SOULFLY back in OWL after a long, long time!!! I was already jumping from one leg to the other weeks before the concert in anticipation, thinking about the last SOULFLY concert, even though it was quite a while ago. It was on 15.02.2003 (!) at the Herford „Kick“ and I have never seen the „Kick“ or today’s „X“ so packed as it was that night. To get into the Mainhall back then, you had to walk through the bar areas, which have now fallen victim to the „Church“ disco room. The first step into the Mainhall took my breath away; even before the gig, the hall was more than overcrowded and the air was thick. Instead of the allowed 2500 people, there were definitely 3000 SOULFLY fans in the „Kick“. And now, almost 10 years later, this prominent, grand Brazilian thrash metal band was supposed to play in the small Bielefeld „Forum“, which might only hold about 400 people??? Everything felt a bit off because there was no advertising for the concert, tickets were still available in advance, and there was no sign of a move to a larger venue anywhere in sight.
With a strange gut feeling, I made my way to Bielefeld on 10.10 and encountered almost a hundred spectators in front of the „Forum“, who clearly did not want to attend a Reinhard Mey concert. So everything seemed to be in order. Inside the „Forum“, it was just as full or empty. It was still far from being a packed concert venue, but the evening was still young.
As opening acts, the three sons of Max Cavalera took the stage first. Igor and Zyon started with their band LODY KONG, who couldn’t excite me or the audience with their trashy metal. But the four guys are still very young, and if they move away from the noise towards melodies and work on their singing, they could become something.
Then stepson Richie with his band INCITE showed more quality. That evening, they primarily presented their second album „All Out War“, which I have already reviewed here and which I liked extraordinarily well with 9 out of 10 points. Live, INCITE hits you with their songs just as hard as on the CD. Accordingly, they resonated better with the Bielefeld audience with their trashy songs. Richie’s stage show over the 45-minute set was more than impressive. He actually tried to engage the notoriously stubborn audience from East Westphalia and us Lippe (OWL), and he even succeeded at times! You can see how that went down best on my photo page:
https://picasaweb.google.com/109994034920158032774/SoulflyInciteLodyKongBielefeldForum10102012
But the other INCITErs were also in good spirits that evening, as you can see in the pictures. The guys let the trash pig out, and the approximately 200 people in the „Forum“ enjoyed it. Unfortunately, INCITE didn’t play an encore, so next time, when they are the headliners in the „Forum“, and I have no doubt they will be, they won’t be able to avoid it.
Even though there is a smoking ban in the „Forum“, a few puffs of fresh air are always good, and in the meantime, you could also gossip about the still arriving spectators who were pulling into the now packed parking lot of the „Forum“ with their cars. And these cars didn’t come from OWL as expected, but from the Ruhr area, the Sauerland, and Lower Saxony, which could be seen from the license plates.
And then there was the big nightliner for the three bands parked, and even though the doors were closed, a strong smell surrounded the bus... Well, you can probably guess...
Back in the „Forum“, the place was now well filled, but still far from sold out or packed. This was also evident from the first notes of SOULFLY; instead of mass pogo, flying body parts, singing fans, and a smell of sweat in the air, it was unusually quiet in the audience. However, SOULFLY started after the intro with a song from the new album „Enslaved“, which apparently not everyone had heard yet, even though it has been on the market for half a year. I must admit, I also missed the release. But then it got heavy right away with „Blood Fire War Hate“ and „Refuse/Resist“. But even here, no extremities flew through the air; there wasn’t even any pogoing... Just headbanging in the front row with polite applause. What’s going on here??? It was so different in 2003... Okay, almost 10 years have passed, but there have also been many good records from SOULFLY! Since many “outsiders” were present, it couldn’t solely be attributed to the lethargy of the OWLers, and in 2003, the „Kick“ was boiling like a cauldron... The show went on, and indeed the audience slowly warmed up, at the latest when „Prophecy“ and „Primitiv“ were played after 20 minutes. In between, old rock and metal hits were also played, e.g., from BLACK SABBATH. Some were well received, but most were only acknowledged; after all, we were there for SOULFLY and not at an Ü40 party. When „Arise“ was played after about ¾ of an hour, the handbrake was finally released, and there was some pogoing in a small circle. As the gig progressed, the circle grew larger, and finally, the atmosphere picked up. After a short breather, which especially Max Cavalera took, who has gained a bit of weight while his US bandmates were acting much fitter, but they are also significantly younger, it went straight to the highlight of the concert. With the new songs „Plata o Plomo” and „Revengeance” (yes, I have since acquired the new album, as the concert was almost 4 weeks ago), Richie and Igor joined their (step)father on stage to accompany him at the microphone. With „Roots Bloody Roots“, the hall finally shook, and it continued through „Jump da Fuck Up“ to the last song „Eye for an Eye“, where Max Cavalera briefly left the stage only to return wearing a DSC Arminia Bielefeld jersey. However, since more “outsiders” than Bielefeld locals were present, this action went a bit unnoticed. After 80 minutes, it was over at the „Forum“. And slightly sweaty, I set off for home shortly after midnight. It turned out to be a nice evening after all... late, but still....
So now, check out the photos, quick quick!