PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
As morning arrived, we headed for our shuttle bus pick up point, met up with a few familiar faces, checked in, and rolled off for Wieze with some Female Fronted Metal blasting out from the speakers, ensuring that the cobwebs of the night before were well and truly blown away.
Once we’d queued up for our wristbands and passes, we were in! Can scarcely believe it’s been twelve months since the last edition but the set up is still the same, single stage, awesome lighting rig, video screen. The edge of the venue is then taken up by the all important bar area to one side, merchandise stalls and food bar at the back, and seating area and more stalls on the other side.
It’s not long before the first band hit the stage, Anwynn (8/10) from Belgium, so a home grown band to start proceedings with. Musically, the 
band would probably fall in to the Symphonic Death Metal bracket, visually the band falls into the ’we’re going to grab you and rock the Hell out of you’ bracket. An opening set is never easy at a festival but Anwynn take about 5 minutes before they have everyone in the palm of their hands, the 7 piece tear through a half hour set of dual vocal Metal , the sword wielding, kilt wearing giant of a man that is McBouc oozes stage presence , whilst the beautiful Operatic vocals of Amandine offer the perfect contrast to the male growls.
Bringing a more Progressive edge to the day are Benighted Soul (8/10) from France, who also hit the spot. Vocalist Geraldine hardly ever stands still, songs such as ’No Warning Signs’ for example come across really well on stage. In general the whole half hour set is pretty much faultless, Geraldine puts in a fine performance, reminding me of Floor Jansen in parts, definitely a band to keep an eye on.
Next to tread the boards are Crysalys (8/10) from Italy, with their brand of Symphonic tinged Metal. Now it’s always a good pointer on a bands performance at a festival when the current cd ’The Awakening Of Gaia’ sells out in double quick time, and to be honest I can easily see why. Chiara Malvestiti has one of the strongest Operatic voices I have EVER heard, listening to the album title track performed live in all its splendour is truly special, this is a band that will be much higher up the bill next time round, a really talented band with a huge amount of potential.
Seduce The Heaven (8/10) from Greece keep things moving on very nicely indeed, their brand of Melodic Death Metal is beautifully complimented by Elina Laivera’s sumptuous soprano voice. Listening to songs such as ’Illusive Light’ for example really gives you a sense of how good this band are, the male/female vocal combination may not be everybody’s cup of tea but for me it worked a treat.
I have to put my hands up in the air and admit from the start that I’m an utter ’fanboy’ when it comes to Lahannya (9/10), not only is she an immensely talented and warm person but boy can she rock. Songs such as ’Dystopia’, ’Save Me’ and ’Never Enough’, really shine through , you can tell she really loves being up on that stage, it’s her domain and woe betide anyone who says otherwise, the band put on a really flashy stageshow for this event to, with pyros and all. I’m constantly riled by how little exposure the band get in the U.K., where as in Europe they get somewhat more of the recognition they richly deserve.
Every year I come to this festival, there is guaranteed to be at least one band that totally surprises me, and this year it’s Greek Metallers Dimlight (9/10), who choose today’s debut MFVF appearance to launch their new album ’Psychosynthesis’. Their set is just total, full throttle Metal, taking no prisoners. Sanna on vocals, was on form right from the start, and when the band were joined on stage by Angel Wolf – Black and Grace Meridan for ’Absence Of Light’ the whole crowd was totally captivated.
For Belgium’s Skeptical Minds (9/10), MFVF must feel like a second home, and with each passing appearance the band seems to get stronger
and stronger both in terms of music and performance. Karolina really is one of Metal’s great front women, having an aura of mysticism and ethereal beauty around her that few can match. The set drew from most of the bands back catalogue, all driven by Mich’s unrelenting guitar assault, highlight for me though was Iliana (Meden Agan) and Karolina’s duet on ’Broken Dolls’, superb.
Symphonic Power Metal band Amberian Dawn (7/10) from Finland again make a welcome return to Wieze, Heidi on vocals always delivers live and tonight is no different, ’Artica’ in particular shows her superb vocal range to it’s full potential. However it’s ’Valkyries’, an old favourite that really gets the place jumping , and ends with a well deserved round of applause.
Arkona (8/10) from Russia, I think it’s fair to say, surprise a lot of people tonight. I for one wasn’t sure what to expect from this bunch of Pagan Metallers, not having seen them perform before, and along with many others I now count myself as a convert. Lyrically I have no idea what the content was but visually and musically these boys and girl really know how to put on a show. ’Zakliatie’, a track that has the whole crowd throwing their horns in the air, whilst holding I-phones to record it all, an impressive set indeed.
Delain (9/10) really are a band that need no introduction, year on year they’ve grown and developed into one of female fronted metals most formidable acts, and this year they pull out all the stops and play a blinder of a set from start to finish, even bringing on George Oosthoek to join Charlotte for an amazing cover of Within Temptation’s ’Deep Within’. The set list is fast becoming a greatest hits type affair such is the back catalogue of quality they can now draw on, ’We Are The Others’ just one of many stand out tracks. Surely it wont be too long before Delain get the headline slot here.
Co – headliners Arch Enemy (8/10) have perhaps divided opinion amongst the MFVF faithful, deemed by some to not be a band suited to this festival. A sentiment I totally disagree with, as that is the beauty of this festival, an ability to cross many genres with its varied line ups. Angela as always is in total command of the stage, with more power and dark malevolence in her vocal delivery than many of her male counterparts can even dream of. ’Revolution Begins’, ’My Apocalypse’, ’Ravenous’, the list goes on, a full hour and twenty minutes of bone crushing, head splitting metal that has the whole place jumping. A shame they were unable to do a signing session for the fans but I’m sure they’ll be back again to lay waste, and I can’t wait.
Lacuna Coil (10/10) put in simple terms, absolutely nail it. Playing at MFVF for the first time since 2005, the band are now a totally different prospect to the band that played back then. Andrea and Cristina have forged one of the best vocal relationships anywhere in Rock, it annoys me so much when I hear ’it’s all about Cristina’, no it’s not, one without the other means no Lacuna Coil, simple. The beautiful acoustic duet on ’Closer’ was perfection, ’Spellbound’ and ’Swamped’ never sounded better, ’Heavens A Lie’ had me close to tears, it was that good. We possibly witnessed one of the best headline sets that has ever graced the MFVF stage in all its years, I just hope that it wont be another 7 years until they return.
Day three at MFVF suddenly had a lot to live up to.
Photography – Anthony May.
