PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
I arrive at Hellfest on a scorching sunny day which is unusual as it’s normally overcast/rainy on the Friday when I arrive. After checking in for my pass, I head around the new layout taking in all the improvements that have been made since last year.What a difference there is with the site more opened up and the Metal Market now outside the gates! Read more here in my Hellfest Overview.
I catch the end of Crossfaith tearing up the Main Stage and then very start of Fueled By Fire’s set as I head off into Press sounds like the bands are warming up the crowd nicely.
First up for me today was interviewing the awesome Therapy? trio. Click here to hear the interview.
I head out to the infamous Metal Tree to meet up with some of the Hard Rock Hell crowd, who have came over for their first Hellfest. It was great to meet up with them in a field in France ;)
I head back into Press area for my interview with Nick & Craig from Brutality Will Prevail. Click here to hear the interview.
I listen to Powerman 5000 storm the Main Stage while I wait for my next interview with Yves from Nightmare Interview. Click here to hear the interview.
After this I go grab something to eat and listen to the M.O.D on Main Stage 2 while I wait to interview Brian, Graeme and Steve from Satan. Click here to hear the interview
Once the interview is done I head out into the arena to catch the rest of Therapy? superb set. The guys are on fine form today and the crowd are loving it treating us all to a varied set from their extensive back catalogue. Highlights for me include ‘Teethgrinder’, ‘Rust” and their cover of Judas Priest’s ‘Breaking the Law’.
Therapy? Set List:
Knives
Screamager
Teethgrinder
Trigger Inside
Die Laughing
Unbeliever
Misery
Rust
Isolation (Joy Division cover)
Still Hurts
Potato Junkie
Stop It You’re Killing Me
Breaking the Law (Judas Priest cover)
Nowhere
Trivium swapped set times with Death Angel which meant they now clashed with Septic Flesh :( This is the down side to having so many fantastic bands on the line up it invariably leads to clashes and I have quite a few of them included two lots of three bands all playing at the same time on different stages! So I head back into the VIP/Press and take on two extra interviews.
First is with the lovely Anti-Christian from Tsjuder. Click here to hear the interview
then a quick interview with Staif and Rachel from Eths. Click here to hear the interview.
I go and meet up with the guys from Loudblast for their interview . Click here to hear the interview.
After these are finished that’s me free to go and check out some bands :) I head back out to the arena that is now getting very crowded and watch the tail end of Rob Zombie’s set. I’ve seen him a few times before ans prefer him indoors than outdoors! I hear the majority of Sepultura’s storming set on Main Stage 2. They serve up a crowd pleasing varied setlist and take no prisoners!
Sepultura Setlist:
The Vatican
Kairos
Propaganda
Impending Doom
Manipulation of Tragedy
Convicted in Life
Dusted
Refuse/Resist
Arise
Ratamahatta
Polícia (Titãs cover)
Roots Bloody Roots
I stayed on and watched the start of Iron Maiden’s set in the now very packed out area around the two main stages, they deliver a great set however I head off to catch the end of Pro-Pain destroying the Warzone stage with their last three songs – ‘Foul Taste of Freedom’, ‘Un-American’ and finishing off with ‘State of Mind’. I head back over to catch more of Maiden’s set. The crowd are loving it.
Iron Maiden Setlist:
Doctor Doctor (UFO song)
Rising Mercury
Moonchild
Can I Play with Madness
The Prisoner
2 Minutes to Midnight
Revelations
The Trooper
The Number of the Beast
Phantom of the Opera
Run to the Hills
Wasted Years
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Fear of the Dark
Iron Maiden
Encore:
Churchill’s Speech intro
Aces High
The Evil That Men Do
Sanctuary
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life (Monty Python song)
Before they finish I head over to my normal home at Hellfest, The Altar and The Temple tent ;) I catch the last of Waitain’s set again they are on form tonight and the packed out tent is buzzing. Once they finish it was time to focus on the Atlar side of the tent for one of the bands I;ve been looking forward to Death DTA! I catch the first half of their set and was honestly blown away at how good they are playing in the memory of Chuck.
Death to All Setlist:
Flattening of Emotions
Left to Die
Suicide Machine
Spiritual Healing
Crystal Mountain
Spirit Crusher
Symbolic
Zombie Ritual
Pull the Plug
I head over to Main Stage area to watch the remainder of Slayer’s set. They are playing ‘Disciple‘, Now I’m a long term Slayer fan so for me this is very hard to write especially as they are one of my favourite bands, but tonight was the first time they had disappointed me live :( Tom’s voice wasn’t on form so after just three songs, ‘Implode’ which works well live if the vocals had been on form it would have been awesome, ‘Seasons in the Abyss’ and ‘Dead Skin Mask’ I headed back over to the Altar tent and caught the remaining set of Death DTA tearing up the stage.
Turning my attentions back to the Temple side so I’m ready for Enslaved to conquer the still packed out tent. This is why I really like Hellfest two stage set up as it works great if there is bands on after each other in the same area! They open with ‘Death in the Eyes of Dawn’ and then go straight into ‘Runn’ the crowd enjoying everything that they are offering up. ‘Riitiir’ sis sounding superb as was ‘Ethica Odini’.
Enslaved Setlist:
Death in the Eyes of Dawn
Ruun
Riitiir
Ethica Odini
Convoys to Nothingness
As Fire Swept Clean the Earth
Allfaðr Oðinn
I head back out to Main Stage area to catch the remaining set by Sabaton. ‘Sun Tzu Says’, ‘The Art of War’ are both sounding superb before they bring their great set to a close with ‘Primo Victoria’ & ‘Dead Soldier’s Waltz’ .
Sabaton Setlist:
The Final Countdown (Europe song)
The March to War
Ghost Division
To Hell and Back
Carolus Rex
Screaming Eagles
Swedish Pagans
Soldier of 3 Armies
Resist and Bite (Joakim on guitar, preceded by snippets of ‘Smoke on the Water’ and ‘Master of Puppers’)
Sun Tzu Says
The Art of War
Primo Victoria
Dead Soldier’s Waltz
My Friday highlight was the one and only Septic Flesh, I’d last seen them at Hellfest 2011 and they did not disappoint :) Starting off with the blistering ‘A Great Mass of Death’ and ‘Communion’ they have us entranced through out their powerful set.
Septicflesh Setlist:
A Great Mass of Death
Communion
Order of Dracul (Live Premier)
Pyramid God
Burn (Live Premier)
Prototype (Live Premier)
The Vampire from Nazareth
Persepolis
Anubis
Five-Pointed Star
I head off during ‘The Vampire from Nazareth’ to catch the remainder of Death Angel tearing up Main Stage 2 as they are another favourite of mine and always deliver a superb set. Tonight they are definitely on form and this brings my first day at the sweltering Hellfest to a close and I head off for my coach back to Nantes. Roll on day two!
Death Angel Setlist:
Left for Dead
Son of the Morning
Evil Priest
Claws in So Deep
Seemingly Endless Time
Execution – Don’t Save Me
3rd Floor
Empty
The Dream Calls for Blood
Mistress of Pain
Fallen
Thrown to the Wolves (With intro from “the Ultra-Violence”)
