BARGE TO HELL 2012

Abiotic - Artillery - At The Gates - Behemoth - Bonded By Blood - Brujeria - Corrosion Of Conformity - Dark Sermon - Enslaved - Exodus - Grave - Hackneyed - Havok - Headcrusher - Holy Moses - Kampfar - Krisiun - Lock Up - Loudblast - Mayhem - Monstrosity - Moonspell - Morgoth - Municipal Waste - Nachtmystium - Napalm Death - Necronomicon (CAN) - Necronomicon (DE) - Novembers Doom - Paradise Lost - Possessed - Rotting Christ - Sacred Reich - Sanctuary - Seita - Sepultura - Sodom - Soilwork - Sólstafir - Vital Remains - Zanthropya Ex

My goodness! Where to start, where to begin to tell what I experienced on this breathtaking voyage as the BARGE TO HELL was, without getting lost in thousands of details and memorable moments. Nothing I could tell, even on 100 sites, nearly describes the feelings, the mood to have entered a “Love Boat” and to cruise through Caribbean Sea under a blue sky, sun and approx. 25°C/80°F, with shitloads of asskicking bands playing on 3 stages and with a tasty cocktail or beer in hands (or the camera respectively). If one did not have experienced such trip itself, it’s hardly to understand what it is about.
But what I can already say here and now is: if nothing unpredictable happens, I’ll be on board of the BARGE TO HELL 2014 too :)

As it is known, the BARGE TO HELL is the spin-off of the • 70.000 Tons Of Metal • It is the same organizer and the same ship, the • Majesty Of The Seas • That means, 2000 fans were invited to party with 40 of the most extreme bands one week almost around the clock. In fact around 1250 fans joined making the whole trip to something really familiar. With a crew of over 800 people almost every second guest had its own server. Statistically. Unfortunately that led to the effect that fans got pretty much lost on the boat and its 3 stages. So it happened that a band like PARADISE LOST for example played in front of such 75 fans on the Pool Stage, with a handful more in the pool and on the left and the right up the sun deck sitting on chairs. Mood and response was often restrained or just lame, which was too bad. Many bands would have deserved a packed and freaking out crowd for their shows.

:: Livestories :: Monday :: Tuesday :: Wednesday :: Thursday ::

:: Pics :: Monday :: Tuesday :: Wednesday :: Thursday ::

However. journey 2 days prior the cruise was pretty unspectacular. Miami – the sun burns but the hairdo is perfect ;) A first bath in the Atlantic Ocean and a city that is hardly to top in surrealism. Everything is possible, everything can be seen. Super rich meets super poor and homeless, never saw so many rad extremes.
Okay, Monday morning at 11 am I am already at the Port Of Miami, waiting at Terminal F with many other fans and bands and even more arriving by convoys of taxis. Boarding starts at 11.45 am, I am on top of the row and get early through the very extensive check-in-procedure. Up on board and first a welcome cocktail… that brought me to my knees. What the… Goddammit… what a mixtur! This going to be fun ;)

The Majesty Of The Seas emerges to be a wonderfully noble boat and the server as extremely kind and courteous (especially our steward Mr. Earl :)) and the cuisine on board is just marvelous. I gained… ;)

As already mentioned 40 (erm… 39) bands played on 3 stages 2 sets (on different stages of course). There was the main stage on the Pool Deck, one stage at A Chorus Line Theater and the Spectrum Lounge. There was also a Karaoke stage at Boleros and the merchandise at the Schooner Bar. And again some rad extremes: while for example the BTH girlie tank-top was to get for $ 25 (normal price) one had to shell out $ 60 for the BTH zipper. Beer was about 5 to 7, cocktails about 6 to 10 $. I think that’s not too much. Same pricing back home at better locations and clubs at half capacity and lame mixture ;) Pricing in the shops on board however was steep.

What I found really great was the interaction of the bands with the fans. What you got here one will not experience anywhere else. Even at festivals bands often stick backstage for their kind. On board there was no backstage area and the musicians just as long musicians as they stood on stage. Right after they became just fans as everybody else, being with the crowd. It was quite interesting to see which musician followed which band and was rocking out then ;)

Thank you Andi for having invented the cruises, thank you for such incredible experience and such wonderful week. So, and now I stop blabbering… Here we go.