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Tag Archives: Hell Over Hammaburg

ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2013 – Come To The Sabbath

08 Saturday Jun 2013

Posted by psychorizon in Live

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Accept, Amphitheater Gelsenkirchen, Ashes Of Ares, Audrey Horne, Balls to the Walls, Carter Kennedy, D-A-D, Denial of God, Fleshcrawl, Hell Over Hammaburg, Hellish Crossfire, Horisont, Iced Earth, Johan Berg, Keith Nickel, King Diamond, Kristina Karlsson, Mark Thomas Baker, Matt Barlow, Niclas Svensson, Nordsternpark, Orchid, Peter Henriksson, Queensryche, Rhein-Herne-Kanal, Rock Hard Festival 2013, Second Assault, Slingblade, Theo Mindell, Tobias Ander, Två Sidor Av Horisonte, U.D.O., Udo Dirkschneider, WDR Rockpalast

 – Thursday & Friday –

Upon my arrival on thursday morning about eight, not even the VIP parking lot is guarded yet. After parking my car at the exact same spot I already settled down in 2012, I pay a short visit to the camping ground to watch the first visitors fighting with the construction of their tents. Hanging out in the green scenery of Nordsternpark Gelsenkirchen where the famous Amphitheater is settled finds a sudden end, as the rain is heavier than the tunes of the growing number of campers…The day ends as it has started, with the rain decided to stay, leaving no room for the sun. A few hours later after picking up my pass, I take the bus to Gelsenkirchen central station to spend a final night home in my own bed before I completely switch to the annual ROCK HARD FESTIVAL mode.

rhf_areaBy the rivers of Rock Hard

Despite the melancholy touch of the weather, I can not wait to get back on sight and end up with a bit of a delay towards my own scheduled arrival. Anyhow there is nothing much to be missed in the early afternoon. After a bit of sightseeing and the first few bands of this first festival day – HELLISH CROSSFIRE, FLESHCRAWL and DENIAL OF GOD – comes the first and unexpected highlight of the day: AUDREY HORNE. Fearless of chilling winds or possible rainfall their guitarist on the left side, wearing a white wife beater, is posing as if there was no tomorrow. The mood of the band and the audience is quite well and keeps up to this level during the full hour set. Up next is ASHES OF ARES, the new band of former ICED EARTH vocalist Matt Barlow. To complete this whit friday a true Metal Veteran is welcomed to the sacred stage of ROCK HARD FESTIVAL: Udo Dirkschneider and his ACCEPT successor U.D.O. prove that rocking knows no age. But if it wasn’t for the indisputable ACCEPT classics, above all “Balls to The Wall”, one doubts that there was a sing-along quality to what Dirkschneider and his band play tonight. The day ends after another hour of small talk and drinks at the VIP-tent…

– Saturday –

Since I have pretty much adjusted to the weather at this point, it comes with not that big of an unexpected downer that this day starts off just like last night ended: Cold and wet! At least there is some good tunes I am looking forward to and after an extended breakfast with my neighbours – in fact the same couple from Cologne like last year – swedish Rock fiver is already in the midst of their set. The sound comes in well, but this band works so much better in a hazy club atmosphere as it has been the case at HELL OVER HAMMABURG in early march. Apart from her striking leather outfit vocalist Kristina Karlsson and her rocking mod squad ( Johan Berg – Lead Guitar, Tobias Ander’s live-replacement whose name I still did not catch – Guitar, Niclas Svensson – Bass, Peter Henriksson – Drums) do not seem to be that much in the mood. Might be due to the opening position or a lack of alcoholic beverages at this time of day…

HorisontIIIHORISONT singer Axel giving his first Rock Hard assault

Up next are my parking lot neighbours from Gothenburg: HORISONT! The guys are in a far better mood and get right to the audience. Their mix of bluesy riffing, hippie vibes and classic Hard Rock is a real crowd pleaser and the rows fill up quickly. HORISONT play songs from their two records “Två Sidor Av Horisonte” (2009) and “Second Assault” (2012) and look like being in this bands requires a large collection of boots, flared pants, belt-buckles and an exquisite fashion of facial hair. Born too late, but I’m glad you showed up this date! Between lunch and a sudden case of drinking disaster the rest of the day becomes one blurry vision and I have clearly missed D-A-D and Queensryche, which is no pity to me at all.

Setlist HORISONT

Visa Vägen

On the Run

The Unseen

Crusaders of Death

Time Warrior

Mange Kills

Thunderfight

Nightrider

Second Assault

– Sunday –

The final festival day takes off with hope – hope for warmth and at least a short visit from the sun to gleam onto the face of this soaked up earth along the waves of Rhine-Herne-Canal, hope for uplifting tunes as I arise from my car. And for once my hopes won’t be left as a mere mindchild I bear. Opening up under the bright midday sun ATTIC act as they’ve seen many a stages this size, yet their confidence might be due to the fact that all members derive from this very region and certainly have known ROCK HARD FESTIVAL as visitors. Although their being on stage has its entertaining momentum to me at present, the sun requires to put on a necessary protection or else I will turn into a skin-burned person. Missing the rest of the “heirs of KING DIAMOND”, as ATTIC are referred to by some, I return to witness the GOSPEL OF THE HORNS. Their blackened Thrash works as little as ATTICS masquerade around noon, still the sound invites me stay, just before escaping ORDEN OGAN…just not me cup of tea.

OrchidIORCHID’S leading hippie Theo showing his aggressive face

After reinforcing my energy I am right up for my highlight-to-be and as it turns out, ORCHID can be called the secret headliner of the day or even the entire event! Expectations are through the roof among all present and in its now 11th year ROCK HARD FESTIVAL might have never seen an act playing on sunday afternoon fully filling up the ranks. “California hippies brought you sunshine“, singer Theo Mindell rightfully points out with the brightest smile on his face. Specially after I’ve met the band just about two weeks earlier in Siegen, the joy and gratitude they feel at this moment comes over me just as well. Just after the first track and title to the current second album “The Mouth Of Madness”, dozens of fans join in for a collective chant, calling the bands’ name – people singing-along with the songs won’t come as a surprise now, but makes it all worthwhile. The set is a brilliant mix of ORCHID’s debut “Capricorn” and its follow-up. Mark Thomas Baker (git.), Keith Nickel (bass) and Carter Kennedy (dr.) along with their charming fronter clearly sink into every second with pure joy and for anyone who has seen them play before, it’s fair to say that they are on top of the world. As the caravan of photographers and journalists – and myself – leave the pit, several concurring glimpses pass my sight.

Setlist ORCHID

1. The Mouths Of Madness
2. Eyes Behind The Wall
3. Capricorn
4. Silent One
5. Eastern Woman
6. Wizard Of War
7. He Who Walks Alone

A final extended break for food consumption and relaxation has me missing most of TANK, THRESHOLD and gets me right back in time for some SEPULTURA classics. The crowed reaches a brutality peak and the sun is still around as setting up stages for one KING DIAMOND lasts long enough for notorious organ entertainer MAMBO KURT to perform a most infamous set. Between amusement and shame, the audience finds itself to be mainly in a good mood and sings along with the weirdest versions of “Ace Of Spades” and some Eurodance trash. As the moment most visitors have been waiting for, since this attendance has been announced arrives, my power goes down quickly, but still keeps me through the whole set of former MERCYFUL FATE singer KING DIAMOND. Worn out but happy having been part of these three days of rockin rituals , I step on the gas and drive right home – thanks so much ROCK HARD FESTIVAL, see you all next year!

King DiamondKING DIAMOND: Gathering the masses for his sabbath

Setlist KING DIAMOND

1. The Candle
2. Welcome Home
3. At The Graves
4. Up From The Grave
5. Voodoo
6. Dreams
7. Sleepless Nights
8. Drumsolo (Matt Thompson)
9. Shapes Of Black
10. Come To The Sabbath (MERCYFUL FATE-Cover)
11. Evil (MERCYFUL FATE-Cover)
12. Eye Of The Witch

Encore 1:
The Family Ghost

Encore 2:
Halloween

Encore 3:
Black Horsemen

All live pictures courtesy of Jörg Litges / lautundinfarbe

HELL OVER HAMMABURG – Metalizing The North

14 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by psychorizon in Live

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Tags

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

ScreamerISCREAMER: Dejan & Christoffer – Courtesy of Andreas Schulz

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

ScreamerIISCREAMER: Anton & Henrik – Courtesy of Andreas Schulz

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

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

GoldGOLD Vocalist Milena Eva – Courtesy of Andreas Schulz

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

JATAOIIJESS AND THE ANCIENT ONES – Courtesy of Andreas Schulz

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

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

JATAOJESS AND THE ANCIENT ONES – Courtesy of Andreas Schulz

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

SCREAMER – No Sleep ‘Til Hammaburg

05 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by psychorizon in Live

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

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

– Hamburg –

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

IMAG0091No regrets necessary: SCREAMER

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

– Cologne –

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

IMAG0093Out Of The Fire – Even on a monday night!

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

IMAG0097Successfully distracting adrenaline!

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

Setlist:

Demon Rider

No Regrets

Slavegrinder

Can You Hear Me

Keep On Walking

Phoenix

Adrenaline

All Over Again

I Know

Mr. Noman

Far Away From Home

Rock Bottom

(No Sleep ‘Til Hamilton)

– to be continued –

________________________________________________________________

Screamer Homepage

Screamer on Facebook

Screamer on YouTube

ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2013 – All Loud On The Western Front

20 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by psychorizon in Live

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

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

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

Orchid_BadCave

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

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

rock-hard_banner

KING DIAMOND

U.D.O.

ENSIFERUM

THRESHOLD

TANK

NAGLFAR

DESASTER

ORCHID

ASHES OF ARES

AUDREY HORNE

MUSTASCH

FLESHCRAWL

ORDEN OGAN

GOSPEL OF THE HORNS

NACHTMYSTIUM

HORISONT

ATTIC

JESS AND THE ANCIENT ONES – Astral Sabbat EP

23 Wednesday Jan 2013

Posted by psychorizon in Current

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Tags

Abraham, Astral Sabbat, Blow Up That Gramophone, Fast Jake, Hell Over Hammaburg, Jess, Jess and the Ancient Ones, Live Nation, Record Shop X, Svart Records, Thomas Corpse, Thomas Fiend, Von Stroh, Yussuf

Finnish Occult Rock Newcomers JESS AND THE ANCIENT ONES will release a new EP called “Astral Sabbat” via Svart Records on february 2nd 2013. Besides the mandatory MCD, “Astral Sabbat” will also be available as a limited Gatefold version on transparent red vinyl. Furthermore, Levykauppa Äx offers special bundles with strictly limited shirts, that won’t be sold separately!

Don’t miss your change to watch JATAO at HELL OVER HAMMABURG, march 2nd 2013 at Markthalle Hamburg!

JATAO Concert booking in Finland:
Live Nation / Janne Joutsenniemi
Mobile: +358 50 5914824
E-Mail: janne.joutsenniemi@livenation.fi

JATAO Concert booking abroad:
Blow Up That Gramophone / Esa Valkeajärvi
Mobile: +358 400 852 565
E-mail: esa@blowup.fi

________________________________________________________________

JATAO Homepage

JATAO on Facebook

JATAO on YouTube

astralsabbat

HELL OVER HAMMABURG – Event Preview

28 Friday Dec 2012

Posted by psychorizon in Live

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Tags

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

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

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

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

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

HOH

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