday opening position by one, forcing them to play at 1pm still seems most blasphemous considering just how high up the band is on this early stage of their career and after they’ve been headlining at Freak Valley Festival just about a week ago. Nonetheless worries are unneccessary as the ranks of Gelsenkirchen amphitheatre are brimful at this time of day, to witness a first hint of what to expect from the impatiently awaited full-length debut of BLUES PILLS. Catchy tunes like the opener ‘High Class Woman’ and the in-official summer anthem ‘Devil Man’ got large party of the audience singing along and praisefully raising their fists. The current incarnation sees the band with a new sticksman, André “Poncho” Kwarnström from Swedish TRUCKFIGHTERS, who steps in for the currently missing founding-member Cory Jack Berry. Together with bassplayer Zack Anderson, the rhythm-section delivers the perfect foundation for the bands’ miraculous stringmaster, French prodigy Dorian Sorriaux and the enchanting yet forceful vocals of singer Elin Larsson. After roundabout 40 minutes the stirring performance finds an abrupt end, as the band banner is taken down while the final song ‘Little Sun’ is still setting…(kp)
Setlist BLUES PILLS
High Class Woman
Ain’t No Change
Dig In
No Hope Left For Me
Black Smoke
Devil Man
Astralplane
Little Sun
One of my favourite bands of all time would enter the stage at 4:30 pm: MONSTER MAGNET. Once heralded to re-establish psychedelic Stoner Rock during the early 90’s, they even managed to pierce mainstream boundaries with hit singles such as ‘Power Trip’ and ‘Space Lord’. A well-chosen setlist containing the aforementioned songs as well as the title track from their latest effort, “Last Patrol”, is brought to Rock Hard Festival. The new line-up featuring THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX bassman Chris Kosnik leaves a vital impression, despite the searing sun that clearly exhausts the audience. Bandleader „Monster Dave“ Wyndorf seems to grow better and better the older he gets! (ys)
Would even wear his leather jacket in the desert – MONSTER MAGNET’s Dave Wyndorf
With the dusty riffs of MONSTER MAGNET still echoing across the equally dusty event scenery, Psychorizon call it a day and conclude another wonderful gathering of old and new friends, fellow writers, photographers, musicians and all those great folks that make Rock Hard one of the true highlights of the festival summer. See you all in 2015! (kp)
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
