Hellfest 2007 by SpiriT

Sunday

A little pause at the local McDo will find me late for the beginning of the program. I'll miss Manigance and catch Heavenly at mid set.

During the afternoon we will have our first big sun of the fest, and the temperature will go quite high, but around 10PM weather will start to get bad, and by 11:30 it was raining again. Circle is complete.

Gibson Stage

I will not see much bands here since I will pass most of the day in the main pit (from 3:45 PM to 10H45PM).

As I previously said, I missed Manigance, but Bboo had the chance to shoot them @ "the meet & greet", so my first show is Ephel Duath. This Italian band claim to play a "Jazz / Hardcore / Experimental" music, but without bass player, and without saxophonist for this show, their music was too abstract for me. And even the good show from the singer cannot convince me. For a first hearing, 3 songs was the best I can attend without beginning to moan…

For the afternoon, the last gig will be Scarve's one. With their former leader now new Mnemic's singer, scarve had to recruit a new voice for the fest. Their choice was Bob, singer of another French band, Watcha. And for a premiere, they perform well together. The show was dynamic and very pleasant, even if I think that fans will be quite disappointed by this "new setline".

I did not see anything from the following band's show. Aborted was next, nothing to report. Then Behemoth : it was strange to watch them covered with paintings and metal under a bright sun, but they did perform very well according to everybody I asked. Converge was also quite a good show, with dynamic hardcore and with a little metal ingredient mix

Edguy was doing very well until Megadeth start their show on the other scene. Megadeth did not play recently in France and so they were extremely expected. Soon as the first song started did half their public travel to the other stage. Worse even than during Pain of Salvation set it was a hard slap for the band and Edguy did achieve his show right after on a bitter "This organisation sux, goodbye".

Blind Guardian was one before last, apparently they did not convince the people I met, but since I've collected very few advice it's worth what its worth.

Last but not least, Neurosis was the final group for the Gibson Stage, and the final group for me as well. It was one of the group I did expect the most. I got the chance to see both Cult of Luna and Isis this year and was crazy to see master Neurosis himself. The beginning of the show will be delayed, since the bearded monks seems to wait for the end of Dream Theater on the other scene.

Quite understandable when DT got a such HUGE LOUD fucking sound which easily covered the low calm part of the experimental music from the group. And last, their lightshow were lighting the Gibson stage like a bright full moon… not the kind of thing Neurosis should be wanting if I know them. Anyway, the show will start. Slow, low, heavy, oppressive shattering us like waves smashing reef. A white board covering the back of the stage will show us strange, short animations, contributing to the oppressive atmosphere. And then did the rain entered the show.

Your first word will probably be "Shit", but you're wrong. As the rain did become a strong, cold shower, most of the crowd entered the second step of their trance ! Incredible, instead of spoiling the show, the rain seems to be a part of it. Another ingredient in the master piece Neurosis perfectly delivered to us. Cult ! Stepping down will be difficult. Completely soaked, frozen but still half on another plane, I will stand in front of the stage for half an hour (not alone !!) probably waiting for some kind of revelation who will never come, before my companions found me there. And so did I missed Emperor… and ended this fest.

Main Stage

Like I said before, the openers were the french "power metal band" Heavenly. Like usually the band will deliver a great play, with much fun and energy. Even if their set was too short (again 30 minutes…) the large crowd already assembled in front of the main stage at this early hour seems to be convinced.

I will miss Animosity in an attempt to put away my clothes (the sun is getting hotter and hotter and I'm starting to feel like an ice cream on the beach) back to my car. Attempt I will badly regret later when the rain during neurosis will shower me in short and shirt.

From there, I will stand in the pit, at the second line for Dark Tranquillity and first after. So I was able to shoot every band during their whole performance (even if it's from a quite agitated spot). I was expecting much from the three bands to come. I did discover this one back in 1994, when I bought the "metal militia" tribute to Metallica, for their cover of "my friends of misery". Probably not the best song from the album, but enough to give me some interest in the band. Anyway, it was a pleasure to watch them for the first time after all these years. And the wait worth it. Performance was excellent, greet attitude, good sound and an imperial Mikael Stanne delighted to be here. He will introduce the next band, Atheist from whom he claimed to be a huge fan.

So came Atheist. Another famous band I never had the chance to see on stage. Great show, good sound, great play with an incredible Tony Choy (even if his bass sound was a little to low). Sadly it was the last show of the group, as said, voice filled with emotion, a close to tears Kelly Schaefer. He will descend in front of the pit for the joy of the first lines (hihihihi) and will be the only one to attempt a slam in the main pit. Respect man ! A great moment.

Next in line was Kreator, German masters of Trash. The show will start under a filthy heavy sulphured green smoke, and will be a pure hatred style. Milland is very good in warming the crowd and he will prove this again that afternoon. The performance was bluffing, not a pain, nothing, straight as hell with great sound... The band will leave the stage as they entered, under a blue and green illsmelling smoke.

Soon after Kreator leaved, did the crowd seems to urge forward. Strange for no one was coming before 40 minutes. But as I turn back to look why, I quickly understand the reason. A horde of hysterical adolescents have invaded the field.

Within Temptation is next ! The show will be average for me. I don't like much of their lasts song and prefer the firsts albums. Sadly not a single song was play from "Enter" and most songs were from the two lasts albums. Besides that, Sharon complained about her recently broken voice due to illness. Personally I did barely notice it, since she managed to sing well most of her part. For the rest, the band seems quite happy and the sound was quite good, even if those screaming spitfire are quite a mess.

Bad point, most of these (very) young ladies did not wear any kind of protection, and the sound began again to be extremely loud during WT set. When I see those 3 girl of 12 13, watching the show just in front of the subs… brrrr. I fear not only will the next generation be obese, but they will be deaf as well. And that's not funny at all...

Like I previously said , Megadeth was expected by a vast part of the public. As far as I am concerned, I never had the chance in twenty years to attend one of their show. So as you can imagine I was very excited by the time Dave's band entered the stage. I was fearing a poor vocal performance from Mustaine, but I was totally wrong. The show was fantastic, probably the best (apart from Neurosis) show from the Hellfest 2007. The sound was perfect, the complex solos guitar Marty Friedman used to play were play straight and the band show great interest in play.

Dave Mustaine was very different from what I thought. Smiling most of the times, he seems very happy from the warm welcome the French public gave him during the show. Beside that, the setlist was full of classic with few new titles. A great moment was "a tout le monde" when the whole crowd sing along the french part of the song. Touching ! For the lasts songs, we got a powerful "symphony of destruction" followed by a still efficient "Peace sells…". For the encore, Dave asked us which song we wished to hear. Finally he will answer us "anyway you will be happy because it will be a great song". And so it was ! Holy war will set the crowd afire. Damn great show !!! By the way, how does Mustaine managed to appear so young ? Incredible !!

Dream Theater was next, with their perfectly played music. Show was good, with much lights and good attitude. As always Mike Portnoy is very impressive, even if he is still unable to catch the drum's stick whenever he throw them… Only reproach for me, I prefer DT when James Labrie does not sing. Sorry

The last group for the fest was Emperor. Sadly, I missed this cult show since I was… somewhere between Saturn and Jupiter… According to many people the show was fantastic.