ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2015 – A Road Trip To Hell & Back

Tags

Black Metal, Black Star Riders, Bobby Liebling, Bolt Thrower, Cronos, Death Metal, Deserted Fear, Entombed, Flash Point, Garage Rock, Kingdom Of Worms, Last Days Here, Motorjesus, My Empire, Obituary, Overkill, Pentagram, Queen Of Spades Photography, Rock Hard Festival 2015, Rock'n'Roll, Shake Electric, Space Rock, Spiders, The Boys Are Back In Town, The Order Of Israfel, Thin Lizzy, Venom

– Friday –

After pretty much THE WORST road trip of my entire life from the deep southern region of Germany to the Ruhrarea in the middle of the middle, I finally arrived at the sunny sight that will be my home base for the next few days. As I’m currently now living anywhere near the city of Gelsenkirchen, for once I’m actually forced to live through a campout among a dozen of eager young and middle-aged metalheats who might consider this the ideal vacation – while I’m taking this as an inevitable necessity. To regain at least a little strength I got my things unpacked quickly and tried to relax – being a person who likes it rather quite and secluded, this kind of surrounding clearly won’t do the trick.

A good view onto the stage from any angle

And while the sun was hardly setting yet, God Dethroned present their blent of blast-infected Death Metal, which would work so much better in a small club with little to no light…talking about that kind of location, today’s co-headliner would feel right at home in such a surrounding. Mainly because booze and drugs are easily available, I guess. They started off in the mid 80s with their eponymous debut “Pentagram”, but never really made it back then. Some 30 years later, specially young fans of the Doom genre seem to hail this band which has rising from its own grave in the new millennium. Some part of this newly found stardom is due to the notorious documentary “Last Days Here”, that portraits Bobby Liebling in the midst of fighting his severe drug addiction…But who am I to complain, Pentagram even released a new album and took The Order Of Israfel on tour as their support.

Setlist Pentagram

1. Sign Of The Wolf
2. Forever My Queen
3. The Ghoul
4. Review Your Choices
5. Starlady
6. Ask No More
7. When The Screams Come
8. All Your Sins
9. Dying World
11. Petrified/ Relentless
12. Be Forwarned
13. Last Days Here

Caught in a mosh during the Overkill show

Yet another band that lives off its own reputation and for naming a complete genre – and YES, Black Metal therefore owes a lot to these veterans – comes from the far north of the British isles. Venom have been around pretty much forever now and its seems there’s no end to their fame, generation after generation. Unfortunately mastermind Cronos looks like a  weirdly aged version of himself nowadays (specially that red tank top does not suit him too well….).

Setlist Venom

1. Rise
2. Hammerhead
3. Bloodlust/ Black Flame (Of Satan)/ Bloodlust/ Die Hard
4. Long Haired Punks
5. Buried Alive
6. The Evil One
7. Welcome To Hell
8. Antichrist
9. Countess Bathory
10. Flight Of Hydra
11. Death Of Rock’n’Roll
12. Grinding Teeth
13. Pedal To The Metal
14. Warhead
_____________
15. Black Metal
16. In League With Satan
17. Witching Hour

The Boys Are Back In Town

– Saturday –

Kicking off day two with some good Old School Death Metal in the vein of Entombed, Bolt Thrower or Obituary is a save way to get people awake and cure even the worst hangover instantly. Deserted Fear are not only a fan favourite, but also a band that earned some praiseful words from Rock Hard magazine itself for their 2012 debut “My Empire” saying “…simply amazing how the whole albums offers it´s permanent hit potential. If it´s allowed to say so within the death metal world. Great start!” With their sophomore attempt “Kingdom of Worms” (2014), Deserted Fear are set to tear the place apart in a most brutal and joyful manner.

Setlist Deserted Fear

1. Forging Delusions
2. Battalion Of Insanities
3. Kingdom Of Worms
4. Nocturnal Frags
5. Wrath On Your Wound
6. Field Of Death
7. Mortal Reign
8. Bury Your Dead

Three years ago, another German band was opening the second festival day and to call them a “crowd pleaser” would be the understatement of the decade: Motorjesus have been enlisted by an independent voting, started by their fan club and delivered to the festival organisers and how could they ever say no to this much dedication?! It was the right choice and re-inviting them was a great decision. During all those years I’ve been at Rock Hard Festival, I can’t remember any saturday morning being so well-attended than the one in 2012. And today it seems like everyone just waited three years for the band to return to play a set of honest and handmade Rock’n’Roll. Way to go, guys!

Setlist Motorjesus

1. Motor Discipline
2. Trouble In Motorcity
3. Speed Of The Beast
4. Fuel The Warmachine
5. Fist Of The Dragon
6. King Of The Dead End Road
7. Return Of The Demons
_____________
8. A New War

Swedish Space Rock in broad daylight: Spiders

– Sunday –

After missing the final opening act of the festival, I can’t wait to see Spiders again! With their positive energy and space Garage Rock these sweet Swedes are not only easy on the eyes. Catchy riffs and sing-along lyrics garnished with their stage appearance, mainly Ann-Sophie’s acting in those VERY TIGHT PANTS is simply irresistable – and I’m saying this as a woman. Equipped with their latest record “Shake Electric” (2014) as well as the previous release “Flash Point” (2012), Spiders got me rocking and dancing all through their set, making them my personal highlight of Rock Hard Festival 2015. TAKK ALLA!!!

Setlist Spiders

1. Hang Man
2. High Society
3. Mad Dog
4. Control
5. Hard Times
6. Only Your Skin
7. Give Up The Fight
8. Rules Of The Game
9. Shake Electric
10. Fraction
11. War Of The World

All pictures courtesy of Queen Of Spades Photography

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Rock Hard Festival Facebook Page

ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2015 – Retro In Reverse

Tags

Air Raid, Ann-Sofie Hoyles, Architects Of Chaoz, Avatarium, Black Star Riders, Channel Zero, Deserted Fear, Doro Pesch, Entombed, Flotsam And Jetsam, God Dethroned, Kataklysm, Kreator, Michael Schenker, Morbid Angel, Motorjesus, Overkill, Pentagram, Refuge, Rock Hard Festival, Sanctuary, Sinner, Space Chaser, Spiders, Temple Of Rock, Thin Lizzy, Venom, Voivod, Warlock

Pictures taken from http://www.rockhard.de

One month in counting before the annual pentecost festivities will take place with another outstanding line-up. Apart from some of the “usual suspects” such as Essen’s very own KREATOR who will be playing for the third time since Rock Hard Festival started in 2003 – originally planned as a one-off birthday-bash celebrating the 20th anniversary of German Rock Hard magazine. Also returning to the stage on the waterside, will be MOTORJESUS whose first appearance was mainly due to a readers’ petition in 2012.

VOIDVOD – Picture by Valerie Gagne

The German “Fräuleinwunder” of Metal, DORO PESCH will play a special set featuring songs from her early days…do I sense some WARLOCK tracks here? More reminiscence comes from the legacy of legendary Irish Classic Rockers THIN LIZZY. Their so-to-speak “Alter Ego” BLACK STAR RIDERS are up to pleasing fans of both bands this May. Classic acts seem to be somewhat of a Leitmotiv at this years’ Rock Hard Festival: Doom legends PENTAGRAM and Black Metal veterans VENOM will headline the first festival day, while Canadian masters VOIDOD deliver a nice mid-day Thrash fest on saturday.

Of course, there will also be fresh blood to share: Swedish foursome SPIDERS have overcome their newbie-status by now, with their laid-back Hard Rock sound driven by the voice of Ann-Sofie Hoyles. At the other end of the sonic scale, German trio DESERTED FEAR got what it takes to please your taste for death, blood & gore in the vain of the mighty MORBID ANGEL & ENTOMBED!

DESERTED FEAR – advertising for their idols

Friday – May 22nd

21:30 – 23:00 – VENOM
19:45 – 21:00 – PENTAGRAM
18:15 – 19:15 – GOD DETHRONED
17:05 – 17:50 – FLOTSAM AND JETSAM
16:00 – 16:40 – ARCHITECTS OF CHAOZ
15:00 – 15:40 – SPACE CHASER

Saturday – May 23rd

21:30 – 23:00 – KREATOR
19:45 – 21:00 – DORO (Early Days Metal Show!)
18:15 – 19:15 – SANCTUARY
17:00 – 17:45 – KATAKLYSM
15:50 – 16:35 – AVATARIUM
14:45 – 15:30 – VOIVOD
13:45 – 14:25 – MOTORJESUS
12:45 – 13:23 – DESERTED FEAR

Sunday – May 24th

21:30 – 23:00 – BLACK STAR RIDERS (incl. THIN-LIZZY-Classics)
19:40 – 21:00 – OVERKILL
18:00 – 19:10 – MICHAEL SCHENKER’S TEMPLE OF ROCK
16:30 – 17:30 – REFUGE
15:15 – 16:00 – CHANNEL ZERO
14:05 – 14:50 – SINNER
13:00 – 13:40 – SPIDERS
12:00 – 12:40 – AIR RAID

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SPIDERS – Confirmed To Play Rock Hard Festival 2015

Tags

Alan Forbes, Ann-Sofie Hoyles, Avatarium, Axel Sjöberg, Blood Ceremony, Crusher Records, De:Nihil Records, Don Ahlsterberg, Graveyard, International Noise Conspiracy, John Hoyles, Josefine Larsson, Kemado Records, Kvelertak, Mad Dog, Motorjesus, Olle Griphammar, Pentagram, Ricard Harryson, Rock Hard Festival 2015, Shake Electric, Spiders, Sweden Rock Festival, The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Vader, Valley King Records, Way Out West

SPIDERS was formed in Gothenburg in February 2010. A few months later the band appeared at one of Sweden’s most successful music festivals, Way Out West. It was around this time SPIDERS for the first time as a band stepped into the studio with producer Don Ahlsterberg (THE SOUNDTRADK OF OUR LIVES, THE INTERNATIONAL NISE CONSPIRACY) and started recording.

Photo by: Josefine Larsson

By the end of January 2011 SPIDERS released their debut record, a 10” vinyl EP on Crusher Records containing four tracks. The self-titled release was very well received and noticed in Record Collector as well airplayed on Sweden’s largest radio channel P3. In March 2011 those four previously released tracks came to be released in the USA as two separate 7” singles, one on Kemado Records the other on Valley King Records, the latter with an artwork made by well-known artist Alan Forbes.

Around this time drummer Axel Sjöberg, former drummer, left SPIDERS to work full time on GRAVEYARD and came to be replaced by Ricard Harryson. In May 2011 SPIDERS stepped into the studio for the second time recording a two track single to be released on vinyl by De:Nihil Records in August and digital by Crusher Records in September.

In June 2012 SPIDERS began recording songs for their debut album. In early October the very same year the album, entitled “Flash Point”, was released. The album immediately reached the Sverigetopplistan, the Swedish Sales Charts of most sold albums. In November and December SPIDERS went on European tour together with GRAVEYARD. By the end of the same year SPIDERS’ debut album was nominated by P3 Gold (Swedish Radio Award) for best Rock/Metal of the Year. In 2013 the band appeared on Sweden Rock Festival, toured Scandinavia, Spain and Portugal. Enter 2014 – On May 27th the new single “Mad Dog” was released on Reaktor Recordings / Universal Music. After touring in support of KVELERTAK in Scandinavia and BLOOD CEREMONY throughout Europe, SPIDERS have now been confirmed to play at Rock Hard Festival 2015, alsongside PENTAGRAM, AVATARIUM, VENOM, MOTORJESUS and many more!

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SPIDERS Homepage

SPIDERS on Facebook

SPIDERS on YouTube

 

 

 

ROCK HARD – Final Running Order & Ticket Sale

Tags

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

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

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

Friday – May 17th

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

–

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

–

Saturday – May 18th

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

Sunday – May 19th

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

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

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

Friday: 31,90 Euro

Saturday: 42,90 Euro

Sunday: 47,90 Euro

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

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

’77 – Saucy in Switzerland

Tags

'77, AC/DC, AC/DC Fancamp, Alte Kaserne Zürich, Armand Valeta, Bringing It Back, Bullet, Dolphin Riot, Ice Rock Festival, Le Cactus Music Bar, LG Valeta, Motorjesus, On-Off, Peter Metzinger, Pino Music, Psychopunch, Rage, Raw Rau, Rock'n'Roll Overdose, Sin City, Supercharger, The Crumpets, The New Black

As a true music enthusiast, travelling in the name of Rock’n’Roll has become a major part of my life and so I find myself hitting the road or in this case the air to see ’77 play two shows in Switzerland in early january. And although I most enjoy total spontaneous adventures, it is not a short notice for me to fly to Zürich and the whole trip is well-prepared. Arriving a day in advance of the first gig, there is enough time for some sight-seeing, as this is the first time ever that I visit our southern neighbours. So, take a look at this little check-list, prior to the journey:

– Cheapo flights from Cologne to Zürich, booked end of november

– accommodations for four nights

– new temporary passport, after losing mine

– money exchange, for they have no Euro in Switzerland

– measuring my suitcase to avoid luggage check-in and additional costs

– train ticket to Cologne airport

– and of course loads of music for the time travelling

Crazy crowd in Zürich (©Roland Müller)

This first insight into swiss nightlife leads me to Le Cactus Music Bar, downtown Zürich. A real cosy place for Rockers and Rollers – situated at the middle of Kanonengasse and thus just a few feet away from where all the action will be the very next day. Friday starts with an awesome breakfast and some more extended walk through the countries largest city, including getting a little wasted along lake Zürich. With nightfall we finally arrive at the venue Alte Kaserne (Old Barrack), just as ’77 starting their soundcheck.

The event, organized by Peter Metzinger and Pino Music, is a dedication to the 70s, when the world saw the adolescence of Rock’n’Roll and there seems to be some way of easiness around. “Bringing It Back” is the, let me call it working title and three bands are on the line up to bring the audience a breeze of the past to the present. Hitting the stage as the nights’ opener is Italy’s very own explosive Ribcrasher Rock’n’Roll Band and AC/DC Tribute, ON-OFF. Founded in 1998 by Matteo Vago they deliver a solid sound combined with a rocking show, which makes this a worthy entry. The influence AC/DC has on each of the nights’ bands is pretty much obvious and with an SG and a Rickenbacker bass (and bassist Fabio in a flannel shirt), ON-OFF even have a look close to ’77.

Rock’n’Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution (©Roland Müller)

The original schedule has SIN/CITY second in line, but due to ’77 fronter Armand Valeta coming down with a sudden case of angina, the running order is being shifted and makes the German High Voltage Rock’n’Rollers an abrupt Headliner. As the place is well filled with fans of any age, we see the evenings’ highlight at a rather early hour and I’m ever so happy to witness the first true Rock Show of 2013! Besides the slight change, one could hardly tell ’77 are hitting the stage with a sick singer – Armand steps aside to have his brother LG on lead guitar and bassist Raw tear the place apart and engaging themselves with more vocals than – at least as far as I can tell – ever before. This proves to be no disadvantage but on the contrary: Zürich witnesses a strong and professional performance by one of this days most promising acts around. Furthermore, LG becomes the center of attention, singing “Give Me A Dollar”. Now, that’s what I call great genes!

LG: Getting into the merchandise madness (©Roland Müller)

The next day we, that is my local host and the organizers of AC/DC Fancamp, who also came all the way from Germany to see ’77, hit the road, heading for Wasen. High up on the hills of Emmental, Ice Rock Festival takes place for the 11th time in a row. For sure, this is not your usual event: Having a festival in the midst of winter, building a concert venue in an old barn, getting tons of equipment into the middle of nowhere – the Swiss are a certainly a crazy little people!

Ice Rock has started on January 3rd, so we arrive for the final day and right in time for some more highlights. On our arrival four girls, calling themselves THE CRUMPETS heat up the interior. Five-string bass guitar, polyphonic harmonies and catchy lyrics are a guarantee of a great lively atmosphere. And to my surprise German Metal Veterans RAGE play BEFORE ’77 – but who would want to complain about this, except for Peavy, Victor and André.

with Dolphin & Raw of ’77 and Ice Rock Crew members before the Show    (©Peter Metzinger)

Stagetime is at half past eleven and a 90 minutes set is scheduled for this saturday. Expectations among spectators are up the roof and the four Spanish musicians manage to rock even harder than the night before. Summing it up, I can say that this trip was worth every single second!

For all you Spaniards, ’77 will be touring with BULLET in early march, don’t miss it. Check out all dates here! And there is good news for Germany and Switzerland, as the guys will be part of this years’ Rock’n’Roll Overdose – featuring PSYCHOPUNCH, MOTORJESUS, THE NEW BLACK and SUPERCHARGER –  in april, covering three weeks of Rocking!

Bringing it Back – Giving it all at Ice Rock 

ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2012 – Melting the Pott

Tags

Andreas Himmelstein, Bolth Thrower, Dr. Living Death, Hell, Motorjesus, Motorjesus Fan Club, Portrait, Psychotic Waltz, Rock Hard Festival 2012, Tankard, Unleashed

Day two starts much earlier, after a rough night. The unbearable heat was taking on everyone around and staying in a boiling tent was no option.Good thing to find a bit of shadow or take a walk back and forth to avoid insanity to increase. It is not for long that the smell of glowing coal, roasting beef and beer is filling the air again, even in the morning. Today’s first band is unknown to us and after learning that Dr. Living Death happens to be a bunch of masked guys with queer clothing it does not seem that we missed the big thing.

Andy and Chris rocking in the afternoon sun!

Up next is one of Germany’s most promising Rock’n’Roll outcomes. The quintet, formerly known as the Shitheadz plays a raunchy blending of classic Hard Rock and elements from several Metal genres, such as Heavy, Southern, Stoner and whatever suitable Andy Peters (Guitars), Chris “Howling” Birx (Vocals), Guido Reuss (Guitars), Roman Jasiczak (Bass) and Oliver Beck (Drums) come across. With Motorjesus hitting the stage today Rock Hard once more proves to be a truly fan committed event, if you consider the fact that a petition initiated by fans and bought to our colleagues at The-Pit.de, finally entering the Rock Hard office in Dortmund indeed is amazing. And as for us, we also say “thank you!” to everyone in charge for putting together the billing of RHF 2012 and for bringing this awesome live act to Gelsenkirchen.

Happy fans all around RHF ’12

For those of you how have visited this rock gathering before surely noticed that hardly ever before has it been as crowed at about two in the afternoon on the second day as it is during the Motorjesus set. The first trace of stragefreight passes within seconds as musicians and spectators emerge into one forceful unity, partying as if there was no tomorrow. To share even more of the rock spirit among their fans, vocalist Chris arrives with a plastic bag full of beer and booze he throws into the thirsty masses. As it might be a once-in-a-lifetime chance the Mönchengladbach based band presents a roundup of everything they have released so far, from the first albums “Dirty Pounding Gasoline” (2004) and “Deathrider” (2006), the “100.000 Volt Survivor EP” (2009) all the way to their still current output “WHEELS OF PURGATORY” (2010). The sing-along potential of many songs with their catchy melodies is reflected by all the voices in front of the stage and each of the guys was clearly happy to notice that something they created could cause such reactions. To top any expectations Motorjesus might have had concerning taking part in the Rock Hard adventure, their very own fan club presents a banner to the band, while they are playing. Oh yeah, this is one big happy Metal family!

The crowd going crazy

Setlist Motorjesus:

Dirty Pounding Gasoline
Legion Of Rock
Motor-Discipline
Fist Of The Dragon
Fuel The Warmachine
King Of The Dead End Road
Hammer Of The Lord
A New War (incl. „Rock You Like A Hurricane“ und „TNT“)

Ships passing by enjoy the uncommon sight

After this brilliant show with Portrait and Hell next in line, lunch calls again and in the cause of the afternoon the sun finally takes its toll on me and an extended break is inevitable. Therefore my co-worker takes over business for the next couple of hours.

Three hours before Unleashed enter the stage, I am lucky to catch the four Swedish Death Metal heavy weights at the signing session. Clearly enjoying the festival and its atmosphere, Johnny Hedlund and his band mates – the lineup hasn’t changed since 1995’s Victory record – take the time to sign everything from autograph cards to nearly complete collections. Unfortunately I can’t persuade them to play anything of “Where No Life Dwells”…

At 5pm, the Swedish vikings start into the set with “This Is Our World Now”, taken from “Midvinterblot”. Johnny, Fredrik and Tomas manage to deliver a decent show, lead by Anders from behind his drum-kit, but despite blood-soaked and mead-drenched Death Metal hymns, the afternoon heat prevent many a headbanger from little more than clenching fists in the air and screaming along to the songs. Obviously, “Wir kapitulieren niemals”, taken from “As Yggdrasil Trembles” gets the loudest response from the audience. Although the band just released a new album in April this year, only one song, “Fimbulvinter”, made it into the setlist. My personal favorite would be “The Immortals”, dating far back to the 1992 album “Shadows In The Deep”. The 45 minute gig ends with one of the more iconic songs, “Death Metal Victory”, which is received very well among the fans and includes the mandatory mead ceremony, celebrated eagerly by Johnny. As he mentioned in a recent interview, it’s like Motörhead’s “Ace Of Spades”: As long as the fans demand it, the band has to obey and play that song…

Setlist Unleashed:

This Is Our World Now
Fimbulwinter
Victims Of War
Wir kapitulieren niemals
Long Live The Beast
Hammer Battalion
The Immortals
In The Name Of God
Destruction (Of The Race Of Man)
Death Metal Victory

Headlining the second night, British Death Metal detachment Bolt Thrower literally explode at first light. Starting the bombardment with “Contact – Wait Out” from 2003’s” Honour Valour Pride” album, the band delivers oldschool neck-breakers as well as the “newer” classics from the last album, “Those Once Loyal”. The first song remains the only one from the short era with Dave Ingram on vocals, but there’s so much classic material in the back-catalog that it’s impossible to perform each and every masterpiece this band has ever written on one single night. “Mercenary”, “World Eater”, “Cenotaph”, you name it, they play it! When Karl asked Where Next…? he doesn’t have to wait for an answer as thousands of fans scream back at him at once.

Long awaited and finally present: Death Metal veterans Bolt Thrower

Gavin and Barry open Salvo after Salvo, backed up by the sturdy bass lines of Jo Bench, who is still going strong as an icon to almost every woman who’s into nowadays heavy music.

The encore of course includes “No Guts, No Glory”, which Karl introduces as a song dedicated especially to the über-loyal German fans. When the Cannons finally began to Fade, the band leaves nothing but scorched earth and a depleted, but nonetheless happy audience.

A little random trivia: After a large number of fans asked about Bolt Thrower merch, RockHard editor-in-chief Götz Kühnemund had to inform them and everybody else that it`s going to arrive with the band and will be sold in a separate booth. No surprise that most shirts were gone already an hour or two after the sale officially opened.

Setlist Bolthrower:

Contact – Wait Out
When Glory Beckons
Rebirth Of Humanity
Mercenary
The IVth Crusade
World Eater
Cenotaph
Warmaster
Salvo
Where Next To Conquer
The Killchain
Forever Fallen
…For Victory
At First Light
No Guts, No Glory
When Cannons Fade

Psychorizon – Featured on Rock’n’Vintage

Tags

Almost Famous, Alunah, Apocalypse Now, Blood Ceremony, Clerical architecture, Courtney Love, Crucified Barbara, Elvis Presley, Essen, Full Metal Jacket, Gallons Of Mud, Grand Magus, Groan, Grunge, Harasai, Hole, Interview, Jefferson Airplane, Jex Thoth, L7, Motorjesus, Northrhine-Westfalia, Orchid, Pop Art, Psychorizon, Rock'n'Vintage, Romanticism, Sigiriya, Soph Alunah Day, Surrealism, The B52s, The Byrds, The Cement Garden, The Devil's Blood, The Donnas, The Mamas And The Papas, Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats

Well I might not have done so much for the page during the last few days, but check out this really cool Interview I did with the fabulous Rock’n’Vintage Blog.

It was great fun to be on “the other side” for a change and it might answer some of your questions as well.

 

Thanks to Soph and enjoy it!

ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2012 – All Highlights And Running Order

Tags

'77, Alpha Tiger, Bolth Thrower, Deathfist, Dr. Living Dead!, Girlschool, Graveyard, Hell, High Spirit, Jex Thoth, Krisiun, Kvelertak, Magnum, Motorjesus, Portrait, Psychotic Waltz, Ram, Rock Hard, Rock Hard Festival 2012, Tankard, Turbonegro, Unisonic, Unleashed, W.A.S.P.

With the Festival Season ahead one of the most popular events is set to be a true Highlight of the year, yet again.

Graveyard at Underground, Cologne April 30th 2011

Rock Hard Festival 2012 offers a large amount of bands that cover almost all Metal and Rock genres available these days. Especially the Retro, Stoner and Sludge section finally arrives along the beautiful sight of the Rhine-Herne-Chanel, as the likes of GRAVEYARD and KVELERTAK will visit the city of Gelsenkirchen this year.

Furthermore the Queen of Doom herself Jex Thoth will pay her respects to the international audience.

Jex Thoth at Stoned From The Underground 2011

Another Highlight will be the appearance of british Death Metal veterans BOLT THROWER who are known for hardly playing live at all and being generously offering their self-printed merchandise at fan-friendly prices. They already annihilated the ROCK HARD FESTIVAL area some years ago and now it is time to return and destroy the place complete!

Bolt Thrower at Attak, Enschede April 30th 2010

For all fans of all-female Hard Rock Bands GIRLSCHOOL will the one band you shouldn’t miss. GIRLSCHOOL are well-known for turning every festival into a gigantic nuthouse. At Rock Hard Festival 2012 they will play a special “Hit And Run” set, which will be one of the festival´s highlights for sure.

And as a special fan request MOTORJESUS from Mönchengladbach will enter the stage set right in front of the channel for the very first time. The band that used to be called The SHITHEADZ offers an independently and outstanding of Rock and Metal elements that will make the crowed go insane!

Check out the complete Running Order:

Friday, May 25th

21:30 – 23:00 TURBONEGRO
19:45 – 21:00 KVELERTAK
18:15 – 19:15 KRISIUN
17:00 – 17:45 RAM
15:55 – 16:40 JEX THOTH
15:00 – 15:35 DEATHFIST

Saturday, May 26th

21:30 – 23:00 BOLT THROWER
19:45 – 21:00 PSYCHOTIC WALTZ
18:15 – 19:15 TANKARD
17:00 – 17:45 UNLEASHED
15:50 – 16:35 HELL
14:45 – 15:25 PORTRAIT
13:45 – 14:25 MOTORJESUS
12:45 – 13:25 DR. LIVING DEAD!

Sunday, May 27th

21:30 – 23:00 W.A.S.P.
19:45 – 21:00 UNISONIC
17:40 – 18:40 MAGNUM
16:15 – 17:10 GIRLSCHOOL
15:10 – 15:55 GRAVEYARD
14:05 – 14:45 HIGH SPIRITS
13:00 – 13:40 ´77
12:00 – 12:40 ALPHA TIGER

ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2012 – More Bands confirmed

Tags

Alpha Tiger, Girlschool, Graveyard, Hell, Led Zeppelin, Magnum, Motorjesus, only Open Air in Germany 2012, Portrait, Psychotic Waltz, Rock Hard Festival 2012, Special Anniversary Show, Special „Hit And Run“-Set, Tankard, Unleashed, W.A.S.P.

After the confirmation of GIRLSCHOOL last week, makers of Germany’s Rock Hard Festival just revealed even more acts and specials for the upcoming anniversary event in 2012. Among them swedish “sons of Led Zeppelin” GRAVEYARD and UNLEASHED with a special set.

Allready confirmed are also the following:

W.A.S.P.
PSYCHOTIC WALTZ (only Open Air in Germany 2012!)
GIRLSCHOOL (Special „Hit And Run“-Set!)
MAGNUM
TANKARD (Special Anniversary Show!)
HELL
PORTRAIT
MOTORJESUS
ALPHA TIGER

 

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