[Psycho] Here we are at the last day of the ROCK HARD FESTIVAL and we once again arrived very early. This time it should have worked for us. But… well. No way! Security procedures once again got strengthened. After the (alleged) terror affair at Rock am Ring on Friday, now another attack in London, which also took effect on RHF. I fully understand that the safety comes first, but I have no understanding when the bag-check gets done by only one security person, while other colleagues stood next with nothing to do. This could have been organized way better! If that kind of controls and checks become standard, then the current organization should be reworked.
[Psycho] The situation at the entry was like a Déjà-vu. You remember the Friday? You arrive early, the first band starts to play and you’re not there. What I was listening to while queuing was really good, but well… It’s no use…
[BRT] To set:: NIGHT DEMON :: on the opening position was a clever move. The guys have freshly released a fantastic album called Darkness Remains and besides, are pretty hip. Correspondingly, the rush was even bigger than the previous days. NIGHT DEMON didn’t waste any time and got off as rapid as possible. They didn’t allow a moment to breath and threw one hit after another into the crowd. Live, this band is a force!
[Dajana] I also had difficulties to get in as the gates opened almost an hour later, minutes prior the first band. Luckily, the security allowed the photographers to get in faster. Made it! Thank you for that. And yes, the scenery we experienced the other days got repeated: a young band, brimming of energy and an overwhelming delight in play with strong material. Awesome!
Setlist: Intro, A Bridge To Far, Carry On, Fatal Attack, Crusaders, Olympus, Imhotep (The High Priest), Lionheart, Rock The Night
[Psycho] I never heard of :: BLOOD CEREMONY :: before, and the description in the program made me, to be honest, distrustful. In real the Canadians emerged to be kind of a Jethro Tull blend on dope. Exactly what I like most… NOT! The band somehow acted insecure, and except for the interesting voice of singer Alia O'Brian nothing left an impression. Irrelevant.
[Sui] As a start, the band name BLOOD CEREMONY hints at some kind of blackish music and not necessarily at Retro Rock, what we actually got. Wonderful transverse flute tunes, which only remembered of Jethro Tull because of the same instrument (Ian Anderson on flute is inimitable), alternate with Black Sabbath riffs and an organ (which Psycho loves so much ;)). All that got wrapped in catchy songs, which are, at times, predictable. I liked it. The keyboard unfortunately cumbered the stage-acting of Alia O’Brien a bit, but altogether, the show wasn’t any worse than the one of the Blues Pills.
[BRT] So far I always missed BLOOD CEREMONY. Thank you ROCK HARD FESTIVAL for helping out. For the clichéd drawer “occult rock”, this band always was too good yet lacked of the final punch to take off. Their blend of 70s Rock with Jethro Tull and Black Sabbath leanings kept the crowd on their toes, even if their performance was a little bit reserved. As for that the songs sounded more powerful than on their records. Keyboards and flute anyway add a special note to their music. I liked it too. But members of the “mimimi-I-don’t-like-70s-music” quickly scrammed.
Setlist: Old Fires, Goodbye Gemini, Drawing Down The Moon, Half Moon Street, Lord Of Misrule, I’m Coming With You, The Magician
[Psycho] I was looking forward to :: SECRETS OF THE MOON ::. Since their beginning, this band permanently develops and transforms itself and always remains thrilling. And the last shows I have seen were great experiences. But daylight is poison for this kind of music. Additionally, it seemed the band mainly dealt with themselves in the beginning, which caused restrained response by the audience. It got better towards the end of the set and the ice got broken with Lucifer Speaks, which was the last song and the show over.
[Sui] Yes, daylight isn’t beneficial to SECRETS OF THE MOON’s atmospheric music. And the bad sound was even less beneficial. They convinced me most at their doomy moments. Besides, too much shreds, too little true riffs.
[BRT] Hmmm. Since SECRETS OF THE MOON have released such a great record with Sun, it doesn’t work with their live shows anymore. The band acts awfully introverted, aloof, and even arrogant on stage. And that I do not notice the first time. At least, the unfriendly appearance got outweighed by a better musical performance. But yes, this band is better placed in a club. Promotion for their own it repeatedly was not. What’s the problem guys?
[Dajana] Oh dear. It’s no secret that I like SECRETS OF THE MOON a lot. But I agree with BRT, since Sun it doesn’t work properly with their live shows anymore. Often it is due to outer circumstances like arriving too late to the shows (traffics) and thus stress, hecticness, bad sound (short sound-checks, if at all) and technical problems on stage. Also here I had the feeling that SOTM directly stumbled from the highway onto stage. There was no backdrop, no stand-ups and other usual paraphernalia (joss sticks only). On the other hand, it was great to see Daevas back in the band and he obviously enjoyed it. I saw a hint of a smile on his face ;) Great band, great music, average show.
Setlist: No More Colours, Dirty Black, Nemesis, Hole, Man Behind The Sun, Lucifer Speaks
[Psycho] Since I needed some food after all the beer I was off…
[Sui] :: DEMON :: is a band that did not finish on a high note and thus goes on and on and on, till one after another leaves the band for what reasons ever. And they know the boat will go down one day, but it doesn’t bar them from paddling. The veterans of NWOBHM aged, and so are their songs, mostly. Though, their straight metal is still a pleasure at a festival. A bit you notice why they never made it to the top of this genre. The songs enthuse as long as you hear them; as soon as the last tone is gone they are all forgotten.
[BRT] DEMON have released a vast amount of hits I like to listen to always again. The gentlemen around founding member Dave Hill got off the grid quickly shot a few hits from the hip… then everything was blown out. Too much swing and sway, too bloodless and trivial. It wasn’t the first time it happened during their show. But before the boat goes down they made it with Life On The Wire and the matchless Don't Break The Circle. It’s a fact that newer material, from 1991 on, can’t match with the classics before. And that’s exactly what the fans want to hear. Doesn’t wonder any bit…
Setlist: Night Of The Demon, Into The Nightmare, Sign Of A Madman, Standing On The Edge Of The World, Cemetery Junction, Liar, Life On The Wire, Don't Break The Circle
[Psycho] Shortly after my refreshment I imposed a baleful burden on myself: One hour of Manowar songs without a break. Those, who know me, know what terrible burden that is. But it is essential to find out myself, if I hate Manowar because they are abysmally embarrassing or because their music is shit. The former guitarist of the leather thongs :: ROSS THE BOSS :: was at least acceptably clothed. All songs got sang along by the big crowd but I still found them frighteningly simple and mediocre at best. Additionally, new singer Marc Lopes had some difficulties to reach the highs. I was thankful for my earplugs and the end of the set. Done. No new try needed till the end of my life.
[Sui] When I learned a few months ago that the highly acclaimed singer of ROSS THE BOSS (praised as the reborn Eric Adams, who actually isn’t dead yet), was out and replaced by Marc Lopes, I was skeptical. Because a good voice and singing is half the battle at old Manowar classics. The bass shredding of Joey deKetchup or Joey’s Pizza or however this overrated silly ass is called isn’t as essential for the music as he thinks it is. And the Manowar cover band with one original member is suffering from the singer. Marc Lopes isn’t bad, yet not good enough. Ross himself became pretty padded around his hips so that leather thong and suspenders were no option. It were the songs itself that made show. The crowd freaked out at all these hits and partly even took over singing. From an artistic point of view, it was ok. But there was an entertaining moment. Don’t need it again.
[BRT] Wow, the Amphitheater was really packed and crowded when ROSS THE BOSS entered the stage. A bit surprising as it was just loosely filled at the Turock a few weeks ago. Back then the show was great, although I’m not the Manowar fan. Sure, they only played the hits at RHF, it was entertaining but that’s that. Marc Lopes is a likeable singer, but yes, he often reached his limits vocal-wise.
Setlist: Blood Of The Kings, Death Tone, The Oath, Blood Of My Enemies, Kill With Power, Thor (The Powerhead), Sign Of The Hammer, Fighting The World, Metal Daze, Battle Hymn, Hail And Kill
Psycho] After this sing-along interlude :: FATES WARNING :: would have a hard time as their songs demand more of attentive listening than party. During my Prog phase end of 80s till mid-90s, FATES WARNING was one of my favorite bands. Afterwards I lost sight of them and so I was much looking forward to this show. Luckily, the guys around Jim Mattheos weren’t impressed at all and presented themselves with much delight in playing and very open-minded. Their obvious technical skills never acted aloof but beneficial to the songs. More and more people came down to and got caught by a top-notch performance and a great atmosphere. To me it was a great counterpoint to most of the other acts of the festival and a convincing show. Need to listen to some newer material.
[Sui] After that… erm… Manowar-bawl-along now the complete contrast: Music to listen to and to enjoy. And this at a meanwhile notorious bad sound, which, who wonders, abruptly changed to the better. Intro and the first song were rather reserved, but then the gentlemen around Jim Mattheos did their magic. I personally like singer Ray Alder even more than John Arch as his voice gets slightly on nerves. Here and now everything worked fine, fitted perfectly and the complex songs unfold their magic. That a Prog band, of all things, got me out of my Sunday coma, I didn’t expect. But the band demands concentration while listening. The first of 3 headliners, well-deserved.
[BRT] Boah, I’m still blown away… To me, FATES WARMING was this one outstanding band of the ROCK HARD FESTIVAL. The band has not only released a stunning “late work” with Theories Of Flight but also plays always again much impressing and amazing club shows. For a Prog band they never play too tricky and overly-intellectual, and even reached hit potential. Just listen to a song like Seven Stars. Additionally, the guys are much charismatic, down-to-earth and likeable. And they know whom they have to thank for their success. The fans honored and rewarded that properly and made the uncomfortable stage time between two has-b… dinos quickly forgotten. Impressing, really impressing.
P.S. Ray Alder is such an amazing singer; he doesn’t deserve to be put in the shadows of John Arch anymore.
P.P.S. The coolest dude on this planet was, is and always will be: Joey Vera!
[Dajana] To make it short: I love this band! To me THE highlight of the festival and the headliner of hearts ♥
Setlist: From The Rooftops, Life In Still Water, One, A Pleasant Shade Of Gray Part III (There’s A Cloud Above Us), Seven Stars, SOS, Firefly, The Light And Shade Of Things, Aquiescence, The Eleventh Hour, Point Of View, Monument
[Psycho] As measured by the audience’s response, :: DIRKSCHNEIDER :: was the headliner of the festival, and probably of the last years. At no other band of the ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2017 was it so full, so packed and crowded in the Amphitheater. And at no other band the songs were sung along so enthusiastic and so full-throated. No wonder, Udo DIRKSCHNEIDER presented such a great selection of immortal metal classics, even the missing of Fast As A Shark does not carry weight. And finally we got some powerful and well-balanced sound. In addition we got a band playing straight to the point and a band leader at the age of 65, who still sounds as raspy and rough-edged as in his heydays. Every minute of the show was a pleasure, even if there wasn’t much movement on stage. It just caused goose bumps when 7000 fans sang along all those classics we grew up with. There is just one question left: Why didn’t DIRKSCHNEIDER play a headliner show? Clear case of bad planning.
[Sui] You can always rely on Udo. The Solingen-based steel worker DIRKSCHNEIDER is a metal head with heart and soul. And if you can fall back on such an amount of great songs you have already won. With this buzz sawing voice, super tight playing band and meanwhile really powerful sound, Ross The Boss appeared to be rather lukewarm. All songs were sung along enthusiastically, the crowd stood on the galleries and some have surely experienced more than goose bump moments. By the way, they have played Fast As A Shark (Psycho: yeah, I’m getting old, can’t keep everything in mind anymore), but they unfortunately didn’t play Burning. I’m sure, if DIRKSCHNEIDER would have played as headliner, the arena would have full till the last minute. I’m really happy that I could have seen this show. DIRKSCHNEIDER is a big one in the scene and he has once again proven it impressively.
[BRT] After the best band of the festival, I needed a break. Well, I know the metal inquisition is getting the knifes out, but that’s the way it is. 2, 3 songs I saw, was quite good. DIRKSCHNEIDER as the headliner on Friday would have been the better choice.
Setlist: (all Accept) Starlight, Living For Tonite, Flash Rockin' Man, London Leatherboys, Midnight Mover, Breaker, Princess Of The Dawn, Restless And Wild, Son Of A Bitch, Up To The Limit, Screaming For A Love-Bite, Losers And Winners, Metal Heart, Fast As A Shark, Balls To The Wall
[Psycho] It’s mean to get on stage after such performance, as Mikael Åkerfeldt directly stated with his first announcement. But with his humor, as dry as bone, he immediately scored again; especially his text analysis of Napalm Death’s You Suffer didn’t leave a dry eye. Musically, :: OPETH :: are beyond any doubt. In this band the best musicians of the whole metal genre play. OPETH offered a good selection through the band’s history, considering almost all creative periods and played them, as usual, in a mad precision. Also newer material, which doesn’t appeal to me that much, work better live that way. Let me name Cusp Of Eternity, which I liked a lot. And though, OPETH couldn’t break this year’s headliner curse either. The amount of fans decreased significantly, mood and response was rather reserved. I don’t know if that was the reason to end the set 10 minutes earlier, one encore anyway, would have been nice.
[Sui] It couldn’t have been a more invidious task than to be the headliner after Dirkschneider. Especially, when you play artistically challenging music like OPETH that demands concentration. Many fans were exhausted from the weekend and started their homeward journey. So I did too. At least, the show captivated me one hour longer than planned. The Swedes manage to balance Death Metal and Prog Rock confidently, and the easygoing announcements ease seriousness. This made OPETH more a dignified closer than a real headliner.
[BRT] OPETH did not even try to top the every-song-is-a-hit-and-evergreen-set by Dirkschneider. To be the last band of a festival is always like getting the short end of the stick. After three days of an open air festival with heavy drinking and stuff, people are exhausted, tired, fucked up and knackered and thus, receptivity is limited. Mr. Åkerfeldt took it with good nature and this made the OPETH show to a special one again. No matter from which era they played songs, it all sounded great. Outstanding musicians in an outstanding band, that’s it. It’s Prog, complex, elaborated, challenging, but never too tricky and overly intellectual. And OPETH is definitely not humorless, as Prog bands are so often labelled. If we had more singers like Mikael Åkerfeldt, the Prog scene and the rest of the world would have less problems ;) Ok, songs… Well, those, who were scared to get only newer material from latest 70s influenced kind of period, no worries, OPETH played a ragbag of songs from very old up the latest stuff. The set wasn’t homogenous and the songs didn’t match each other, but who cares? OPETH can do so!
[Dajana] Not to forget the interpretation of Napalm Death’s You Suffer. Twice! Yes, many RHF visitors decided to leave before or while OPETH were playing for their trips homewards. Bummer! OPETH would have deserved much more.
Setlist: Through Pain To Heaven Intro), Sorceress, Ghost Of Perdition, You Suffer + You Suffer (Napalm Death), Demon Of The Fall, The Wilde Flowers, In My Time Of Need, Cusp Of Eternity, Heir Apparent, Era, Deliverance
Résumé:
[Psycho] What? It’s already over again? Time flies. This year I even met more friends than in the previous years. The ROCK HARD FESTIVAL was, is and will be a big and cozy metal family party. Daily highlights were, as measured by the crowd’s response, the co-headliner. On Saturday, EXODUS and D-A-D had a fair share on this position. Here the organizers should really think about this for the upcoming editions. As for that, we got really strong opening acts every day, who raised the bar right from the beginning. Only real drawback was the bad sound. It’s bothering that this is problem AGAIN, after it already was seemingly solved. I recommend an in-depth root cause analysis and to take corrective action (if it is in the hands of the organizers). A plus factor was that the organizers stopped removing stage deco and equipment while the band was still playing the last song. There must be respect! This time the RHF organizers did not made any pre-announcement and first band confirmations to the next year’s edition, but we will be there, of course!
[Sui] Again a RHF with unexpected highlights, less downer and no gherkin. What more you want? I agree with Psycho regarding the running order of the headliners. A band like OPETH definitely didn’t deserve to watch more and more people leaving while playing. Not because the music is bad, but because the people are done after three days of festival and want to go home. Unfortunately, I only saw one opener, but there, the RHF crew seemingly had a knack for. The announcements between the bands should be revised. For some I felt ashamed. Apart from that, it was a great festival again and I see no reason not to look forward to 2018 :)
[BRT] It was too short. As usual. How to speak to and drink with all those wonderful people when you already get such great bands and music? It worked, of course, but too little time for everybody and everything. Sure, the running order was debatable, as well as the question if a band was worth a headliner or not. You can't please everybody and not everybody has to like everything. Someone is always nagging. And… there was not enough Black Metal, by the way, and not enough Death Metal…, no Speed Metal, and not enough Power Metal… You know what I mean, just sayin’. To me, musically, CANDLEMASS and FATES WARNING were outstanding. When it comes to entertainment - D-A-D. And I’m looking forward to the next year.
[Dajana] Yes, I agree, the ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2017 was a great one, musically as well as from an organizational point of view. There are only 2 things that bothered me: a) the sound and b) the sheer mass of photographers in the pit. They even had to extend the pit after the first day, because it was too narrow and dangerous with all those people in. There have been the accredited photographers and additional 100+ (rumors say) ones with a purchased photo pass, unfortunately flooding the pit with mobile cameras and small pocket-cams. Etiquettes in the pit? No way! That’s foreign words. Nope, that was NO fun. My highlights, of course, FATES WARNING, CANDLEMASS and THE DEAD DAISIES, as well as ASPHYX, OPETH and D-A-D. Festival surprise was, as already mentioned: THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA.
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