We are in the year 2012 and it is mid-March, about 100km above the Arctic Circle in Norway, more specifically in Trondheim. Besides fishing and crafting cheese slicers, the Norwegians also like to throw a little festival here and there, which is not only celebrated on the National Day of May 17... And also freaks who enjoy headbanging and listening to loud music got their money's worth that weekend. From the 15th to the 17th, the TRONDHEIM METALFEST took place, featuring a whopping 18 bands that came not only from Norway but also from Italy, the UK, the USA, and Sweden.
The entrance fee of 350 NOK (exchange rate: 1 Euro = 8 NOK) for a day ticket
with 4 bands on that Saturday was pure joy. You could even get a tattoo for free, featuring the METALFEST logo. Additionally, there was also a guitar to win. Now, I can't report anything about Thursday and Friday, as my lazy butt enjoyed the Northern Lights about 20km away in the evening, but I had to be there on Saturday.
The evening started with the band RESOUNAUT, and it was dreadful, somehow not quite fitting to the noise I had imagined. A very boring show with elements of the STONEROCK category. The singer only sounded good in the first song and became relatively monotonous with everything he offered. The nice idea of making the second guitar a bit bass-heavy really got on my nerves; it was boring... No hit and no enthusiasm.
Now, the tide should turn quickly with the group from Trondheim called THE HATE COLONY. A band that draws from everything and really knows how to rock. Metal/Hardcore packaged in a very modern way. Bands like SLAYER, PANTERA, SEPULTURA
would definitely have these guys as support, and anyone who feels at home with this music in any form would surely pay tribute to them with all their heart. ROCK IT!!! One hit after another, and one of the guitarists was absolutely amazing in how he handled his guitar. The riffs, or rather all the earworm attacks, were meticulously crafted, and none of it sounded boring, all produced on their own basis. Blood, sweat, and tears dripped, and the way the singer belted it out was a pure delight.
I've rarely seen so much passion on stage as with THC. Hats off and my respect! Great slices of bread, and I definitely wanted more, but time seemed not to allow it; after about 40 minutes, unfortunately, it was over with them!
Then it was MIKSHA's turn. Another tasty bomb in the direction of industrial Metalcore... Their music is very rhythmic and energetic, presented in their own way, yet unique. It would certainly be MTV-worthy if you watch their videos. MIKSHA's new long player includes 10 tracks that I can highly recommend. Very well-crafted songs... But unfortunately, technical issues during their live performance cut their set short, and after just a few songs, you could only hear "Sorry, that's it for us".
Then it was time for HAIL! from the States... if you know them, you know about their awesome covers of MOTORHEAD, SEPULTURA, and SLAYER... They play driving metal... But it was time for me to go home, as I was very tired and worn out from the week. It would have been,
or was definitely a big highlight, but when the eyes close, they just close! HAIL! are on a world tour... Just check out their tour dates.
All in all, it was a nice evening... Norway is not just "long" and "boring"...
In this sense \m/ \m/
http://trondheimmetalfest.no/
My tip:
THE HATE COLONY (Trondheim)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dh20QitLoXI