Soze
2008-06-24 23:30:49 UTC
Back from this yesterday...I booked tickets with some trepidation as the
organisation was supposed to be shocking last year but everything was fine
apart from a couple of bands having slight sound issues ( which happens
everywhere! ) and it being too bastard hot!!
Thoughts on the bands I saw...( this could be a long post! )
Friday
Eluveitie - 8/10 - fun start to the day, 8 piece folk/death band with what
looked like two hairy assed twins running around like demented Scott Ians
playing bagpipes and penny whistles. Enjpyed this bunch a lot.
Death Angel - 9/10 - tight as fuck, great sound...docked a point for playing
3 songs off the new album in a 45 minute set...as much as I like it I`d have
liked more from The Ultra-Violence!
Septic Flesh - 7/10 - OK, came across a bit bland live.
Mayhem - 3/10 - crap last time I saw them and just as crap now...some of my
mates enjoyed them though, I guess it`s just not my thing. Gave up after 3
songs.
...heard both Danko Jones and Paradise Lost but didn`t watch them...both
were godawful...
Rotting Christ - 8/10 - Good song selection, nothing from their boring
middle years, excellent.
Dimmu Borgir - 7.5/10 - I`ve never found this lot too inspiring live but
this was a tidy performace and they didn`t have any symphonic twiddly
interludes, which is a big plus point.
Testament - 10/10 - utterly fantastic, great setlist...
Over the Wall
Into the Pit
Apocalyptic City
The New Order
More than Meets the Eye
DNR
Three Days in Darkness
Alone in the Dark
Disciples of the Watch
...just wish they`d played for longer. Absolutely perfect, really tight.
They clashed with Krisiun but I`m sure I made the right choice!
In Flames - 6/10 for first 20 minutes, 10/10 for the next hour...the sound
was flat to begin with and the mic wasn`t working properly ( something which
affected the main stage a few times ) but once that was sorted out they were
brilliant. A band at the top of their game, fantastic stage set, great
performance in front of the biggest crowd of the day. Clashed with Marduk
which was annoying but you can`t win `em all!
Carcass - 9/10 - docked a point for playing Keep on Rotting in the Free
World! Hard to believe this band haven`t played together for so long,
sounded superb and Ken Owen came on stage to give a little wave as well.
Venom - 5.5/10 - despite being the main headliners of the day they finished
the set playing to the smallest crowd I`ve ever seen at a festival. As much
as I love Venom this was a bit like watching a pub band that had stumbled
onto a big stage by mistake. The new guitarist is a bit shit, the sound was
flat and it just came across as a bit comical. It was still fun - I`ll
always enjoy watching Cronos belt out Countess Bathory etc. but a bit sad at
the same time.
Saturday
Missed Legion of the Damned, caught the tail end of Airbourne which wasn`t
my cup of tea.
Sodom - 9/10 - played almost all old stuff apart from one song off of MI6,
ideal...good stuff.
...heard Sonata Artica in the background, rubbish...
Satyricon - 6/10 - tight, professional...but boring. Almost everything was
off of later albums apart from a kick ass version of Mother North to finish
with...I`d struggled to stay with them till then in truth.
Iced Earth - 9/10 - Have to admit...much better live with Barlow than with
Ripper and he handled 10,000 Strong easily. Good mix of songs.
Haemorrhage - 8/10 - didn`t know much about this band, fairly standard
grindgore death metal stuff but a blast to watch live. I`d probably get
bored of them quick on CD though.
...heard Porcupine Tree in the background, found them very tiresome.
Candlemass I just chilled out to, couldn`t be arsed to watch, it was baking
hot. Sounded good.
Anaal Nathrakh - 5/10 - gave them 3 songs but did nothing for me, just a
wall of blast beat noise which all sounded the same. I`m obviously getting
old!
Gamma Ray - 8/10 - cheesy as fuck with a singalong to Heavy Metal Universe
but great fun. A welcome respite from the extreme metal and Ride the
Sky/Somewhere Out in Space was my golden headbanging moment of the day!
Helloween - 9/10 - a consumate professional performance with a perfect
sound, giant inflatable pumpkins and a predominately Keepers influenced set.
Docked a point for putting 3 ballads into an hour 20 min set and faffing
about for too long introducing the band members.
Impaled Nazarene - 7.5/10 - a right bunch of noisy bastards.
Belphegor - 9/10 - bad sound to begin with but kicked ass once it was
sorted...and they played my song of `08 so far to finish with ( Bondage Goat
Zombie ).
Cavalera Conspiracy 4/10 - clashed with Belphegor for the most part...as I
was walking out of the tent they were playing Chaoa AD and Troops of Doom so
I stuck with them but the next two songs were utter cock...boring ass jump
da fuck up muthfaucka stuff that Max has been boring me with for the last
decade. Back to the tent!
Sunday
Municipal Waste - 10/10 - didn`t think they`d pull off a festival but they
did...and they were clearly having as much fun as the crowd. Awesome.
Forbidden - 7.5/10 - never rated these as top tier thrash but they were
solid and entertaining live.
...Rose Tattoo...shit awful...watched some shitty band in the tent I can`t
even remember the name of just to get away from them.
Origin - 7/10 - incredibly fast, technical...impressive as fuck for a few
songs but then it became a bit dull.
...The Dillenger Escape Band and Meshuggah were the next two bands...I heard
them whilst chilling with a beer but found them both utterly appalling. This
sort of stuff goes right over my head...
Obituary - 8/10 - typical Obituary, good solid performace.
Opeth - 10/10 - I must have been in the right mood! The mic was a bit off
for the first song but a jaw dropping performance...quite awe inspiring. I
found them a bit of bore last time I saw them at a festival but this was
perfection...with a *huge* crowd watching them. Should have been one of the
headliners.
...listened to My Dying Bride...OK for a while but became an irritating
dirge.
At the Gates - 10/10 - WOW. One of those performances which leaves you a but
shell shocked at the end, absolutely amazing. The set drew heavily from SotS
( although finished with Kingdom Gone ) and was just stunning. Can`t wait to
see them again at Bloodstock.
NOFX - hilarious between song banter, seemed a fun bunch of people but the
music was of no interest to me at all.
Motorhead - 5/10 - same old same old, was quite glad when they were done to
be truthful.
Morbid Angel - 10/10 - didn`t think anyone could match ATG set but they
managed it...Sandoval was in remarkable form and they played a new song
which has me chomping at the bit to hear more. Blistering performance.
Slayer - 7/10 - A belowe par performace and a dull setlist...
Disciple
Skeleton Christ
Chemical Warfare
Ghosts of War
War Ensemble
Jihad
Eyes of the Insane
Supremist
Payback
Dead Skin Mask
Hell Awaits
South of Heaven
Reign in Blood
Mandatory Suicide
Angel of Death
...the crowd were moribund during the 3 songs in a row off of CI followed by
Payback...a bad choice. Seemed to be going through the motions a bit not
helped by a flat sound to begin with. I know Slayer are capable of so much
more...they couldn`t hold a candle to Morbid Angel and At the Gates tonight.
Araya wondered about the stage during AoD talking to a security guard and
shouting at the front of the crowd instead of singing...don`t know what was
going on. Even when the set got good it was Slayer by numbers. I still
enjoyed it but probably the worst I`ve ever seen them.
organisation was supposed to be shocking last year but everything was fine
apart from a couple of bands having slight sound issues ( which happens
everywhere! ) and it being too bastard hot!!
Thoughts on the bands I saw...( this could be a long post! )
Friday
Eluveitie - 8/10 - fun start to the day, 8 piece folk/death band with what
looked like two hairy assed twins running around like demented Scott Ians
playing bagpipes and penny whistles. Enjpyed this bunch a lot.
Death Angel - 9/10 - tight as fuck, great sound...docked a point for playing
3 songs off the new album in a 45 minute set...as much as I like it I`d have
liked more from The Ultra-Violence!
Septic Flesh - 7/10 - OK, came across a bit bland live.
Mayhem - 3/10 - crap last time I saw them and just as crap now...some of my
mates enjoyed them though, I guess it`s just not my thing. Gave up after 3
songs.
...heard both Danko Jones and Paradise Lost but didn`t watch them...both
were godawful...
Rotting Christ - 8/10 - Good song selection, nothing from their boring
middle years, excellent.
Dimmu Borgir - 7.5/10 - I`ve never found this lot too inspiring live but
this was a tidy performace and they didn`t have any symphonic twiddly
interludes, which is a big plus point.
Testament - 10/10 - utterly fantastic, great setlist...
Over the Wall
Into the Pit
Apocalyptic City
The New Order
More than Meets the Eye
DNR
Three Days in Darkness
Alone in the Dark
Disciples of the Watch
...just wish they`d played for longer. Absolutely perfect, really tight.
They clashed with Krisiun but I`m sure I made the right choice!
In Flames - 6/10 for first 20 minutes, 10/10 for the next hour...the sound
was flat to begin with and the mic wasn`t working properly ( something which
affected the main stage a few times ) but once that was sorted out they were
brilliant. A band at the top of their game, fantastic stage set, great
performance in front of the biggest crowd of the day. Clashed with Marduk
which was annoying but you can`t win `em all!
Carcass - 9/10 - docked a point for playing Keep on Rotting in the Free
World! Hard to believe this band haven`t played together for so long,
sounded superb and Ken Owen came on stage to give a little wave as well.
Venom - 5.5/10 - despite being the main headliners of the day they finished
the set playing to the smallest crowd I`ve ever seen at a festival. As much
as I love Venom this was a bit like watching a pub band that had stumbled
onto a big stage by mistake. The new guitarist is a bit shit, the sound was
flat and it just came across as a bit comical. It was still fun - I`ll
always enjoy watching Cronos belt out Countess Bathory etc. but a bit sad at
the same time.
Saturday
Missed Legion of the Damned, caught the tail end of Airbourne which wasn`t
my cup of tea.
Sodom - 9/10 - played almost all old stuff apart from one song off of MI6,
ideal...good stuff.
...heard Sonata Artica in the background, rubbish...
Satyricon - 6/10 - tight, professional...but boring. Almost everything was
off of later albums apart from a kick ass version of Mother North to finish
with...I`d struggled to stay with them till then in truth.
Iced Earth - 9/10 - Have to admit...much better live with Barlow than with
Ripper and he handled 10,000 Strong easily. Good mix of songs.
Haemorrhage - 8/10 - didn`t know much about this band, fairly standard
grindgore death metal stuff but a blast to watch live. I`d probably get
bored of them quick on CD though.
...heard Porcupine Tree in the background, found them very tiresome.
Candlemass I just chilled out to, couldn`t be arsed to watch, it was baking
hot. Sounded good.
Anaal Nathrakh - 5/10 - gave them 3 songs but did nothing for me, just a
wall of blast beat noise which all sounded the same. I`m obviously getting
old!
Gamma Ray - 8/10 - cheesy as fuck with a singalong to Heavy Metal Universe
but great fun. A welcome respite from the extreme metal and Ride the
Sky/Somewhere Out in Space was my golden headbanging moment of the day!
Helloween - 9/10 - a consumate professional performance with a perfect
sound, giant inflatable pumpkins and a predominately Keepers influenced set.
Docked a point for putting 3 ballads into an hour 20 min set and faffing
about for too long introducing the band members.
Impaled Nazarene - 7.5/10 - a right bunch of noisy bastards.
Belphegor - 9/10 - bad sound to begin with but kicked ass once it was
sorted...and they played my song of `08 so far to finish with ( Bondage Goat
Zombie ).
Cavalera Conspiracy 4/10 - clashed with Belphegor for the most part...as I
was walking out of the tent they were playing Chaoa AD and Troops of Doom so
I stuck with them but the next two songs were utter cock...boring ass jump
da fuck up muthfaucka stuff that Max has been boring me with for the last
decade. Back to the tent!
Sunday
Municipal Waste - 10/10 - didn`t think they`d pull off a festival but they
did...and they were clearly having as much fun as the crowd. Awesome.
Forbidden - 7.5/10 - never rated these as top tier thrash but they were
solid and entertaining live.
...Rose Tattoo...shit awful...watched some shitty band in the tent I can`t
even remember the name of just to get away from them.
Origin - 7/10 - incredibly fast, technical...impressive as fuck for a few
songs but then it became a bit dull.
...The Dillenger Escape Band and Meshuggah were the next two bands...I heard
them whilst chilling with a beer but found them both utterly appalling. This
sort of stuff goes right over my head...
Obituary - 8/10 - typical Obituary, good solid performace.
Opeth - 10/10 - I must have been in the right mood! The mic was a bit off
for the first song but a jaw dropping performance...quite awe inspiring. I
found them a bit of bore last time I saw them at a festival but this was
perfection...with a *huge* crowd watching them. Should have been one of the
headliners.
...listened to My Dying Bride...OK for a while but became an irritating
dirge.
At the Gates - 10/10 - WOW. One of those performances which leaves you a but
shell shocked at the end, absolutely amazing. The set drew heavily from SotS
( although finished with Kingdom Gone ) and was just stunning. Can`t wait to
see them again at Bloodstock.
NOFX - hilarious between song banter, seemed a fun bunch of people but the
music was of no interest to me at all.
Motorhead - 5/10 - same old same old, was quite glad when they were done to
be truthful.
Morbid Angel - 10/10 - didn`t think anyone could match ATG set but they
managed it...Sandoval was in remarkable form and they played a new song
which has me chomping at the bit to hear more. Blistering performance.
Slayer - 7/10 - A belowe par performace and a dull setlist...
Disciple
Skeleton Christ
Chemical Warfare
Ghosts of War
War Ensemble
Jihad
Eyes of the Insane
Supremist
Payback
Dead Skin Mask
Hell Awaits
South of Heaven
Reign in Blood
Mandatory Suicide
Angel of Death
...the crowd were moribund during the 3 songs in a row off of CI followed by
Payback...a bad choice. Seemed to be going through the motions a bit not
helped by a flat sound to begin with. I know Slayer are capable of so much
more...they couldn`t hold a candle to Morbid Angel and At the Gates tonight.
Araya wondered about the stage during AoD talking to a security guard and
shouting at the front of the crowd instead of singing...don`t know what was
going on. Even when the set got good it was Slayer by numbers. I still
enjoyed it but probably the worst I`ve ever seen them.