BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2011

DATE:

VENUE:

Friday 12th August - Sunday 14th August 2011

Catton Hall in Derbyshire, UK

Finntroll on Bloodstock's main stage, 13th 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)

DRIPBACK

While Tarot serve up their melodic metal tunes over on the main stage, those in search of something far heavier are provided such in the Sophie Lancaster tent with the literal antithesis to Marco Hietala and co. in the form of newcomers Dripback. I say newcomers but with ex-members of Ted Maul and Labrat in their ranks, there are some seasoned players in the band so expectations for their live show are high. Already an admirer of their debut EP that was released earlier this year, 'Inhaling the Ashes', it's tracks from here that are aired this afternoon alongside some new material including, I gather, a virtually unrehearsed song. With the time only 1:20pm, it's refreshing to see the sizeable Sophie tent rammed with a few hundred metallers and Dripback let rip with their intense onslaught of amalgamated metal extremity; a vehement barrage of sound coloured with elements of hardcore, grind, death, black, thrash, doom and then some. And they have a pristine sound through the PA with all instruments levelled in a well balanced mix (with famed producer Russ Russell on the desk, also responsible for recording 'Inhaling the Ashes', one would expect nothing less). With a collectively tight performance and precisely executed guitar riffs, bass lines and beats, topped off with frontman Wez4's incisively biting growls, Dripback are the real deal and, as good as the EP is, they're a band that needs to be experienced live to fully digest their vibe. They also sustain visual interest with an onstage energy that's perpetuated throughout their entire set as each musician leaps around to the sonic ferocity of the music they spew forth which encourages some present in the Sophie tent to reciprocate as a small pit erupts in the middle of the crowd. At the climax of their set, as I emerge from the darkness of the tent and wander out into the daylight to walk back towards the main stage, "fucking Dripback...fucking Dripback...fucking Dripback" can be heard looped through the Sophie tent PA. Fucking Dripback indeed. Go catch 'em live - trust me, you won't be disappointed... "come on you cunts". (MH)

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SATURDAY 13th AUGUST - PART 2

FINNTROLL

Bloodstock loves folk metal. It’s probably the only annual chance most people attending get to raise battered tankards overflowing with beer towards the sky, blow horns to signal their respect for bands and to link arms with the person next to them and jig around in a circle for songs on end. Introduced as the most requested of all the bands every year, the beer-loving folky Finns have got a pretty easy task on their hands in keeping the crowd entertained for the next 45 minutes. Bare-chested Vreth is in fine voice (and fine hair windmilling ability) and looks more comfortable on stage than I’ve ever seen him and the band, who are blessed with an excellent sound mix, play a tight set of tracks from across all five main albums (excluding the acoustic ‘Visor Om Slutet’ as, let’s face it, while it’s an excellent album, it’s hardly festival set material). They focus slightly more on their latest release ‘Nifelvind’, but not forgetting the classic ‘Trollhammaren’ which never fails to summon an enormous jig-pit and crowd surfers aplenty. Typical Finntroll-fare to an extent, but one that works effortlessly-well at a festival – and not forgetting, conga-inducing! (HS)

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IHSAHN

Making his debut UK festival appearance at Bloodstock Open Air 2011 is former Emperor frontman Ihsahn along with his immensely talented backing band, Leprous. Now with three solo albums to his name, 2006's 'The Adversary', 2008's 'angL' and last year's 'After', it is solely from these releases that this afternoon's 45 minute set is drawn so anyone hoping for the inclusion of a black metal classic from his band of yore would be disappointed. However, considering the strength of his solo material and with only three quarters of an hour on stage, I believe it a wise decision to eschew Emperor tracks (although I understand he does usually include a couple in longer sets). With Ihsahn centre stage it's great to see members of Leprous lined up alongside him, indicative that there's nothing ego-centric about his performance, rather a full-on band vibe despite the billing of just Ihsahn. 'The Barren Lands' from 'After' commences their set and the initial thing to strike me is the clarity of the sound and mix through the PA where all the intricacies of the progressive instrumentation and clean/growled vocals are clearly audible in what is easily the best sound blasting from the main stage speakers so far today. 'A Grave Inversed', also from 'After', is up next as the fine PA sonics continue. Einar Solberg on keys (who also happens to be Ihsahn's brother-in-law) is perhaps the most energetic on stage as he frequently throws his dreaded hair around during songs' heavier passages, a nice contrast to Ihsahn's more laid-back persona. He also provides some great harmony vocals and takes the lead for the clean singing parts on 'Unhealer'. However, it is Ihsahn himself who commands attention with his authoritative stage presence - that is to say, authoritative in a composed and cool manner with a fairly humble demeanour. He switches between a growled and clean delivery with amazing ease, both styles complimenting his music perfectly, and displays his incredible fretboard talents in abundance on both six and eight string guitars (as do Leprous axemen Tor Oddmund Suhrke and Øystein Landsverk). 'Misanthrope' and 'Scarab' from 'angL' are also aired today alongside a duo of tracks from Ihsahn's debut solo effort, 'Invocation' and 'Called by the Fire', with set closer 'Frozen Lakes on Mars' concluding the performance. And it's been very successful one. Perhaps not the most visually exciting, but with musicianship on display of this calibre, that in itself is a spectacle to behold. (MH)

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NORTHERN OAK

Having heard good things about this Sheffield sextet for a while now, and knowing I wasn’t going to be able to catch their full-metal performance on the New Blood Stage the following day, I thought it was about time I made the effort to actually get to see them, although this time performing an acoustic set on the Jäger stage, a short walk from the main stage. With a mix of growled vocals, bass, electro-acoustic, drums as well as accordion, flute and recorder, their stripped-back set of distinctly English folk/progressive metal, gains an excellent crowd response and attracts a seriously decent sized crowd, which spills way out of the dinky orange tent, and bizarrely spawns an attempted game of Twister mid-crowd (slightly bloody annoying considering how rammed the tent is). Airing ‘Into The Forest’ and ‘Pavanne’ from their latest album ‘Momuments’ and ‘Arbor Low’ from last year’s self-titled demo, amongst others, their set is only marginally spoilt by the heat in the tent playing a little havoc with the tuning of the string instruments but, overall, their material works incredibly well in this form, and I highly recommend getting to see them if they appear in your neck of the woods. (HS)