Ranz - Sodom - Nargaroth - Kampfar - Aborted - Mastic Scum - Noctiferia - Irdorath - Norikum - Fallen Utopia - Seduced - Varulv - Squirtophobic

Petrus is no Metal-head! A bigger part of today is stamped by rain and therefore I get aware of the grinding squiekgrowlperformance of :: SQUIRTOPHOBIC :: only marginally, just as the bowel-butchery, :: SEDUCED :: offered to the bloody crowd. :: FALLEN UTOPIA :: and :: NORIKUM :: sound forcefully from afar – you know that’s the way at Kaltenbach… finally, :: IRDORATH ::, kick off my musical day with the nasty little earworm Dekonstrukteur Des Fleisches.

A while later, the Grind-Death-fraction gets some occasion to jubilate: at first the Austrian pioneers :: MASTIC SCUM :: blast off, the Belgian machine :: ABORTED :: bulldozes with a mixture of sheer brutality, technical approach and harsh grooves.

No matter, if the venue is a small club or a festival with wonderful panorama - :: KAMPFAR :: never disappoint. Mighty stomping, clashing cold, majestically hissing or melodic to the bone, everything seems to have its part. May it be a new song or a classic – my Ravenheart strikes just in time. I cannot unravel the secret of this band’s fascination. The group does not use groundbreaking elements or innovative styles; everyone feels this authenticity, this hearty attitude while raising one’s fist to the sky…we are all brothers and sisters…this band incarnates the spirit of KALTENBACH OPEN AIR perfectly!

:: NARGAROTH :: create similar moods, but are unable to keep up this magic. The unloading compositions atomize some charm, but the – let’s call it consequent - attitude of front man Ash affects the overall reception in a slight negative way.

Good old uncle Tom Angelripper and :: SODOM :: enrich every festival and in contrast to his forerunner, the very sympathetic basement complex :) collects many plus factors with praising words for Austria and the beauty of landscapes. SODOM and beer go together, so that the evening comes to a good-humored and convivial ending, slowly but surely…

The definite terminus is called :: RANZ ::. The band does not take it all too seriously and offers impelling, nicely rocking tunes. Some members of the crowd would have desired the sunglasses of front beast Schurl next day I guess :) around three in the morning, this once again hearty festival comes to an end much too early…and that’s why we all hope for continuation next year!!!

story © Leo • Photos by courtesy of Raffael (Rotting Hill & Noisepit)