Mainstage • Front 242 - Covenant - Hocico - Solitary Experiments - [X]-RX - Eisfabrik - Torul - Zweite Jugend

2nd Stage • Diorama - Chrom - Intent:Outtake - XotoX - Absurd Minds - FÏX8:SËD8

:: Main ::

:: pics :: ZWEITE JUGEND ::

DAF is dead (not yet actually), long live :: ZWEITE JUGEND ::. Instead of Görl and Delgado you get Lüke and van Vegas. The E-TROPOLIS FESTIVAL 2021 kicked off downright classic with minimal old school EBM, well and truly in the veins of DAF, with keywords spit out in commanding manner, sometimes in a clone-like closeness to the idols, sometimes with own ideas. No doubt, this style still works; the music was well received and ran down the legs. The crowd danced anyway. To play such festival on the main stage is a dream come true, so told us singer Eli van Vegas. Yes, indeed, the Turbinenhalle was well filled at this early time and many of the fans were obviously here for ZWEITE JUGEND.
ZWEITE JUGEND opened their set with Herbstsonate, the first track and single off the new and third album Der Wille zur Nacht, which is being recorded right now. Without rating the sound the band is not to blame for, an almost perfect opener for the festival :)
Band: Eli van Vegas, Marcel Lüke
Setlist: Intro Herbst, Herbstsonate, Liebe ist Luxus, Euroträume, Falsche Freunde, Leah und Alissa, Weisses Rauschen, Stiefelliebe, Schöne Augen, Elektronische Körpermusik, Flucht von der Erde, Die ganze Nacht, Hoch die Tassen

:: pics :: TORUL ::

Next up on the main stage was :: TORUL :: I met back in the days with their old singer Jan Jenko (first time at Blackfield Festival I think). I really liked the band but lost sight of them. Around a decade later I was quite curious how the Slovenians would have developed musically as well with the new singer. The first impressions was that singer Maj Valerij seems to be a big fan of Tom Smith (Editors), on the second sight, that TORUL are softer now, less with harsh electronics but with more synths instead. Less drive and verve but more atmosphere. You can do so, of course. I'd have preferred a zippier approach ;)
Band: Torul Torulsson, Maj Valerij, Borut Dolenec
Setlist: Try, Best Moments, The Balance, Show Me Your City, Saviour Of Love, Lonely Night, Monday, Resonate, The Only Way

:: pics :: FÏX8:SËD8 ::

First time we went to hall 2 for the second stage. The stage deco made me expect something thrilling and I was not disappointed. Much the opposite! I never dealt with :: FÏX8:SËD8 :: before. I just knew the name by its notation from various festival billings. Damn, here I missed something special!
FÏX8:SËD8 is the brainchild of Martin Januszewski, established in 2003 and with five albums under his belt. The current one, The Inevitable Relapse, was released in January, from which half of the songs were played. Music and stage performance reminded me of Swedish collective Interlace. Velvet Acid Christ came to mind as well, both bands, I really adore. Freakin' awesome show! FÏX8:SËD8 was a big surprise to me! Highlight of the festival!
Band: Martin Januszewski
Setlist: Enigma, Prognosis, Meltdown, Baptism Of Fire, Unknown To Virtue, Monolith, Chlorine Clean Tears, Metabolite

:: pics :: EISFABRIK ::

Back to the main stage with frosty :: EISFABRIK ::, who had to face massive sound problems. Especially singer Dr. Snow always again "lost" his voice. Wires were changed, micros too, with no better result. It took quite some time till things became tolerably better. The audience took it easy, the band too, they had no choice. To scream at or to curse someone would not have helped either. As for that, nice show too. But, no ice available… (snow neither) ;)
Band: Dr. Schnee, Der Frost, °Celcius, Von Fahrenheit
Setlist: No Matter, Grim Reaper, A Million Lights, Maschinen, The Choice, Schneemann, Eins mit dem Wind, White Storm, Walking Towards The Sun, Friends

:: pics :: ABSURD MINDS ::

It seemed the sound problems have rubbed off on hall 2 too. Also :: ABSURD MINDS :: had to face some, thank Buddha, minor problems. Music was too low, voice too loud. At least no complete disaster, the band could cope with it smoothly. I loved the background scenery: a static logo design with nebulae and stars wafting around. You can always catch me those things ;) Music was great too and made me swing my hips.
Band: Stefan Großmann, Tilo Ladwig, Timo Fischer, Toralf Nikisch
Setlist: Transformation, Turning Away, Countdown, One Blood, Interconnectedness, Serve Or Suffer, I'm Dying Alone, Brainwash

:: pics :: [X]-RX ::

Those, who found the festival still too lame and dull at this point, got now their money's worth. :: [X]-RX :: went wild, raising the bar for energy on a high level. The guys did not stand still any minute, except for twiddling the knobs on their machines. Singer Pascal’s hair has grown, giving him a look like Jared Leto, but his beard remained. Does he follow a trend or does he set a new one? However, the crowd willingly followed every gesture and lyrical cue like string puppets its master. Pure escalation. "Put your hands on the air, Welcome to the show, We scalate this place". Oh yes, the party is on ;)
Band: Cyrex, Sine-X

:: pics :: XOTOX ::

:: XOTOX :: follow kind of same paths, just way harsher, more techno-like and more aggressive. The ear-piercing screams of Andreas Davids during the opener Silent. Shout were painful and uncomfortable. XOTOX finally did the festival’s slogan justice: “(more) basses - harder - louder”, at least regarding the basses. It was so gently tickling in my tummy ;) Musically, well, I’m no Techno girl. I did not really dig it.
Band: Andreas Davids, Mrs Xotox
Setlist: Silent Shout, Schwanengesang, Die neue Normalität, UFO, Paleodisco, The Price We Pay For Happiness, Sla Tilbakka, Wir haben die Wirklichkeit zerstört, Eisenkiller, Fuck You Very Much, Das falsche Licht // Sorgenkind

:: pics :: SOLITARY EXPERIMENTS ::

:: SOLITARY EXPERIMENTS :: has been announced as the host’s “favorite Ossis” (people from East Germany). They are around for almost thirty years and play as leisurely as how old they are. Perfect chance to get your pulse down if needed. Again, many sound problems that all too clear revealed the nonexistent singing skills of Dennis Schober. To carry a pitch or tune definitely wasn’t his thing. It all sounded pretty off-key. Future Pop is not really my cup of tea, but SOLITARY EXPERIMENTS go even further. You can call them the kings of schlager of the Electro scene. Helene Fischer has more red pepper flakes up her bum. Apropos… pepper… time to get some food…
Band: Dennis Schober, Michael Thielemann, Markus Schmidt, Frank Glaßl

:: pics :: INTENT:OUTTAKE ::

Back to business with :: INTENT:OUTTAKE ::. I never heard of this band before. Yay, premiere. The Leipzig-based duo exists for ten years and has released four full-lengths so far. The performance was martial, dystopian, interesting in the details. INTENT:OUTTAKE reminded me of Tyske Ludder, when they were great. Cool stuff anyway ;)
Band: Bastian Polak, Andreas Engleitner
Setlist: Das letzte Geleit, Paved, From Wolves And Rats, Eclipse, Der letzte Tanz, Out Of Decay, Auf Ewigkeit, Endtime Prophets, Neustart, Der Mammon

:: pics :: HOCICO ::

Also :: HOCICO :: are old stagers in the scene with many, many releases under their belt. Once, they were awesome. Once, I loved them and got me quite many records of them. Meanwhile they are only shadows of their former self with permanently repeating melodies, sound patterns, rhythms and structures. Nothing new, nothing innovative. Same stage performance, same gestures, same moves, same outfits, same war paint. Variations are marginal. But, well, if you don’t wanna think and just get your frustration out of your body, than dance! Dance has hard and as long as you can. For that the music of HOCICO is perfect.
Band: Erk Aicrag , Racso Agroyam

:: pics :: CHROM ::

Next up on the second stage is :: CHROM ::, musically more contemplative. Partly with fluffy and danceable rhythms, partly with melancholically draped melodies. The duo had to change its arrangement on short notice as keyboard player Thomas was tested positive on Covid early in the morning. For him, Kim Hoffmann stepped in, probably not much prepared but he did a great job. CHROM played a wonderful show I really enjoyed.
Band: Christian Marquis, Kim Hoffmann
Setlist: Murder Fantasies, Loneliness, Staring At The Sun, The Start Of Something New

:: pics :: COVENANT ::

:: COVENANT :: have gained cult status, they are called legends. I have seen them twice, both times in 2010. First at Blackfield Festival - a stunning show, second time at the inaugural E-TROPOLIS FESTIVAL in Berlin - probably the most disastrous and embarrassing show the Swedes ever played. Okay, that was long time ago, many things have changed since then, also in the COVENANT camp.
So, let’s try it again. COVENANT revisited, so to say. And what can I say? It was an awesome performance! A Nordic cool and elegant show, aesthetic in sound, lights and performance. That's right up my alley. I really loved it. Seems like I have to make up leeway regarding latest records.
Band: Eskil Simonsson, Daniel Myer,
Setlist: Stalker, Bullet, Fwx1 (coming home), Dead Stars, Atom Heart, The Men, False Gods, Ignorance & Bliss, Das Nibelungenlied, I Close My Eyes, Lightbringer, Ritual Noise // Happy Man, Fwx2 (Sound of flowers), Call The Ships To Port

:: pics :: DIORAMA ::

I was pretty much looking forward to see :: DIORAMA :: live again. This band has a special place in my heart and collection. Again, changes on short notice, as Felix Marc fell sick and needed to be replaced by Helge, behind keys and micro. And again, no much difference to hear, so Helge did a great job too. Singer Torben seems to be in the molt, sort of ;) Means, he seems to change his hair cut and looked rather scrubby ;) Of course, that did not narrow any bit of the thrilling show.
Last year, DIORAMA released a new album, Tiny Missing Fragment, which the band wasn’t able to really present live so far. Tonight we only got a festival best-of setlist of new songs and old classics such as Her Liquid Arms and Child Of Entertainment, a few accompanied only by a piano, all differently as known from CD. That’s one thing why DIORAMA are so special. They always change, they always vary. No record sounds like the other and they don’t play shows twice. Third highlight of the evening!
Band: Torben Wendt, Zura Nakamura, Marquess, Helge Wiegand
Setlist: Avatars, Patchwork, Her Liquid Arms, Child Of Entertainment, Amnesia Club, Sensation, Exit The Grey, Advance, Horizons, Gasoline, Why, Synthesize Me

:: pics :: FRONT 242 ::

All good things must come to an end. And so here we are at the end of a great festival day. It’s up to :: FRONT 242 :: to headline and finish the E-TROPOLIS FESTIVALS 2021 edition.
Unfortunately, I could stay for the time in the photo pit only. I had an early shift next day and had to be up at 4:30am again. But I made it through the entire festival anyway. I did not miss any band :) The Turbinenhalle was now fully packed. It was loud, it was heavy, and the crowd freaked out one last time. The E-TROPOLIS FESTIVALS 2021 ends the way it has begun: with old school EBM. That’s the way it has to be!
Band: Jean-Luc De Meyer, Patrick Codenys, Richard Jonckheere, Tim Kroker
Setlist: First In/First Out, Take One, Don't Crash, Funkahdafi, Generator, Quite Unusual, Soul Manager, Commando Mix, Red Team, Deeply Asleep, Operating Tracks, U-Men, Fix It, Headhunter, Im Rhythmus Bleiben, Moldavia // Until Death (Us Do Part), Welcome To Paradise