Summer Breeze
Every year’s summer festival season got its great final in South Germany.
The over years evoluted set-up gets optimized each edition. This year the fourth stage got enlarged and a tent roof. Besides that the name changed from Camel Stage to Wera Tool Rebel Stage. Their new sponsor probably had been unknown to most of the visitors, but the tool company impressed by its huge balloon in screwdriver form flying over the Summer Breeze the following days. The infield as the campground got a bit optimized. The beween the fans placed Ficken Party Stage got an upgrade, especially by a more attracting program. And not too forget the T-Stage and the unique Main Stage with a circulating stage set reducing the changeovers. Respect to the crew surely doing an outstanding job between two appearances over that short period.
Lead by the headliners Avantasia, Parkway Drive and Bullet For My Valentine the Summer Breeze offered for another time a very attractive billing considering all the Metal subgenres as showing several shows of bands you hadn’t seen before over the festival summer 2019. As usual the organization ran well. After a few theft incidents the visitors got informed by the digital screens to be careful. The crew as security was relaxed and well-informed due to any spectators’ questions. At this year’s Summer Breeze 130 bands appeared on 5 stages in four days for about 40000 visitors (Sold out!).
Wednesday
T-Stage
Blasmusik Illenschwang As each year the local brass band opened the Summer Breeze. The metalheads celebrated the traditional SB-start by the probably most exotic act of the festival.
Nailed To Obscurity The nowadays most exciting German Melodic Death Metal band began by the title track from their new album „Black Frost“. Their tight performance as their dynamic sound caused much headbanging action in the audience and probably early festival neck pain on thursday morning. „King Delusion“ and „Desolate Ruin“ set the first highlights of this long weekend.
Death Angel Bay Area Thrash invaded the infield by the strong „Thrown To The Wolves“. Mark Osegueda, Rob Cavestany & Co left no doubt they wanted action in the still sunny early evening. First crowdsurfers got sighted, most of the fans headbanged to „Voracious Souls“, „The Moth“, „The Ultra-Violence“ as the title song of their new release „Humanicide“.
Soilwork The Swedish Melodic Death Metal institution assembled even more supporters in front of the stage. By the opener „Visitor“, „Full Moon Shoals“, „The Nurturing Glance“ and the final „Stalfagel“ vocalist Björn Strid and his bandmates considered four songs of their new album „Verkligheten“. Besides headbanging and crowdsurfing their fans celebrated the appearance by singing along to „The Living Infinite I“, „The Ride Majestic“ as „Stabbing The Drama“.
Hypocrisy The slots of the Nuclear Blast night on the biggest stage of the day (The Main Stage generally starts on thursday.) were pretty ideal to reach many spectators, who populated the infield of the T-Stage and celebrated the show from the midtempo-smasher „Fractured Millenium“ on. For fans of their older days the fourpiece performed a medley consisting of „Pleasure Of Molestation“, „Osculum Obscenum“ and „Penetralia“. To the pleasure of their fans mainman Peter Tägtgren announced a new album (Not too bad after six years. ;-)). By the encore „Roswell 47“ ended a jubilated show.
Enslaved The quintet from Bergen performed their late night show around midnight, which worked pretty well with illuminated trees in the background of the T-Stage. So their variable Black Metal including its atmospheric touch and the alternating vocals between the grunting fronter Grutle Kjellson and those clean ones of keyboarder Hakon Vinje convinced from „Ethica Odini“ to „Allfodr Odinn“.
Knasterbart What was that? The collaboration between musicians of the Folk-combos Versengold and Mr. Hurley Und Die Pulveraffen played a pretty ridiculous gig. When the cover versions „Cotton Eye Joe“ and „Centerfold“ get the loudest reactions, it’s time to leave. So did most of the present spectators, and so did I.
Wera Tool Rebel Stage
Loathe This kind of Progressive Industrial Metalcore kicked it. The music of the fivepiece from the UK sounded as colorful as their outfits looked like. Between agressive shouts as hard riffs and clean vocals as atmospheric sounds everything was cabable acoustically. Fronter Kadeem France transferred his agillity into the crowd while the band performed an exciting set mainly basing on their debut „The Cold Sun“ by „East Of Eden“ the self-named „Loathe“ as „White Hot“.
Letters From The Colony Although I was very tired from a long day starting the trip to Dinkelsbühl in the night before over the arrival and several drinks later, I wanted to see the Prog Death Metal quintet after I had experienced them at the latest Euroblast Festival. So I stayed awake with one colleague alternating beer with coffee each order and shouldn’t regret it. The Swedes performed a brilliant show sounding similar to Meshuggah with a few more atmospheric parts. So fans of the Tech Death icon appearing the following day shouldn’t have missed this amazing concert from „Terminus“ to the outstanding „Galax“.
Thursday
Main Stage
Iron Reagan Sympathic: In front of a small backdrop not nearly covering the stage’s background the fivepiece from Virginia didn’t care about the rain and celebrated with the present fans their Crossover. Besides „I Won’t Go“, „Fuck The Neighbours“ and „Miserable Failure“ they performed a cool interpretation of Cannibal Corpse’s „A Skull Full Of Maggots“.
Lord Of The Lost The young Gothic Rock formation started with six titles from their current „Thornstar“. The rain had already been done, and so frequently more visitors arrived on the infield. Good timing, so those ones could support the more well-known „Full Metal Whore“, „Drag Me To Hell“, „Six Feet Underground“ and their „La Bomba“ – cover.
Versengold The next act from North Germany was the sevenpiece considering their brandnew release „Nordlicht“ by „Durch Den Sturm“, „Thekenmädchen“, „Teufelstanz“, „Der Tag, An Dem Die Götter Sich Betranken“ and „Braune Pfeifen“. Their fans celebrated their Folk Rock party dancing as singing along, while others went to Mustasch at the T-Stage.
Avatar The five madmen from Gothenburg opened by „Hail The Apocylpse“, which was a good headline for the following hour. The colorful show was a bit too much show to me while each track sounded different. What could be interpreted as a strength resulted in an ordinary sound. So the final „Smells Like A Freakshow described this performance all too well.
Clawfinger To the intro of their Bond-adaption „Clawfinger“ the five Crossover veterans entered the stage to celebrate a pure 90ies party. The crowd especially jumped to the classics „Rosegrove“, „Nigger“, „Warfair“ and „The Truth“. And when the technics didn’t work and the child-jingle of „Do What I Say“ couldn’t be played, band as fans dealt with it shouting along.
Kvelertak From the opener „Apenbaring“ on the new fronter Ivar Nikolaisen and his five companions from Stavanger left no doubt about this combination came to rock. Several circle-pits and Walls Of Deaths followed in the audience. By time this Black ‘n’ Punk became a bit monotonous, but the fans had fun.
Testament Not less pit-action of course happened while „Into The Pit“. The Bay Area Thrash icon didn’t come to chill together in the early evening. „More Than Meets The Eye“ and „D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate)“ set the signs for action. „Low“, „Practise What You Preach“ as „Disciples Of The Watch“ kept their fans in motion by headbanging and pit-action.
In Flames What happened to the Melodic Death Metal co-inventors from Gothenburg they don’t headline festivals anymore? I don’t know, but this appearance showed they’re still able to. Supported by Chris Broderick (known from Jag Panzer, Nevermore and Megadeth) who replaced Niklas Engelin for this show the infield got fileld with numerous fans celebrating „Pinball Map“, „The Chosen Pessimist“, „Colony“, „Cloud Connected“ as „The Mirror’s Truth“.
Avantasia The Symphonic Metal project of Tobias Sammet have become a huge production with a backcatalogue over nine albums. The newest one „Moonglow“ got considered by the opener „Ghost In The Moon“, „Book Of Shallows“, „Alchemy“ and „Invincible“. The rest of the set resulted in a best of during which he got vocal support by Jorn Lande (ex-Masterplan, Ark, etc.), Bob Catley (Magnum) and Geoff Tate (ex-Queensryche). No matter technically, but too much theater over too long time. In Flames was the better (co-)headliner this night.
Meshuggah Finally: Over years the SB-organizers tried to book the Tech Death gods, but something always prevented it. Anyway, the hard riffs of „Rational Gaze“ and „Future Breed Machine“ set clear standards to headbang. And by the ideal billing position around midnight the outstanding light show exactly fitting to the music could reach its full effect. Lead by front mimic talent Jens Kidman these 75 minutes became an absolute highlight of the weekend finished by „Bleed“ and „Demiurge“.
Cradle Of Filth The British Black Metal institution performed a special show playing their 21 years old album „Cruelty And The Beast“ in its entirety from „Thirteen Autumns And A Widow“ and the fan-fave „Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids“ to „Lustmord And Wargasm (The Lick Of Carnivorous Winds“). Mainman Dani Filth set his screams, keyboarder Lindsay Schoolcraft the dark female vocals and the band interpreted their classics tight.
T-Stage
Mustasch 45 minutes of pure Heavy Rock ‘n’ Roll and fun got offered by the quartet from Gothenburg. Lead by the charismatic as pretty well German speaking fronter Ralf Gyllenhammer the opener „Down In Black“, „Bring Me Everyone“, the new „Blood In, Blood Out“ from the forthcoming album“, „Thank You For The Demon“ as the final band hymn „Double Nature“ performed a jubilated show.
Unearth Every appearance of the Metalcore fivepiece is an experience of action and pure energy. So became this one. After „Incinerate“ and „Survivalist“ of their recent album „Extinction(s)“ they left no doubt about this by the smashers „This Lying World“, „Giles“ and „Zombie Autopilot“. Activated by the outstanding riffs of Buz McGrath and Ken Susi as by the shouts of Trevor Phipps the fans headbanged and took part in cirle-pits. No wonder, songs like „Watch It Burn“, „My Will Be Done“ and „The Great Dividers“ left no other option.
Of Mice & Men It was the first time in Dinkelsbühl for the quartet from Orange County. Their Metalcore between hard riffs and catchy melodies just was the right soundtrack in the evening. After beginning with „Warzone“ they introduced by „Mushroom Cloud“ as „Earth & Sky“ two new songs from the forthcoming album, especially the riff of the second one enthused. The band obviously hat fun, so had the fans in the moshpit while „Unbreakable“, „Instincts“ and „You Make Me Sick“.
Wera Tool Rebel Stage
The Contortionist After a few club shows this was the first festival show of the sixpiece from Indianapolis to me. And these 45 minutes should become one of the very highlights of this weekend. To the pleaure of the audience the high-skilled musicians and the wonderful voice of Mike Lessard created a unique festival atmosphere under the stage roof deep in the night by the opener „The Clairvoyant“, „Reimagined“, „Early Grave“ as „Return To Earth“. Amazing!
Friday
Main Stage
After The Burial What a blast! The Prog Death formation from Minneapolis probably woke up everybody, even those who could resist the sun. Their Djent riffs and breakdowns animated the crowd to move as to circle-pits in the early noon while others asked their neighbors if this was real. From the opener „Lost in Static“ on there was no question about if this was special. By „Behold The Crown“ and „Exit, Exist“ they considered their new masterpiece „Evergreen“. It was good to see the band on stage after their loss of guitarist Justin Lowe four years ago. With their classic „A Wolf Amongst Ravens“ one of the best wake-up-calls of all times found its end.
Beast In Black The Finnish fivepiece played a well-balanced set between material from their new ooutput „From Hell With Love“ (the opener „Cry Out For A Hero“, „Unlimited Sin“, „No Surrender“, „Die By The Blade“, „True Believer“) and their earlier two records. By „The End Of The World“ the end of the show got fulfilled.
Kissin’ Dynamite The act from South Germany didn’t have such a long way as most of the other bands. From „I’ve Got The Fire“ to „Flying Colours“ their Hard Rock fit to the sunny atmosphere. Just the masquerade of the singer for „I Will Be King“ with crown and robe was a bit too much.
Queensryche Geoff Tate is one of my favorite singers, but Todd La Torre who replaced him years ago didn’t let him miss by another outstanding performance. After „Blood Of The Levant“ from their new album „The Verdict“ the Prog Metal icon from Seattle let follow an awesome setlist of undying classics. „Operation: Mindcrime“, „Walk In The Shadows“, „Queen Of The Reich“, „Jet City Woman“, „Empire“ and the final „Eyes Of A Stranger“ might have let not so many wishes open despite their huge backcatalogue. What an epic hour!
Dragonforce The UK-Speed-fanatics performed their show with a an impressive stage set. The technically great performance of the opener „Ashes Of The Dawn“, „Fury Of The Storm“ as their band hymn „Through The Fire And Flames“ satisfied their supporters, but probably didn’t win that many new.
Skindred After the mighty „Imperial March“ of „Star Wars“ as their intro the UK-Crossover-formation left no doubt they wanted action on the infield. Fronter Benji animated the crowd to jump again and again to their sound somewhere between Reggae and Rock ‘n’ Roll. With groove-monsters like the opener „Sound The Siren“, „Rat Race“ as „Nobody“ this intention didn’t even become a little problem.
Airbourne Definitely more Rock ‘n’ Roll than Reggae was the following act, which had often been called the successor of their fellow countrymen from AC/DC. The opener „Ready To Rock“ emphasized this after which their biggest hit „Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast“ followed. By „Boneshaker“ the fourpiece around the O’Keefe brothers presented a new track from their forthcoming record. Besides this they concentrated on older material which worked pretty well relating to the crowd’s reactions when „Runnin’ Wild“ marked the end of the show.
King Diamond The huge scary horror house impressed as an incomparable stage set. These 75 minutes became a real pleasure for all fans of his majesty. Although he got assisted by Livia Zita’s backing vocals in the high notes, which is more than understandable in his age. Besides presenting by „Masquerade Of Madness“ a new title the Danish legend celebrated with their numerous fans Metal classics like „Arrival“, „Welcome Home“, „The Invisible Guests“, „Sleepless Nights“ as the final „Black Horsemen“.
Parkway Drive Down Under’s finest filled up the infield by lots of supporters. And through this crowd four of the Byron Bay boys walked together with torchbearers to the stage. Except bassist Jia O’Connor who had broken his leg and appeared in a wheelchair over the set. For another time the band performed an intense show supported by several pyros and other special effects. „Prey“, „Carrion“, „Vice Grip“ as „Idols And Anchors“. For „Writings On The Wall“ and „Shadow Boxing“ they got support by four violinists creating a wonderful atmosphere. By the encores „Crushed“ and the stamping „Bottom Feeder“ they finished another phenomenal show.
Hammerfall After the headliner many fans left the infield. Those who stayed saw a solid gig of the Swedish Melodic Metal fivepiece. By „Renegade“, „One Against The World“ (from the brandnew release „Dominion“ which just got released on this day), „Riders Of The Storm“ as the encores „Templars Of Steel“, „(We Make) Sweden Rock“ and „Hearts On Fire“ they got jubilated by their fans who probably had seen them better.
Emperor Deep in the night Ihsan and his comrades showed who still owns the Black Metal throne. Tight es a clockwork they performed „Thus Spake The Nightspirit“, „With Strength I Burn“ as the encores „Curse You All Men“, „I Am The Black Wizards“ and „Inno A Satana“. So this became an epic hour for all fans.
T-Stage
Rotting Christ The fourpiece from Athens entertained by their dark midtempo titles. They considered by the opener „Hallowed Be Thy Name“, „Fire, God And Fear“ and „Dies Irae“ three songs from their new album „The Heretics“ and enthused even more by familiar tracks like the Thou Art Lord cover „Societas Satanas“, „King Of A Stellar War“ or „In Xumen-Xibalba“.
Zeal & Ardor Manuel Gagneux and his musicians an insider tip any longer. Their mixture between Black Metal and Gospel assembled numerous fans and rubbernecks in front of the T-Stage. And those got more than just entertained by „In Ashes“, „Gravedigger’s Chant“, „Built On Ashes“ as „Devil Is Fine“. This hour turned out to a great performance of a unique style.
Cypecore Ten years ago the band from Southwest Germany participated in the „New Blood Award“ starting the Summer Breeze 2009. This year they appeared as last band of the day / night. From the title track of their recent album „The Alliance“ to „Saint Of Zion“ they showed their respectable musical evolution which resulted in applause by anybody present physically as mentally.
Wera Tool Rebel Stage
Unprocessed The sensation in the Djent-/Prog-scene impressed by their briliant instrumental abilities combined with the various compositions. By its title song, „Fear“, „Abandoned“ and „The Movements, Their Echoes“ they performed many songs from their brandnew album, which hat got just released a week before. Those as the self-titled „Unprocessed“ and the mighty „Haven“ showed a much promising band on its way to the top.
Saturday
Main Stage
Evergreen Terrace Six years ago shouter Andrew Carey was a bit too drunk. This time everyone was sober on stage in the sunny noon, so the fivepiece from Jacksonville could display its full power by „Where There Is Fire, We Will Carry Gasoline“, the Tears For Fears cover „Mad World“, „No Donnie, These Men Are Nihilist“ as their hit „Chaney Can’t Quite Riff Like Helmet’s Page Hamilton“ causing a couple of pits. „Enemy Sex“ finished a performance which showed Evergreen Terrace is back.
Brainstorm The Power Metal that had ever worked at Summer Breeze got performed by the quintet from the close city of Stuttgart. The clear as powerful voice of Andy B. Franck and a tight instrumental performance enthused the too few fans by „World’s Comin’ Through“, „All Those Words“ as „Firesoul“.
Van Canto The A-Capella-formation intoning vocals as instruments except the drums by their different voices entertained with their extraordinary sound. They majorly presented own compositions, but their cover interpretations of AC/DC’s „Hell’s Bell’s“, Grave Digger’s „Rebellion (The Clans Are Marching)“, Helloween’s „Ride The Sky“ and Iron Maiden’s „Fear Of The Dark“ got the most applause.
Bury Tomorrow What followed was pure madness. Years before the band from Southampton appeared on wednesday’s Nuclear Blast label night in front of a packed tent. Over the years they changed the label and evolved furthermore. From the Main Stage they created a huge moshpit by the opener „No Less Violent“, „More Than Mortal“, „Man On Fire“ as the final „Black Flame“ and surely achieved the crowdsurfer record of the whole weekend by far.
Euquilibrium The Bavarian Folk-Death-sixpack assembled many supporters in front of the stage in their home region. By „Renegades – The Lost Generation“ and the The Hooters – cover „Johnny B“ two tracks from their brandnew output had just got released the day before. The crowd had fun and celebrated „Born To Be Epic“, „Waldschrein“ as „Blut Im Auge“. Fronter Robse could reduce his talking between the titles, by the way.
Lordi The former Eurovision Song Contest winner especially entertained visually by their costumes and a couple of little special effects reminding a bit of the mighty Alice Cooper. But their Hard Rock enthused as well, so „Would You Love A Monsterman?“, „Blood Red Sandman“, „Devil Is A Loser“ and of course the final hit „Hard Rock Hallelujah“ got jubilated.
Eluveitie The Swiss Folk Metal ensemble attracted many fans on the infield who didn’t care about the beginning rain. They wanted to enjoy the sound between heaviness and melody combined with the traditional Folk instruments. Besides material from their new release „Ategnatos“ by its title track, „Worship“, „Breathe“, „Rebirth“) it especially were the older tunes as „King“, „A Rose For Epona“, „Havoc“ and the final „Inis Mona“, which got the loudest jubilation.
Subway To Sally The next Folk Metal formation filled the stage. As they often do even on festivals they considered many songs from their new record („Messias“, „Island“, „Königin Der Käfer“, „Alles Was Das Herz Will“, „Aufgewacht“, „Ausgeträumt“). Bad luck it rained through their whole set. Those supporters who stayed had fun with „Eisblumen“, „Sieben“, „Henkersbraut“ as „Veitstanz“.
Bullet For My Valentine Who had thought the Welsh Metalcore-fourpiece would create such a magic moment? For the last time of this year’s SB-edition the festival infield was filled by numerous fans who celebrated „Over It“, „4 Words (To Choke Upon)“, „Scream Aim Fire, „You Want A Battle (Here’s A War)“, „Tears Don’t Fall“ and „Waking The Demon“ by headbanging, moshpits as singing along by thousands of voices. Fronter Matt Tuck & Co seemed pretty impressed by the strong feedback, the fans were it anyway after this show.
Dimmu Borgir It had been a long time ago one of the most popular Black Metal bands had appeared at the Summer Breeze. Even more motivated the Norwegians performed a bombastic show around midnight. „The Serpentine Offering“, „Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse“ as the final „Mourning Palace“ animated several fans to their last headbaning.
Leprous Another Norwegian band to the end with a complete different sound followed. But first of all there was no sound. Due to technical problems the left fans had to wait for some while. But they shouldn’t regret that. „From The Flame“, „The Cloak“ as „The Price“ were food for hungry Prog lovers. In the end they couldn’t add the lost time of the beginning. But it was a wonderful night shift anyway.
T-Stage
Soen The Prog band from Stockholm fascinated the audience by their well-balanced sound between hard riffs and lower melodic moments. By „Covenant“, „Lascivious“, „Rival“, „Martyrs“ and the fantastic title song they considered many songs from their new masterpiece „Lotus“. The astonished crowd spent more and more applause song by song.
Wera Tool Rebel Stage
Oceans Of Slumber The Doom Metal band from Houston attracted many fans in the tent waiting for dark riffs meeting the phenomenal voice of Cammie Gilbert. And this rocked the whole place. The epic songs „The Decay Of Disregard“, „Winter“, „A Path To Broken Stars“ and „The Banished Heart“ filled the stage time as the hearts of the spectators who jubilated loudly.
The Ocean The Collective from Berlin created a wonderful atmosphere in the tent. Their experimental Post Metal, the brilliant skills of the musicians, the agility of the vocalist as the tight performance of the whole band spread a vibe that was special from the opener „The Cambrian Explosion“ to the final „Benthic: The Origin Of Our Wishes“. What an excellent show!
Ahab Atmosphere also was a main for the Doom Metal – fourpiece. The introducing wave sounds were pretty familiar after former late night slots of this formation in Dinkelsbühl. By their epic songs „Tombstone Carousal“, „Like Red Foam (The Great Storm)“, „Antarctica The Polymorphess“ and „The Hunt“ they finished this year’s Summer Breeze.
Conclusion:
As it maybe obvious this weekend thrilled. The organization ran well, the billing was way more than well-balanced and the atmosphere was brilliant as always.
The food mile offered the well-known variety while most of the prices for food and beverages stayed constant (e.g. 4 € for 0,4 l can of beer or softdrink).
So we are looking forward to Summer Breeze 2020! Special thankts go out to the the SB-team! On the airfield of Dinkelsbühl / Sinnbronn rocked, drank and partied Tobi Wan Kenobi, Wirwa, Fleiter, Nina, Tanja & Steffi!