Download 2017: The Friday

Up early and eager to go on the first full day of metal mania at Download. Teal, my stepson and his friend Joe, were disappointed that the sport of bin jousting hasn't caught on at Download and is exclusive to Bloodstock. However, Friday at Download is a dress up day and the theme was wrestling. Therefore, there were a lot of people dressed up as such. Some dressed up as other things like super heroes. I did like the Supergirl outfit I saw.
[caption id="attachment_3914" align="aligncenter" width="225"] This gentleman was ready for the day's festivities.[/caption][caption id="attachment_3915" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Inside the arena[/caption]
I noticed that it has been a sub-concious tradition on my part at all festivals to go check out the first band on stage. On this day, it was Australian metal core band, Northlane. Now, it is the stereotype belief that all Australian bands are influenced by AC/DC. Obviously, somebody forgot to tell that to Northlane. If anything, they sounded more like Marilyn Manson than AC/DC. They came out on stage with the determination to leave their mark on the day and they did with their hard sound. They did slow things down in the middle of their set with songs "Rotten" and the newly released on video, "Solar" but they came back even harder after that. Even though they were only on stage thirty minutes, Northlane was a great way to start the weekend.
[caption id="attachment_3917" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Northlane begins the festival[/caption][caption id="attachment_3918" align="aligncenter" width="225"] And they kept it going[/caption]
Teal advised me to stick around for the second band and so with no plans to go anywhere else, I did. After their acoustic sounding intro, Motionless in White blasted onto the stage. While Northlane might have sounded like Marilyn, Motionless in White's lead singer, Chris 'Motionless' Cerulli sort of looked like him. He did have a great stage presence. While being bashed about by their hardcore metal sound, they did introduce their new song, "Unnecessary Evil" and ended things with one of their best known songs, "Abigail." When they finished, I was glad that I had listened to my stepson's advice.
[caption id="attachment_3920" align="aligncenter" width="263"] Chris 'Motionless' leading the charge.[/caption][caption id="attachment_3921" align="aligncenter" width="279"] And the band followed.[/caption]
It had always been my intention to catch the next band out on the main stage, Sabaton. I saw these Swedish metalers at Bloodstock two years prior so I was looking forward to more of the same. This time, they wasted no time in getting the tank on stage as I watched it being set up before the band even got on stage. When they did, the tank did it's job in producing a great display of firepower in support. The pyro in the first song, gave way to their classic, "Art of War." As always, Sabaton put on a great stage show and they played great songs like "Sparta" and "Primo Victoria" to commemorate the 73 years plus three days anniversary of D-Day. The audience also found out that the tank was named Walter and so the crowd started chanting the tank's name. All very amusing and I if they had played more than forty minutes, I would have said they were better than what they had been at Bloodstock. With the time cut, they were about the same.
[caption id="attachment_3923" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Wheeling in Walter[/caption][caption id="attachment_3924" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Sabaton under a cloud of smoke[/caption][caption id="attachment_3925" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Sabaton leads to victory.[/caption]
After watching three bands back to back, I thought I needed some lunch. So after a quick refuel, I headed over to the Zippo stage for the next band I wanted to see. When I got there, I managed to catch the last five to ten minutes of Machine Gun Kelly. Normally, rap metal isn't my thing but these guys were pretty good. On the last song, the lead singer sang directly to a lady in the audience. What I saw of them was okay.
[caption id="attachment_3926" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Machine Gun Kelly finishing up.[/caption]
Once MGK left the stage, I managed to manoeuvre my way to the front in anticipation for a band I had been waiting over thirty years to see, Suicidal Tendencies. When they propelled themselves onto the stage, they were manic from start to finish. Lead singer Mike Muir was a complete psycho. He would rev himself up by doing this little dance and than dart madly across the stage. Opening with "You Can't Bring Me Down," they went straight into their own version of "God Save the Queen," "I Shot the Devil." For those familiar with that song, it actually begins with Mike bellowing out, "I shot Reagan!" These days, it might be cool if he changed Reagan to Trump. But the audience sang along to it anyway. We were also treated to "War Inside My Head" and "Subliminal" to name a few. During the set, Mike spoke to the crowd about doing things for yourself instead of blaming others and he jumped off stage and high fived people in the front. One of them was me. One surprise they unleashed was when they announced that Slayer's Dave Lombardo was on the drums, that got lots of cheers.  The other thing I can say about ST is Dean Pleasants is very underrated as a lead guitarist, the man can lay down some jams! I would like to say that it was the perfect forty five minutes. Unfortunately for me, there was a major disappointment. The band played neither of my two favourite tracks, "Institutionalized" and "I Saw Your Mommy." While they were absolutely brilliant, I can't say they were perfect.
[caption id="attachment_3927" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Welcome Suicidal Tendencies[/caption][caption id="attachment_3928" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Mike Muir and Co[/caption][caption id="attachment_3930" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Pleasants wailing away[/caption]
On my way back to the campsite, I stopped again at the main stage because Five Finger Death Punch were playing. Their good aggressive metal enticed me to stay and have a listen. What I didn't know was that they had been previously banned from Download, I don't know the details. There was one part, where lead singer, Ivan Moody stated guitarist Jason Hook could play any song. Left to his devices, Hook began to play the Ozzy classic, "Crazy Train." When told to stop, he began playing "Smoke on the Water." After that, Moody told the crowd they were 'bad company' before going into a cover of the classic tune. I have to say, even their acoustic number was pretty good. I have since been told that Moody has left the tour and checked into rehab. Tommy Vext will take over the singing duties for the rest of the European tour.
[caption id="attachment_3931" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Five Finger Death Punch[/caption]
Back to the Zippo Stage, this time to get ready for the headliner. But before they came out, I did catch a good chunk of Good Charlotte. I only know the one hit, "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," which they closed with. However, I thought they're overall performance was good.
[caption id="attachment_3932" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Good Charlotte on stage[/caption][caption id="attachment_3933" align="aligncenter" width="225"] See, I must have liked them, I took a second picture[/caption][caption id="attachment_3934" align="aligncenter" width="225"] And a third[/caption]
Friday's headliner at the Zippo Stage was Sum 41, a band I have always liked but never admitted it to anyone over the age of 40. Although fifteen years ago, my eldest son thought his dad was cool because he liked them. Let's just say right away that they were brilliant from start to finish. In the early minutes of the set, they got three people out of the audience to view the show from back stage. No, I wasn't picked. They did play a good combination of material and a crazy mosh pit opened up near me. One lady went especially crazy but after the show, she said she had waited fifteen years to see this band, so one can't really blame her. In the middle of the set, they played some covers. They began playing Maiden's classic, "The Trooper" and were astounded when the crowd sang the lyrics back to them. They also played a little of Metallica's "Master of Puppets." Lead singer Deryck Whibley played the opening chords to the first two songs he learned to play on the guitar, "Smoke on the Water" and White Stripes's "Seven Nation Army." Sum 41 ended the covers portion with one of Queen's famous "We Will Rock You," played very similar to the way it's done on the "Live Killers" album. At one point, the band left the stage to see a skeleton inflate behind the drums. When fully inflated, it was making the '41' hand gesture. Deryck also told about the time he spent in hospital and what got him through it was a picture of himself playing a gig in the UK. I thought that was touching. The brilliant night ended with their two best known songs, "In Too Deep" and of course, "Fat Lip." That ended things very well.
[caption id="attachment_3935" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Sum 41 under the lights[/caption][caption id="attachment_3936" align="aligncenter" width="225"] This young lady was really into them[/caption][caption id="attachment_3937" align="aligncenter" width="225"] A good shot of the band[/caption][caption id="attachment_3939" align="aligncenter" width="225"] They disappear under the lights[/caption][caption id="attachment_3940" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Only for the skeleton to emerge[/caption][caption id="attachment_3941" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Sum 41 finish in a flurry[/caption]

After Sum 41, I did venture past the main stage to watch a little of System of a Down. I stayed long enough for hear "Chop Suey" but didn't stay too long, not my thing. For me, Sum 41 was the best end to a thrilling first day.

Hopefully, Rock and Roll Children will have its own link again soon. It is still available on Amazon.

Happy New Year, 206!

For the first time in seven years with the company, I am working a sleepover on New Year's Eve. At least I get double time for it. Therefore, I will wish everyone a happy new year now and reflect on 2015 and what there is to look forward to for 2016.

Amon Amarth at their best

Huntress

Savage Messiah

The year started with a great concert in Bristol featuring Amon Amarth with special guests, Huntress and Savage Messiah. I can't think of a better way to start any year. While it seemed that on some occasions in the year, I was in danger of disappearing up my own rectum, with work, blogging and other commitments, music of past and present kept me sane. Although, I did have a wonderful break in August to go to Bloodstock and see three bands, two of them I missed in the 80s and the third, I was too partied out to fully appreciate them. They were Nuclear Assault, Armoured Saint and Overkill plus I headbanged to the likes of Sabbaton and Trivium that day while discovering a great little known band in Fire Red Empress. I hope the new year brings all of those bands greater success.

Overkill playing to the crowd

Fire Red Empress entertaining the crowd

Nuclear Assault in full assault

Armoured Saint establishing their dominance

Sabaton wowing with their sound

Trivium in full swing

As so many of you have pointed out, there was some great music throughout the year with new releases from Iron Maiden, Queensryche and the Scorpions to name a few. Plus there was a new album from The Darkness. Let's hope their resurgence continues into the new year.

Of course, we can't forget out losses with the recent passing of Lemmy and Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor. Two-thirds of a great band gone in the same year is nothing short of a tragedy. However, I am confident that they are jamming away together in another place. On a personal, non musical note, the year also saw the final episode of my favourite television show, "Sons of Anarchy." Fortunately, my eldest step son got me the entire series on DVD for Christmas, so there will be some happy viewing for me.

Lemmy

Like with every year, the new year gives everyone a chance for a new start or things to look forward to. For me, while Sons of Anarchy is gone, I still can watch "The Blacklist" and so far in season 3, I like what I'm seeing. Then there's the chance to see Twisted Sister's farewell gig at Bloodstock this year. That is something I intend to move mountains to go to.

Twisted Sister

So it leads me to say that whatever your hopes and dreams for the new year are, I hope it all works out for you. Just remember one thing, no matter what the year may bring, there will always be some great music to keep you going.

Happy New Year!

Bloodstock, Friday August 7, 2015: Part2

When we last left our story, our heroes had just been completely blown away by Fire Red Empress. Uplifted by such a great set from the fore mentioned band, we now move back to the main stage and take our positions close to the stage in order to appreciate the full impact of Overkill who were coming on next. While we waited two fellow metalheads came up to me saying that the recognised me from attending both Armoured Saint and Nuclear Assault. One gentleman, Waylon from Mid-Wales as he introduced himself as, stated that the thing about a metal festival is that metalheads from all over can get together and enjoy great music. I fully support his sentiments and Waylon, if you are reading this, thanks for that. It has given me food for thought at the end.

Waylon and pals showing their love of metal

Anticipation increased as the sound checks were carried out before Overkill made their dramatic entrance onto the main stage. Some caught a glimpse of lead singer Bobby 'Blitz' Ellsworth prompting a guy near me to shout out "Hey Bobby!" I don't think Bobby heard him. Then the inevitable happened and Overkill were out on stage bringing mayhem and destruction with them. As soon as they were out, mosh pits opened either side of where I was standing and wave upon wave of crowd surfers started being passed overhead. I'm sure I passed the same young lady to the front three times because those skimpy denim shorts and thin black tights were looking all too familiar. One person told me that I was getting too old for this shit, I beg to differ.

At first, I thought there was something wrong with Overkill's sound because I could hear the bass over both guitars and it just didn't sound right, not that it mattered that much to the crowd. They were all enjoying the mayhem. Fortunately, it must have gotten sorted because twenty five minutes into their set, Overkill played the song I wanted most to hear, "In Union We Stand," and it sounded fine. What was better was that they followed it up with "Rotten to the Core." So it was a double helping of metal nostalgia for me. Other great Overkill anthems included "Hello From the Gutter," "Electric Rattlesnake" and saving it for the end was "Fuck You," to which Bobby got the audience singing along to. Yes, a very appropriate song to end things with I thought.

Having never seen Overkill before and having seen a lot of bands with front men who possess varying degrees of charisma, I have to say that I was more than impressed with the showmanship of Bobby Ellsworth. He definitely knew how to work the crowd even if did refer to us as mother fuckers throughout. I guess it was a compliment. Overkill could have covered a Wham song and Bobby would have had me singing along to it. It just shows how good he and Overkill are live and credit to Bloodstock for getting them to play there.

Overkill playing to the crowd

Playing In Union We Stand

Overkill establishing their dominance

Teal with his souvenir from the festival

Just when we had recovered from the carnage caused by Overkill, Sabaton took the stage with intent of causing more destruction. Being second from the top of the bill, they had more use of lights and effects and they took full advantage of it. The drums was on the turret of a tank and I also liked the army helmet and M-16 theme on the microphones. Coming out below the strobe lights and through the dry ice all dressed in camouflage trousers, it gave me the notion that this was somebody to see. Their music proved the notion right. The combination of power, speed and viking metal was a sound to behold. Admittedly, I don't listen to the bands of today as much as I should because of my love for the golden decade, the name of the blog bears witness to this but Sabaton has made me promise to myself that I will pay more attention to them and other more modern bands. I have to say that I was very impressed with them.

The mosh pits dwindled down to one and the waves of crowd surfers thinned out during Sabaton's reign on the stage but it didn't matter. They orchestrated a new way to go nuts by having the entire audience start jumping up and down. I could do that and so I did. In fact I jumped a lot during their performance. Still it was the music that won me over. I knew very little of their music before that particular evening but one song that I remember and loves was "Panzerkampf," which was about a big battle in World War 2 between the Germans and the Soviets. Maybe metal would be a good way to teach history. That's the one thing I found paradoxical about them. They played several songs from their "Art of War" album and that had me wondering that for a band from Sweden, a country who hasn't had a proper war in 250 years, they seem to write a lot of songs about war. It didn't matter that much because again, the power metal had me until the end when Sabaton released blue and yellow confetti into the crowd marking the finale of a really great show.

Sabaton's ascent to the stage

Sabaton wowing with their sound

Great fire effects

Jumping to Sabaton

Need I say more?

Hail to Sweden

Wanting to avoid having to leave before the end, my stepson and I went and got some energy drinks and rushed back to the main stage to await the headliners, Trivium. The stage set up alluded to the idea that this was going to be a great show. I loved the two devil skulls in the background on either side of the stage. When they came out, they didn't disappoint the huge crowd assembled in waiting before them. However, their appearance didn't go as smoothly as hoped. Guitarist Corey Beaulieu disappeared for two songs. When he came back, he stated he kept getting shocks of the electrical system but thank God, it was fixed and he showed what a good guitarist he is.

Back in full flow, Trivium let their music do the talking for them. Sure they had some great effects being the headliner but it was the music that did it for me. They were another band who I considered too modern for me, (yes I got to stop being such a stick in the mud,) but like Sabaton, they made a believer out of me. At one point, lead singer Matt Heafy stopped to talk about the time he met Ronnie James Dio when Trivium supported Heaven and Hell in Japan in 2007. Heafy explained how gracious Ronnie was in talking about his vocals and what a great man Dio was and reminded the Bloodstock fans that the main stage was named in honour of him. I thought that was cool but of course, Trivium went back to making great music and taking the crowd all the way to the end, even playing three encore songs and ending a great day in metal history.

The stage

Trivium in full swing

Beaulieu wailing away

Trivium in a blur

Near the end

One thing I noticed on this very eventful day is that metalheads are a family. There was one blind man who had to be led by his friends to the front of the stage and another with profound special needs in a wheel chair. In both cases, fellow metalheads accommodated them, allowing them to get through the crowd. I wonder if a One Direction audience would have been so thoughtful and considerate. Another thing I would like to see as a result of the day is Armoured Saint on a UK tour with Fire Red Empress as support. They could play the Thekla in Bristol, I would go see that show for definite.

Next post: Sammy Hagar- Three Lock Box

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