Well, the PARTY SAN OPEN AIR is pretty awesome, but I don’t like guitars [hihi]
[BRT] One might think, after two years of no festivals (and no concerts), so thus without practice, the NH crew would be fully wracked and destroyed the next morning. Well, it wasn't that bad ;) The gang was fit; the philosophy talks at 7 am were refreshing, but disturbed by indefinable noise from the stage. Anyway, let's first get breakfast!
[Dajana] Ummm, yeah… I wouldn't call our condition as fit. We were up that early because the sun frizzled us out of the tents. And, unless I'm very much mistaken... the breakfast consisted of beer only? And an apple. And coffee, a little later. Because no one could pull itself together to go to the breakfast tent. Since there was power blackout on the infield, the booths didn't have anything for breakfast either…
[Seb] I arrived much later on this second day. A mishap with the shuttle bus and a longer march across Mühlhausen kept me away from my bed till 5am. The shuttle service this year wasn't fully developed… to say it polite. Only one (1!!!) small bus after the show + no taxis = totally miscalculated public transportation.
Of course, there has been much anger but no stress. Many thanks to the PSOA crew members, who promised improvement this noon (and they did it), and to the nice bus driver, who always did and an run through the roundabout, just for fun :)
:: pics :: KADAVERFICKER ::
[Dajana] The gun salute by Esmeralda kicked off the second festival day, inviting the fans to the usual (Gore)Grind party at noon with a lot of hilarious dresses and veggies. It was up to the "Fotzibärchen" of :: KADAVERFICKER :: to get the party started. There was hardly Gore, there was hardly Grind, only corpse water, pommes and poo-poo. Well then…
:: pics :: LIK ::
[Öko] I started with the Swedes of :: LIK :: into the second, and to me, the strongest festival day. I several times heard the saying that we now got to see the better version of Dismember. It was indeed an asskickingly awesome show. With three records under their belt, LIK also have enough strong material to choose their songs from.
[BRT] Yep, that was great! I generally can't do that much with generic Swedish Death Metal. LIK however are quite refreshing in their sound. They offered many changes in rhythm and pace, great melodies, crispy and compact tracks. With their strong latest record, Misanthropic Breed, they raised the bar significantly high. And so they did live. Might be difficult to excel in the future. Respect guys!
:: pics :: MESSIAH ::
.JPG)
Fotos © Nova Rizal & Metal Breeding
[Dajana] Did someone see :: MESSIAH ::? I did not. I can't remember. But, even if I would have had a full blackout, I would have, at least, done the photos ;)
[Seb] MESSIAH from Switzerland were the second tasty tidbit for the Thrashers amongst the PSOA crowd. I’ve got to admit, that the band had completely flown under my radar for a long, long time: I actually thought we’d get one of the US-based bands of the same name and „something doomy“. But much to my surprise, it was actually the same old thrash combo from the 80s, who had just taken a very extended break between 1995 and 2017 – the one-off reunion show in 2003 can’t really be counted. MESSIAH have since recorded a new album (Fracmont), but of course they’re most famous for the thrash classics Extreme Cold Weather and Choir Of Horrors.
Despite their legendary status, the show sounded a bit like generic boilerplate thrash with a sprinkle of doom – maybe it was due to them playing a lot of newer material, I honestly couldn’t say. Anyways, the fans seemed quite happy and that’s what counts.
I did certainly not dislike it, but the show couldn’t compel me to stay in front of the stage for most of it: I took the second half as background music for my (actually first) inspection of the CD- and merchandise booths.
:: pics :: 1914 ::
[Dajana] Next up were Ukrainian Black metallers :: 1914 ::. It was pretty much predicable, how the show would turn out and were proved to be correct.
It was clear that they would enter the stage with an Ukrainian flag and that they would make an announcement regarding the war. And it all would have been ok and understandable and supported by everyone down in the pit. But 1914 were carried away to demonize every single Russian and to wish them dead. That was blatant, lurid and polemic. I do understand their pain, their sorrow, and their rage against the aggressor, but that was going too far.
[Öko] I didn't know this band before. Musically, they couldn't convince me and their announcements created an uncomfortable feeling too. But I don't claim to be able to rate their statements nor am I able to put myself in the (emotional) position of the Ukrainians.
[BRT] Whew…, well. Musically, 1914 didn't touch me either. Onstage there didn't happen that much and their anti-Russia sayings I can comprehend to a certain degree, but this degree was far exceeded. Also, the rude remarks against the German government were cheesy and polemic. So, the response of the crowd was lukewarm. Yes, it's terrible what happens there and we hardly can put ourselves in their position, but…
:: pics :: MALEVOLENT CREATION ::
[Öko] I think, it’s been 20 years ago I dealt with :: MALEVOLENT CREATION :: last time. I should do it again - the band was a big surprise! On this Friday, there was no one from the original line-up anymore on stage (Phil Fasciana was missing), but it didn’t narrow the quality of the show any bit. And, it has shown what brutal sound can be created with one guitar only. This guitar was played by Ryan Taylor (US-Solctice), I didn’t even recognize with the short hair.
[BRT] Wow, yeah… I never was a fan, don’t know their discography and the only show I remember was uncongenial and boring. Today’s show was completely different. With Ryan Taylor on guitar and vox – it can’t be any more brutal. Riffs were razor-sharp, the vocals mega aggressive with an Hardcore edge, the songs compact and bone-dry. Awesome! I dare to say that even Demolition Hammer would have had its difficulties to top that. Another highlight of a great festival day.
[Dajana] Yes! I fully agree, and it got even better…
[Seb] Unfortunately, I mostly missed the show while walking towards the gate of hell. That was annoying, even without the hymns of praise by the others. Well, too bad, but I wanted to be able to do more that just to rest in any corner. So, I had to sleep till 12…
:: pics :: ONSLAUGHT ::
[Seb] So, I started into my second festival day with the first of two nostalgia packages of old school Thrash Metal.
Bristol-based :: ONSLAUGHT :: are already around for 39 years and did everything to dissemble their ripe old age. I completely missed that ONSLAUGHT have released a new album, Generation Antichrist, in 2020, where they played a few songs from. For the early fans they also played many old gems, even going back to the 1985 debut Power From Hell. A highlight for many fans surely was Bomber, a song from „Snaggletooth: A Tribute To Lemmy“ (originally on Sounds Of Violence), whereas the announcement of late Lemmy’s name alone already caused cheer and screams.
Not my favorite metal genre anymore but that’s how I once started my own metal career. So I really appreciate live shows like these. A solid, highly energetic show many Thrash Metal fans appreciated too.
[Dajana] Oh year, right! Almost forgot about ONSLAUGHT. Thrash Metal the second, of three bands at PSOA 2022. And yes, indeed, that was truly a remarkable show too!
:: pics :: MISERY INDEX ::
[Dajana] But now… NOW! WOW! LIK, Malevolent Creation and Onslaught have already been amazing, but :: MISERY INDEX :: topped them all. The Baltimore boys truly reduced everything to ashes. No time to breathe, no time to think, just pure destruction. As if a steamroller flattened you. Suck me sideways! That was goddamn fucking bitchin’! Where’s my money, I need merch… And I needed to be fast. Shirts were sold like hot cakes.
[Öko] Yep, a band to be surpassed by only another one at this year’s PSOA. But more about this one a little later. As for now it's "Cudgel, out the sack!". It shows great musicianship to let it rip like that without falling into stasis. Compared to many other highly sophisticated bands, MISERY INDEX just got what it takes to play a raging show and to handle its instruments professionally. Also the two voices made sense. About a bad example soon. Absolute killer show!
[BRT] I have seen MISERY INDEX the previous week around the corner at Junkyard in Dortmund, but with guitarist and second vocalist Mark Kloeppel missing. And this show was already killer! Now, with full line-up, MISERY INDEX wrecked everything. Well, with Adam Jarvis behind the skins, nothing can wrong, can't it? The band perfectly combines an extremely brutal sound with technical precision and melodies. An extremely great band, on a record, as well as live on stage. Killer!
[Seb] The previous week? At Junkyard in Dortmund? Damn… why did I miss it? It's just around the corner *sighs*. It might be exaggerated but it feels like as if at every PSOA edition either MISERY INDEX or Dying Fetus are playing, hahaha. Not that I would mind, much the opposite ;) Heavy, brutal, uncompromising, with suitable lyrics (not that one would understand many of them live) and without 08/15 splatter stuff or pubertal fantasies, as some other bands do. What more could you ask for? Always again welcome.
[Dajana] And I want that book! Extremity Retained: Notes From The Death Metal Underground by Jason Netherton! Does anybody know where to get? It’s out of print. Have seen paperbacks, 75$ + 20$ shipping the cheapest…
:: pics :: HEIDEVOLK ::
.JPG)
Fotos © Nova Rizal & Metal Breeding
[Öko] Sorry, but, what kind of shit is that? I could only bear with song of :: HEIDEVOLK :: and then fled towards the backstage area. It surely is all a matter of taste but I couldn't stand any aspect of the music, no matter if it were funny humppa melodies, bounce-bounce-beats or two singers, one more needless than the other, as they sound identical. Terrible.
[BRT] I missed. I like Folk, but don't like too much humppa.
[Dajana] I'm out for ages when it comes to Folk/Humppa/Viking Metal and stuff. I took a little break ;)
[Seb] HEIDEVOLK, was the band that left the dainty femaleness sighing and longing in front of the stage (except for Dajana) ;) I do understand that a festival also must/should have bands for the girls and technically, it wasn't that bad – you just have to like that fuss, clapping hands, pathos and male choirs etc. Or have a strong resistance against cringe.
[Dajana] Ey, there already were girly bands at PSOA22! Cannibal Corpse the previous day for example! Ok, maybe Alcest too...
[Seb] To me, the show was rather a musical prompt to go and have a beer. Far away from the stage. The announcement that HEIDEVOLK played the first time in 11 years at PSOA is a frequency that should become standard.
:: pics :: UADA ::
[Öko] What boon for eyes and ears! On the heels :: UADA :: followed. I have seen them several times and know about their live qualities. And they didn’t disappoint. Much the opposite. Despite the blistering sun, the Portland based black metallers managed to create a sinister and cold atmosphere. The stage was, as usual, bathed in white lights and filled with massive smoke. The hooded men played a great set spanning all three records, whereas I liked the tracks from slightly different Djinn album most.
[BRT] I have to admit, I first cold-shouldered Djinn due to its description and because the sophomore was a lukewarm remix of the debut. Well, I gave Djinn a second chance and was quite surprised, how well UADA developed on this piece. UADA played wild and ferocious and the tracks went down well. Surprisingly great show, indeed. Need to see them again in a club, might turn out even better.
[Seb] UADA is actually one of the bands I discovered first at an earlier PSOA edition and I’m delighted to see that they worked their way up in the running order from a noon band to an (early) evening band. The typical howl of wolves intro fitted so much better in the dusk (next time please, when it is really dark). Of course, as BRT said, newer material doesn’t come close to the debut Devoid Of Light, though, newer material is still distinctive and much better than all the other stuff you get offered in the Black Metal scene these days.
Anyway, the set couldn’t have been better compiled with tracks such as Natus Eclipsim, Devoid Of Light, Cult Of A Dying Sun, Djinn (and Blood, Sand, Ash? – fuck, can’t read my own writings), without playing the debut in its entirety. At their next run at PSOA I wish to see UADA at least as co-headliner for at least an hour!
:: pics :: ASPHYX ::
[Öko] :: ASPHYX :: are somehow for the Death Metal scene like Becks for the beer assortment: nice, tastes ok but doesn’t kicks you out of the socks. You know what you get when frontman Martin van Drunen enters the stage with his mates: an energetic and powerful live show with a lot of good songs. But, perhaps, my lack of enthusiasm results from the fact that I have seen the Dutchies way too often.
[BRT] Whoops, ASPHYX played too? I guess I missed them? Must have been too deep in an interesting conversation. But yeah, they are slightly overexposed.
[Dajana] I agree! I too was like… “sighs” ASPHYX? Really? Again? But couldn’t help myself but rock the pit with them ;) And it was a hell of fun! Again.
[Seb] To me, ASPHYX would have been more interesting at PSOA, if I hadn’t seen them filling in at Rock Hard Festival a few weeks ago. On the other hand: too much ASPHYX is still better than no music!
As always, Martin was in best mood and, of course, told the crowd that the PSOA (2007) was the sacred place of the ASPHYX reincarnation. They feel home here and he couldn't help himself to lash out towards Amon Amarth (The Crusher) and Sabaton, was railing against Putin and all other assholes. ASPHYX played music too. Next to songs from their current album Necroceros like Scorbutics, The Rack, Deathhammer and the closer Last One On Earth, they also had many goodies for old school death metal lovers. In short: A show as solid as a steam roller, as solid as always.
After I have seen so many ASPHYX shows, the only thing I will remember from this one is the „In Hell I'll Be In Good Company“ by The Dead South as the outro.
:: pics :: KATATONIA ::
[Öko] Now we got another highlight of the PSOA 2022 delivered. Shortly before :: KATATONIA :: entered the stage, two of my fellows told me negative things about the live qualities of the Swedes. I’ve never seen KATATONIA live before but I like their records. Luckily, it was not proven true at any time, as I experienced an excellent show! The band was in best mood and displayed much fun and delight in performing live. Good to see my companions belied.
[Dajana] Yes, you are absolutely right Öko! We were wrong and the show tonight was stunning! But yes, I also experienced bad KATATONIA shows, even here at PSOA.
[BRT] Another highlight… yes. One, I didn't expect. Yes, KATATONIA seemed to have fun (!) and they indeed rocked the stage, if you can say so. Most of their material might sound similar but the Swedes at least forgone kitsch and thus avoided a belly flopper like Tiamat and Paradise Lost did at PSOA. I'm surely not a pro when it comes to KATATONIA releases, but the tracks sounded like a good summery of their later work. Early material was however excluded.
[Seb] As background music for the last round at the Whisky pub, it was quite ok. But, as singer Jonas Renkse told himself: "We used to be a death metal band…" This is too much simple past for my taste.
:: pics :: CARCASS ::
[Öko] Last but not least, we made it to the headliner of day two. Though, somehow, I don't get anything in mind what wasn't already told or written 100 times about :: CARCASS ::. It was a professional show, much as you would like to expect from them. A great final of a strong festival day!
[BRT] Well, I'd say, a solid show… I almost missed Exhume To Consume, damn. The rest of the set was rather like serving customers. But in a good way. Though, I stick to it: The reunion is nice yet not mandatory.
[Dajana] Sorry, I'm a fan girl. CARCASS is always welcome and always great! That's it!
[Seb] Due to the bus shuttle disaster I only could see two third of the set. During their last visit, I had the feeling that CARCASS focused too much on stage acting and frippery. This time they pretty much played straight forward. No frills and furbelows but hammering riffs here or thrashy galloping riffs there, crushing and squealing guitars and the distinct "singing" of Bill and Jeff. Nothing more needed for a successful headliner.
What pissed me off was the situation with the shuttle bus. Because it forced me to choose between two options: to see the full CARCASS show and to wait till the morning to get a bus or to miss the final hits such as Tools Of The Trade, Corporal Jigsore Quandary and dead certainly Heartwork. I'll eat my hat if they didn't play one of those right after I left…
[Dajana] Oh yes, they did play them… ;)
|
