Bloodstock 2018: The Saturday

  Saturday at Bloodstock was going to be an open day for me pretty much as the only band on my 'must see' list was the evening's headliners, Gojira. While I was finishing my early morning tasks at a leisurely pace, a gentleman passed by and suggested that I check out Power Trip. His sales pitch was that if I liked Suicidal Tendencies, I would love this band. That was enough to sell me so I headed over to the arena.

Listening to American thrash/punk crossover band Power Trip, I could see what the gentleman meant by the comparison to Suicidal Tendencies. They even dedicated a song to Cannibal Corpse and even though they said some might thought it too early in the morning, orchestrated a wall of death. While I have to say they're not quite like the band they have been compared to, Power Trip were a good band to have a great mosh to and quite an appropriate way to start the Saturday.

[caption id="attachment_4769" align="aligncenter" width="263"] Power Trip- a great start to any day.[/caption]

At this point of the weekend, I had seen several bands whom I had never heard of who had impressed the hell out of me and I was in the mind to award several bands the honour of "Band Whom I'd Never Heard of Who Impressed Me the Most." That all went out the window when the next band after Power Trip ascended the Dio Stage. That band was German prog-metallers Orden Ogan. If you like Hammerfall, then you should like this band. They really impressed me a lot. One thing I noticed when they were on stage was the absence of a bass player. Lead singer Sebastian Levermann explained this was because he had broken his thumb and was unable to play guitar. Thus normal bassist Neils Loffler took up the rhythm guitar. Saying that, he did play a couple of solos along with lead guitarist Tobias Kersting who could really jam. Left to just sing, Levermann was good at engaging the crowd and at one point when he would sing, "All we are," the audience would yell back, "Cold, fucking dead!" When they left, Orden Ogan were secure in the title of band who I'd never heard of who impressed me the most.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPm46Qgyn24

[caption id="attachment_4770" align="aligncenter" width="268"] Orden Ogan come on stage. Too bad those horns got in my way.[/caption][caption id="attachment_4771" align="aligncenter" width="274"] Levermann and Kersting leading from the front.[/caption]

Being wowed by Orden Ogan made me hungry so I headed back to the tent for some lunch. Returning afterwards, I happened to catch the last five minutes of Vola on the Sophie Lancaster Stage. They were a four piece band which included a keyboard. The best way to describe them is to say they're industrial metal but they sounded all right to me and I might listen to them more.

[caption id="attachment_4772" align="aligncenter" width="243"] Vola on the Sophie Stage[/caption]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJSt7ISU1-w
Heading back to the Ronnie James Dio Stage, I had no idea what to expect from the next band to take the stage, Combichrist. What I heard and saw took me completely by surprise. I thought that with a name like Combichrist, they would be a thrash or death metal band, especially with all the band's faces painted white. Instead, their brand of industrial metal would be something that metalheads to dance to at parties. The audience jumped up and down in time with many of the songs, though I had to take it a bit easy with my weak knee. Still, the antics of the band were very entertaining. At one point, lead singer Andy LaPlegua had the audience say "Fuck off!" to each member of the band, which was followed by a song called "Fuck That Shit." After a few more songs and "Fucks" from LePlegua, the band ended on a great high by bringing out three young ladies twirling flaming batons to the song, "I Don't Give a Fuck About You." Great way to end the show and I was very impressed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMg-HuAjJuo

[caption id="attachment_4773" align="aligncenter" width="290"] Combichrist with no bass and two drummers[/caption][caption id="attachment_4774" align="aligncenter" width="296"] A good shot of them[/caption][caption id="attachment_4775" align="aligncenter" width="289"] In this shot, the drummer was bouncing his sticks off his drum.[/caption][caption id="attachment_4776" align="aligncenter" width="290"] The baton twirlers come out.[/caption][caption id="attachment_4777" align="aligncenter" width="280"] The band plays "Fuck That Shit."[/caption][caption id="attachment_4778" align="aligncenter" width="280"] The twirlers in their full glory[/caption]

After being totally amused by Combichrist, I headed over to the New Blood Stage where I caught the last few minutes of a band called Aeonia. The featured two female lead singers who both possessed operatic style voices. I was sorry I couldn't have seen more of them.

[caption id="attachment_4779" align="aligncenter" width="255"] Aeonia on the New Blood Stage.[/caption]

Heading back to the Dio Stage, I was in for another surprise. On the recommendation of Teal, I decided to check out Alestorm. I had a feeling that this was going to be different when I saw the huge rubber duck at the back of the stage. This would be my first introduction to the genre known as pirate metal. The songs all sounded like heavy metal sea ditties and I liked it. I found the songs, "Drink," "Captain Morgan's Revenge" and "Shipwrecked" among others all to be very amusing. Instead of a mosh pit, lead singer, Christopher Bowes organized a rowing pit where everyone sat on the ground rowing in unison to the song, great fun. Bowes also stated that instead of a wall of death, everyone meet in the middle, take off their clothes and have a big orgy. We all saw the humour in that. Alestorm's set ended with him leading the crowd in singing:

Fuck you, you're a fucking wanker

We're gonna punch you right in the balls.

Fuck you with a fucking anchor

You're all cunts so fuck you all." 

A great time was had by all during the forty-five minutes Alestorm was on stage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th4Czv1j3F8

[caption id="attachment_4781" align="aligncenter" width="255"] The big rubber duck awaits Alestorm[/caption][caption id="attachment_4782" align="aligncenter" width="255"] Alestorm on stage with a lot of flying inflatable objects.[/caption][caption id="attachment_4784" align="aligncenter" width="261"] An even bigger rowing pit[/caption][caption id="attachment_4785" align="aligncenter" width="260"] Alestorm leave with an explosion of confetti[/caption]

With nearly two hours to go before Gojira, we decided to head back to the tent. The heavens had opened up so we stayed in the tent eating and drinking. That might have been a mistake because we all nodded off. I woke up at one point, heard the rain pelting down and thought, "I'm not going out in this." Maybe I should have because when I awoke after nodding off again, I discovered it had stopped raining but Gojira had been on stage for 20 minutes! Immediately waking Teal and Joe, we raced like mad back to the arena and to the Dio Stage.

If any band in the history of Bloodstock had paid their dues and earned the right to headline, it was definitely Gojira. I had seen them play second from the top spot in 2010 and just below it in 2016 and both times they were better than the band who went on after them. This time, they were simply better than ever! Being the headliner, they had a really cool light show, just as good as Judas Priest's light show the night before. I definitely remember them playing "Stranded" and Joe Duplantier was very good at engaging the crowd. Plus there was a cool drum solo from Mario. Overall, Gojira put on a great display of heavy metal and proved they can headline along with the best of them.

[caption id="attachment_4786" align="aligncenter" width="265"] Managed to get a good shot of Gojira here.[/caption][caption id="attachment_4787" align="aligncenter" width="282"] Another attempt at photographing them.[/caption][caption id="attachment_4788" align="aligncenter" width="271"] Different lights made this shot possible[/caption][caption id="attachment_4789" align="aligncenter" width="275"] Bright lights[/caption][caption id="attachment_4790" align="aligncenter" width="262"] More bright lights[/caption]

Having had that nap, I wasn't tired so I headed to the Sophie Lancaster Stage to check out that headliner, Orphaned Land. This turned out to be another great decision because Orphaned Land where nothing short of absolutely brilliant! They blend folk and death metal together to make one great but unique sound. Coming from Israel, they also blend Middle Eastern and Western influences and again, it sounds just great. I loved the use of the Bouzouki in place of guitar solos in some of the songs. Plus they do go ultra heavy at times. Before, they got on stage, the announcer told the crowd to listen to the message of this band. Lead singer, Kobi Farhi, explained how fucked up things in the Middle East are with everyone trying to kill each other be it Jews, Arabs or homosexuals. However, he stated that everybody hates heavy metal because it's considered Satanic. This got me thinking but I won't talk about that now, I just want to say how great a band Orphaned Land are.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hurWzo01FpM

[caption id="attachment_4791" align="aligncenter" width="253"] Orphaned Land come out under the lights.[/caption][caption id="attachment_4792" align="aligncenter" width="245"] A great shot of them.[/caption][caption id="attachment_4793" align="aligncenter" width="238"] A great show![/caption]

Still not tired, I went to the metal disco at the Sophie tent after the show. They played a good variety of songs which included some 1970s rock and even a Michael Jackson and a Coolio song. Eventually, I went back to the tent and had one last beer before bedtime. Sometime later, Teal came in and woke me up, I had fallen asleep in the chair with the beer in my hand. At least I didn't spill any. Still it was a great second day.

Next post: Sunday

Bloodstock 2018: The Friday

Even having a crap night's sleep the previous evening didn't dent my enthusiasm for the first full day at Bloodstock. We started with a hardy bbq breakfast because we couldn't have one the evening before on account of the waiting to get in and the brief rain. Therefore, we had it in the morning. After a breakfast of champions like that, which was washed down with beer, we decided to head for the arena.

Keeping with my established tradition, I made it a point to be present for the very first band out on the Ronnie James Dio Stage. That band happened be British punk band Feed The Rhino. If there is a textbook on how the opening band of a festival should act, then Feed The Rhino followed it to the letter. They exploded on stage at 300 mph with a song that grabs you by the throat and makes you listen to it nor did any of that energy dissipate after the first song. However, some purists may argue that the band broke protocol by organizing a mosh pit and then a wall of death. Whoever said opening bands weren't allowed to do that? Especially when the lead singer, Lee Tobin, did a little crowd surf towards the wall. It was amazing and when they left, which was too soon, Feed The Rhino had set the mood not just for the day but for the entire weekend!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dT-YnBV4nU&index=2&list=RDEM9zce9KOR3-_CiSSMoO1KPg

[caption id="attachment_4729" align="aligncenter" width="265"] Feed The Rhino welcome everybody to Bloodstock[/caption][caption id="attachment_4730" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Lee Tobin carried by the crowd[/caption]

In spite of the fact that I had seen and heard three bands I had never heard of previously who totally blew me away, I still went to the New Blood Stage to seek out more. Playing at my arrival was the band Garshkott. While they weren't bad, their sound was in the vein of Feed The Rhino and Bloodshot Dawn, and I wouldn't be surprised if they were ever signed, in my mind, they didn't measure up to the two bands I have just mentioned. Then again, those two bands set the bar astronomically high.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKV8NZ3QSpQ

[caption id="attachment_4731" align="aligncenter" width="238"] Garshkott giving it their all[/caption]

Heading back to the RJD Stage, I thought I should see Onslaught. I had seen them at my first Bloodstock in 2010 but I didn't remember anything about them. Seeing them again, I remember why I didn't remember them, there's really nothing about them to remember. While their music was okay and I have since discovered from Youtube that their recorded material sounds pretty good, they just didn't do anything for me when I've seen them live.

[caption id="attachment_4732" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Onslaught coming out to play[/caption][caption id="attachment_4733" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Another shot of them[/caption]

The uneventfulness of Onslaught meant that when the rains came down in the final minutes of their set, I fled for cover. The closest was the New Blood Stage. Providing the entertainment in my new found refuge was Democratus. They weren't thrash but good solid metal. The singer did a great job in getting those in the tent to sing along. He would sing out, "Is this what you call?" and the audience, me included, would shout back, "Democracy!" Very relevant at the moment and I thought they were pretty good. If I was a scout, I would have signed them before the previous unsigned band on the day.

[caption id="attachment_4734" align="aligncenter" width="247"] Democratus[/caption]

Still raining down in buckets outside, I decided to stay in the New Blood Tent to remain dry. It turned out to be the will of the metal gods because coming on stage next was Vulgore. Of the three unsigned bands I had seen so far, these guys were the best. Their music was loud and brash but the guitarist could shred a little too. Still, their music is not for the faint hearted. They announced they have an EP coming out titled "Bliss." I might have to hunt this one down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGTHW549EZ0

[caption id="attachment_4735" align="aligncenter" width="256"] The guitarist from Vulgore[/caption][caption id="attachment_4736" align="aligncenter" width="246"] More Vulgore[/caption]

Vulgore made the rain stop, so after their departure, I headed outside. On the Dio Stage at the time was Memoriam. I only caught the last two songs from their set but they sounded all right. Plus, I noticed that the lead singer's hair probably made many ladies jealous.

[caption id="attachment_4737" align="aligncenter" width="246"] Memoriam, but this photo doesn't show the singer's hair properly.[/caption]

Still looking for the music, I headed for the Sophie Lancaster Stage where I was treated to the doom metal sounds of Godthrymm. This trio was doom metal in the true sense of the word, even more than Black Sabbath. Most of the songs were about death. I remember one lyric, "Oh God, you lost your only son," I think that explains a lot. Guitarist hammered out some good solos and he shared the lead vocal duties with the bassist. Godthrymm proved a great change of pace on the day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0qI91eXCss&start_radio=1&list=RDEMlvu4ZewIMcT_N6Cov2SHQQ

[caption id="attachment_4738" align="aligncenter" width="248"] Godthrymm playing doom[/caption][caption id="attachment_4739" align="aligncenter" width="246"] I'm not sure what this picture was. I think it was this person dressed up going through the crowd during Godthrymm[/caption]

After a brief but necessary break, I returned to the Ronnie James Dio Stage for the first band I truly wanted to see. Before that band came out, I caught the last few minutes of Swedish death metal band Bloodbath. They sounded okay and I was amused at the shirtless guitar player whose torso was covered in fake blood.

[caption id="attachment_4755" align="aligncenter" width="277"] Bloodbath, not sure if you can see the guitarist covered in blood[/caption]

Then came the big bombshell. It was announced that Suicidal Tendencies were running late and wouldn't be up next. They were re-scheduled to play at the Sophie Lancaster Stage two hours later. I had caught up with Teal and Joe and we decided to get some dinner. I kind of regret this in hindsight because swapping places with ST was the all female death metal Japanese band Love Bites. I heard they were really good and I'm liking what I'm hearing thus far. Oh well, I'll put a song of theirs in tribute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq-JZ6deYwM
Returning from our late afternoon bbq, I followed Teal's suggestion that I go with him to check out prog metal band, Kamelot. Full marks to his wisdom here because I thoroughly enjoyed them. I was duly impressed with the guitar work of Thomas Youngblood but I won't take anything away from the rest of this band, they're that good. They brought a female singer on for a few songs as well which made them more diverse. Let's say I was very impressed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDLZ6Mqy7AM&index=2&list=RDEMhvza10-yjYsd2xCr1FSFIw

[caption id="attachment_4740" align="aligncenter" width="279"] Kamelot[/caption][caption id="attachment_4741" align="aligncenter" width="274"] A better shot of them[/caption][caption id="attachment_4742" align="aligncenter" width="285"] Thomas Youngblood jamming[/caption][caption id="attachment_4743" align="aligncenter" width="270"] I tried to get the female singer in this one[/caption]

Instead of Kamelot following Suicidal Tendencies, we had Suicidal Tendencies following Kamelot. Which way around didn't matter as we joined the throng heading for the Sophie Lancaster Stage. There was talk that the sheer weight of numbers in ST fans would knock the Sophie Tent off its foundations. Suicidal Tendencies exploded onto the stage with "Don't Bring Me Down." Almost immediately, Mike Muir had the crowd in his hand with everyone singing the chorus. The band darted around stage and Mike did his little dance. It seemed that the opening song might go for the entire set because every time it sounded like it would end, the band would pick it up again. When the song did end, the audience was screaming their appreciation. Afterwards, they played songs "I Shot the Devil," The War in My Head" and "Subliminal." When they played the "Skater's Song," Mike announced that the band had been inducted into the Skater's Hall of Fame. A young boy was brought up to play drums along side of Dave Lombardo for one song and they also let a man in a wheelchair onto the stage. ST are definitely a class act! In between songs, Mike talked about not letting things get you down. His advice was to "Get up, stand up for yourself and you will be the person you want to be." Great words of wisdom. When they left, the crowd was on a major high and it was also announced that it had been the largest crowd the Sophie Lancaster Stage ever had. They were phenomenal and like Teal converting me to Kamelot, I converted him to ST. It didn't even matter that they didn't play my two favourite songs again nor the fact that they pretty much played the same set they had at Download last year.

[caption id="attachment_4744" align="aligncenter" width="250"] The crowd heading to the Sophie Stage to see Suicidal Tendencies[/caption][caption id="attachment_4745" align="aligncenter" width="265"] ST comes on stage[/caption][caption id="attachment_4746" align="aligncenter" width="267"] Guitarist Dean Pleasants can still jam.[/caption][caption id="attachment_4747" align="aligncenter" width="268"] Another shot of Dean[/caption][caption id="attachment_4748" align="aligncenter" width="262"] Mike leading the charge[/caption]

After feeding my face some more, we all headed back to the Ronnie James Dio Stage for the main even, Judas Priest. They had a massive stage set up with what looked like cacti which lit up on the wall behind. When the band came out, Rob Halford looked like a bent over old man but he quickly straightened up when they started playing. They opened with "Fire Power" and played two more songs from the album. It was the fourth song that was the big thrill for me when they revealed their all time hidden gem, "The Ripper." I think I was the only one in the crowd who went absolutely nuts at it. Both Teal and some young lady in front of me both stated, "You're excited about this song." Next, they revealed that it was the 40th anniversary of their "Stained Glass" album where they played "Saints in Hell" as a tribute. Other Priest greats included "Turbo Lover" and "Freewheel Burning." While Rob was the great show man he has always been for more than four decades, I was impressed with guitarists Richie Faulkner. He seems to have learned from his mentors and if the band was to continue, he is more than capable to carry them on. Scott Travis was pretty cool too and I loved how he and Richie traded solos. Things seemed to end with an extended version of "You Got Another Thing Comin'" and "Painkiller," both drawing large cheers from the crowd. But Judas Priest weren't done. Obviously, there would be an encore and that's when they sprung a surprise. Glenn Tipton came out to play with them for the four encore songs. He did look a little frail and Rob kept coming over to him but he stayed the course. He even played a solo on the closing song, "Living After Midnight" which followed on from "Breaking the Law." When the mighty Priest did leave, it was to much adulation and a brief but cool fireworks display.

[caption id="attachment_4749" align="aligncenter" width="245"] Blasted light show kept me from getting decent pictures of Priest[/caption][caption id="attachment_4750" align="aligncenter" width="225"] See again![/caption][caption id="attachment_4751" align="aligncenter" width="282"] A little better[/caption][caption id="attachment_4752" align="aligncenter" width="269"] Even taking a photo of the big screen didn't work.[/caption][caption id="attachment_4753" align="aligncenter" width="270"] I kept trying though[/caption]

Teal and Joe called it a night but I had one more act to watch. As soon as Judas Priest was finished, I high tailed it over to the Sophie Lancaster Stage to catch Doro. My timing was perfect because as I entered the tent, she was performing one of my favourites, "I Rule the Ruins." That wasn't the only one she treated me to, a few songs later, I got to hear "East Meets West," where she brought out a former guitarist Tommy Bowen. Therefore, for the rest of her show, she had a three guitar attack behind her. Sounded real good when she played "Burning the Witches." Doro engaged the audience really well throughout and while her light show was nothing like Priest, it was still pretty cool. "All We Are" got the crowd really going and it carried on until she left the stage. When she came back out, Doro asked the audience what song they would like. I was too far away so she couldn't hear me calling out for "I'll Make It On My Own," so she said, since nobody came forth with a song, she'd pick one, which she did. A second song was asked for and she picked one from a young lady in the front and that's how the night ended, with loads of bows and "thank yous" before leaving. It was a great way to end the first day!

[caption id="attachment_4760" align="aligncenter" width="287"] Doro on the Sophie Stage[/caption][caption id="attachment_4761" align="aligncenter" width="278"] Better pics with Doro[/caption][caption id="attachment_4762" align="aligncenter" width="280"] Tommy Bowen on guitar[/caption][caption id="attachment_4763" align="aligncenter" width="268"] Doro mesmerizes the crowd[/caption]

Note: You may have noticed that I haven't posted songs from every band I saw. I thought to do it with the ones I had never heard of before and now you have.

Next post: Saturday

To download Rock and Roll Children, go to: http://mediahubb.net/14510967/rock-and-roll-children.html