RoD header

Translate

Autohof Strohofer, Geiselwind, Germany
20th July – 22nd July 2006
Battle of Metal Festival Part 1 (Day 2): Dark Age, Saltatio Mortis, Vader, Lacrimas Profundere, Unheilig, Soulfly

This year, the Autohof Strohofer in Geiselwind, Germany, had invited for the third time already to a Metal festival, and this summer it took place under the name "Battle of Metal" for the first time. The last two years it was called the "Earthshaker Festival", but due to a splitting of the organizers it was now happening under a new logo. The festival billing was a good mixture consisting of medieval acts like 'Saltatio Mortis' and 'Subway to Sally', but also Gothic ('Unheilig', 'ASP', '69 Eyes' and 'Oomph!') and of course Metal bands like 'Overkill', 'Vader', 'Atrocity'  or 'Dimmu Borgir'. The event started on Thursday 20th already, but I couldn't make it to Geiselwind that early, so unfortunately I missed 'Faun' and 'Subway to Sally' and some other acts who played the first festival night.

The festival area lies close to the motorway A3 between Würzburg and Nürnberg and is very easy reachable by car. I went there by train and this emerged to be a little more complicated. The nearest station to the Autohof Strohofer is Kitzingen, about 25 kilometres away. But luckily there was an inexpensive shuttle service provided by the organizers, so it was no problem at all to get to the festival site. When I arrived there, I was very surprised to see the campground hardly half-filled; with the extraordinary billing and affordable ticket prices (53 Euro for three days plus 10 Euro for camping and 5 Euro for parking) I could not imagine why such a small number of visitors only made it to this festival. The area surrounding the Autohof Strohofer is ideal for such a smaller festival. There is a big camping site, directly near to the stages, where you could also park your car. The village Geiselwind is only a short way off, and you have plenty of possibilities to get something to eat or drink or other supply in the immediate environs. The toilets and washrooms were relatively clean compared to other festivals, surely also due to the small number of people on this one.

There were two stages, the Main Stage in the open air and the second stage Eventhalle, which is a huge hall with its own sanitary installations and possibilities to get something to drink or eat and especially providing some shelter from the burning sun (or the summer rain) on this festival weekend. As a whole, it was a very nice event, well organized, fantastic bands, likeable people, but unfortunately not too much of them. I really hope this festival will take place again next summer, and maybe then the bands will have the audience they deserve. http://www.battleofmetal.de/


Dark Age [D]

'Dark Age' are a Melodic Death Metal band from Hamburg, Germany. They have been founded in 1995 and according to the band their music is "an emotional response to the grievance of our times". The band's name is reminiscence to the corresponding song and video by 'Vader'. After some difficulties the band released their first demo 'Doubtful Existence" in 1996. Some gigs and line-up changes later they recorded their first album, "The Fall" (1998), which appeared via Remedy Records in the following year. To the present day, the guys from 'Dark Age' have done a lot of touring and have released four full-length albums and various sampler contributions. Their latest output is the DVD "Live, so far..." (2006). Line-up: Eike Freese (vocals, guitars), Jörn Schubert (lead guitars), Alex Frank (bass), Martin Reichert (electronics, keyboards) and André Schumann (drums). http://www.dark-age.de/



Music
The guys from Hamburg play some kind of Melodic / Symphonic Death Metal, very sad and almost depressive in parts. You definitely would prefer to hear them in the dusky atmosphere of a little club, but nevertheless they delivered an experienced set and managed to convince me of their potential.

Performance
'Dark Age' were one of the first bands playing on this second festival day, so they did not have an easy job. The sun was burning down as it was only 14.50 o'clock, and the few people who had already made their way to the Main Stage were looking for a shady place, sitting around quite listlessly. But the five guys from Hamburg managed to wake up at least some of them with their energetic show. It was for sure not the best time for such a band to play, but they delivered a good set and got some people on their feet despite the blistering heat.

Setlist
01. Zero
02. Neokillers
03. Black September
04. The Silent Republic
05. Cold
06. Fix the Focus
07. Suicide Crew
08. Dare to collapse
09. Last Words

Rating
Music: 7
Performance: 7
Sound: 7
Light: (daylight)
Total: 7




Saltatio Mortis [D]

'Saltatio Mortis' is the Latin expression for 'dance of the dead'. Pursuant the motto: "Wer tanzt, stirbt nicht." (Who dances, does not die.), which grounds on the medieval belief, that death is a bandsman himself, the seven guys from Mannheim (Germany) have started playing medieval markets around the year 2000. Their first release was the album "Tavernakel - Marktmusik des Mittelalters" in 2001, which contained mainly instrumental tracks. In the following, they included e-guitar sounds into their medieval tunes, comparable to bands like 'Subway to Sally' or 'In Extremo', as can be heard for the first time on their album "Das zweite Gesicht". Their latest studio release is entitled "Des Königs Henker" (=the king's hangman) and appeared last year via Napalm Records; it deals with the topic of "death" and contains no electronic parts. They continuously play the "Mittelalterlich Spectaculum" together with 'Cultus Ferox' and lately they contributed the sound to the audio book version of Bradley's "The Mists of Avalon". Line-up: Alea der Bescheidene (vocals, bagpipes, shawms), Falk Irmenfried von Hasenmümmelstein (bagpipes, shawms, hurdy-gurdy, vocals), Thoron Trommelfeuer (horn, percussions), Ungemach der Missgestimmte (guitars, shawms, bagpipes), Dominor der Filigrane (guitars, bagpipes, shawms, vocals), Die Fackel (bagpipes, shawms, pipes, harp, keyboards, bass, vocals) and Lasterbalk der Lästerliche (drums, percussions, programming). http://www.saltatio-mortis.com/, http://www.spectaculum.de/



Music
The sound of 'Saltatio Mortis' is a mixture of medieval elements played on instruments like bagpipes, shawms or the hurdy-gurdy, and rock/punk music using electronic guitars and bass. They are often compared to bands like 'Subway to Sally' or 'In Extremo' but in the meantime they managed to step out of their shadow and create something new. Listening to their music is quite a lot of fun, they always remind you of good-humoured bandsmen on a medieval market. And I find it very impressive how all the band members play several instruments very well. 



Performance
The scorching heat oppressed all the fans who had in the meantime gathered in front of the Main Stage to see the merry bandsmen from 'Saltatio Mortis'. But I must say, it was such a pleasure to watch them perform! They came on stage in a very good mood and you could see how much fun they had while doing their show. The stage was full of the many instruments they utilized. Alea, Falk and Thoron jumped around indefatigably, talked to the audience and managed to carry them away despite the heat and the early afternoon time.

Rating
Music: 7
Performance: 9
Sound: 8
Light: (daylight)
Total: 8 (7.9)




Vader [PL]

'Vader' have been founded in the year 1986 in Olsztyn, Poland, by Piotr Wiwczarek, who nowadays is the last original remaining member in the band. Till the present day, their demo "Morbid Reich" is one of the top-selling in the Death Metal scene worldwide. They were the first band from behind the Iron Curtain to get signed by a western label - Earache Records published their first album "The Ultimate Incantation" in 1993. In the following they toured tirelessly, among others together with 'Bolt Thrower', 'Grave' or 'Deicide', played several festivals and acquired the reputation of being a very good live band. After a few label changes, a contract with Metal Blade was perfect. To the present day, they have released numerous albums, live-CDs and DVDs, their latest output being the MCD "The Art of War", and have played together with bands like ‘Cannibal Corpse’, ‘Napalm Death’, ‘Marduk’ and ‘Metallica’. Line-up: Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek (vocals, guitars), Marcin "Novy" Nowak (bass - former Behemoth member), Maurycy "Mauser" Stefanowicz (guitars) and Dariusz "Daray" Brzozowski (drums). http://www.vader.pl/



Music
'Vader' have started their career with playing traditional Death Metal, but in the meantime they have been open to other influences too. Today, some obvious Thrash Metal reminiscences are audible, faster songs take turns with more slow-moving ones. They are famous for touring indefatigably, and I was surely not disappointed by their live show. 

Performance
Yet another band you would rather see performing in a gloomy little club with an adequate light show; but this Friday they had to play in the afternoon with fantastic sunny weather. They delivered an experienced set, and managed to gather quite a few enthusiastic metal heads in front of the stage.

Rating
Music: 8
Performance: 7
Light: (daylight)
Sound: 7
Total: 7 (7.4)




Lacrimas Profundere [D]

In the year 1993, Oliver Nikolas Schmid from Waging am See (Germany) has originated the band 'Lacrimas Profundere'; a short time after this, his brother Christopher joined the band as a vocalist. Their first album, "...And the Wings Embraced Us", appeared two years later. The years following the band foundation saw numerous line-up changes, and today Oliver Nikolas and Christopher are the only original members remaining in the band. In 1999 they got signed by Napalm Records/SPV. In their own words, they want to make rock music in between melancholy, hope, anger and aggression. They try to fulfil this credo with a mixture of Gothic Metal and Dark Rock. The early day Death Metal growls in Christopher's performance disappeared more and more, and they are completely missing since the album "Fall, I Will Follow". Their latest release is the album "Filthy Notes for Frozen Hearts" which appeared this year via Napalm Records. Line-up: Christopher Schmid (vocals), Oliver Nikolas Schmid (guitars), Tony Berger (guitars), Daniel Lechner (bass), Christian Steiner (keyboards) and Willi Wurm (drums). http://www.lacrimas.com/



Music
"Rock'n'Sad" is the designation the band 'Lacrimas Profundere' have given their own sound. In the early days their music showed some Death Metal influences, Christopher's vocals were sometimes more of the typical growling. Nowadays they play a rather conventional Gothic/Dark Metal. They sound not bad at all, from time to time there are really wonderful moments in their songs. But on balance one song is quite similar to the other. In addition to that, I must say that I don't really like Christopher's voice, somehow his singing sounds affected - which for sure is a matter of taste. There are too many similarities to bands like "The 69 Eyes" to be really original, and though their sound is really good, especially the occasional heavier parts, they do not really enthral me. 

Performance
'Lacrimas Profundere' played in the early Friday evening on the second stage Eventhalle, which meant a cooling down from the heat still burning outside and a really atmospheric light show. They have surely played in front of bigger audiences in their career, which maybe was the reason why vocalist Christopher acted kind of spiritlessly. But their performance was nevertheless quite entertaining. Christopher jumped and reeled around on stage, his singing and expression being very emotional in some moments, but shortly after he seemed aloof, like he was just doing his job there on stage, with no real verve.

Rating
Music: 6
Performance: 7
Light: 8
Sound: 7
Total: 7 (6.8)




Unheilig [D]

It was the year 1999, when "Der Graf" together with songwriter Grant Stevens and producer Jose-Alvarez Brill has founded 'Unheilig' (=unholy). Their first single appeared in the same year and was entitled "Sage ja" (=say yes); two years later the first album "Phosphor" stood in the shops. It already contained the mixture of traditional Electro and Rock with mainly German lyrics which is typical for 'Unheilig'. The following years saw some factionalism with the producer and their record company which led to the Graf's decision to continue alone as a singer, songwriter and producer and only employ guest musicians when he plays live on stage. 'Unheilig’s' latest release is the full-length album "Moderne Zeiten" (=modern times). Line-up: Der Graf (vocals/lyrics) + guest musicians live on stage. http://www.unheilig.com/



Music
'Unheilig' play a diversified mixture of dark electronic sounds and rock music. Some songs are very calm, almost dreamy ballads, carried by the Graf's deep and insistent voice. They take turns with EBM pieces letting the audience dance wildly and for sure having the same effect in the clubs. Then there are also songs reminding me a little of 'Rammstein', heavier and guitar-based stuff. All in all it was a good melange not getting boring too soon.

Performance
The clock in the projection in the back of the stage showed five minutes before twelve, and a gloomy intro announced the Graf's arrival. He came on stage as usual perfectly dressed in a suit, and immediately captured the audience in the Eventhalle. Quite a lot of people had gathered in front of the small stage and were looking forward to the Graf's performance. He had the ordinary spot illuminating his face from below and giving his gestures and movements a very special atmosphere. In some moments I found him quite lofty, but that's part of his show, I guess, which was really entertaining.  

Rating
Music: 8
Performance: 7
Sound: 7
Light: 7
Total: 7 (7.4)




Soulfly [BR/USA]

After Max Cavalera had left his former band 'Sepultura' due to internal contentions, he has founded 'Soulfly' in 1997. Today, he is the only original member remaining in the band, which he had never seen as an ordinary group, but rather as his project with regularly changing musicians. He contributes the vocals and song writing, and he plays the guitar and also some exotic instruments the band uses. With 'Soulfly', Cavalera tries to realize his vision of a kind of world music in a Rock/Metal shape. One year after the band’s foundation, their first album "Soulfly" appeared. In the time following, the band saw some line-up changes, but also released four more albums which were all quite successful. Their latest full-length album is entitled "Dark Ages" (2005). Line-up: Max Cavalera (vocals, guitars), Bobby Burns (bass), Marc Rizzo (guitars) and Joe Nunez (drums). http://www.soulflyweb.com/



Music
'Soulfly’s' music is aggressive hardcore and in a way a consequent development of 'Sepultura’s' sound. During the past years and on the different album releases they experimented with various instruments and some unusual influences like Latin-American (like 'Sepultura' also did on some releases) or Eastern European sounds. Numerous guest musicians supported them on their albums, among others Tom Araya ('Slayer'), Corey Taylor ('Slipknot') and Sean Lennon. 

Performance
Regrettably, I could not see the whole 'Soulfly' set due to the overlapping performances on the two stages. They had a fantastic light show, plunging the whole stage in different beautiful colours. For moments, Max and the rest of the band disappeared completely in clouds of fog. They played at about eleven, and quite a few people had gathered in front of the Main Stage. And they didn't get disappointed. The band's energetic hardcore carried the audience away, and many of them started jumping around and shouting along. Way too early I had to get off to the Second Stage to catch the next act. 

Rating
Music: 8
Performance: 6
Sound: 7
Light: 8
Total: 7 (7.25)



{jos_sb_discuss:18}

See also (all categories):

Comments powered by CComment