Full Force
After 25 years the formerly known With Full Force got transferred to new organizers. Those ones, who also manage Melt Festival and Splash! Festival both taking place in Ferropolis as well, changed a few details.
The most obvious one is the name: They cut out the „With“, from now on it’s called „Full Force“. Furthermore they returned to the classic lapse of time between friday and sunday instead of one day before like it had happened for the latest two years.
The most remarkable changes to us were the improved as more innovative billing (in contrast to the latest years) and the new invented Medusa Seastage right at the beach utilizing the natural advantages of the lake. This atmosphere emphasized several special moments.
Besides that the unique Ferropolis festival feeling was still present everywhere. The organization ran well, especially the water supply during these hot weekend is mentionable. So the visitors had all to celebrate an attractive program lead by Limp Bizkit, Arch Enemy and Parkway Drive returning after their unforgettable Ferropolis-live-blast one year before.
The prices are on the level of other big festivals (e.g. 3,50 € for 0,3 l beer), the variety of food was as always huge.
In Ferropolis appeared 62 bands on three stages for about 16000 visitors.
Friday
Mad Max Mainstage
Bleeding Through After six years of absence the sixpack from Orange County returned with their album „Love Will Kill All“. So „Welcome back, bitches!“ felt like the right salutation to start their comeback show as this year’s Mainstage program. New („Fade Into The Ash“, „Buried“, „Set Me Free“) as classic („Rise“, „Revenge I Seek“, „Anti-Hero“) material worked well while shouter Brandon Schieppati and constantly banging keyboarder Marta Peterson animated the early present crowd to first motion.
Any Given Day With their new release „Overpower“ the fivepiece from Gelsenkirchen started strong by „Start Over“ and „Loveless“ and impressed by a tight performance as the variable voice of fronter Dennis Diehl. By the following „Endurance“ and „Levels“ they inspired many spectators to jump. This all lead into a respectable wall of death considering the early afternoon as the hot temperatures. „Arise“, „Never Surrender“ and „Savior“ finished a jubilated show.
While She Sleeps Stadium-compatible Metalcore is my definition for the band from Sheffield which is meant completely positive. In front of a huge backdrop vocalist Lawrence Taylor & Co reached the audience celebrating and singing along with „Anti-Social“, „The Guilty Party“ and „Haunt Me“ from their new album „So What“ as the classics „You Are We“, „Four Walls“, „Silence Speaks“ and „Hurricane“. A (live) band we’ll hear more from the next years.
Sick Of It All After those newer sounds it was time for the NYC-Hardcore-veterans to „Wake The Sleeping Dragon!“. By the title track as „Inner Vision“ from their latest output and several familiar songs like „Us Vs. Them“, „Injustice System“, „My Life“ as „Good Lookin’ Out“ the formation around the Koller-brothers took care about pit-action in the audience. They closed the set by their classics „Scratch The Surface“ and „Step Down“.
Behemoth You think Black/Death Metal doesn’t work at Full Force? Definitely wrong, the quartet from Gdansk performed an impressing show. Whether new compositions from „I Love You From Your Darkest“ like the opener „Wolves Of Siberia“, „Bartzabel“ and „Sabbath Mater“ or classics as „Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer“, „Ov Fire And The Void“, „God = Dog“, „Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel“ and „Chant For Eschaton 2000“, supported by lots of pyros and several other special effects the quartet left no doubt about their billing position. Mainman Adam Nergal’s very autobiographic shout (He survived cancer!) „It’s so good be alive!“ also fit to this live experience.
Parkway Drive One year ago the five musicians from Byron Bay performed a bombastic show including lots of special effects and drummer Gaz playing in a vertically circulating drumkit. This year they decided for an extraordinary introduction by walking through the audience to the stage flanked by securities with torches. After this the complete madness began with „Wishing Wells“, „Prey“, „Vice Grip“ and „Karma“. The filled festival area freaked out and sang along with „The Void as „Idols And Anchors“ before the band got support by violinists during „Writings On The Wall“ as „Shadow Boxing“ and finished its regular set by „Wild Eyes“, which got sung along together with thousands of fans’ voices. They returned with amazing fire works and the encores „Crushed“ as „Bottom Feeder“ finishing another outstanding show in flames, smoke and pleasure.
Medusa Seastage
Wolfheart The opening act of this phenomenal stage at the beach was the quartet from Finland. Although a Melodic Death Metal formation doesn’t sound very beach-like, their origin from the land of the thousand lakes may have helped. The audience celebrated „The Hunt“ and „Ghost Of Karelia“ as the newer „Breakwater“, so mainman Tuomas Saukkonen praised the first appearance with spectators in paddling motion.
Municipal Waste After the canceled slot of Black Peaks it was up to the fivepiece from Richmond to push up the beach mood again. Fronter Tony Foresta animated the naked swimmers to a nude pit, but they preferred to stay in the lake. Their fans celebrated „The Art Of Partying“ anyway.
Amenra The Belgian Sludge quartet performed their atmospheric sound with fat riffs and the yelled shouts of vocalist Colin H. Van Eeckhout who appeared with his back to the audience. By the beginning sundown the sound of „Boden“, „Razoreater“, „A Solitary Reign“ as „Diaken“ evolved its total atmosphere.
Cannibal Corpse Ready for the final Grindcore moshpit-fest of the first day? The fivepiece from Florida left no doubt they wanted action, and the well-populated beach didn’t hesitate to move on the beach while the newer „Red Before Black“ as to classics like „Make Them Suffer“ and „Stripped, Raped And Strangled“.
Hardbowl Tentstage
Landmvrks The fivepiece from Marseille enthused by their melodic variable Metalcore in the tent. Their sympathic active performance convinced in the early afternoon, so the spectators supported „Fantasy“, „Blistering“, „Winter“ and „Scars“ by moshpit action as singing along the catchy choruses.
The Amity Affliction The fourpiece assembled numerous fans in the tent right before their fellow Australians were supposed to headline on the neighbored Main Stage. Their supporters celebrated the opener „Drag The Lake“, „Ivy (Doomsday)“, „D.I.E.“ and „Feels Like I’m Dying“ from their current album „Misery“ as classics like „This Could Be Heartbreak“, „Shine On“ and the final „Pittsburgh“. Their riffs and shouts as the bittersweet chorus melodies left no other option than to participate.
Tentstage: Knüppelnacht
Batushka The Black Metal formation from Poland celebrated a black mass with three monks and lots of candles on stage. This strange show left a bunch of questions.
Carach Angren The Dutch Black Metal trio took care about it didn’t become less ridiculous. The whole appearance including „General Nightmare“, „Blood Queen“ and „Pitch Black Box“ as its performance looked like a satire of itself.
Ultha These 45 minutes were the final noise deep in the first night of this year’s Full Force – edition. The Black Metal fourpiece from Cologne gave its best, but just a few visitors were left.
Saturday
Mad Max Mainstage
Annisokay The definite band to open the Mainstage program of the day: The regional Melodic Metalcore heroes joked their backdrop had been too huge to suit the big stage and entertained by their catchy songs like „Coma Blue“, „Good Stories“ and „Unaware“ from their recent album „Arms“ as older tracks like „What’s Wrong“ or „Sky“, the first rows seemed to be familiar with the lyrics anyway.
Crowbar Time was up for the return of the Sludge Doom formation from New Orleans. While opening with the classic „All I Had (I Gave)“ the festival area was pretty empty probably due to the hot temperatured. But Kirk Windstein & Coe achieved to repopulate the place a bit, and those ones shouldn’t regret experiencing „The Cemetary Angels“, „To Carry The Load“ and „Like Broken Glass“.
Bury Tomorrow The fivepiece from Southampton started furious with „No Less Violent“ and let follow several new pit-motivators from their new masterpiece „Black Flame“ as „More Than Mortal“, „Knife Of Gold“, „The Age“ and the title track as finisher. Their fans celebrated them as formerly released hymns like „Earthbound“ and „Last Light“. The supporters took care about permanent moshpit-action and singalongs during the clean vocal choruses.
At The Gates When the Gothenburg Melodic Death Metal inventors opened with the title track of their current album „To Drink From The Night Itself“ and let follow „Slaughter Of The Soul“ as „At War With Reality“. By time more fans populated the festival area, but whether the new „A Stare Bound In Stone“ and „The Colors Of The Beast“ or the classics „Suicide Nation“, „Blinded By Fear“ as „The Night Eternal“ should have deserved more headbangers.
Knorkator The Comedy Metal formation from Berlin assembled numerous of fans in front of the stage and entertained by a funny as tight played best of set consisting of „Kurz Und Klein“, „Böse“, „Alter Mann“ as the covers from Ace Of Base („All That She Wants“) and Boney M. („Ma Baker“). The show was sympathic as well, all those gimmicks as vocalist Stumpen running in a huge ball over the audience were more than well-entertaining. With „Zähneputzen, Pullern Und Ab Ins Bett“ and „Wir Werden Alle Sterben“ they bid farewell from an enthused crowd.
Arch Enemy After the Metalcore heroes of Parkway Drive the night before and the Crossover icon Limp Bizkit the following one I didn’t know how the Metal headliner on saturday would convince the visitors. Of course they couldn’t reach the moshpit action as the Australians the night before, but the festival area was populated. So supported by several pyro effects „Ravenous“, „War Eternal“, „My Apocalypse“, „You Will Know My Name“, „Under Black Flags We March“ and „As The Pages Burn“ fronter Alissa White-Gluz and the technically-skilled instrumental fraction caused loud reactions as headbanging support.
Medusa Seastage
Harakiri For The Sky The Austrian sixpack wasn’t probably used to perform their Black Metal in the hot sun on the beach. Anyway, „Calling The Rain“, „Lungs Filled With Water“ and „Jhater“ found its applause by sunbathers and lakeswimmers.
Infected Rain The Moldovan breakthrough band was the right act to rock the beach. Their Metalcore with a couple of Djent-riffs and the variable voice of Lena Scissorheads worked very well, especially the technicians had solved the microphone problems in the beginning of the set. So „Mold“ and „Orphan Soul“ found as much support as „Passerby“ and „The Earth Mantra“ from their forthcoming album.
Animals As Leaders The technically high skilled trio from Washington, D.C. didn’t assemble that many fans in front of the stage than the Moldovans before, but they left many mouths open by their instrumental monsters. The astonishing performance of „Wave Of Babies“, „Tempting Time“, „The Brain Dance“ as their video-single CAFO left no doubt about this appearance was a special showcase to most of the present visitors.
Alcest The French formation around mainman Neige drowned the beach as the lake into the riffs of their atmospheric compositions in the evening. Numerous spectators enjoyed „Autre Temps“, „Kodama“, Percées De Lumière“ and „Là Où Naissent Les Couleurs Nouvelles“ which could easily be scilled by much applause.
Zeal & Ardor Another outstanding act should complete saturday’s Seastage action: The Avangarde Black Metal project around Manuel Gagneux surprised and fascinated with their mixture between straight Black Metal riffs as shouts and Gospel vocals. Supported by two co-singers „Blood In The River“, „Built On Ashes“ and the hymn „Devil Is Fine developped its potential with an inspiring effect on the astonished crowd.
Tentstage: Impericon Hardbowl
Jinjer The Ukrainian fourpiece is on a triumphant march through any festival confirming them. Suited in a golden outfit vocalist Tatiana Shmaylyuk and her comrades gave everything and got everything from a curious crowd. „Words Of Wisdom“, „I Speak Astronomy“, the wonderful semi-ballad „Pisces“ and the set finishing „Sit Stay Roll Over“ caused a couple of moshpits and much jubilation.
Terror Isn’t the Hardcore legend from Los Angeles to huge for the Tentstage? Maybe, but so their performance became a special highlight in a packed tent including lots of energy on as in front of the stage. From the beginning by „Lowest Of The Low“, „Stick Tight“ and „Overcome“ band as crowd were one and the circle-pits didn’t let wait too long. By „This World Never Wanted Me“ and „Mental Demolition“ the fivepiece from the west coast presented two tracks from their latest output „Total Retaliation“. Of course the classics „One With The Underdogs“, „Spit My Rage“, „Always The Hard Way“ and „Keep Your Mouth Shut“ caused the loudest as wildest reactions.
Tentstage: Saturday Night Fever
Kadavar After the Death Metal inferno on the neighbored Mainstage the chilled Stoner Rock was the right sound change to direct the evening to a relaxed end. „Come Back Life“, „Doomsday Machine“, etc. earned much applause.
Orange Goblin The fourpiece from London continued this doomy Stoner Rock atmosphere with „Sons Of Salem“ from their recent „The Wolf Bites Back“ release. Besides the also new „Renegade“ the quartet played a best of set containing „They Come Back (Harvest Of Skulls)“ as „Red Tide Rising“ and covered Motörhead by „No Class“.
Sunday
Mad Max Mainstage
Walking Dead On Broadway The Deathcore locals from the close city of Leipzig returned to Full Force to invite the first spectators for action. Most of them preferred a bath in the sea while it was extremely hot.
Ignite Pretty early billing position for the quintet from Orange County. But even heat couldn’t stop them starting fulminantly with „Veteran“, „Poverty For All“, „Let It Burn“ and „Fear Is Our Tradition“. Besides intelligent political statements this tight band knew how to rock. Another highlight became the acoustic performance of „Slowdown“. Aftter „Live For Better Days“ and „Bleeding“ the five Californians left completely satisfied fans.
Whitechapel The US-Deathcore-sixpack opened by „Brimstone“, „Weakness Is Forgiveness“ and „Black Bear“ from their brandnew release „The Valley“. The circle-pits didn’t get less intense during more familiar smashers as „The Void“, „Mark Of The Blade“ and „I, Dementia“. The also new „When A Demon Defiles A Witch“ marked the end of an active, sweaty show.
Beartooth From the opener „Bad Listener“ it became clear this fivepiece from Columbus around bandleader Caleb Shomo would rock the festival area. Besides this new hymns of the current album „Disease“ as „You Never Know“ and its title song invited to dance, jump and singalong as „Aggressive“, „Hated“ and the final „In Between“.
Lamb Of God Pure energy was up to rule over the whole festival area. Lead by the charismatic fronter Randy Blythe „Ruin“, „Walk With Me In Hell“, „Now You’ve Got Something To Die For“ the quintet performed an intense show causing headbanging as remarkable moshpits. After 45 minutes of pure action „Laid To Rest“ and „Redneck“ marked the end of a show, after which fans as musicians needed some wellness.
Flogging Molly After all the hard tones it was time for pure party by Irish Folk. The eight musicians took care of a good mood successfully by the opener „(No More) Paddy’s Lament“, „Drunken Lullabies“, „Devil’s Dancefloor“ as the final „The Seven Deadly Sins“.
Limp Bizkit The biggest name on the billing isn’t necessarily the best. The former megasellers started with „My Generation“ and „Livin’ It Up“, the crowd supported them jumping and singing along. But Fred Durst, Wes Borland & Co wasted time by long breaks with too much talk, inviting fans on stage and so on. „Rollin’“ raised the mood and „Nookie“ seemed to continue this, but at its second chorus they broke up for another long break. „My Way“, their The-Who-cover „Behind Blue Eyes“, „Break Stuff“ and „Take A Look Around“ could have marked the end of a grooving show, but it turned out to a boring presence of some older formerly rock stars.
Medusa Seastage
Gutalax Sometimes Porn Grind is a good opportunity to wake up, especially on the third festival day. The Czech lunatics, all wearing protective suits from head to the feet, honored the toilet brush by „Fart Fart Away“, „Total Rectal“, „Robocock“ and several other nice gruntalongs. The first moshpit of the festival was safe.
The Ocean This was the right band for this stage: The Ocean on the Seastage at the beach by the lake in the early evening. Not just by the name, their Progressive Post Metal created the ideal sound atmosphere to the scenery. Identically to their recent album „Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic“ the quintet began with „The Cambrian Explosion“, „Cambrian II: Eternal Recurrence“ and „Ordovicium: The Galaciation Of Gondwana“. Each song got much applause from the audience. „Benthic: The Origin Of Our Wishes“ finished a wonderful show.
Tesseract The next outstanding band was up to astonish the beachside. The British Djent institution openend by the first three parts of its „Concealing Fate“ – trilogy („Acceptance“, „Deception“, „The Impossible“) from the debut „One“. Their ambitious as groovy Prog-sound, the high-skilled musicians as the variable voice of singer Daniel Tompkins convinced completely as the setlist considering songs from all four masterpieces of the band by „Of Mind – Nocturne“, „Survival“ as the set finishing new video-singles from „Sonder“, „King“ and „Juno“. Phenomenal!
Mantar Whatever the scene hype about this duo from Hamburg is, they couldn’t reproduce this on stage. In comparison to the bands before vibe as groove was clearly inferior. A couple of fans supported „Spit“ as the final „Era Borealis“.
Amorphis It was getting dark in the late evening, and another ideal billing position was this latest beach-slot. From the newer „Queen Of Time“ – opener „The Bee“ over „Sampo“, „Silver Bride“, „House Of Sleep“ and of course the hit from the especially at this location unavoidable „Tales From The Thousand Lakes“ classic („Black Winter Day“). Numerous fans applauded, headbanged and sang along, so this turned out to another unforgettable show on the Seastage.
Hardbowl Tentstage
Turnstile The Hardcore fourpiece with Rock approach from Baltimore entered the stage after their Aretha Franklin – intro and rocked the packed tent from „Generator“ to „Gravity“. Especially fronter Brendan Yates showed his agility running up and down the stage and caught the sympathies of the audience.
Tentstage: Last Supper
Pertubator The „Last Supper“ is back: The festival returned to the classic friday-to-sunday-stage-schedule. And so it was time to dance to the electronic sounds of the French mastermind James Kent, many visitors did so transferring the festival area into a „Future Club“.
Mambo Kurt The final show with party effect couldn’t be better filled than by the Full Force – evergreen Mambo Kurt. For another time he interpreted Metal-, Rock- as Pop-classics with his hammond organ like Rage Against The Machine’s „Killing In The Name“ as Rammstein’s „Engel“, and the spectators took their last chance of this festival-edition to party.
Conclusion:
As you may have noticed we especially enjoyed the Seastage because of its scenery and atmosphere, but also because of its bands fitting to this special location. The organization worked well, especially relating to the watter supply while the a bit too good hot summer weather.
Our special thanks go out to Pia Eilers, Good Live GmbH and the WFF-team!
In the city of iron rocked, drank and partied Tobi Wan Kenobi and Wirwa!
Full Force
After 25 years the formerly known With Full Force got transferred to new organizers. Those ones, who also manage Melt Festival and Splash! Festival both taking place in Ferropolis as well, changed a few details.
The most obvious one is the name: They cut out the „With“, from now on it’s called „Full Force“. Furthermore they returned to the classic lapse of time between friday and sunday instead of one day before like it had happened for the latest two years.
The most remarkable changes to us were the improved as more innovative billing (in contrast to the latest years) and the new invented Medusa Seastage right at the beach utilizing the natural advantages of the lake. This atmosphere emphasized several special moments.
Besides that the unique Ferropolis festival feeling was still present everywhere. The organization ran well, especially the water supply during these hot weekend is mentionable. So the visitors had all to celebrate an attractive program lead by Limp Bizkit, Arch Enemy and Parkway Drive returning after their unforgettable Ferropolis-live-blast one year before.
The prices are on the level of other big festivals (e.g. 3,50 € for 0,3 l beer), the variety of food was as always huge.
In Ferropolis appeared 62 bands on three stages for about 16000 visitors.
Friday
Mad Max Mainstage
Bleeding Through After six years of absence the sixpack from Orange County returned with their album „Love Will Kill All“. So „Welcome back, bitches!“ felt like the right salutation to start their comeback show as this year’s Mainstage program. New („Fade Into The Ash“, „Buried“, „Set Me Free“) as classic („Rise“, „Revenge I Seek“, „Anti-Hero“) material worked well while shouter Brandon Schieppati and constantly banging keyboarder Marta Peterson animated the early present crowd to first motion.
Any Given Day With their new release „Overpower“ the fivepiece from Gelsenkirchen started strong by „Start Over“ and „Loveless“ and impressed by a tight performance as the variable voice of fronter Dennis Diehl. By the following „Endurance“ and „Levels“ they inspired many spectators to jump. This all lead into a respectable wall of death considering the early afternoon as the hot temperatures. „Arise“, „Never Surrender“ and „Savior“ finished a jubilated show.
While She Sleeps Stadium-compatible Metalcore is my definition for the band from Sheffield which is meant completely positive. In front of a huge backdrop vocalist Lawrence Taylor & Co reached the audience celebrating and singing along with „Anti-Social“, „The Guilty Party“ and „Haunt Me“ from their new album „So What“ as the classics „You Are We“, „Four Walls“, „Silence Speaks“ and „Hurricane“. A (live) band we’ll hear more from the next years.
Sick Of It All After those newer sounds it was time for the NYC-Hardcore-veterans to „Wake The Sleeping Dragon!“. By the title track as „Inner Vision“ from their latest output and several familiar songs like „Us Vs. Them“, „Injustice System“, „My Life“ as „Good Lookin’ Out“ the formation around the Koller-brothers took care about pit-action in the audience. They closed the set by their classics „Scratch The Surface“ and „Step Down“.
Behemoth You think Black/Death Metal doesn’t work at Full Force? Definitely wrong, the quartet from Gdansk performed an impressing show. Whether new compositions from „I Love You From Your Darkest“ like the opener „Wolves Of Siberia“, „Bartzabel“ and „Sabbath Mater“ or classics as „Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer“, „Ov Fire And The Void“, „God = Dog“, „Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel“ and „Chant For Eschaton 2000“, supported by lots of pyros and several other special effects the quartet left no doubt about their billing position. Mainman Adam Nergal’s very autobiographic shout (He survived cancer!) „It’s so good be alive!“ also fit to this live experience.
Parkway Drive One year ago the five musicians from Byron Bay performed a bombastic show including lots of special effects and drummer Gaz playing in a vertically circulating drumkit. This year they decided for an extraordinary introduction by walking through the audience to the stage flanked by securities with torches. After this the complete madness began with „Wishing Wells“, „Prey“, „Vice Grip“ and „Karma“. The filled festival area freaked out and sang along with „The Void as „Idols And Anchors“ before the band got support by violinists during „Writings On The Wall“ as „Shadow Boxing“ and finished its regular set by „Wild Eyes“, which got sung along together with thousands of fans’ voices. They returned with amazing fire works and the encores „Crushed“ as „Bottom Feeder“ finishing another outstanding show in flames, smoke and pleasure.
Medusa Seastage
Wolfheart The opening act of this phenomenal stage at the beach was the quartet from Finland. Although a Melodic Death Metal formation doesn’t sound very beach-like, their origin from the land of the thousand lakes may have helped. The audience celebrated „The Hunt“ and „Ghost Of Karelia“ as the newer „Breakwater“, so mainman Tuomas Saukkonen praised the first appearance with spectators in paddling motion.
Municipal Waste After the canceled slot of Black Peaks it was up to the fivepiece from Richmond to push up the beach mood again. Fronter Tony Foresta animated the naked swimmers to a nude pit, but they preferred to stay in the lake. Their fans celebrated „The Art Of Partying“ anyway.
Amenra The Belgian Sludge quartet performed their atmospheric sound with fat riffs and the yelled shouts of vocalist Colin H. Van Eeckhout who appeared with his back to the audience. By the beginning sundown the sound of „Boden“, „Razoreater“, „A Solitary Reign“ as „Diaken“ evolved its total atmosphere.
Cannibal Corpse Ready for the final Grindcore moshpit-fest of the first day? The fivepiece from Florida left no doubt they wanted action, and the well-populated beach didn’t hesitate to move on the beach while the newer „Red Before Black“ as to classics like „Make Them Suffer“ and „Stripped, Raped And Strangled“.
Hardbowl Tentstage
Landmvrks The fivepiece from Marseille enthused by their melodic variable Metalcore in the tent. Their sympathic active performance convinced in the early afternoon, so the spectators supported „Fantasy“, „Blistering“, „Winter“ and „Scars“ by moshpit action as singing along the catchy choruses.
The Amity Affliction The fourpiece assembled numerous fans in the tent right before their fellow Australians were supposed to headline on the neighbored Main Stage. Their supporters celebrated the opener „Drag The Lake“, „Ivy (Doomsday)“, „D.I.E.“ and „Feels Like I’m Dying“ from their current album „Misery“ as classics like „This Could Be Heartbreak“, „Shine On“ and the final „Pittsburgh“. Their riffs and shouts as the bittersweet chorus melodies left no other option than to participate.
Tentstage: Knüppelnacht
Batushka The Black Metal formation from Poland celebrated a black mass with three monks and lots of candles on stage. This strange show left a bunch of questions.
Carach Angren The Dutch Black Metal trio took care about it didn’t become less ridiculous. The whole appearance including „General Nightmare“, „Blood Queen“ and „Pitch Black Box“ as its performance looked like a satire of itself.
Ultha These 45 minutes were the final noise deep in the first night of this year’s Full Force – edition. The Black Metal fourpiece from Cologne gave its best, but just a few visitors were left.
Saturday
Mad Max Mainstage
Annisokay The definite band to open the Mainstage program of the day: The regional Melodic Metalcore heroes joked their backdrop had been too huge to suit the big stage and entertained by their catchy songs like „Coma Blue“, „Good Stories“ and „Unaware“ from their recent album „Arms“ as older tracks like „What’s Wrong“ or „Sky“, the first rows seemed to be familiar with the lyrics anyway.
Crowbar Time was up for the return of the Sludge Doom formation from New Orleans. While opening with the classic „All I Had (I Gave)“ the festival area was pretty empty probably due to the hot temperatured. But Kirk Windstein & Coe achieved to repopulate the place a bit, and those ones shouldn’t regret experiencing „The Cemetary Angels“, „To Carry The Load“ and „Like Broken Glass“.
Bury Tomorrow The fivepiece from Southampton started furious with „No Less Violent“ and let follow several new pit-motivators from their new masterpiece „Black Flame“ as „More Than Mortal“, „Knife Of Gold“, „The Age“ and the title track as finisher. Their fans celebrated them as formerly released hymns like „Earthbound“ and „Last Light“. The supporters took care about permanent moshpit-action and singalongs during the clean vocal choruses.
At The Gates When the Gothenburg Melodic Death Metal inventors opened with the title track of their current album „To Drink From The Night Itself“ and let follow „Slaughter Of The Soul“ as „At War With Reality“. By time more fans populated the festival area, but whether the new „A Stare Bound In Stone“ and „The Colors Of The Beast“ or the classics „Suicide Nation“, „Blinded By Fear“ as „The Night Eternal“ should have deserved more headbangers.
Knorkator The Comedy Metal formation from Berlin assembled numerous of fans in front of the stage and entertained by a funny as tight played best of set consisting of „Kurz Und Klein“, „Böse“, „Alter Mann“ as the covers from Ace Of Base („All That She Wants“) and Boney M. („Ma Baker“). The show was sympathic as well, all those gimmicks as vocalist Stumpen running in a huge ball over the audience were more than well-entertaining. With „Zähneputzen, Pullern Und Ab Ins Bett“ and „Wir Werden Alle Sterben“ they bid farewell from an enthused crowd.
Arch Enemy After the Metalcore heroes of Parkway Drive the night before and the Crossover icon Limp Bizkit the following one I didn’t know how the Metal headliner on saturday would convince the visitors. Of course they couldn’t reach the moshpit action as the Australians the night before, but the festival area was populated. So supported by several pyro effects „Ravenous“, „War Eternal“, „My Apocalypse“, „You Will Know My Name“, „Under Black Flags We March“ and „As The Pages Burn“ fronter Alissa White-Gluz and the technically-skilled instrumental fraction caused loud reactions as headbanging support.
Medusa Seastage
Harakiri For The Sky The Austrian sixpack wasn’t probably used to perform their Black Metal in the hot sun on the beach. Anyway, „Calling The Rain“, „Lungs Filled With Water“ and „Jhater“ found its applause by sunbathers and lakeswimmers.
Infected Rain The Moldovan breakthrough band was the right act to rock the beach. Their Metalcore with a couple of Djent-riffs and the variable voice of Lena Scissorheads worked very well, especially the technicians had solved the microphone problems in the beginning of the set. So „Mold“ and „Orphan Soul“ found as much support as „Passerby“ and „The Earth Mantra“ from their forthcoming album.
Animals As Leaders The technically high skilled trio from Washington, D.C. didn’t assemble that many fans in front of the stage than the Moldovans before, but they left many mouths open by their instrumental monsters. The astonishing performance of „Wave Of Babies“, „Tempting Time“, „The Brain Dance“ as their video-single CAFO left no doubt about this appearance was a special showcase to most of the present visitors.
Alcest The French formation around mainman Neige drowned the beach as the lake into the riffs of their atmospheric compositions in the evening. Numerous spectators enjoyed „Autre Temps“, „Kodama“, Percées De Lumière“ and „Là Où Naissent Les Couleurs Nouvelles“ which could easily be scilled by much applause.
Zeal & Ardor Another outstanding act should complete saturday’s Seastage action: The Avangarde Black Metal project around Manuel Gagneux surprised and fascinated with their mixture between straight Black Metal riffs as shouts and Gospel vocals. Supported by two co-singers „Blood In The River“, „Built On Ashes“ and the hymn „Devil Is Fine developped its potential with an inspiring effect on the astonished crowd.
Tentstage: Impericon Hardbowl
Jinjer The Ukrainian fourpiece is on a triumphant march through any festival confirming them. Suited in a golden outfit vocalist Tatiana Shmaylyuk and her comrades gave everything and got everything from a curious crowd. „Words Of Wisdom“, „I Speak Astronomy“, the wonderful semi-ballad „Pisces“ and the set finishing „Sit Stay Roll Over“ caused a couple of moshpits and much jubilation.
Terror Isn’t the Hardcore legend from Los Angeles to huge for the Tentstage? Maybe, but so their performance became a special highlight in a packed tent including lots of energy on as in front of the stage. From the beginning by „Lowest Of The Low“, „Stick Tight“ and „Overcome“ band as crowd were one and the circle-pits didn’t let wait too long. By „This World Never Wanted Me“ and „Mental Demolition“ the fivepiece from the west coast presented two tracks from their latest output „Total Retaliation“. Of course the classics „One With The Underdogs“, „Spit My Rage“, „Always The Hard Way“ and „Keep Your Mouth Shut“ caused the loudest as wildest reactions.
Tentstage: Saturday Night Fever
Kadavar After the Death Metal inferno on the neighbored Mainstage the chilled Stoner Rock was the right sound change to direct the evening to a relaxed end. „Come Back Life“, „Doomsday Machine“, etc. earned much applause.
Orange Goblin The fourpiece from London continued this doomy Stoner Rock atmosphere with „Sons Of Salem“ from their recent „The Wolf Bites Back“ release. Besides the also new „Renegade“ the quartet played a best of set containing „They Come Back (Harvest Of Skulls)“ as „Red Tide Rising“ and covered Motörhead by „No Class“.
Sunday
Mad Max Mainstage
Walking Dead On Broadway The Deathcore locals from the close city of Leipzig returned to Full Force to invite the first spectators for action. Most of them preferred a bath in the sea while it was extremely hot.
Ignite Pretty early billing position for the quintet from Orange County. But even heat couldn’t stop them starting fulminantly with „Veteran“, „Poverty For All“, „Let It Burn“ and „Fear Is Our Tradition“. Besides intelligent political statements this tight band knew how to rock. Another highlight became the acoustic performance of „Slowdown“. Aftter „Live For Better Days“ and „Bleeding“ the five Californians left completely satisfied fans.
Whitechapel The US-Deathcore-sixpack opened by „Brimstone“, „Weakness Is Forgiveness“ and „Black Bear“ from their brandnew release „The Valley“. The circle-pits didn’t get less intense during more familiar smashers as „The Void“, „Mark Of The Blade“ and „I, Dementia“. The also new „When A Demon Defiles A Witch“ marked the end of an active, sweaty show.
Beartooth From the opener „Bad Listener“ it became clear this fivepiece from Columbus around bandleader Caleb Shomo would rock the festival area. Besides this new hymns of the current album „Disease“ as „You Never Know“ and its title song invited to dance, jump and singalong as „Aggressive“, „Hated“ and the final „In Between“.
Lamb Of God Pure energy was up to rule over the whole festival area. Lead by the charismatic fronter Randy Blythe „Ruin“, „Walk With Me In Hell“, „Now You’ve Got Something To Die For“ the quintet performed an intense show causing headbanging as remarkable moshpits. After 45 minutes of pure action „Laid To Rest“ and „Redneck“ marked the end of a show, after which fans as musicians needed some wellness.
Flogging Molly After all the hard tones it was time for pure party by Irish Folk. The eight musicians took care of a good mood successfully by the opener „(No More) Paddy’s Lament“, „Drunken Lullabies“, „Devil’s Dancefloor“ as the final „The Seven Deadly Sins“.
Limp Bizkit The biggest name on the billing isn’t necessarily the best. The former megasellers started with „My Generation“ and „Livin’ It Up“, the crowd supported them jumping and singing along. But Fred Durst, Wes Borland & Co wasted time by long breaks with too much talk, inviting fans on stage and so on. „Rollin’“ raised the mood and „Nookie“ seemed to continue this, but at its second chorus they broke up for another long break. „My Way“, their The-Who-cover „Behind Blue Eyes“, „Break Stuff“ and „Take A Look Around“ could have marked the end of a grooving show, but it turned out to a boring presence of some older formerly rock stars.
Medusa Seastage
Gutalax Sometimes Porn Grind is a good opportunity to wake up, especially on the third festival day. The Czech lunatics, all wearing protective suits from head to the feet, honored the toilet brush by „Fart Fart Away“, „Total Rectal“, „Robocock“ and several other nice gruntalongs. The first moshpit of the festival was safe.
The Ocean This was the right band for this stage: The Ocean on the Seastage at the beach by the lake in the early evening. Not just by the name, their Progressive Post Metal created the ideal sound atmosphere to the scenery. Identically to their recent album „Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic“ the quintet began with „The Cambrian Explosion“, „Cambrian II: Eternal Recurrence“ and „Ordovicium: The Galaciation Of Gondwana“. Each song got much applause from the audience. „Benthic: The Origin Of Our Wishes“ finished a wonderful show.
Tesseract The next outstanding band was up to astonish the beachside. The British Djent institution openend by the first three parts of its „Concealing Fate“ – trilogy („Acceptance“, „Deception“, „The Impossible“) from the debut „One“. Their ambitious as groovy Prog-sound, the high-skilled musicians as the variable voice of singer Daniel Tompkins convinced completely as the setlist considering songs from all four masterpieces of the band by „Of Mind – Nocturne“, „Survival“ as the set finishing new video-singles from „Sonder“, „King“ and „Juno“. Phenomenal!
Mantar Whatever the scene hype about this duo from Hamburg is, they couldn’t reproduce this on stage. In comparison to the bands before vibe as groove was clearly inferior. A couple of fans supported „Spit“ as the final „Era Borealis“.
Amorphis It was getting dark in the late evening, and another ideal billing position was this latest beach-slot. From the newer „Queen Of Time“ – opener „The Bee“ over „Sampo“, „Silver Bride“, „House Of Sleep“ and of course the hit from the especially at this location unavoidable „Tales From The Thousand Lakes“ classic („Black Winter Day“). Numerous fans applauded, headbanged and sang along, so this turned out to another unforgettable show on the Seastage.
Hardbowl Tentstage
Turnstile The Hardcore fourpiece with Rock approach from Baltimore entered the stage after their Aretha Franklin – intro and rocked the packed tent from „Generator“ to „Gravity“. Especially fronter Brendan Yates showed his agility running up and down the stage and caught the sympathies of the audience.
Tentstage: Last Supper
Pertubator The „Last Supper“ is back: The festival returned to the classic friday-to-sunday-stage-schedule. And so it was time to dance to the electronic sounds of the French mastermind James Kent, many visitors did so transferring the festival area into a „Future Club“.
Mambo Kurt The final show with party effect couldn’t be better filled than by the Full Force – evergreen Mambo Kurt. For another time he interpreted Metal-, Rock- as Pop-classics with his hammond organ like Rage Against The Machine’s „Killing In The Name“ as Rammstein’s „Engel“, and the spectators took their last chance of this festival-edition to party.
Conclusion:
As you may have noticed we especially enjoyed the Seastage because of its scenery and atmosphere, but also because of its bands fitting to this special location. The organization worked well, especially relating to the watter supply while the a bit too good hot summer weather.
Our special thanks go out to Pia Eilers, Good Live GmbH and the WFF-team!
In the city of iron rocked, drank and partied Tobi Wan Kenobi and Wirwa!