Dong Open Air
Happy birthday, Dong Open Air! Who would have thought this festival had become such a success? Well, maybe not the most of you. But following this open air from its 3rd edition, when the festival moved to the nowadays legendary Dong hill, we’ve been able to experience the evolution of the DOA.
After „Paraskavedekatriaphobia“ in 2018 the slogan of this year’s DOA-edition simply was „Holidays In The Sun“, which describes the general festival feeling on the Dong hill more than well. In 2019 the weather wasn’t as sunny, but it couldn’t as didn’t disturb the atmosphere.
Again the organizers managed to confirm a colorful billing containing „the most sexual band of the planet“, the hardrockers of Steel Panther, Alestorm, Kataklysm as the 90ies-Crossover-icon Dog Eat Dog and many others.
The organization over the weekend ran well. The prices for food as beverages still were pretty okay. The special beer-creation Nestor Hopped Imperial Alt was very recommendable. On the Dong hill 28 bands appeared in three days for about 2500 fans.
Thursday
Empyreal (W:O:A Metal Battle) As on former editions DOA 2019 started with the Germany-final of the „WOA Metal Battle“. The Bavarian fivepiece presented its Melodic Death Metal from the just released album „My Own Living Hell“ and took care about the first headbangers.
Source Of Rage (W:O:A Metal Battle) The northern semi-final-winners had the advantage of the later slot when more metalheads were present. Their Melodic Death Metal was a bit more groove-orientated. Mainly basing on their full-length-debut „Release The Scope“ they reached more reactions as the jury’s vote for winning the national competition including a live slot at this year’s Wacken Open Air.
Angelinc The first band of the regular program continued on this volume level. The formation from the close city of Duisburg performed their Thrash Metal with a lot headbanging. Tracks as „The One“ took care about flying hair wasn’t only seen on stage.
Elvellon From the even closer town of Moers came the following quartet. Lead by vocalist Nele Messerschmitt their Symphonic Metal achieved the first spectators’ singalongs by the title track of their album „Until Dawn“ and „Born From Hope“.
Wulfpäck The Bavarian trio enforced the speed again. „War Ain’t Over!“ wasn’t just the title of their latest output this evening. So their Thrash Metal animated the first rows to headbang.
Septicflesh As first of the bigger bands the quintet from Athens of course assembled numerous fans in the tent. Their bombastic Death Metal animated to headbang to „Anubis“, „The Vampire From Nazareth“ as „Communion“.
Battle Beast Even more bombastic it became when the sixpack from Helsinki entered the stage. The Deer Antler of front-siren Noora Louhimo was the obvious eye-catcher, an unnecessary one beccause her voice was flashy enough. Her yodelling was too much for my ears, but the packed tent enjoyed „Black Ninja“, „Beyond The Burning Skies“, „Out Of Control“ and „Bastard Son Of Odin“ anyway.
Kataklysm The Death Metal institution from Montreal played the exclusive open air show of 2022 which shows the risen importance of the DOA. Fronter Maurizio Iacono emphasized their choice for this festival, and the following set showed this had been the definitely right decision. The crowd celebrated newer songs like „Black Sheep“ and „Narcissist“ as classics like „As I Slither“, „Taking The World By Storm“, „In Shadows And Dust“ and „Crippled And Broken“ by massive headbanging, several crowdsurfers and a huge moshpit.
Friday
Snakebite The four hardrockers from the close city of Essen were the right choice to open the second day while noon. Playing a well-balanced set between their two albums „Princess Of Pain“ and „Rise Of The Snake“, they assembled many of their supporters in front of the stage who took care about the first singalongs.
Victim The following trio had a harder excercise to enthuse the emptier tent. At least their Thrash Metal animated a couple of headbangers.
Craving Same challenge to the formation from North Germany when they began by the title track and „Penelope’s Prayer“ from their latest album „By The Storm“. Over their set more and more metalheads celebrated their Pagan Metal.
Deathcode Society The French formation entered the stage wearing robes and pest masks, what seemed a bit too theatralic. Sad to hear their sound went the same way acoustically. „The Mark Of Cain“ as „Seraphic Requiem“ satisfied Symphonic Black Metal fans, to me that was too much in every way.
The Crimson Ghosts Horrorpunk was about to entertain the crowd. And so the formation from Cologne did by the opener „Patchwork Fuckface“, „Bloodred“, „Rebirth“ and of course by the final Metallica-cover „Creeping Death“.
Impureza The following fivepiece from Orléans raised the brutality factor. Their Death Metal in Spanish language attracted more and more fans, which celebrated „Ternhair“, „Leyendra Negra“ as „El Gitano Maldito“.
Storm Seeker The sixpack from the close Neuss assembled many fans into the tent. Those ones partied to their buccaneering Folk Metal like „Pirate Squad“ or „Drag O Below“ from their brandnew fulllength debut „Beneath In The Cold“.
Dog Eat Dog Everything was set for the 90ies party with the Crossover kings and radio as television heavy rotation act of those days. Opening by „In The Doghouse“ and „Pull My Finger“ band as crowd left no doubt they wanted to party. So they did by jumping and singing along during „Who’s The King?“, „Isms“ as „Rocky“. Final highlight of course became the mega hit „No Fronts“. Nearly as sympathic became the showed attitude of the guys walking across the festivalsite without any star appeal after their show. Later facing him being asked in „Terminator“-tone „Are you Joe Connor?“ the so-named vocalist
answered: „Come with me if you want to live.“ Outstanding!
Insomnium After several times of Amorphis participations on the Dong hill it was time for another band from Finland it had been clear about they’d rock the DOA-audience. „Down With The Sun“, „Mortal Share“, „The Killjoy“ and „Where The Last Wave Broke“ animated numerous headbangers and crowdsurfers to interact. After „One For Sorrow“ and „While We Sleep“ the quartet left a satisfied crowd, hurting necks as raspy voices in the next morning guaranteed.
Alestorm Many spectators waited for the pirate party. The Scottish fivepiece fulfilled this wish celebrating „Keelhauled“, „The Sunk’n Norwegian“, the next-morning-prognosis „Hangover“, „Mexico“ and the older as for year unplayed „The Quest“ and „Black Sails At Midnight“ together. Not my sense ouf humor in the first place, but the fans’ party approach got satisfied.
Saturday
Rising Insane What a start into the third day: The Metalcore quintet from Bremen enthused by a tight as agile performance. „Running Wheel“, „Noises“ as the title song of their debut album „Nation“ motivated to early hour motion in front of the stage.
Solar Fragment The Melodic Metal formation from Dortmund assembled pretty many specators in the tent in relation to the daytime. Considering their both full-length records by „To Thy Crown“ as „In Our Hands“ they got much support.
Silius Not less supporters found their place in front of the stage when the Austrian riffed their Thrash Metal into the audience. The musicians obviously had fun on stage after their long journey to the dong hill and earned much tribute from the crowd.
Blessed Hellride Optically as musically the following band showed it’s preference for Southern Rock (‘n’ Roll). Of course this appearance found its applauding support while others enjoyed the weather outside.
Hideous Divinity The fivepiece from Rome didn’t hesitate to fire its Thrash Metal grenades into the audience. Besides a few headbangers and a bit motion many specators didn’t move too much due to the hot temperatures in the tent.
Bloodywood The most exotic band of this year’s DOA was without no doubt the sixpiece from New Delhi, India. With two vocalists, a percussionist, a flute and a few other Folk instruments from India besides the traditional set-up the crowd freaked out to „Mundian To Bach Ke Rahi“, „Ari Ari“ as „Endurant“. More of that!
Dust Bolt Three years after their DOA-premiere the Thrash Metal quartet from Munich returned onto the hill. By „Killing Time“ and „Rhythm To My Madness“ they considered material from their new output „Trapped In Chaos“ besides classics as „Soul Erazor“ and „Toxic Attack“. But after the breakthrough performance from India they had a hard exercise to do on stage resulting just in a couple of headbangers.
Deserted Fear Pure Death Metal was up to follow. The fourpiece from East Germany, well-known from appearances at the Party San in their home region as several other tours and festivals, motivated to headbang by material from their new release „Drowned By Humanity“ („Welcome To Reality“, „All Will Fall“, „The Final Chapter“) as more familiar tracks („Mortal Reign“, „Field Of Death“, „Bury Your Dead“).
Steel Panther The DOA-tent was as packed as it probably had never been before. The Glam Rock shooting stars opened the party by „Eyes Of A Panther“ and „Goin’ In The Backdoor“. Considering by „All I Wanna Do Is Fuck (Myself Tonight)“ a brandnew track from the forthcoming album as cover versions by „You Really Got Me“ (The Kinks) and „Crazy Train“ (Ozzy Osbourne), Michael Starr, Satchel & Co always knew to entertain, even by a couple of jokes relating the one special meaning of Dong and the attitude of the band. Of course they invited as many women on stage to perform „17 Girls In A Row“. „Community Property“, „Death To All But Metal“ and the encore „Gloryhole“ marked the end of a memorable show on the hill.
Gloryhammer As the night before the day ended with party-compatible Metal from UK: The fivepiece mainly concentrated on their new release „Legend Beyond The Galactic „Terrorvortex“ by „The Siege Of Dunkeld (In Hoots We Trust)“, „Gloryhammer“, „The Land Of Unicorns“, „Hootsforce“ and „Masters Of The Galaxy“, which got celebrated as much as their older hymns. Besides that the band could entertain by a dance competition for men. By „The Unicorn Invasion Of Dundee“ ended a well-entertaining gig.
Conclusion:
Besides the moderate weather everything went nearly perfect for the DOA-organization. All planned bands played, and no short-term circumstances disturbed the running organization. Thanks go out to Benjamin „Colamann“ Munsch and the DOA-team! At the Dong Open Air drank, rocked and partied Tobi Wan Kenobi, Dennis & Ines!