Hardcore Fun & Black Metal Slaughter
Summer Breeze Open Air 2018
Dinkelsbühl, Germany 20180815-19
Times of progress. Metal innovation. A variety of sound. Old ideas and new additions. Dark waves and empowering fun. And all of it to find at one place: the Summer Breeze Open Air. A survey beforehand shows the enthusiasm. Most people arrive on Tuesday, even though official opening is the next day. But the organisers got some incidences like the award-winning film Metalhead for all fans, who come before the official app tells you at 13:37 on Wednesday: The gates are open!
Wednesday
The organisers perfectly know, how a great billing should look like. So the Warm Up-Day rocks with for example the Farmer Boys and gets deeply intense with AUÐN, before the Death and Thrash titans Kataklysm and Sepultura command the moshpit. Warbringer then keep going at the Camel Stage, before Nick Holmes climbs the stage with his amazing Paradise Lost for the first time this weekend. John Haughm, who played with Agalloch in 2015, returns with new dark vibes under the name Pillorian. Graveyard follow with warmer (Rickenbacker-)sounds, before the party gets serious with “Robototron” and “Crabulon” of Evil Scarecrow.
Thursday
The next morning, brutal shouts from Pro-Pain can be heard across the fields. Later, Hardcore dominates at the T-Stage: Municipal Waste are the motivators for moshers and crowdsurfers (“The only walls we build are Walls of Death”). While Behemoth light up fires at the Main Stage, it gets beautifully slow the Prog-way with Pallbearer on the Camel Stage. Celeste from France follow, making Svart Crown pop to once mind. Cannibal Corpse crash the Festival again after three years, and also for Suicidal Tendencies it is not the first time, making their gig on the Main Stage a blast and getting as many people on there as possible. After positive messages and a lot of fun, Marduk gets one down to earth again, just right before another Prog act flies high: Wheel. Heilung is the last act for the night, taking back to ancient ancestors and provides balance.
Friday
The next early warriors are Goatwhore, Northlane and Toxic Holocaust among others. Rock hero of the day is Danko Jones (“You got your million dollar shot we gave you?”) Meanwhile Tankard proof that they are not just party and beer but also serious Thrash. The weather starts getting darker while Dying Fetus are the next Death veterans playing. And as the rain comes, it doesn’t hold the audience from seeing Doro who presents “Bastardos” for the the first time live. Meanwhile At The Gates are demonstrating the power of Swedish Metal on highest level. On the Main Stage, Trivium and Arch Enemy do the same for the modern Metal. The next Hardcore party gets started by Sick Of It All, before once more the switch is to Black Metal by Satyricon. A magic start into the late night, that goes on with Alcest and ends with Harakiri for the sky.
Saturday
Also the last day starts with mainly heavy Death like Origin and Carnifex, before Norwegian Einherjer and Sibiir take over. Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons, fronted by fabulous Neil Starr play a game showing middle fingers screaming “Get On Your Knees”. Luckily Fractured Insanity lend them the bass guitar as Tyla’s got lost on the flight. In memory they play Hawkwind and of course Motörhead classics. At the same time, Orange Goblin mark another highlight and singer Ben Ward blows kisses to the audience. The day got a lot to offer, with Korpiklaani, Omnium Gatherum, Dirkschneider (“Balls To The Wall“), Rolo Tomassi, Kadavar, Papa Roach (“Between Angels And Insects“) and peaking with Orphaned Land, you can get a crazy sound cocktail. Glam Metal is alive with W.A.S.P., before it gets really serious with Sólstafir. Hardest decision to leave earlier in this case and only possible if you have seen them before e.g. at the Weekender or even when they were touring with a choir. But Nick Holmes second time on stage with Bloodbath is worth it and would be a great festival closer. But this is Perturbator. Completely other corner but a Summoning shirt and the dark attitude and 80s influence is appealing and ends an awesome Summer Breeze Open Air 2018, that showed how many facets Metal has to offer.
Photos © Zack Freeley