Rock Hard Festival 2007
Five years ago Germany’s leading Rock- & Metal-magazine Rock Hard celebrated their 20 th anniversary with this Open Air Festival. The area around the Amphitheater Gelsenkirchen situated in a nice green park with the stage right in front of a canal and the great organization of the Rock Hard – team created a unique festival atmosphere nobody wanted to miss anymore after Rock Hard Festival 2003. So planned as a one-time-event the RHF has become an important constant factor each festival summer. For its fifth time the Rock Hard Festival took place at the amphitheatre as it hopefully will the next 500 years! 😉
This year the Rock Hard-organizors decided to declare the Friday as the third official festival’s day which also happened on the Main Stage instead of the formerly used Side Stage in the park and raised the Friday’s billing from four to six bands.
At the Amphitheater Gelsenkirchen appeared 24 bands (each band 45 minutes minimum) on one stage in three days for about 6000 visitors.
Friday
Bullet Friday afternoon, the festival season 2007 started with a Swedish old school-Metal Band which spread a lot of enthusiasm from the stage. Their music was pretty uninteresting, but not uninspiring. Tracks like “Heading For The Top”, “Leather Love” or “Bang Your Head” motivated to drink the first festival beer or even a few more. Nevertheless: Musically nothing special!
Crucified Barbara The next band from rockin’ Sweden was an all-girl-band known from last year’s Rock Hard Festival. In 2006 the opener had been missed by many fans because of doors-open-problems. Their setlist still mainly contained songs from their “In Distortion We Trust”-debut like the opener “Play Me Hard”, “Going Down”, “Bad Hangover”, “Motherfucker”, its title track and the hit “Losing The Game”. The fourpiece finished its set, supported by the Bullet-boys (Not to confound with the similar named US-Hardrock-band! ;-)), with the celebrated Motörhead-cover “Killed By Death”.
Cataract In the early evening the Swiss Metalcore-brigade became my first personal attraction. And the band around fronter Fredi started with smashers from their current “Kingdom”-album named “War Of Cultures”, “Sacrificed For The Wealth”, “Denial Of Life and “On This Graveyard”. In contrast to the agile Fredi and guitarist Greg Mäder the two long-haired stringers should work about their live-performance. Meanwhile the crowd had no reason to worry about its live-action themselves. 150 fans created a pretty nice circle-pit which ended with the band’s “When Triumph Comes Loss”-hit “Nothings’ Left”.
Heaven Shall Burn The next lesson in Metalcore was taught by Germany’s leading genre-band from Saalfeld. After 2005 they acted at the amphitheatre for the second time, but it was the RHF-premier of fronter Marcus Bischoff who had missed because of sickness and had got replaced by André Moraweck from their Maroon-friends two years ago. The band started with the surprising intro-sounds of Paradise Lost’s “Hallowed Land” before continuing with the “Antigone”-smasher “Voice Of The Voiceless” and caused a storm over the festivalsite nobody was able to flee from. Monsters from the new album “Deaf To Our Prayers” (“Counterweight, “Profane Believers”, “Of No Avail”, “Mybestfriends.com”) as the classics “Unleash Enlightment”, the hit “The Weapon They Fear” or the two encores “Behind A Wall Of Silence” and “To Harvest The Storm” had no matter to motivate the crowd to moshpits, headbanging and loud jubilating applause.
Grave Digger What followed should become one of my most horrible live experiences! Musically mainman Chris “Bolle” Boltendahl and his three comrades beginning by the pipers-intro “Scotland United” and “In the Dark Of The Sun” played a setlist considering all phases of their band history (“Excalibur”, “Headbanging Man”, “The Grave Digger” and the regular set closing “Knights Of The Cross”) just introduced two tracks from their new output “Liberty Or Death” by “Silent Revolution” and its title track which they played as the first encore. With their second encore “Heavy Metal Breakdown” they finished a True Metal-gig finding its supporters, but no one more. Thanks to our chief-editor and his girl-friend for leaving us in the auditorium supposed to wait at that place for a short while which should turn out into the whole 75 minutes of digital torture!
Hammerfall Okay, I’m not the biggest Hammerfull-supporter of all times, too. But in contrast to the Germans before the Gothenburg True Metal-genre leaders offered a cool show for another time. The stage had a cool stairs-decoration around the drumriser in which the big Hammerfall-letters left no physical doubt who was the Friday’s headliner. Supported by pyro-effects and their old as new bassist Fredrik Larsson who played his first gig with his friends after he had returned from Evergrey replacing Magnus Rosén the fivepiece presented a best of program focusing the classics like “Renegade”, “Glory To The Brave”, “Let The Hammer Fall” or the regular set finishing “Hammerfall” after which they played the two encores “Heeding The Call” and “Hearts On Fire”. Besides the classics they considered their new release “Threshold” by its title track playing as the opener and “Rebel Inside”. Not my cup of beer, but well-entertaining!
Saturday
Metal Inquisitor The NWOBHM-influenced boys from Koblenz played a gig uniting their best material of their two outputs “The Apparition” and “Doomsday For The Heretic” like the set-opening title track of the second one, “Logan’s Run” or the two finishers “M4-A1” and “Resistance Is Futile”. With “Persuader” the underground-band even surprised with a new track. Of course they didn’t surprise by their sound. Similar to the Friday’s opener Bullet those bands have their limited number of die-hard-fans, but they don’t win much new ones. So they did in Gelsenkirchen.
Maroon Totally different became the performance of the next Metalcore-band whose fronter André Moraweck had gained RHF-live-experience as shouter for their friends of Heaven Shall Burn replacing their sick Marcus Bischof two years ago. About 200 fans stood right in front of the stage who created a cool moshpit while the audience became astonished by a very motivated unity celebrating smashers like “Shadow Of The Vengeance” or “If I Lose, Welcome Annihilation”. The fivepiece from Nordhausen seemed to have as much fun as the weirdos in front of the stage and finished an energetic appearance by “Wake Up In Hell” (Hey, what a pit!) and the cover “Ausgebombt” of the Thrash-legend Sodom in their hometown.
Turisas With this band the two hours of acoustic torture was supposed to stick on my nerves. Finnish Folk Metal performed by a strange corpsepainted Finnish Band. Supported by an accordion they covered Boney M’s “Rasputin”, introduced three new tracks from their forthcoming release “The Vangarian Way” and earned little applause which was even too much reaction. The only impressing effect was the action of the band to motivate the whole audience to stand up from their seats to celebrate their final title “Battle Metal”.
Korpiklaani Another Finnish Folk Metal accordion-torture act should continue this ear-fuck. A couple of supporters danced uncoordinated to that sound. The northmen played a set considering “Spirit Of The Forest” as “Voice Of The Wilderness” by “Cottages & Saunas”, “Journey Man” and “Hunting Song” and added with “Let’s Drink” as “Karhunkaatolaulu” two new tracks. After “Happy Little Boozer” all druids were ready to leave the place to go on a mushroom foray and the torture hours were finished.
Ross The Boss I wasn’t quite sure about the announced appearance of the Manowar-ex-guitarist performing “a special Manowar-set”. But Ross rocked definitely, in total contrast to his ex-band nowadays! Supported by singer Patrick Fuchs who did a great job (Of course he doesn’t have the Eric Adams’ voice. But honestly: Who does expect that?) and a tight backing-band they fulfilled Ross’s first proclamation “No solos, no speeches, no bullshit!” absolutely. Starting with the traditional “Manowar”-opener the band celebrated “Shell Shock” and “Death Tone” to which the motorcycle-engine worked well for the first time. But those little effects didn’t have real influence to the rock-factor of this show. After the hymn “Gloves Of Metal” an own new band’s song “We Will Kill” followed which was able to hold the level. Of course so did “Thor (The Powerhead)”, the celebrated “Fighting The World” (including solo), “Hail And Kill” and “Kill With Power” to which Manowar-ex-drummer Rhino entered the drums to perform this classic including its solo. After a very well-entertaining as rocking performance the band finished it by “Hail To England” and a “Valhalla” / “Defender” medley.
Vader After a metalheads-against-rassicsm-acition we totally support (!) proclaimed on stage the time had come for Death Metal. The Polish live-lunatics replaced Kataklysm in the billing. Allthough I would have preferred a performance of the Canadiens the fourpiece offered a solid show causing one headbanging ocean of flying hair. With their new drum-animal Daray the band brought a massive sound considering new “Impressions In Blood”-material (“Helleluyah (God Is Dead)”) as old neckbreakers (“Litany”, “Silent Empire”, “Back To The Blind”, “Wings”, “This Is The War”). With the Slayer-cover “Raining Blood” the Deathsters left a satisfied crowd for another time.
Armored Saint The US-legend is back! The “Frank Sinatra of Heavy Metal” (That’s my and the only description about him!), John Bush and his fellows motivated the big loyal fanship in front of the stage from the beginning by “Long Before I Die”, “Can U Deliver”, “The Pillar” and “Glory Hunter” (Last mentioned one the band played for the very first time in Europe!) The quintet rocked their 75 minutes by the hit “Last Train Home”, “For The Sake Of Heavyness”, “Upon My Departure”, “Symbol Of Salvation”, “Raising Fear”, ”March Of The Saint” and “Reign Of Fire” before the band finished the best show of this year’s Rock Hard Festival by the encore “Lesson Well Learned” known from their self-titled first EP. Phenomenal! After the show the meanwhile bearded singer showed our editors how down to earth he still is. Great show, great guys!
Death Angel The Bay area-institution was supposed to play on the first Rock Hard Festival taking place in Gelsenkirchen 2003, but they needed to cancel. Four years later they invaded the stage. And although Armored Saint’s performance stayed unbeatable the five boys rocked the stage. No matter as long you can count evergreens like to your repertoire as the opener “Seemingly Endless Time”, “Voracious Souls”, “Mistress Of Pain”, “3rd Floor”, “Disturbing The Peace”, “Veil Of Deception” or “Stagnant” your own. Of course the band didn’t ignore their current album “The Art Of Dying” playing its best songs “Thrown To The Wolves”, “5 Steps Of Freedom”, “Thicker Than Blood” and “Devil Incarnate” which couldn’t be stopped by the sudden monsoon-rain which began after a few minutes of the show. Supported by fan choirs the fivepiece finished a hammer-appearance by “Bored” and “Kill As One”.
Amon Amarth Because of the fact Amon Amarth play at every place offering electricity you usually know what to expect. Und you can be for sure you’ll be getting it. So Amon Amarth performed a cool show without any sensations. The new stage design looking like a traditional dragon boat on which the drumset throned in the middle of huge shields. After the superfluous Joms-Viking-action-show the five Gothenburg guys had no matter keeping the crowd busy with the “Valhall Awaits Me”-opener. The band performed a cool show full of familiar hymns like “Death In Fire”, “With Oden On Our Side”, “Cry Of The Blackbirds”, “Fate Of Norns” and “An Acient Sign Of Coming Storm” which closed the regular set before the Swedes returned on stage to let their fans freak out to the encores “Victorious March” and “Pursuit Of Vikings”. As always a cool Death Metal show, and as always in my opinion they should renounce their Viking-effects! But okay, it’s their image. A cool show anyway!
Sunday
Sabaton Also the third band was supposed to be started by a traditional orientated band on this year’s Rock Hard Festival. Although I probably won’t become their biggest fan these Swedes knew how to entertain. Especially the sympathic frontman Joakim did this by his jokes. The band concentrated on older material because their recent album “Metalizer” was to brandnew to be known by too many spectators. So band as fans rocked to the opener “Panzer Battalion”, “In The Name Of God”, “A Light In The Black”, “Into The Fire” “Attero Dominatus”, “Rise Of Evil”, “Primo Victoria” as to the last played titles “Back In Control” and “Metal Machine” and left a small but happy fan crowd.
Hardcore Superstar The Swedish Hard Rock-band had to start for just a few fans. But his number raised while the band convinced by “Bag On Your Head”, “Wild Boys” and “We Don’t Celebrate Sundays” (But in fact they did!) as by the new songs ”Bastard” and “Medicate Me”. Especially fronter Jocke was an eyecatcher jumping the stage up and down. By their hymn “Kick Up The Upperclass” the band left an entertained spectatorship.
Dew-Scented Because of airline problems Naglfar who had been scheduled for this billing position were forced to stay in Sweden. They were replaced by the well-known Dew-Scented who I preferred to watch. From the beginning the headbanging front around fronter Leif Jensen blasted the crowd away by well-known death-thrashers like “Never To Return”, “Cities Of The (‘Fuckin’’) Dead” and “Turn To Ash” before introducing the brandnew album “Incinerate” by the video-single “That’s Why I Despise You” to continue with the hammers “Bitter Conflict” and “New Found Pain” you can just bang to what the fans in front of the stage actually did without an exception. After playing by “Into The Arms Of Misery” another new track the fivepiece finished their great appearance with “Soul Poison” and “Acts Of Rage”. So who cared about the rain while Dew-Scented? Exactly: Nobody!
Dark Funeral But they did while the Swedes. Are Death-/Thrash-fans harder than Blackies? Well, nobody is able to answer that generally. I incline to say it was a band-problem. A band has no influence on weather conditions, but of course it has on its stage-acting. So just a few die-hard-fans celebrated material from the current “Attera Totus Sanctus” – output (“666 Voices Inside”) as older stuff (“Secrets Of The Black Arts”, “Vobiscum Satanas” and “The Arrival Of Satan’s Empire”), but most other visitors didn’t take any notice. To stay dry seemed much more important to those.
Tankard The weirdos from Frankfurt around their sympathic frontman and scene-original Gerre spread fun over the amphitheatre. Starting with “We Still Drink The Old Way” and the classic “Zombie Attack” the band had no matter to turn the whole festivalsite into a party area. And song titles like “Beermuda”, “The Beauty And The Beer”, “Need Money For A Beer”, “Die With A Beer In Your Hand” clarified what this show was about. So we followed the ‘concept’ and took part in the party. With the Thrash-classic “Rectifier”, the party-anthem “Freibier” and the band-hymn “Empty Tankard” the fourpack competed another well-entertaining show.
Paul DiAnno In contrast to the Manowar-special of Ross The Boss the Paul DiAnno-gig with a “special Iron Maiden-performance” turned out into a boring one. Supported by his tight backing-band Phantoms Of The Opera who are also known as with their own band Re-Vision Paul seemed uninspired and showed a couple of voice problems. No magic atmosphere raised at all like many fans had hoped or even expected. So NWOBHM-classics like “Strange World”, “Remember Tomorrow”, “Sanctuary”, “Running Free” or “Phantoms Of The Opera” didn’t have their usual effect. A disappointing appearance.
Spock’s Beard The next show should become totally vice versa: The Prog Rock – masters conjured a great sound followed by a cool performance, but nobody cared. Musically the fivepiece left no doubt by “On A Perfect Day”, “In The Mouth Of Madness” and “Go The Way You Go” they are the most talented band on the whole billing. The entertainment factor got fulfilled by cult-keyboarder Ryo Okumoto and the drum-duel between singer Nick D’ Virgillio and live-drummer Jimmy Keegan which was brilliant. Last named one changed on the vocalist’s position to perform the Led Zeppelin-cover “Whole Lotta Love” as the last title which ironically brought the most people in front of the stage.
Axel Rudi Pell Many people discussed if this is the right co-headliner. However you answer this question there was no discussion about the tight performance. No surprise: The instrumentalists are well-known for their abilities and their best-of-setlist contained some interesting opuses. So it did in Gelsenkirchen by the opener “Fly To The Moon”, “Masquerade Ball”/“Casbah” (both performed in a medley), “Tear Down The Wall” and the two in the end of the show played classics “Fool Fool” and “Call Her Princess”. Not my cup of tea, but a nice show which just could have renounced the still superfluous solos.
Thin Lizzy The Irish rock-legend could have done a great job, but they failed from the beginning. Due to technical problems the show started 30 minutes later. So the band just had 60 minutes left because of the curfew at 1:00 a.m.. But the band around mainman John Sykes and Scott Gorham didn’t communicate about this, they just did their job. No more, no less! Of course classics like the opener “Jailbreak”, “Don’t Believe A Word”, “Cold Sweat”, “Bad Reputation”, “The Cowboy Song”/“The Boys Are Back In Town” inspired the fanship to celebrate a Rock ‘n’ Roll-party, but why does a band with so many hits still persist on its drum solo when time is so rare. Nobody knows! The two encores “Rosalie” and “Black Rose” set the end of this year’s live-action on the Rock Hard Festival-stage!
Conclusion:
Jubileum!!!!! The Rock Hard Festival took place at the Gelsenkirchen Amphitheater for the fifth time, and of course the www.metal-festivals.com – team took part in for its fifth time, too! Again the festival organizors were able to hold the hight self-set hight standards (e.g. a very good toilet / restroom-situation for free, an uncomplicated security, Rock Hard – memberss always being close to the fans for answering their questions, etc.). The prices still stayed the same as the years before (e.g. 2,30 Euro for a 0,33l beer or softdrink).
The Rock Hard Festival has become a strong factor in each year’s festival season by its special service and the unique atmosphere! And we’re looking curiously forward to rock Gelsenkirchen for the next five times starting in 2008! Be there!
Special Thanks go out to Jenny Rönnebeck, Manni Glamowski, Götz Kühnemund and the RHF-team!!!!!
At the Rock Hard Festival rocked, drank and partied Tobi Wan Kenobi, Lotte and Yvi!!!!!