{"id":1363,"date":"2012-08-12T08:42:43","date_gmt":"2012-08-12T07:42:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/?page_id=1363"},"modified":"2013-06-12T08:47:52","modified_gmt":"2013-06-12T07:47:52","slug":"dong-2012-review","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/?page_id=1363","title":{"rendered":"Dong 2012 Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

DONG OPEN AIR 2012<\/strong>
\nThis year’s edition of Dong Open Air had to deal with a completely wet weekend. We all remember the storm inferno in 2004 as an incomparable experience. This year there was no dangerous aspect, it was just rain, mud, rain, mud and rain again. The DOA-team did their best to make their visitors feel comfortable by covering the moistest places and the deepest mud with sand, but anyway: Who didn’t have appropriate equipment, especially shoes might have get a cold right after the festival.
\nAll the issues which stand for the DOA making it a unique festival experience the spectators could count on for shure: The familiar atmosphere, the landscape, the fan-orientated prices (e.g. 2,00 \u20ac for a 0,5 l \u2013 bottle of beer) and the band bookings regarding the well-known names as Sepultura, Rage, Napalm Death, Knorktator or Armored Saint as well as unknown bands from all the different Metal & Rock styles.
\nOf course the strcitly limited festival was sold out for another year after a few minutes.<\/p>\n

Thursday<\/strong>
\nPath Of Golconda<\/strong> As four years before when the Death Metal fivepiece appeared at DOA for the first time the organizers set the local heroes from the close city of Oberhausen on the opener position. A comprehensible decision because they attracted a couple of fans filling the tent.
\nCircle Of Silence<\/strong> The difference between having the local advantage or not was easy to see while the following band from Southwest Germany. Much less spectators took care about their Power Metal. Nevertheless it was a tight played set which caught its fans. But the stage-action should get improved.
\nOne Bullet Left<\/strong> That wasn’t the problem of the Metalcore-quintet which was the second act from Oberhausen. After two years of stage absence the band presented themselves as they had never been away. \u201cWhatever May Come\u201d, \u201cFeast For The Carnivore\u201d and the final \u201cAlpha Dogs\u201d animated to moshpits.
\nHung\u00f6ver<\/strong> The new formation of former Sodom drummer Bobby Schottkowski played what everybody expected: Teutonic Thrash Metal. Especially the voice of frontman Dome reminded me on Phil Rind from Sacred Reich. Their material showed much groove which caused some headbanging action. To me their sound became to monotonous after a while.
\nBetontod<\/strong> Another local hero formation appeared at Dong hill on the opening day, the third one already. But in this case it was the co-headliner with a history over more than two decades. Their German Punkrock took care of a party-filled tent by \u201cEntschuldigung F\u00fcr Nichts\u201d, \u201cKeine Popsongs\u201d and \u201cAlles\u201d. To me it sounded too much like Boehse Onkelz, but the crowd celebrated them.
\nSuidakra<\/strong> The Pagan Metal fourpiece appeared at Dong Open Air for the third time. And a not too small part of the Dong visitors may also be called Suidakra fans, but while the gig of the band from D\u00fcsseldorf there was still more than enough place in the tent which probably depended on the thursday. But Pagan fans had their fun, so me didn’t. Just their sound could have been a bit clearer. Co-assisted by a female vocalist while \u201cBir\u00f3g’s Oath\u201d the show found its farewell in the encores \u201cBalor\u201d, Conloach” and of course \u201cWartunes\u201d.<\/p>\n

Friday<\/strong>
\nBasanos<\/strong> The Thrash Metal of the sympathic band from Vienna probably was the best method to motivate the Dong visitors in the noon after it had rained the whole morning. Regarding their both longplayers \u201cInstincts\u201d and \u201cCracking The Sledge\u201d they caused the first headbangings in the early noon.
\nDavidian<\/strong> And it went ahead by Davidian from Southwest Germany where their guitarists had organised the Zabbaduschder Festival for years. Anyway the band had turned with the vocalist change from a monotonous Thrash to an exciting Death Metal act. The setlist only concentrated on the new album \u201cOur Fear Is Their Force\u201d. The number of headbangers increased during the show, of course especially while the band-titled Machine Head hymn \u201cDavidian\u201d.
\nPictura<\/strong> The all in red and black suited musicians of the Progressive Death Metal quartet set the biggest underground band highlight of this year’s DOA edition. From the opener \u201cSpheres\u201d on the band enthused the raising number of spectators whose applause grew after the following \u201cPainting The Veil\u201d and \u201cIvory Tower\u201d. Considering only the recent EP \u201cRebirth\u201d and newer masterpieces they won numerous new fans, including me.
\nEastern Front<\/strong> An English band that only regards the world war front between Germany and Russia sounds strange. But the Black Metal of the well-painted evil artists was a good one. In contrast to many subgenre amateurs their sound was well-structured as tight performed. Even hours after the live-presentation of their debut-longplayer \u201cBlood On Snow\u201d their bald bassist walked around with his make-up.
\nThe Very End<\/strong> The quintet from Essen performed on the Dong stage for the second time and they can call a solid fan base their own. So the support worked from the opener \u201cMemento\u201d over \u201cFlatline\u201d, \u201cA Hole In The Sun\u201d, \u201cSewn Eye Sleep\u201d and \u201cThe Loss Theory\u201d till the encore as cover \u201cManiac\u201d. The audience got convinced and celebrated a cool Melodic Death Metal show.
\nOmnicide<\/strong> Their brandnew debut record was just released by the Death Metal band from Berne, they had to appear in front of a much smaller crowd than their predecessors. Of course concentrating on their just released material they played a solid gig which got finished by the self-titled encore \u201cOmnicide\u201d.
\nBlack Blitz<\/strong> The following Bavarian band took care about some good mood in the tent by their Hardrock. Those visitors who had stayed partied to the opener \u201cRoad Runner\u201d, \u201cPoint Of No Return\u201d and the final \u201cKicked Out Of Business\u201d. The last title could have also meant they weren’t allowed to play an encore. Anyway nice appearance!
\nDrone<\/strong> The first winner of the Metal Battle competition in Wacken had already played on the Dong hill four years ago . But this time they filled a later as more important position. And the fourpiece from Celle showed they are absolutely worth it, and so did the numerous supporters in front of the stage. The action on both sides reached a high level to new \u201cFor Blood And Torch\u201d – tracks like the opener \u201cDeepest Red\u201d, \u201cCroak In Your Waste\u201d or the final title song as to \u201cBoneless\u201d, \u201cMotor Heavy Pisstake\u201d and \u201cTheopractical\u201d. Their Neo-Thrash Metal worked very well as the funny comments of fronter Mutz did.
\nKnorkator<\/strong> What then happened were 85 minutes of total madness. After their reunion in 2011 Knorkator seemed to be even better than before. From the beginning by \u201cDer Ultimative Mann\u201d, \u201cBuchstabe\u201d and \u201cIch Will Nur Fickn\u201d the tent filling crowd became totally euphoric, especially while the cover versions of Ace Of Base’s \u201cAll That She Wants\u201d and Boney M’s \u201cMa Baker\u201d. Vocalist Stumpen wanted the audience to participate by lifting one person up and to throw her like a missile forward where they got caught by other spectators. Just one example of Knorkator’s madness, and we haven’t talked about the instruments, the stage setting and the costumes yet. While that Stumpen of course ironically demanded to let fall the other crowdsurfers as ‘St\u00f6rk\u00f6rper’. Musically new compositions from the recent \u201cEs Werde Nicht\u201d – masterpiece like \u201cDu Bist Schuld\u201d, \u201cBleib Stehn\u201d, \u201cDu Nich\u201d and \u201cWarum\u201d as classics like \u201cAlter Mann\u201d, \u201cKlonen\u201d, \u201cB\u00f6se\u201d, \u201cWeg Nach Unten\u201d and \u201cWir Werden Alle Sterben\u201d were celebrated enormously. Awesome!
\nSepultura<\/strong> And who thought this was it, was completely wrong. The probably most famous band ever played at Dong Open Air started impressive by the classic \u201cBeneath The Remains\u201d to let follow the hit \u201cRefuse\/Resist\u201d and by \u201cKairos\u201d the title track of the current album. Headbanging action as moshpits ruled the first rows of the Dong tent while the Brasilians played a well-balanced set between old (\u201cDead Embryonic Cells\u201d, \u201cAttitude\u201d, \u201cSeptic Schizo\u201d\/\u201cEscape To The Void\u201d-medley) and new (\u201cRelentless\u201d, \u201cChoke\u201d, \u201cSepulnation\u201d,). The sympathic as sometimes German speaking fronter Derrick Green introduced by Eloy Casagrande his new bandmate on the drums who played a solo which didn’t excite me that much. But the final consisting of \u201cTerritory\u201d, \u201cInner Self\u201d and \u201cArise\u201d did as well as the encores \u201cRatamahatta\u201d and \u201cRoots, Bloody Roots\u201d. Amazing appearance!
\nSoldiers Of Rock<\/strong> Some kind of an after show party was up to be produced by this formation whose members are friends of the DOA team. Equipped with perukes and bandanas they performed Hardrock cover versions of \u201cRock You Like A Hurricane\u201d, \u201cYou Give Love A Bad Name\u201d, \u201cHoly Diver\u201d and several other familiar hits. A bunch of visitors stayed and partied, others disliked it and went away. Besides the weather this day rocked!<\/p>\n

Saturday<\/strong>
\nAardvarks<\/strong> Their latest album \u201cConglomerate\u201d had been released a whole decade ago, but the Death Metal quartet from Bonn had nothing lost of their quality. Great guitar leads meeting a hard rhythm section and grunts. After another rainy night as morning the audience was surprisingly big supporting \u201cProfondo Rosso\u201d, \u201cKlendathu\u201d, \u201cHomeless\u201d and the final Sepultura cover \u201cDesperate Cry\u201d. No wonder the fans claimed an encore they couldn’t give.
\nRevolving Doors<\/strong> It’s part of the DOA booking history to invite usually two pure Rock bands. And again this worked very well. Of course the rain outside as the three female band members might have been a reason, but anyway they showed their abilities in songwriting as in live entertainment. Supported by two nice female voices they earned a lot of applause for \u201cBelongs To You\u201d, \u201cSelaphobia\u201d, \u201cBulldozer\u201d, the new \u201cLife’s A Bitch\u201d and the final \u201cGoodbye\u201d, and a wall of death for \u201cPerish\u201d. Cool performance!
\nBurden Of Grief<\/strong> I remember my first Dong Open Air nine years ago which also was the first one on the hill. Now it was the tenth one and the fivepiece from Kassel was back still playing good Melodic Death Metal. From the beginning marked by \u201cFollow The Flames\u201d and \u201cSwallow The Sun\u201d over the Iron Maiden cover \u201cAces High till the finishing \u201cRunning Scared\u201d they got headbanging support by several fans.
\nCollapse<\/strong> The Thrash Metal formation came all the way from London to host the emptiest tent of the whole day. I have no idea why. Their sound was solid, their live-performance tight and tracks like \u201cI Sacrifice\u201d, \u201cAcolyte\u201d and the final \u201cForsaken\u201d should have satisfied every present Thrash fan. Maybe the publicity of an underground band from far away was the reason for that.
\nCyrcus Pretty heavy for a so-called Alternative Metal band was my first thought, but on the other hand the description fit to their sound. The voice of singer Jan switched between clean, melodic parts and aggressive shouts, and so did the music. In front of the stage many fans had waited to see the seemingly popular artists celebrating the opener \u201cEchoes\u201d, \u201cRaise Your Voices\u201d and their hit \u201cFrom The Ashes\u201d. Vocalist Jan did entertaining jokes like naming the DOA in Dong-Not-So-Open-Air because of the tent stage, and the show was a blast taking care of a good mood while all the rain.
\nNight In Gales<\/strong> And so did the Melodic Death Metal quintet from the close town of Voerde. After headlining the first DOA taking place on the Dong hill in 2003 the band returned and played an inspiring show. Many songs of their new strong \u201cFive Scars\u201d – album got included in the setlist. Its opener \u201cThis Neon Grave\u201d, \u201cDays Of The Mute\u201d, the title track or \u201cTide Of November\u201d got as much support as the classics \u201cSylphlike\u201d, \u201cIntruder\u201d, \u201cRazor\u201d and the encore \u201cAutumn Water\u201d. Fronter Bj\u00f6rn showed for another time his entertainer abilities, the band rocked and the crowd partied. Cool show!
\nArmored Saint<\/strong> By the Californians the DOA team confirmed a cult band for many Metal fans as for me. Those probably filled half of the tent. But by time many visitors outside noticed the sound and stepped into the tent to join the party. And this was a real one! The quintet around the Sandoval brothers considered by the opener \u201cLoose Cannon\u201d, \u201cHead On\u201d, \u201cLittle Monkey\u201d and \u201cLeft Hook From Right Field\u201d four songs from the new \u201cLa Raza\u201d masterpiece which got as much celebrated as classics like \u201cMarch Of The Saint\u201d, \u201cSymbol Of Salvation\u201d, the singalong hymn \u201cLast Train Home\u201d, \u201cReign Of Fire\u201d as the two encores \u201cCan U Deliver\u201d and \u201cMadhouse\u201d. Their voice John Bush, also well-known for his long time as Anthrax-singer, entertained by making fun about themselves as old men just producing one album per decade as by climbing up the stage traverse. That’s how Melodic Metal has to sound and to be performed like!
\nNapalm Death<\/strong> Wow: 25 songs in 75 minutes, not too bad! Anyway, the British Grindcore original set a new speed level by starting live the same as their new output \u201cUtilitarian\u201d does by \u201cCircumspect\u201d, \u201cErrors In The Signal\u201d and \u201cEveryday Pox\u201d. Before the show front-grunter Barney Greenway had mentioned this mud-rained DOA would be ‘quite a fuckin’ experience’, but on stage every circumstance seemed to be forgotten. So after the Dead Kennedy’s \u2013 cover \u201cNazi Punks Fuck Off\u201d Shane Embury & Co left the stage under much applause to return by the encores \u201cScum\u201d, \u201cHuman Garbage\u201d, \u201cYou Suffer\u201d and \u201cInstinct Of Survival\u201d.
\nRage<\/strong> Just three years ago the trio appeared at Dong Open Air, and I reminded their everlasting soundcheck. This time it took a while, too, but without to exaggerate that much as in 2009. In the beginning of their set they focussed on their new album \u201c21\u201d by the intro \u201cHouse Wins\u201d, \u201cTwenty One\u201d, \u201cForever Dead\u201d and \u201cFeel My Pain\u201d before Peavy, Victor and Andr\u00e9 were going ahead with the classics \u201cSolitary Man\u201d and \u201cRefuge\u201d. And this was the moment the packed tent turned into a whole party place jubilating and singing until the encores \u201cEmpty Hollow\u201d, \u201cDon’t Fear The Winter\u201d, a maximised \u201cHigher Than The Sky\u201d and \u201cSoundchaser\u201d. But the fans still weren’t satisfied shouting for another encore which they finally got by \u201cAll I Want\u201d.<\/p>\n

Conclusion:<\/strong>
\nIn 2012 the Dong Open Air had its first total rainy as muddy mess. No matter, every festival has to live through this some year. What really counts was the fact the organizers did all possible to let their guests feel as comfortable as possible under those circumstances. And the Dong-fans are really special ones. They made the best they could do and rocked as partied as all the years before. Such visitors you just don’t get, you deserve them which says a lot about the unique and mighty Dong Open Air. More luck the DOA team had by not to announce any cancelation. The food as the drinks offered for another time in a big variety for fair prices. The toilet situation stayed the same by mobile Dixi-toilets getting cleaned continuously. We’ll return in 2013 for sure to report for our own 10th DOA-anniversary, and its 6th year of reporting!
\nThanks go out to Benjamin \u201cColamann\u201d Munsch and the DOA team!!!!! At the Dong Open Air 2012 rocked, drank and partied Tobi Wan Kenobi and Dumbo!!!!!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DONG OPEN AIR 2012 This year’s edition of Dong Open Air had to deal with a completely wet weekend. We all remember the storm inferno in 2004 as an incomparable experience. This year there was no dangerous aspect, it was just rain, mud, rain, mud and rain again. The DOA-team did their best to make … <\/p>\n

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