With Full Force
Since 2003 we had experienced several WFFs under hot conditions, but this year’s edition topped them all, so you could announce it the „Tropical Heat“ – edition which ended up in a thunderstorm including a lightning showdown. Before that the organizers showed their responsibillity by stopping the festival right before the sunday headliner In Flames and giving their visitors advices how to save themselves. Those ones behaved calm as responsible themselves, probably the majority knew to well what could happen after the thunderstorm of 2012. A real example by the orga as by the visitors for how to react on those nowadays increasing climatic obstacles. Besides that the billing was hot as well lead by Parkway Drive, Heaven Shall Burn and the mentioned In Flames showing several inspiring shows of Metal, Hardcore and Punk including exclusive appearances like the last one in Europe of Texas In July.
The prices for drinks got raised (e.g. 0,4 l beer for 3,- €), but still were fair in comparison to other events happening in the same size, the prices for food stayed fair as well. Generally the organization worked well, especially before as while the thunderstorm first stopping as later canceling the sunday headliner as the following Last Supper. On the airfield of Roitzschjora appeared 54 (58 planned) bands on two stages in three days for about 30.000 visitors.
Friday
Main Stage
Destrage The first act on the open air stage was the first attraction to me as well. So I dared myself into the heat to enjoy the innovative Mathcore Crossover sound. The quintet from Milano convinced the little crowd by „Jade’s Place“, „Destroy Create Transform Sublimate“ and the final „Purania“ while the first fan danced completely naked in the first rows.
Suicidal Angels Probably it was the atmosphere in their home country motivating the Greeks to this energetic performance, on the other hand their Old School Thrash sounded much too monotonous. Anyway this band was the first one to initiate a wall of death at this year’s WFF.
Pro-Pain Of course the same criticism of sounding too monotonous could have been made to the following regular WFF-guests. But Gary Meskil and his three comrades showed for another time how to groove by „In For The Kill“, „Un-American“ or „The Shape Of Things To Come“. The still not that much grown fan crowd celebrated the NYHC by jumping.
Fear Factory The Industrial Metal icon from LA enthused as disappointed as well. How that? The push of tracks like „Shock“, „Edgecrusher“, „Linchpin“, „Demanufacture“ or the debut-classic „Martyr“ was incomparable and took care about much action in front of the stage, but all clear vocal passages showed it wasn’t Burton C. Bell’s best day. Anyway, the fans celebrated „Soul Hacker“ from the forthcoming album „Genexus“ and freaked out to the final hit „Replica“.
Terror Next band from Los Angeles, but a completely different style: The Hardcore formation is well-known in Roitzschjora, but this time turned out a bit different. Due to problems with his back shouter Scott Vogel couldn’t do this show, so bassist David Wood dealt with the vocals. And he did well during „Return To Strength“, „Shot Of Reality“, „The Solution“, „You’re Caught“ and the hymn „Keepers Of The Faith“. Nevertheless I’m looking forward to the next time with the original vocalist.
Carcass Even the co-headliner couldn’t play for a filled infield. Besides the heated visitors the parallel show of Die Kassierer and the very specific sound of the Death Grind institution from Liverpool might have been the reasons for this. Jeff Walker entertained by his self-ironic statements, the quartet played tight and „Cadaver Conveyor Pouch System“, „The Granulating Dark Satanic Mills“ and „Heartwork“ caused headbanging action in front of the stage.
Parkway Drive The Metalcore surfer boys showed they’re worth filling a headliner position on such a big festival. From the opener „Wild Eyes“ on they kept the filled infield as themselves moving in circle-pits, etc. to now moderate temperatures. „Idols And Anchors“, „Deliver Me“ and „Karma“ held the atmosphere level supported by several special pyro as confetti effects. The Rage Against Racism cover „Bulls On Parade“ did as well, and the new song „Vice Grip“ from the forthcoming album „Ire“ showed its hit potential. So by „Romance Is Dead“, „Home Is For The Heartless“ and „Carrion“ they finished a jubilated show.
Tent Stage: Hardbowl
Enter Shikari Cool to have the UK-quartet back in Roitzschjora. Their Techno Metal Crossover was party-compatible as it had been eight years before. Unfortunately they mainly concentrated on their new release „The Mindsweep“ from the opener „The Appeal & The Mindsweep I“, „There’s A Price On Your Head“, „The Last Garrison“, „Torn Apart“, „Interlude“ til the final „Anaesthesist“. But the most reactions earned the classic „Mothership“. To pass on the hit „Sorry, Your’re Not A Winner“ was the wrong decision while the performance of the band and especially fronter Rou rocked.
Die Kassierer Every two years it’s time for one hour of complete nonsense in the tent. The Punk heroes from Bochum-Wattenscheid didn’t take themselves for serious and created a mad party. The enthused fans celebrated „Besoffen Sein“, Sex Mit Dem Sozialarbeiter“, „Mein Glied Ist Zu Groß“, „Im Sauerland Kann Man Teleportieren, „Mach Die Titten Frei, Ich Will Wichsen“, „Blumenkohl Am Pillemann“ as fronter Wölfi Wendland did by lifting his pants. And so did later on a fan on stage during a whole song. He could have experienced a rude awakening from the next morning on.
Tent Stage: Knüppelnacht
Belphegor The Austrians were able to welcome numerous fans walking over after the headliner-slot of Parkway Drive. But they didn’t stayed that long because the trivial Black Metal and the pseudo-evil performance didn’t convince them as me.
Master So Paul Speckmann and his comrades had to deal with just a smaller audience they deserve. Their Old School Death Metal animated a few fans to headbang to „Judgement Of Will“, „Slaves To Society“ and „Smile As You’re Told“.
Rotten Sound The Death Grind machine from Finland returned to WFF blasting their fans’ heads of. And suddenly the number of supporters had increased before celebrating „Targets“ and „Sell Your Soul“.
Aura Noir A bit more calm turned out the following appearance. Despite their ineresting as varied Black Thrash Metal the Norwegians had to fight against the exodus of the tired fans after this hot day had been that exhausting.
1349 So their fellow countrymen had the pleasure to perform in front of a few standing as lying spectators. The band did their best, just the fire-breather section of fronter Ravn seemed a bit displaced.
Saturday
Main Stage
Dr. Living Dead The saturday Main Stage program started with the Thrash Metal icon from Stockholm and enormous heat. Regarding the last issue it must have been hard for the fourpiece to appear under their masks. Besides their classics „Scanners“ and „Civilized To Death“ from the new release rocked as well.
Sylosis As many acts at this year’s WFF-edition appearing in the afternoon the UK-quartet just welcomed a couple of supporters due to the heat. Anyway, their Neo-Trash like „Mercy“ or „Leech“ from the new album „Dormant Heart“ convinced as the classics „Empyreal“, „Altered States Of Consciousness“ and „Teras“ did.
Deez Nuts The infield got populated by the following act. To the fourpiece from Melbourne a show at WFF is like a home game. Their Old School Hardcore was that the fans had been waiting for somewhere in the shadow. So they celebrated new „World Is Bond“ – material („Don’t Wanna Talk About It“) as by „Stay True“ and „Band Of Brothers“ more familiar party hits.
Eskimo Callboy Party music for the younger visitors got offered by the Emocore formation. And from the first tone on they got their crowd dancing, jumping and singing. The „Best Day“ and the title track of the new output „Crystals“ found the same acceptance as „Is Anyone Up“ and „We Are The Mess“.
Agnostic Front The Hardcore institution returned with NYHC at its best: The scene originals around Roger Miret and Vinnie Stigma took care about good mood as about moshpit action by the new „The American Dream Died“ – tracks „Old New York“ and „Only In America“. The Ramones cover „Blitzkrieg Bop“, „For My Family“, „Friend Or Foe“ as probably the definite Old School Hardcore hymn „Gotta Go“ inspired thousands to sing as jump along.
Kreator For another time nowadays it seemed like Germany’s leading Thrash Metal band is stronger than ever. Supported by LED-walls, confetti shots and pyros they started with „Enemy Of God“ animating a huge crowd of fans to headbang as to take part in moshpits. This continued while „Hordes Of Chaos“, „Phobia“, „War Call“, „Endless Pain“, „Phantom Antichrist“, „Pleasure To Kill“ and „Civilization Collapse“. So a thrashing hour found its jubilated end in „Extreme Aggressions“.
Heaven Shall Burn There was just one band left to top this: The local heroes played their second WFF headliner show after their first one had ended with „Endzeit“ followed by an infernal thunderstorm. But first of all the confetti snakes got shot too early minutes before entering the stage. And by the wind they flew back and covered the stage what held several stagehands busy delaying the showtime a bit. From the beginning set by „Counterweight“ the atmosphere increased song by song, especially while „Combat“, „Hunters Will Be Hunted“, „Forlorn Skies“, „The Weapon They Fear“, „Godiva“ and the Edge Of Sanity cover „Black Tears“ while the quintet performed inside a stage set imitating a battle field. Further circle-pits got formed when the band returned for the encores „Endzeit“, „Of No Avail“ and „Behind A Wall Of Silence“. Amazing!
Tent Stage: Hardbowl
More Than A Thousand After I had discovered this band from Portugal on the same stage four years ago I had been looking forward to this show. And the Metalcore quintet shouldn’t disappoint me. Hundreds of supporters jumped and sang along with „Heist“, „Cross My Heart“ and the final hit „No Bad Blood“.
Texas In July The next event was a little sad one: The fourpiece from Pennsylvania appeared for the very last time in Europe only having a few shows in the States left. Accordingly motivated band as fans rocked the tent to „Sweetest Poison“, „Bed Of Nails“ and „Hook, Line And Sinner“ before they bid farewell. Thank you for the music!
Heart Of A Coward The quintet from London participated for the first time at the WFF. And after I had asked myself if this Metalcore combined with their Progressive Djent influences would work in Roitzschjora the band got the support of the clear majority in the tent. The crowd supported „Shade“, „Deadweight“, the previously unreleased „Hollow“ (from the forthcoming album) and „Nauseam“ by moshpit-action.
Tent Stage: Saturday Night Fever
Knorkator The Comedy Metal weirdoes from Berlin are always a live attraction, especially at the WFF. Beginning by „Absolution“ and „Ding Inne Schnauze“ they first amused by their strange costumes. Fronter Stumpen jokead about moving to Roitzschjora experiencing this event each year. After a while the whole tent audience sang along to „Du Bist Schuld“, „Alter Mann“, „Der Ultimative Mann“ and „Wir Werden Alle Sterben“. During „Böse“ fronter Stumpen had crowdsurfed inside a gum ball over the crowd before he finally interpreted with his anarcho colleges a very own version of Boney M’s „Ma Baker“ and playing with keyboarder Alf Ator Badminton on stage.
Diablo Blvd. The fivepiece from Belgium can be described as one of the big surprises of this weekend. They rocked the tent by „Rise Like Lions“, „Saint Of Killers“, „Builders Of Empires“, as „Follow The Deadlights“, and the audience didn’t took long returning from the beer stations celebrating this kind of Rock ‘n’ Roll version meets Danzig.
Red City Radio The fourpiece from Oklahoma City attracted the fewest number of spectators. No wonder, their Punk Rock was nice, but let miss something special. So just the die-hard-fans supported „Two Notes Shy Of An Octave“ and „Two For Flinching“.
Red Fang Same color in the band name, different sound as result: Their Stoner Rock was that what several hundreds of fans had been waiting for. So the quartet from Portland celebrated with them „Prehistoric Dog“, „Blood Like Cream“, „Malverde“ as „Wired“ before letting them go to party or to sleep.
Sunday
Main Stage
Mantar Who had thought the temperatures had reached its maximum for this weekend was wrong: More than 40 degrees combined nearly every move with sweat. The often praised Mantar disappointed meanwhile. The duo played a much too monotonous set. Why was this a secret hint? No idea!
Kontrust Not less bizarre was the following sixpack from Vienna. Their sound could be described with female fronted Crossover. But somehow this all seemed like an average band not knowing where to go or to sound as „On The Run“, „Hey DJ!“ and „Bomba“ showed.
Born From Pain For about the fifth or the sixth time I watched the Dutch Hardcore machine from 2003 on, and they never disappointed. Under these hard climatic conditions they weren’t welcomed by thousands of supporters, but song by song they returned out of the shadows in front of the stage celebrating „Sons Of A Dying World“, „Stop At Nothing“ and „The New Hate“.
Obituary Starting with „Centuries Of Lies“ from the recent release „Inked In Blood“ the fivepiece from Florida taught the according to the heat still pretty small audience a lesson in Death Metal. The band didn’t care about all that performing „Violence“, „Back To One“ and the final smasher „Slowly We Rot“ tight, but with no real contact to the audience, so as usual.
Arch Enemy The Melodic Death Metal quintet seemed stronger than before although front beauty Alissa White-Gluz had to fight with a cold, all her shouts worked well. Supported by the new guitar force consisting of Michael Amott and ex-Nevermore-sixstringer Jeff Loomis newer songs like „War Eternal“, „As The Pages Burn“ or „Avalanche“ animated the fans to move as classics like „Ravenous“, „Nemesis“, „My Apocalypse“, „Dead Eyes See No Future“ and „We Will Rise“ did.
Lamb Of God The last time the quintet was supposed to play in Roitzschjora shouter Randy Blythe had got arrested in Prag right before flying to the WFF. The rest of his odyssey is known. Even stronger they returned to Roitzschjora opening by „Desolation“ and „Ghost Walking“. „512“ and „Still Echoes“ from the brand new album „VII: Sturm Und Drang“ being sung by an astonishing number of fans worked as well as the classic „Walk With Me In Hell“. Randy Blythe obviously was very motivated running the stage up and down. When the camera man on stage followed a female crowdsurfer Randy had the humor to shock him from behind showing where the attraction was. My personal show highlight of this weekend got finished by „Redneck“ and „Black Label“.
Sick Of It All The WFF-veterans had no matter to activate the audience’s reserves and should have been the last band of this year’s WFF-edition having the opportunity to do this. Their NYHC can call Roitzschjora its second home, so the fans celebrated „Get Bronx“ and „DNC“ from the current „The Last Act Of Defiance“ record as „World Full Of Hate“ or „My Life“. Especially in the end of the show „Step Down“ and the band hymn „Scratch The Surface“ caused a huge wall of death as several moshpits right before the mentioned thunderstorm with impressing lightnings.
(In Flames) → Canceled due to the weather conditions!
Tent Stage: Hardbowl
Any Given Day The Metalcore shooting stars from Gelsenkirchen got welcomed by numerous fans. Their variable sound between heaviness and atmospheric parts followed by grunts as clean vocals was the right soundtrack to the heat over 40 degrees. Their sympathy bonus even raised when fronter Dennis Diehl told about all the years before as usual WFF-visitors handing out their demos and now appearing on stage. „The Beginning Of The End“, „Never Say Die“ as „Home Is Where The Heart Is“ got much support, but of course the well-known Rihanna cover „Diamonds“ caused the most support in singalongs.
Tent Stage: Last Supper
(Eisbrecher) → Canceled due to the weather conditions!
(Rotting Christ) → Canceled due to the weather conditions!
(The Ruins Of Beverast) → Canceled due to the weather conditions!
Conclusion:
In the end we send thanks and respect to the WFF.organizers for this hard, but one and only right decision to stop the festival due to those weather circumstances as to communicate to the visitors how to save theirselves! Safety first, bands can return! It probably wasn’t the last opportunity to watch In Flames or the Last Supper bands in Roitzschjora. And the visitors reacted as responsible showing festival organisation and fans deserve each other in its best way! Our special thanks go out to Madeline Friedemann and the WFF-team!!!!!
On the airfield of Roitzschjora rocked, drank and partied Tobi Wan Kenobi, Ailuj and Moelle!!!!!