[BRT] German hopefuls :: DUST BOLT :: have already released three full-lengths that got well received by both fans and media. They play classic Bay Area Thrash Metal with a pinch of Teutonen-Thrash.
[Sui] From DUST BOLT I only heard wind-driven sounds waving from afar. Pretty much sounded like asskicking Thrash Metal with a touch of Hardcore in the vocals. Damn…
[Psycho] So far, I can agree. What about screens at the entry?
[BRT] Yeah, seems I was a bit faster. Under a blazing sun I took place in the Amphitheater, witnessed a killing Thrash attack… and got heavily sunburnt. DUST BOLT put the pedal to the metal and shot their songs with pure energy and raw power into the arena, which is, for the opening track at the first festival day, already properly filled. An award for originality they won’t win, but who cares. The music was neck-breaking - and made the followers happy. Great start into this festival weekend!
[Dajana] Agreed! This is the new generation of Thrash Metal. The youngsters started with overwhelming energy and drive, from the first till the last tone and left nothing but scorched earth. That was pure fun! What a kick-off!
Setlist: Sick X Brain, Violent Abolition, Awake The Riot - The Final War, Soul Erazer, Toxic Attack, Agent Thrash, Mind The Gap
[BRT] :: ROBERT PEHRSSON`S HUMBUCKER :: draws his reputation from various Swedish metal bands such as Runemagick, Thunder Express, Death Breath, Dundertåget, Imperial State Electric, Slingblade and Dagger. And also his two solo releases were well received. His music might be best described as Thin Lizzy-esque guitar harmonies with tight classic rock hooks. Yes, my expectations were high.
[Sui] ROBERT PEHRSSON’S HUMBUCKER was one of the bands I was especially looking forward. A highly acclaimed insider tip of classic Rock or high energy Rock was waiting for me… Not! Classic Rock yes, but energy I missed completely. Not only regarding the live performance but also in the songs. Also his reputation as exceptional guitarist was out of the question, at least here during his performance at RHF. Mr. PEHRSSON just noodled standard licks and standard riffs to standard songs with standard solos, where he even muffed every now and then. It wasn’t bad at all, it unfortunately was just completely trivial.
[Psycho] I only knew just one song from this band and wasn’t impressed. So, I had zero expectations and thus were measured up to 100%. No drive, no dynamics, just trivial Hard Rock, and that’s not enough. Unnecessary.
[BRT] Same here. ROBERT PEHRSSON’S HUMBUCKER did not deliver. Their songs were played without power and charisma. Just very lame. No doubt, they have a knack for melodies and refrains. But to transfer that into a likewise great live performance did not work on this afternoon. Unfortunately a boring show.
Setlist: Traveling Through The Dark, The Hollow In A Rising Tone, Distant Bound, Wasted Time, Zero Emotion, The Somber Sleeps, Haunt My Mind, Serious, Pretender, Send Her My Love, Who Else Is On Your Mind
[BRT] Duos seem to be hip these days. There are quite a few around in the metal scene, Bölzer for example, and :: MANTAR ::. The Hamburg-based guys have released two critically acclaimed records and also have a excellent reputation as a highly energetic live band. The question is just… will it work on a huge open air stage or is MANTAR a band that works best in a cosy club?
[Sui] In my (scatchy) awareness MANTAR somehow seem to be the German extreme metal band of moment. It’s difficult to categorize them musically. They range anywhere between Doom, Black and Death with a certain Punk attitude. What’s eye-catching is that this band is a duo. Seems to happen more often these days, but hardly ever with such uncompromising heaviness. The intensity of the band’s noise was impressing. I, as a bass player, of course missed something, although the deep frequencies - thanks to modern technology - were massively measured, with the aid of smart amp and effect setups. The songs truly kicked ass as drummer and guitarist were perfectly attuned. Though, the instrumental limitation took its effect after a few songs. There is not that much variety in the songs and thus not so much got stuck in mind. Solos, hooklines or different leads – far from it. I was thrilled for 20 minutes, although following songs weren’t any worse.
[Psycho] MANTAR are indeed the shooting stars in the German scene. I never saw them live, so I was excited and curious, how they would fill the big stage and solve natural sound and songwriting problems. However, MANTAR shot off like greased lightning. Lots of action. Connected amps crumbles everything soundwise and the band’s announcements were on a level of Kreator’s Mille. No wonder that MANTAR went down pretty well, especially since they have some good material too. In the long run anyway it’s a bit too one-dimensional.
[BRT] In a club, MANTAR wreck everything and their brand of heavy Sludge-Black-Doom-Punk catches the spirit of the days. That’s how I would explain their riding on a wave of success. That they are just two doesn’t really matter. MANTAR kick ass and deliver pure aggression. But yes, in the length of time it becomes a bit one-dimensional, even if guitarist Hanno uses an array of effects to design the band’s killing sound more diversified.
Setlist: Cult Witness, Praise The Plague, Into The Golden Abyss, Spit, Cross The Cross, Pest Crusade, Astral Kannibal, The Huntsmen, Era Borealis, White Nights
[Psycho] Contrasts – the next chapter. Hard/Heavy Rock as its best. :: DEAD DAISIES :: consist of completely of old, experienced veterans and know what they do and how they have to deliver. It’s nothing I would like to listen to back home but their music is definitely a guarantor to get into high spirits, provided with a crispy sound. In this matter, the program (with pretty old pictures) did not promise too much.
[Sui] John Corabi was once the singer of the one musically serious Mötley Crüe album. Today he fronts the all-star-sidekick-band THE DEAD DAISIES, who - in contrast to Robert Pehrsson’s Humbucker - acted bloody lively (Couldn’t have said it any better – Dajana). Professionally but also passionately played old school Hard Rock immediately spread a good mood. The band was perfectly attuned and that half of the songs were cover versions didn’t bother either. Original they surely were not but utmost entertaining.
[BRT] Hmmm, seems they just passed me by, or I passed them. However. What I realized was solid but predictable.
Setlist: Long Way to Go, Mexico, Make Some Noise, Fortunate Son (Creedence Clearwater Revival cover), Last Time I Saw The Sun, Join Together (The Who cover), (Drum Solo), With You And I, Mainline, Helter Skelter (The Beatles cover), We're An American Band (Grand Funk Railroad cover), Midnight Moses (The Sensational Alex Harvey Band cover)
[Psycho] The day passed by quickly. A cheers for variety. And we are already in for the highlight of the day: :: CANDLEMASS ::. I wouldn’t have expected that prior the show but the Swedes presented themselves in best shape and mood and offered a best-of set, focusing on the Nightfall album. But the biggest cookie was my (secret) favorite singer Mats Levén, who just did an awesome job. Even the classics that seemed to be taylor-made for Messiah Marcolin, Mats Levén performed brilliantly. What more you can expect? However, the fans, well deserved, frenetically celebrated CANDLEMASS. I just hope that this line-up will last as long as possible.
[Sui] During their first heydays, CANDLEMASS were not really on my radar. I was a Thrash Metal fan back than and can’t deliver more excuses right now ;) I understand it was a mistake. Also the current line-up spread a Doom charisma as its best. The band’s heydays ain’t over yet!
[BRT] CANDLEMASS - my highlight of the day! I didn’t follow them regularly the last couple of years but the first 3 (or 4) albums are a must-have! And now they played all the great songs from those records (ecept for the opener). How fucking awesome! The band visibly had pure fun on stage, played with much delight and delivered one classic after another. Mats Levén did a great job, no doubt, but he though lacks a bit of the charisma Messiah Marcolin has. It’s nothing to nag about and it didn’t narrow the pleasure of the show any bit. CANDLEMASS was definitely the best band of the day.
[Dajana] Not only of this day…
Setlist: Born In A Tank, Bewitched, Dark Reflections, Gothic Stone, The Well Of Souls, A Cry From The Crypt, Dark Are The Veils Of Death, Under The Oak, At The Gallows End // Mirror Mirror, Crystal Ball, Solitude
[Sui] Retro Rock the third. The :: BLUES PILLS :: ain’t no debutants to the RHF anymore. Though, their show in 2014 let me doubt they would fill a headliner slot properly. Back then, they had a bit of hard times to convince over the course of 45 minutes, and now they have to do it the doubled playing time? After a boring intro they went on restrained. Singer Elin Larsson gained a lot of stage presence but the comparison a friend made: “That’s the way Janis Joplin would sound like today”… definitely not! The whole show was too smooth, too perfect, too choreographed, too little Blues in their souls. During the show, the BLUES PILLS gained momentum and had their best moments when they rocked straight ahead. Category: not bad, didn’t do any harm, and quickly forgotten.
[Psycho] Especially the headliner position of the BLUES PILLS on Friday was much discussed. As for me, Dirkschneider would have been the better choice. However, I agree, it’s a subjective opinion. On the contrary to the band’s first RHF show - I, in hindsight, would describe as inconspicuous or restrained - the band now demonstrated a huge self-confidence. A lot of action on stage, an omnipresent (and well-singing) front woman and suiting backdrop visuals draw a harmonious image. Musically it’s still trivial to me, and even gets on nerves. That’s the difference to a band like The Dead Daisies: There material sounds much more timeless. The addition of a key player (better said an organist) didn’t make it any better. But the BLUES PILLS wasn’t the only band that was suffering from shrinking crowd response compared to the co-headliner. So it happened the other days too. As it’s a phenomenon we witnessed during the last years I would like to attest the RHF crew a not so happy choice in the running order.
[BRT] I have seen the BLUES PILLS several times now but they never really caught me. No doubt, Elin Larsson has a wonderful voice and Dorian Sorriaux is an awesome guitarist, but in my opinion, the band doesn’t live up expectations and massive advanced praise, either on CD or live on stage. As a headliner not the best choice, the BLUE PILLS though delivered a strong show. Ok, the show is focused on Elin, who acted more outgoing, but the rest of the band limited its movement to a radius of a beer coaster. The songs were livelier than on CD and I found the show entertaining. Hmmm, there’s still room left.
Setlist: Lady In Gold, Little Boy Preacher, Black Smoke, Bliss, Bad Talkers, Won't Go Back, Little Sun, Elements And Things (Tony Joe White cover), You Gotta Try, Astralplane, High Class Woman, Ain't No Change, Gone So Long, Somebody To Love (Jefferson Airplane cover), Devil Man
[Psycho] Oops… And there the first festival day is already gone. An entertaining affair, although not all bands were able to convince and a descent sunburn. Therefore, I could even tolerate that I didn’t get any Grevensteiner anymore, although that entailed to drink more Veltins… |
