ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2017 – Dinner For One

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

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

Love that Carcass shirt!

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

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

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

Setlist Blues Pills

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

Sweden’s sweetest temptation of Rock: Elin Larsson

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

Setlitst Ketzer

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

Master of Black Masses & Black Metal: Nergal

Taking the rest of the afternoon to relax on my couch, I return 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!

All pictures courtesy of Queen Of Spades Photography

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PURSON – Forced To Postpone European Tour Dates

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Apollo Papathanasio, Arch Enemy, Carcass, Desire’s Magic Theatre, Earth Blues Tour 2013, Electric Ladyland, European Tour, George Hudson, Jack Hobbs, Justin Smith, Leaning On A Bear, Ludwig Witt, Machine Elf, Michael Amott, Per Wiberg, Purson, Raphael Mura, Rosalie Cunningham, Samuel Shove, Sharlee D'Angelo, Spinefarm Records, Spiritual Beggars, The Circle And The Blue Door, Tourdates, UK Tour, US Tour, Wanted Man

Purson preparing for a chat with Marc Riley at BBC6

Due to as of yet unnamed circumstances, UK-based five-piece Purson has to postpone their recently announced tour dates in continental Europe that were set for April. Yesterday, the band published the following statement on their official Facebook page: “We’ve unfortunately had to postpone the European dates of the upcoming tour. All the UK dates remain as they were, with the addition of Southend. Do not fear, we will be back on the continent soon enough! Please share this updated poster for anyone who has yet to buy their tickets!”

A clear deja-vu to anyone who was hoping to see the stellar sound machine live on their short-lived road encounter alongside Swedish Rockers Spiritual Beggars in 2013. Back then, Purson became victim of some shady garage employes – to say the least – and after just half of the originally planned eight shows, forced to return to British shores.

Apart from the Desire’s Magic Theatre European Tour, Purson will return to the US in the end of April. Please check below for all confirmed or remaining dates!

U.K

9/3 – Bristol – The Louisiana 

10/3 – Nottingham – Rock City

11/3 – Norwich – The Waterfront 

12/3 – Milton Keynes – The Crauford Arms 

16/3 – London – 100 Club 

24/3 – Exeter – The Cavern Club

25/3 – Plymouth – The Junction

26/3 – Southampton – Joiners

27/3 – Brighton – The Hope and Ruin

30/3 – Birmingham – The Sunflower Lounge

31/3 – Manchester – Night and Day

1/4 – Glasgow – Audio

2/4 – Leeds – Brudenell Social Club

15/4 – Southend – Chinnery’s 

U.S

29/4 – 1/5 – Austin TX –  Levitation Festival 

8/5 – Tallahassee FL – Sidebar Theatre

10/5 -Ft. Lauderdale FL – Culture Room 

11/5 – Orlando FL – The Social

12/5 – Pensacola FL – Vinyl

13/5 – Atlanta GA – Shaky Knees

16/5 – Baltimore MD – Ottobar

17/5 – Brooklyn NY – Brooklyn Bowl

18/5 – Syracuse NY – Lost Horizon 

19/5 – Providence RI – Fete Music Hall

20/5 – Philadelphia PA – Union Transfer 

24/5 – Colombia MO – Blue Note 

25/5 – Lincoln NE – Bourbon Theatre 

26/5 – Lawrence KS – Granada 

28/5 – Dallas TX – Gas Monkey Live!

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ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2014 – Praiseful Pentecost Gathering

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Aðalbjörn Tryggvason, Amon Amarth, André “Poncho” Kwarnström, Ben Ash, Bill Steer, Black Sabbath, Blues Pills, Carcass, Celtic Frost, Dan Wilding, Dave Wyndorf, Decapitated, Devil Man, Donald Tardy, Dorian Sorriaux, Elin Larsson, Fjara, Freal Valley Festival, Götz Kühnemund, Goddess Of The Ages, Guðmundur Óli Pálmason, Heartwork, Hellhammer, High Class Woman, Jeff Walker, John Tardy, Lautundinfarbe, Midnight, Monster Magnet, Necroticism, Nocturnal, Obituary, Power Trip, Rock Hard Festival, Rock Hard Megazine, Sacred Reich, Sæþór Maríus Sæþórsson, Slowly We Rott, Solstafir, Space Lord, Surf Nicaragua, Surgical Steel, Svavar Austmann, Swansong, The Atomic Bitchwax, Tom G. Warrior, Triptykon, Truckfighters, Tyrranizer, Ufomammut, Zack Anderson, Zodiac

– Friday –

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)

Pictures courtesy of Jörg Litges / lautundinfarbe – unless stated otherwise

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ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2014 – Slaughter By The Waterside

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Annihilator, Ben Ash, Bill Steer, Blues Pills, Carcass, Dan Wilding, Dave Mustaine, Dead Lord, Decapitated, Die Apokalyptischen Reiter, Insomnium, Iron Savior, Jeff Walker, Megadeth, Midnight, Monster Magnet, Nocturnal, Orbituary, Orphaned Land, Pretty Maids, Rock Hard Festival, Roxxcalibur, Running Order, Sacred Reich, Screamer, Solstafir, Tesla, Triptykon, Zodiac; Murder Mile

For its 12th edition, Germany’s well-established ROCK HARD FESTIVAL comes up with a great billing, serving a wide range of contemporary and classic Metal acts. In March the latest additions have finally been announced – putting the cat among the pigeons, MEGADETH, headed by their controversial main man Dave Mustaine, are going to perform some of their greatest hits . Offering other big names such as MONSTER MAGNET and TRIPTYKON, RHF 2014 is set to deliver a blast of Black-/Death-/Rock-Headliners for the 3-day-event. The classic Rock and Metal section is led by Californian Hardrock institution TESLA and Swedish Rockers DEAD LORD. Celebrating their 30th anniversary, TESLA are currently recording their upcoming new album “Simplicity”. Consorting with TESLA, the aspiring German Heavy Rock outlet ZODIAC already toured with BLUES PILLS – both will perform at ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2014. Furthermore energetic new blood SCREAMER are carrying the torch of Heavy Metal. After playing some shows at German Festivals in 2013, the four Swedes are going to bring some Rock’n’Roll to Gelsenkirchen Amphitheater. For all 80s Freaks, loving their NWOBHM as well as classic Heavy Metal, ROXXCALIBUR will play hits of GRIM REAPER, TOKYO BLADE and other big genre names.

Megadave entitled “The Scapegoat” on the Cover of the current Rock Hard issue – courtesy of Jeremy Saffer

At the other end of the heaviness scale this years’ Whitsun festivities are sure to be hailed for its chosen participants such as German Thrashers NOCTURNAL with their impressive front lady Tyrannizer, Polish Death Metallers DECAPITATED, Finland’s allegedly best Dark Melodic Death Metal band INSOMNIUM who are on the verge of their righteous breakthrough and another voice from the darker side of Metal with Icelandic foursome SÓLSTAFIR. Of course the organizers got some special shenanigans going on with the exclusive German Festival appearance of US Black Metal formation MIDNIGHT and Florida Death Metal masters OBITUARY with a special Classic Set! And to top it all, THE true Fab Four from Britain will make their way to the mainlands to headline on Saturday – OH YES folks: CARCASS will kill it at Rock Hard Festival 2014 and it sure will be a real slaughter by the waterside!!!

Sure Jeff and the gang got their rain coats at hand to perform at the canel – courtesy of Murder Mile

Running Order:

Friday June 06th

NOCTURNAL

ZODIAC

DECAPITATED

MIDNIGHT

DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER

TRIPTYKON

Saturday June 7th

ROXXCALIBUR

DEAD LORD

SCREAMER

SÓLSTAFIR

PRETTY MAIDS

OBITUARY

SACRED REICH

CARCASS

Sunday June 8th

IRON SAVIOR

BLUES PILLS

ORPHANED LAND

INSOMNIUM

MONSTER MAGNET

ANNIHILATOR

TESLA

MEGADETH

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DERKETA – From Tape Trading To Unwillingly Writing History

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Acrostichon, Angela Gossow, Arch Enemy, Carcass, Cattle Decapitation, Creation is Crucifixion, Darkness Fades Life, Decibel Magazine, Derketa, Don Crotsley, Funerus, Goreguts, Grave, Holy Moses, In Death We Meet, Mary Bielich, Mike Laughlin, Mind Cure Records, Morbid Vision, Noisem, Nun Slaughter, Ola Lindgren, Pittsburgh, Robin Mazen, Rock Goddess, Sepultura, Sharon Bascovsky, Studio Soulless, Terri Heggen, The Black Dahlia Murder, The Pleasure Seekers, The Runaways, Troops of Doom

As unintended as the fact of being the first ever all-female Death Doom Metal band to grind down the face of the earth, as great the effect was and still is of DERKETA forming in the late 80s. Far from any gender related clichés and whatnot, the Pittsburgh-based four piece managed to stick to their own selves and finally reformed in 2006 after disbanding in 1991. Keeping alive their original sound, DERKETA are currently working on new material and tomorrow night will join in the ongoing Decibel Magazine Tour featuring NOISEM, GOREGUTS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and some old friends of DERKETA’s – CARCASS.

Thus its about time to have some serious talk with vocalist/guitarist and founding member Sharon Bascovsky.

DERKETA 2014: Mike Laughlin on drums, Sharon Bascovsky, Robin Mazen on bass & Mary Bielich on guitars

You started as an all female band back in 1988, when both Death and Doom were in an infant state – how did the members of DERKETA get into that kind of sound?

It was a natural progression from Classic Rock, to Heavy Metal, to Thrash Metal, then to Death and Doom Metal. Our friends would have parties and people would bring along cassettes from tape trading and that is how we got exposed to it all. Once I heard doom and death metal, that is the genre that grabbed my attention and started my passion for it.

Having only female musicians was that something that just happened or was it an actual decision?

It just happened that way. I started playing guitar in 1985 and got bored with learning song covers and started writing my own music. I met Terri, who later became the drummer, at a party and her and I became friends. I had mentioned to her that I was thinking of starting a band and she said she wanted to do the same. She bought a drum set and took some lessons, then we started jamming together just as friends and did some recordings. It wasn’t until people started to ask us to play out live is when we started looking for other members and once we started asking our friends if they knew of anyone, they would refer other females that they knew played. It was more of our friends liking the idea of us being an all female band and the way we saw it, it was whoever was willing and able to do it. It wasn’t that we specifically wanted females to join. At one point Don Crotsley, the singer of NUN SLAUGHTER, was playing bass with us. He had met Mary Bielich at a party, found out she was going to college for bass, and suggested that we replace him with her because she is an amazing bassist. Throughout the years I’ve worked with both males and females, but originally it was just me and Terri so we became known as the first all female Death Metal band. We eventually reformed the original lineup in 2006 to work on recording “In Death We Meet” but since then Terri quit due to time restraints. We now have Mike Laughlin on drums, he’s played with CATTLE DECIPATIATION and CREATION IS CRUCIFIXION, and that has been going well. He’s been with us for about 2 years now.

How would you depict the ups and downs of being a bunch of girls in a very much male dominated environment, has that ever make you doubt about “doing the right thing”?

We’ve only encountered the negative “female band” thing outside of Pittsburgh. Here, it is very common for women to be involved in extreme metal, ever since the 80’s, so we were never treated strange or looked down on here. Once we became in contact with people all around the world, we did encounter some “odd” behavior from the guys, either thinking we were just doing it to meet guys or just plain insults that we were women and didn’t belong in the Death Metal scene. There wasn’t a lot of it, most of our peers were into it, but there were some and ive become numb towards negative opinions. In the early days it would bother me cause I didn’t understand what their problem was about it. I mean, it’s just a band, ya know? And a guy doing Death Metal vocals is just as strange as a female doing it. Now I can care less and am not fazed by it. If you like us, then fine. If you don’t, that’s fine too. I’m too old to care what others think of me or the band. We’re having fun and that’s all that matters. But in all honesty, we’ve taken more heat from girls versus the guys mainly cutting down our looks, which is weird. Posting their opinions on how ugly they think we are, or starting strange rumors. Don’t get me wrong, we still get that from guys too but girls can be vicious and catty. After 26 years of various insults, I’m numb to that as well as ive never defined myself on my looks and that’s not what this band is about. Those would be the “downs” of being a female into Metal, the almighty judgment. The “ups” would just be the people that could give a shit that we’re female and shown us respect as a band/musician. The only benefit that I can see is people being curious on the female factor and they may have checked us out because of that. I’ve never had any doubts though; im doing what comes naturally to me and what I want to do.

Sharon – vocals & guitars

Sharon, you told me before that DERKETA hasn’t played outside the US up to this point – what are the reasons for that, specially with loads of people from overseas taken an interest in the band?

Well, we’re not sure how the interest would be for us over there. We self release our recordings and we simply can’t afford to travel too far away on our own unless a promoter pays for our expenses to do so. Trust me, we want to and we’re hoping that a promoter will have faith in us to bring us over while we’re still able to do it. We’re not getting any younger, not that age worries us, it’s the health problems that are bound to happen with aging…and of course, death. We are doing a 4 date tour in Mexico this September and we’re all extremely excited about that. We have some diehard fans there and we’re looking forward to meeting and performing for them. The other thing I worry about is keeping everyone’s drive up to continue. We’ve gotten good reviews and have just about sold out of the first pressing of “In Death We Meet”, merch sales have been good for us, so that has helped to keep our drive going for regular rehearsals and not be so casual about it all. Maybe in 2015 some overseas promoters will bring us over. I think playing some Euro fests would be the wise move as we’re not sure how well we’re known over there to do an actual tour on our own just yet.

Your full-length debut “In Death We Meet” was released in 2012. How soon can we expect a successor coming up?

We just recorded 2 songs for a 7” on Mind Cure Records, which is a local Pittsburgh record store. Theyre releasing a local band a month and I believe our release date is the end of May. The conditions to the 7” were one original song, which is called “Darkness Fades Life” and a cover song. We covered Sepultura’s “Troops of Doom” (MORBID VISION version).

We also had Ola Lindgren from GRAVE remix “In Death We Meet” because there were some things that I wasn’t 100% happy with and I wanted to fix them for the vinyl version. The remix is complete, Ola did a FANTASTIC job, exactly what I was looking for, so the vinyl should be released this summer, as well as a CD version since were almost sold out of the original pressing. There is no sense in repressing the original when the remix completely blows it away. We took our time on the remix, worked in between our schedules so it allowed us to give our ears a break which was a definite bonus.

I’m in the process of writing for our next full length album; which were hoping to record the end of this year, but its all about creativity and ideas so it all depends on how that goes. Its something that I can’t force to happen but I work on the songs daily. We’ve taken a step back from playing too many live shows this year so that I can focus on it. And of course, Ola will mix it at his Studio Soulless as he is the only Studio Engineer that I will work with from now on. It’s not that the other engineers ive worked with were bad in any way, it’s just that im particular on sounds and tones and not everybody agrees with me. Ola “gets” the sound and feel that im trying to accomplish with our songs and is extremely easy to work with. He also mixed our “Darkness Fades Life” 7”, and even played on it. As he was mixing, he was hearing some guitar notes in his head and asked if he could try them out on the recording. Those notes really enhanced the song and im excited for people to hear it. I highly recommend bands to work with him as he does have a true talent and they wont be disappointed with his work. I’ve heard other bands that he’s worked with that have a different style than Derketa so he is able to bring out bands in the way they need to be heard. I’m looking forward to working with him on our next recording and that has helped my drive to get the new material written.

What do you think of bands like ARCH ENEMY, HOLY MOSES or the likes with female vocalists?

As weird as it may sound, I don’t really put a focus on bands that have female musicians or vocalists. I guess since im a female, I don’t see it as weird or anything special, they’re just bands to me. I don’t have any desire to compete with any band/person, musically or vocally, so I don’t keep up with it all. I’ve heard a song from ARCH ENEMY and they’re too technical musically so im not really into them. I thought Angela’s vocals sounded too processed or something and think it would have been better if she went naturally as she does have a strong voice. But that’s just my vocal preference. When I perform, I don’t even want echo on my vocals, volume is the only thing I want to keep it raw and natural. I’ve heard of HOLY MOSES but have not actually heard their music. There are too many bands to keep up with so im sure im missing out on a lot. I’m am friends and a fan of FUNERUS and ACROSTICHON, both having female fronted members, I’m really into what they’re all about and doing but id like their music just the same if they were males. They both do a great job. I’m very picky about vocals in general, I don’t like the barking death metal vocals; I like words to be distinguishable.

Have you been inspired by any of the early all-girl groups such as THE PLEASURE SEEKERS, ROCK GODDESS or the famous RUNANWAYS?

No, it was never my intention to have an all female band, it just turned out that way because of a friendship, so there wasn’t any inspiration for that direction. In fact, I was a little turned off by some of the all female bands in the 80’s because of the glam era and members trying to look sexy and glamorous. I didn’t relate to that at all, it wasn’t and isn’t my personality. That goes for the guys that got dolled up too! My inspiration came from various bands growing up, the 70’s and 80’s era, just bands that wrote good music that captured me in some way. I was never a girly girl and always felt more like a peer to the boys, and when I would hear a song on the radio or see a concert, I knew that its something that I wanted to do and it had nothing to do with any female influence. I mean, I love Joan Jett, but if she didn’t exist, I still would be doing what im doing. Its not like a saw a female do it and then thought that if she can do it, I can do it too. You know? There have been lots of things that have inspired me throughout the years but none of it is gender related.

DERKETA live in 2013

On April 07 you will join in some old friends on stage for the ongoing Decibel Magazine tour – how do you feel about it?

Nervous and excited at the same time! Its going to be fun finally sharing a stage with CARCASS but I’m always a little nervous until we hit the stage and start playing. This is a great opportunity for us as we’ll be playing in front of a larger local crowd and we’re hoping that it will bring some awareness that Pittsburgh does have a local metal band scene.

And how come you didn’t jump onboard for the entire tour circle?

We weren’t asked to. Decibel Magazine selected a few cities to have a local opener and we were lucky to be one of the cities/bands that were asked.

Last but not least, is there anything else you’d like to share with the world, maybe some words for aspiring young lasses who’d like to kick some major arse the way you do?

Thank you for taking the time to send me this interview, I really enjoyed your questions! If people are interested in keeping up with what were doing, find us on Facebook as we update that regularly. As far as advice, don’t let guys or girls intimidate you in an attempt to prevent what you want to do. At some point, you will encounter it but you are only on this earth once. Those people don’t matter. Stay true to yourself, don’t try to compete with others, and do what comes naturally. You will not fail.

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SPIRITUAL BEGGARS & PURSON – Eye Candy From Roermond

Tags

Astra, Blood Ceremony, Carcass, Cathedral, Earth Blues, George Hudson, Graveyard, I Will Be Good, Jack Hobbs, Justin Smith, Kadavar, Leaning On A Bear, Lee Dorrian, Michael Amott, Monsterpics, Napalm Death, Orchid, Purson, Rise Above Records, Roermond, Rosalie Cunningham, Samuel Shove, Spiderwood Farm, Spiritual Beggars, The Circle And The Blue Door, The Contract, Tragic Catastrophe

Without further ado – enjoy!

All pictures Courtesy of Monsterpics!

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PURSON – Baroque ‘n’ Roll

Tags

Astra, Blood Ceremony, Café Central, Carcass, Cathedral, Earth Blues, George Hudson, Graveyard, I Will Be Good, Jack Hobbs, Justin Smith, Kadavar, Leaning On A Bear, Lee Dorrian, Michael Amott, Napalm Death, Orchid, Purson, Rise Above Records, Rosalie Cunningham, Samuel Shove, Spiderwood Farm, Spiritual Beggars, The Circle And The Blue Door, The Contract, Tragic Catastrophe, Weinheim

After misfortune first struck for British Psychedelic Rock outlet PURSON, forcing them to cancel all continental dates on the tour with ASTRA earlier this year, now things are finally looking up again: The swinging quartette announced to be joining in on SPIRITUAL BEGGARS’ “Earth Blues Tour 2013” and thus finally be heading over from the United Kingdom. A more appropriate package almost seems out of the question, as both bands are hard to label. PURSON with their deal at Lee Dorrian’s very own Rise ABove record, on the one hand might be having a hard to time, fully pleasing expectations of the rather (Stoner) Rock and (Doom) Metal oriented group of costumers that do not disapprove the price and publication policy of the former NAPALM DEATH vokiller and CATHEDRAL mastermind. SPIRITUAL BEGGARS on the other hand have been into all of what has become a mere hype within the past few years, with names such as ORCHID, GRAVEYARD, KADAVAR and others being overwhelmingly praised for a particular direction, while the Swedes have been sounding like this, ever since they first got started in 1993! Twenty years later they are still far away from being signed by a major label – but be it as it may…

Organist Samuel Shove & Frontlady Rosalie Cunningham outshining it all

My main reason to take on what turned out to be a three and a half hour ride throughout major parts of the southern part of Germany I live in, is to watch PURSON play live – first and foremost. For sure catching up with former CARCASS member Michael Amott got its charms on me, but let’s just not get lost on this. To state the obvious again, female musicians do attract me in very intense way and one Rosalie Cunningham being in her early twenties and stunningly beautiful get attributes combined that never failed to amaze me. Besides their unique blend of colorful 60s vibe, Psychedelic infused Rock and an almost scary sense of coolness, hard to got on many a Metalhead. Strictly on time at 9pm, the current lineup featuring new members Jack Hobbs (drums) and Justin Smith (bass) along with leading lady Rosalie, George Hudson (guitars&backing vocals) and Samuel Shove (Organ, Mellotron, Wurlitzer) enter the stage of Café Central, Weinheim. The audience, hardly to my surprise, acts quite reserved and rather confused by those young Brits diving in the scanty used light, which underlines and displays their qualities even more so.

PURSON: When sound & sight become alike

The approximately 45 minutes setlist contains well-known songs from PURSONs debut record “Circle And The Blue Door” such as ‘The Contract’, ‘Spiderwood Farm’, ‘Tragic Catastrophe’ and ‘Leaning On A Bear’ – as seen in the live video above. Additionally the band fears not the present some new material like ‘I Will Be Good’. A track that gets to me right away, almost as if I heard it before. An acoustic way of coming home, if you may. And my celebratory “Wooohooo” popping out with the announcement of the new song, even puts a soft smile on Rosalie’s face. All too soon this lovely trip to a much more swining’n’grooving sphere of time and space is over again. The scarcely used interaction with the audience clearly does not stand in the way of enchanting a few newly won fans tonight and to put it this way: Great art might be well explained but the true magic each and all of us have to find within our selves through pure conception, understanding and love. Speaking for myself: I can’t wait for them to return, if I won’t catch up with them in their native England that is!

Furthermore, just two days after seeing PURSON, the nightmare continues for them, as stated as follows: “It is with great regret that we have been forced to drop off the rest of the tour with Spiritual Beggars. After our van broke down yesterday in Belgium, we found ourselves in some very awkward circumstances, being taken to a dodgy garage where they tried to force us to spend €5,000 on a whole new engine. After we refused they locked us in the compound with no food or water. 11 hours later we were rescued by the AA and made it safely back to England this morning. We would like to apologise to our fans in Holland, France and Belgium for not now being able to play for you! We really are gutted. We would also like to thank Spiritual Beggars and their crew for an awesome run of shows, and all those other new friends we have made along the way. And especially thanks to our driver Dave, for getting us safely out of a very nasty situation. Again, we are so gutted we can’t finish the tour.”

Pictures Courtesy of P. Lienert

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