BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2011

DATE:

VENUE:

Friday 12th August - Sunday 14th August 2011

Catton Hall in Derbyshire, UK

Forbidden on Bloodstock's main stage, 12th August 2011

Photograph copyright © 2011 Mark Holmes - www.metal-discovery.com

Reviews by Mark Holmes & Hannah Sylvester; Photography by Mark Holmes

(The Defiled; Wolf; Forbidden)

(Poisonblack; Triptykon; Coroner)

(Kreator; Devin Townsend Project; W.A.S.P.)

(Skeletonwitch; Grave Digger; Tarot)

(Dripback; Finntroll; Ihsahn; Northern Oak)

(Therion; Rhapsody of Fire; Immortal)

(Hell; 1349; Primordial)

(Napalm Death; Hammerfall; Exodus; At The Gates)

(Amaranthe; Morbid Angel; Motörhead)

Reviews by Mark Holmes & Hannah Sylvester; Photography by Mark Holmes

(The Defiled; Wolf; Forbidden)

(Poisonblack; Triptykon; Coroner)

(Kreator; Devin Townsend Project; W.A.S.P.)

(Skeletonwitch; Grave Digger; Tarot)

(Dripback; Finntroll; Ihsahn; Northern Oak)

(Therion; Rhapsody of Fire; Immortal)

(Hell; 1349; Primordial)

(Napalm Death; Hammerfall; Exodus; At The Gates)

(Amaranthe; Morbid Angel; Motörhead)

THE DEFILED

With a fair crowd already gathered in the main arena, kicking off the festival in vibrant form are current London-based darklings of the British metal press, The Defiled, making their second appearance at Bloodstock after previously playing the Unsigned Stage back in 2008. Being overtly energetic for this time of the morning, the band play a slick set of 6 songs plucked from their latest album ‘Grave Times’, starting their set with ‘In The Land of Fools’ and ‘Call To Arms’. Whilst it's clear there's a decent portion of the crowd getting into it, vocalist Stitch D encourages everyone to get moving for third song, ‘Blood Sells’, dedicating it “this one’s for the metal kids” and, sure enough, a massive circle pit follows. But “metal kids”? Seriously, way to go to alienate a good three quarters of your audience. With a style that’s kind of hard to pin down, although it is tight, melodic and fairly heavy, their most distinctive live feature, is onstage nutter and clear show-stealer, The AvD, who spends the entire set flinging his gaffa-taped-up keyboard around, rocking it back and forth on the monitor, and amusingly nearly losing control of it a few times, before chucking it out to the crowd after the final song ‘The Resurrectionists’. Interesting enough to watch and I’m sure this performance will have won over at least some of the crowd that weren’t “metal kids”. (HS)

Click on thumbnails for larger images:

FRIDAY 12th AUGUST - PART 1

WOLF

Okay, I’m not gonna beat around the bush; I love Wolf. I normally can’t abide this style of “real metal” (as they call it), but Wolf are simply one of those perfect festival bands you can’t resist getting into who really know how to entertain a festival crowd – in my experience of catching them in action, from their onstage strip when the power cut at Bloodstock 2007, to massively cheering up a rather soggy audience at the waterlogged mudbath that was Rockweekend 2009 in Sweden. And this, their third visit to the Bloodstock stage, doesn't fail to disappoint the large crowd that has gathered to see them. Launching into their set (after much “Wolf” chanting before they start from their adoring fans, along with random shouts of “Swedish clogs” and “Tractor”) with ‘Evil Star’ and ‘The Bite’, the Swedish quartet, featuring new guitarist Simon “Vomitor” Johansson, are seriously on form, with bassist Anders “Tornado” Modd running around the stage and vocalist/guitarist Niklas "Viper" Stålvind in fine voice. Despite a few minor technical hitches they have the crowd eating out of the palm of their hand from the off, with Niklas declaring that Bloodstock “is our favourite festival”; well, I don’t think he’s alone there. Dedicating ‘Skullcrusher’ to a backstage crew member who’d had a bad knock on the head, with its lyrics “skullcrusher.. can you feel the pain”, Niklas later rambles about his “Swedish tractor” and how he was going to ride it when he got home, and that “I’m gonna dedicate my tractor to you guys”, alluding to the promo video they’d made for Bloodstock, where Niklas chugged off into the distance at the end on his red Swedish tractor. Random, but suitably Wolf-like! Giving ‘Voodoo’ an airing shortly afterwards, dedicating it to Ronnie James Dio (apt indeed with this main stage named after him) with its awesome chugging guitars and vocal acrobatics, a particularly un-tuneful and initially reluctant Bloodstock crowd are encouraged to wail along, with those more tuneful amongst us perhaps wishing he hadn’t! Concluding their set with ‘K-141 Kirsk’ a song they’ve never played before from their latest album and, after a little guitar re-tuning (as they’d “run out of guitars” following their earlier technical issues), ‘Hail Caesar’, with additional backing vocals provided by drummer Richard “Raptor” Holmgren, here’s hoping that they return to the Bloodstock stage again in the near future. Hail Wolf! (HS)

Click on thumbnails for larger images:

FORBIDDEN

Vintage thrash is served up next on the Ronnie James Dio stage courtesy of reactivated veterans Forbidden. Originally active during the late eighties and splitting in 1997, they reformed briefly in 2001 for a Chuck Billy benefit show before a more permanent reunion began to take shape 2007/2008. Currently featuring three members from the band's classic lineup - vocalist Russ Anderson, guitarist Craig Locicero and bassist John Tegio - they've already justified their twenty first century renaissance with last year's stunning comeback album 'Omega Wave'. But what of their live show; can they still cut it on the stage? Opening in full-on retro mode with 'March into Fire' from 1988 debut album 'Forbidden Evil' which is swiftly followed by 'Step by Step', the Bay Area veterans are significantly louder through the PA than previous act Wolf and, although some clarity in the palm-muted guitar riffs is lost, the increase in volume adds extra weight to their material that propels the Bloodstock audience into their first mosh pit activity of the day as the first crowd surfers also emerge from the masses. Forbidden also provide the first "cuntage" of the festival with Anderson's (over)use of the C word when he frequently addresses those gathered by the main stage as "cunts" (all in jest, of course) and even leads the crowd into a ubiquitous chant of "Russ is a cunt" at one point. Inane swearing aside, the man's vocals are rather incredible - seemingly one of those singers that has matured with age - and Locicero's energetic performance is also impressive as he bangs his head around while pulling all manner of amusing facial expressions. What's clear, though, is that Forbidden still have a hunger for performing live and, today on Bloodstock's main stage, prove themselves the real deal and a colossal kick up the butt for all the plagiarists currently associated with the retro-thrash movement. During their forty minute set, only two new album tracks are aired - 'Forsaken at the Gates' and 'Omega Wave' - which makes way for more classic tunes, namely 'Twisted into Form', 'Through Eyes of Glass' and 'Chalice of Blood'. Each track is as well received as the next by fans both old and young. An incredible performance from one of the genre's most underrated acts. (MH)

Click on thumbnails for larger images: