Post by markwj on Aug 26, 2010 22:25:28 GMT
Bloodstock
Catton Hall, Derby
13-15/8/10
The addiction deepens, the slopes become slippier, the physical deterioration increases. I thought Senor Crud’s multiple festival efforts last year were impressive but now my annual dose of Hellfest seemingly is not enough to satisfy my cravings for aural debauchery so I took my first shot of Bloodstock too. In its’ 10th anniversary year but really this was the first time my attention was grabbed enough by its shift/spread to the more extreme end of the metal spectrum where my taste largely lies, as it had started of as a much more traditional heavy metal/ hard rock festival. From it’s indoor origins it has now grown to something resembling a Euro festival, although with only 12,000 there it is still of an appealingly manageable and sociable size.
After a Wednesday night warmup a minibus load of us headed off from Llandudno to the Midlands early on the Thursday. Very easy to get dropped off and in to set up tents early on, only just in time as blackened skies approached with a corresponding human roar across the field as a wave of downpour hit. What have we ever done to offend you, God? Still even though we had drizzle among the scorchio in France this year the persistence of this threatened to put a dampener on things, restricting everyone to their tents apart from various mad men striding around stripped to their pants and boots. Fortunately things improved sufficiently for us to get into the arena for the early evening and the practice boozing sesh with a couple of bands on to whet our appetites in the main tent stage, now named the Sophie Lancaster stage. Hospital of Death were pretty straightforward in their metal approach, I would have expected something a bit thrashier but their half cover of “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” to close was much enjoyed. Veterans Desecration started the set in Dirty Sanchez mode with one of their Valleys mates performing a nude human sculpture on stage and they maintained good banter throughout their battering stripped down blasts, though the sound (especially the vocals) was not the best. As they themselves said they couldn’t get to play here a few years back as the organisers reckoned they’d never seen more than 50 at a death metal show so were undoubtedly chuffed as the rest of the 1000 watching them that perceptions had shifted enough.
No rush to start the next day enabled the medicinal Jager breakfast to be taken in a leisurely fashion before heading in to visit the Unsigned Stage. The smallest tent but still holding a few hundred, a lot of the bands here had actually won through regional heats to play here (Merciless Savage having fallen at the first hurdle unfortunately) and Lordaeron were the local winners from Derby, pretty good awakener with their melodic brutality, blazing speed and effective breakdowns. Morgue Orgy next seen here didn’t quite fulfil what I might have expected from their name, being much more technically orientated than just a straightforward death approach. Finally to the Main open air stage (now permanently monikered “The Ronnie James Dio Stage”) after lunch for a run of bands stating with the folky orientated metal of Finns Ensiferum. I got their “Iron” album as a freebie a few years back and its’ thundering rhythms were very catchy, something they manage to get across well live too, only occasionally straying into “jig” territory but that’s accepted with a smile anyway. Cathedral had been drafted in as a last minute replacement for the leukaemia hospitalised Behemoth but for all their well practised groovy 70’s metal and proggy experimentalism and Lee Dorrian’s charismatic fronting they were ultimately a disappointment especially with a lack of any of their ultra-doom earliest numbers. But perhaps in comparison to blistering Polish blackened death they were always onto a loser with a capital “L” for some of us. Rapid consolation was to be found in the extremity of Norwegian exponents of trve black metal, Gorgoroth, next. While they are so entrenched in the traditions that there could be accusations of generic I found the sound powerful and effective, but as with the experience of Immortal and others at Hellfest do wonder sometimes if this dark atmospheric art is suited to bright open air and not some dingy club. A bit of a break in the proceedings for me to then come back and sample some Meshuggah. Their technical approach to contemporary experimental metal is lauded by many and they seemed to get a worthy response but I found it too cold, soulless and drawn out to raise much interest, much as it had observed in passing in France. Finally, someone else who had severely bored me at Hammerfest and yet remain endeared to many for their heavy prog atmospherics, Opeth. Or Opeth Schmopeth as I refer to them in the face of this bewildering hype. Under the duress of giving them the time of day tonight I had to admit they were more engaging at times, but that was only due to the degrees of heaviness they hit amongst the meandering mainstay of their material. Still it was enough for starters and completed Friday
After an earlier meeting and prior knowledge of their stuff headed in at midday on the Saturday for Achren from Glasgow, another unsigned winner. Their thrashy death was a bit more straightforward that I was expecting but still entertaining in its own right. Out to catch the end of new school UK thrashers Evile on the main stage, again it’s not particularly outstanding but closer “Enter the Grave” at least has some real balls to it. This lead neatly on to old school UK thrashers Onslaught who I’d seen a couple of times in recent years, but I found the “new” vocalist has a tendency to rock out to much with his singing style, which put me off a bit. Their great closer “Power from Hell” is extended to unheard of levels so gives me joy in that respect anyway. A vocalist not known for his rocking out, rather for retching from the depths of hell, John Tardy fronts an Obituary on fine form, delivering their legendary sludgy death as ever with relentless consistency. I’d happily pay to watch Trevor Peres just jam on guitar as he is a riffmeister with an unholy filthy sound, and the treats of “Chopped in Half/Turned Inside Out” medley inspire a brief surf from me and along with closer “Slowly we Rot” makes this the highlight of the event so far. I gave the Finn’s Amorphis a chance next expecting some interest in their version of progressive death but they seemed to have strayed far to far with melody and keyboards overriding everything and leaving me feeling, well, disturbed. So Devin Townsend was the next option and despite skipping him at Hellfest he delivered pretty much what was expected here. That is to say a somewhat lighter version of his classic Strapping Young Lad era heavy thrash material, with lots of progressive and melodic interludes. Still a consummate self-depreciating entertainer of a frontman, the “Canadian Wave” he orchestrates is very funny and while it’s not as good as some of the shows I’ve seen in the past it’s far from mediocre too. Upping the ante for intensity back to see Benediction at the Sophie Stage, it amuses me to turn and see a horde approaching this way with similar intent. They do batter through their selection of death, again with imperfect sound, what I enjoy most is a real crust punk core to the rhythms at times. There’s the opportunity to gather at sunset for Fear Factory on the main stage, who reproduce pretty much exactly what I’d seen in France, their industrial metal at it’s strongest when they are celebrating a big portion of their “Demanufacture” album, with it’s great melodic/shouted choruses that the crowd certainly don’t mind helping vocalist Burton with seeing as how his voice is not what it used to be. The final headliner Children of Bodom I avoid altogether, as gothic power metal is not my thing at all, but I guess the eclectic embrace of the festival achieves some balance there. Much more fun to go on the dodgems, where drunk driving is actively encouraged.
So to the Sabbath, and an early entry in time for church service with Old Corpse Road at the Unsigned. Relatively new UK black metal band, they certainly have an ear for the epic and interesting choral singing though some of the vocalists are better than others. The main incentive for raising the dead at this time of the morning though is breakfast (of champions) with Suffocation on the main stage. It is with general disbelief that these brutal death legends are found in this position, to the band themselves too, but they are in good spirits and have a respectful turn out to show appreciation. And it is an absolute treat, the infectious enthusiasm of frontman Frank cracking smiles among the mayhem from everyone. Holy Moses were somewhat of an enigma as apparently they’ve been knocking about in Europe for 30 years but are pretty unknown here. Fair play, the female vocalist may have been responsible for taking things gruff long before the likes of Angela Gossow but their heavy thrash is a bit limp in general. Another German metal lady next, the eponymous Doro, who is a pretty much accepted as the scene MILF in her mid 40’s as she is (and still gorgeous), but instead of being reduced to eye candy her boundless and obvious enthusiasm for the cause warms everyone’s hearts. Her own material and covers like “Breaking the Law” are all definitive metal and there’s very little wrong she can do really. More folk ways next, with Korpiklaani, who actually started in that genre before becoming more metallic and that is quite evident in the bearing and bounce of their tunes. I’d forgotten I’d seen them at one of the Prestatyn festivals before until I spotted the bassist’s fine ‘tache and they remained entertaining in a kind of mad hoedown way. Fair to say there are few madder than Gwar. Over a quarter of a century under their belts, and still the horror show rolls on, with the huge monster costumes and insane stage antics. Underpinning all of it is some quality heavy crossover thrash, but believe me, your life is not complete until you have been jizzed on by Zombie Hitler/Jesus. Though I was slightly disappointed they didn’t have their shit catapult that they’d used to such great effect when they played the Buckley Tiv back in the 90’s, everyone loved this glorious over the top experience. Back to the senses now with Gojira, who I hadn’t given much attention to before but on this sunny afternoon appreciated far more their progressive heaviness, some real emotional content in the shifts through song structures and real bite to their riffs. This led to a second rare chance to see Bloodbath, taken this time after previously choosing Kyuss in preference in a clash with them and another highlight they proved to be. Vicious death from the assembled Scandinavian supergroup, with some subtle and all the more realistic gory facepainting, offset by the hilarity of Mikael Akerfeldt’s deadpan banter from behind his mirrored aviators. Again, they know their fans and closer “Eaten” is met with a mighty roar. The extremity reaches it extreme eventually with another death metal legend Cannibal Corpse, a first for me despite their career of decades (including Jim Carrey films). I remember initially when I heard them I found them just TOO jarring and abrasive and they certainly haven’t let up but in my old age I can take the pace a bit better now. Not that I would attempt to take up the vocalist, George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher’s head windmilling challenge (“You will lose”) but at every level they really push the envelope in the harshest possible terms. Climaxing with “Hammer Smashed Face”, it inspires the biggest circle pit maelstrom of the weekend and is a sick joy to behold. Rest and recuperation (ok, dodgems) for a bit before at least catching the end of the final band of the weekend, Twisted Sister. Again this was the second chance in recent times and it was worth it to say it had been done, as their metal is at least of a heaviness that could be Judas Priest like at times but there are just more “S.M.F.”’s out there than them these days, in my opinion anyway.
In a typical fashion I let my guard down thinking I had survived the festival intact only to undertake a one man wall-of-death levitation type incident at the aftershow party and now my bones are grating again. That said I thoroughly enjoyed the Bloodstock experience, it was well organised and of a good scale, the intermittent appeal of the bands was made up for by having fantastic craic with lots of friends from round the country who had congregated in a similar fashion. They have confirmed their commitment to keeping an extreme range for next year with their main announcement of Immortal and I will more than likely find my way here. After a visit to France of course. And maybe the Czech Republic. Or Maryland.
Catton Hall, Derby
13-15/8/10
The addiction deepens, the slopes become slippier, the physical deterioration increases. I thought Senor Crud’s multiple festival efforts last year were impressive but now my annual dose of Hellfest seemingly is not enough to satisfy my cravings for aural debauchery so I took my first shot of Bloodstock too. In its’ 10th anniversary year but really this was the first time my attention was grabbed enough by its shift/spread to the more extreme end of the metal spectrum where my taste largely lies, as it had started of as a much more traditional heavy metal/ hard rock festival. From it’s indoor origins it has now grown to something resembling a Euro festival, although with only 12,000 there it is still of an appealingly manageable and sociable size.
After a Wednesday night warmup a minibus load of us headed off from Llandudno to the Midlands early on the Thursday. Very easy to get dropped off and in to set up tents early on, only just in time as blackened skies approached with a corresponding human roar across the field as a wave of downpour hit. What have we ever done to offend you, God? Still even though we had drizzle among the scorchio in France this year the persistence of this threatened to put a dampener on things, restricting everyone to their tents apart from various mad men striding around stripped to their pants and boots. Fortunately things improved sufficiently for us to get into the arena for the early evening and the practice boozing sesh with a couple of bands on to whet our appetites in the main tent stage, now named the Sophie Lancaster stage. Hospital of Death were pretty straightforward in their metal approach, I would have expected something a bit thrashier but their half cover of “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” to close was much enjoyed. Veterans Desecration started the set in Dirty Sanchez mode with one of their Valleys mates performing a nude human sculpture on stage and they maintained good banter throughout their battering stripped down blasts, though the sound (especially the vocals) was not the best. As they themselves said they couldn’t get to play here a few years back as the organisers reckoned they’d never seen more than 50 at a death metal show so were undoubtedly chuffed as the rest of the 1000 watching them that perceptions had shifted enough.
No rush to start the next day enabled the medicinal Jager breakfast to be taken in a leisurely fashion before heading in to visit the Unsigned Stage. The smallest tent but still holding a few hundred, a lot of the bands here had actually won through regional heats to play here (Merciless Savage having fallen at the first hurdle unfortunately) and Lordaeron were the local winners from Derby, pretty good awakener with their melodic brutality, blazing speed and effective breakdowns. Morgue Orgy next seen here didn’t quite fulfil what I might have expected from their name, being much more technically orientated than just a straightforward death approach. Finally to the Main open air stage (now permanently monikered “The Ronnie James Dio Stage”) after lunch for a run of bands stating with the folky orientated metal of Finns Ensiferum. I got their “Iron” album as a freebie a few years back and its’ thundering rhythms were very catchy, something they manage to get across well live too, only occasionally straying into “jig” territory but that’s accepted with a smile anyway. Cathedral had been drafted in as a last minute replacement for the leukaemia hospitalised Behemoth but for all their well practised groovy 70’s metal and proggy experimentalism and Lee Dorrian’s charismatic fronting they were ultimately a disappointment especially with a lack of any of their ultra-doom earliest numbers. But perhaps in comparison to blistering Polish blackened death they were always onto a loser with a capital “L” for some of us. Rapid consolation was to be found in the extremity of Norwegian exponents of trve black metal, Gorgoroth, next. While they are so entrenched in the traditions that there could be accusations of generic I found the sound powerful and effective, but as with the experience of Immortal and others at Hellfest do wonder sometimes if this dark atmospheric art is suited to bright open air and not some dingy club. A bit of a break in the proceedings for me to then come back and sample some Meshuggah. Their technical approach to contemporary experimental metal is lauded by many and they seemed to get a worthy response but I found it too cold, soulless and drawn out to raise much interest, much as it had observed in passing in France. Finally, someone else who had severely bored me at Hammerfest and yet remain endeared to many for their heavy prog atmospherics, Opeth. Or Opeth Schmopeth as I refer to them in the face of this bewildering hype. Under the duress of giving them the time of day tonight I had to admit they were more engaging at times, but that was only due to the degrees of heaviness they hit amongst the meandering mainstay of their material. Still it was enough for starters and completed Friday
After an earlier meeting and prior knowledge of their stuff headed in at midday on the Saturday for Achren from Glasgow, another unsigned winner. Their thrashy death was a bit more straightforward that I was expecting but still entertaining in its own right. Out to catch the end of new school UK thrashers Evile on the main stage, again it’s not particularly outstanding but closer “Enter the Grave” at least has some real balls to it. This lead neatly on to old school UK thrashers Onslaught who I’d seen a couple of times in recent years, but I found the “new” vocalist has a tendency to rock out to much with his singing style, which put me off a bit. Their great closer “Power from Hell” is extended to unheard of levels so gives me joy in that respect anyway. A vocalist not known for his rocking out, rather for retching from the depths of hell, John Tardy fronts an Obituary on fine form, delivering their legendary sludgy death as ever with relentless consistency. I’d happily pay to watch Trevor Peres just jam on guitar as he is a riffmeister with an unholy filthy sound, and the treats of “Chopped in Half/Turned Inside Out” medley inspire a brief surf from me and along with closer “Slowly we Rot” makes this the highlight of the event so far. I gave the Finn’s Amorphis a chance next expecting some interest in their version of progressive death but they seemed to have strayed far to far with melody and keyboards overriding everything and leaving me feeling, well, disturbed. So Devin Townsend was the next option and despite skipping him at Hellfest he delivered pretty much what was expected here. That is to say a somewhat lighter version of his classic Strapping Young Lad era heavy thrash material, with lots of progressive and melodic interludes. Still a consummate self-depreciating entertainer of a frontman, the “Canadian Wave” he orchestrates is very funny and while it’s not as good as some of the shows I’ve seen in the past it’s far from mediocre too. Upping the ante for intensity back to see Benediction at the Sophie Stage, it amuses me to turn and see a horde approaching this way with similar intent. They do batter through their selection of death, again with imperfect sound, what I enjoy most is a real crust punk core to the rhythms at times. There’s the opportunity to gather at sunset for Fear Factory on the main stage, who reproduce pretty much exactly what I’d seen in France, their industrial metal at it’s strongest when they are celebrating a big portion of their “Demanufacture” album, with it’s great melodic/shouted choruses that the crowd certainly don’t mind helping vocalist Burton with seeing as how his voice is not what it used to be. The final headliner Children of Bodom I avoid altogether, as gothic power metal is not my thing at all, but I guess the eclectic embrace of the festival achieves some balance there. Much more fun to go on the dodgems, where drunk driving is actively encouraged.
So to the Sabbath, and an early entry in time for church service with Old Corpse Road at the Unsigned. Relatively new UK black metal band, they certainly have an ear for the epic and interesting choral singing though some of the vocalists are better than others. The main incentive for raising the dead at this time of the morning though is breakfast (of champions) with Suffocation on the main stage. It is with general disbelief that these brutal death legends are found in this position, to the band themselves too, but they are in good spirits and have a respectful turn out to show appreciation. And it is an absolute treat, the infectious enthusiasm of frontman Frank cracking smiles among the mayhem from everyone. Holy Moses were somewhat of an enigma as apparently they’ve been knocking about in Europe for 30 years but are pretty unknown here. Fair play, the female vocalist may have been responsible for taking things gruff long before the likes of Angela Gossow but their heavy thrash is a bit limp in general. Another German metal lady next, the eponymous Doro, who is a pretty much accepted as the scene MILF in her mid 40’s as she is (and still gorgeous), but instead of being reduced to eye candy her boundless and obvious enthusiasm for the cause warms everyone’s hearts. Her own material and covers like “Breaking the Law” are all definitive metal and there’s very little wrong she can do really. More folk ways next, with Korpiklaani, who actually started in that genre before becoming more metallic and that is quite evident in the bearing and bounce of their tunes. I’d forgotten I’d seen them at one of the Prestatyn festivals before until I spotted the bassist’s fine ‘tache and they remained entertaining in a kind of mad hoedown way. Fair to say there are few madder than Gwar. Over a quarter of a century under their belts, and still the horror show rolls on, with the huge monster costumes and insane stage antics. Underpinning all of it is some quality heavy crossover thrash, but believe me, your life is not complete until you have been jizzed on by Zombie Hitler/Jesus. Though I was slightly disappointed they didn’t have their shit catapult that they’d used to such great effect when they played the Buckley Tiv back in the 90’s, everyone loved this glorious over the top experience. Back to the senses now with Gojira, who I hadn’t given much attention to before but on this sunny afternoon appreciated far more their progressive heaviness, some real emotional content in the shifts through song structures and real bite to their riffs. This led to a second rare chance to see Bloodbath, taken this time after previously choosing Kyuss in preference in a clash with them and another highlight they proved to be. Vicious death from the assembled Scandinavian supergroup, with some subtle and all the more realistic gory facepainting, offset by the hilarity of Mikael Akerfeldt’s deadpan banter from behind his mirrored aviators. Again, they know their fans and closer “Eaten” is met with a mighty roar. The extremity reaches it extreme eventually with another death metal legend Cannibal Corpse, a first for me despite their career of decades (including Jim Carrey films). I remember initially when I heard them I found them just TOO jarring and abrasive and they certainly haven’t let up but in my old age I can take the pace a bit better now. Not that I would attempt to take up the vocalist, George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher’s head windmilling challenge (“You will lose”) but at every level they really push the envelope in the harshest possible terms. Climaxing with “Hammer Smashed Face”, it inspires the biggest circle pit maelstrom of the weekend and is a sick joy to behold. Rest and recuperation (ok, dodgems) for a bit before at least catching the end of the final band of the weekend, Twisted Sister. Again this was the second chance in recent times and it was worth it to say it had been done, as their metal is at least of a heaviness that could be Judas Priest like at times but there are just more “S.M.F.”’s out there than them these days, in my opinion anyway.
In a typical fashion I let my guard down thinking I had survived the festival intact only to undertake a one man wall-of-death levitation type incident at the aftershow party and now my bones are grating again. That said I thoroughly enjoyed the Bloodstock experience, it was well organised and of a good scale, the intermittent appeal of the bands was made up for by having fantastic craic with lots of friends from round the country who had congregated in a similar fashion. They have confirmed their commitment to keeping an extreme range for next year with their main announcement of Immortal and I will more than likely find my way here. After a visit to France of course. And maybe the Czech Republic. Or Maryland.