Bboo : Remedial class for David Vincent and his aliens (i know, i know it was easy), missed when they play in France. Again David wear his special “latex atmosphere” top. Much pleasant and the crowd seems to take great pleasure.

SpiriT : I found this show much better than Hellfest’s one. I admit it was a bit of a surprise for me when I saw that M.A. were to play in the middle of the afternoon (while they were headlining the second stage in France), however I found the show a step higher under the tent.

It must be said that both sound and lights were much better here. Add a David Vincent in a great day, who finally communicate with the crowd and you got an excellent (clown) show.

Bboo : Punk hardcore band in the purest tradition, speed and jumping. Finally there’s a little movement in the pit, mosh and circlepits. Musically very repetitive for me, I prefer to leave after a few songs to get a good place for Symphony X.

SpiriT : The original line up did reformed for the 20th anniversary of the band, for some shows during the summer. Even if I’m not a big fan of the band, too rap for me, I was quite eager to see what the Americans can do. I was not disappointed.

The band give it all : a very angry hardcore that run and jump in every corner of the stage. The band was rather moved by the crowd’s warm welcome (we even had one of the few circle pit of the festival), which in that way remember me of Atheist performance in Hellfest 2007. Only bad thing: no Tera Patrick to be seen anywhere :p.

Bboo : The slap …. But no as you would think. Here it was a slap in the band’s face. Lag, shuffle along, nothing will do, the band will have to perform in front of a rather empty tent (less than half). What a disappointment, how to explain this desertion (the tent was nearly full for almost all other bands)?
First, you must know that the concept of festival in Holland is quite different from France. With us, it comes to music. In the Netherlands, people seems have others priority : food, drinks, friends and eventually music. Symphony X was supposed to play at 7PM …everyone was in front of food stands by this time.

Second, next show in line (on the mainstage) was Life of Agony who will be one of the most attended show of the day, many metalheads did leave the tent earlier to get a good stand near the mainstage.

SpiriT : The show started with a lot of delay, the fist delay of the day. It must be said that there was almost no one under the tent by 6:30PM (not even one hundred people). Sadly the tent will not fill quickly, even as there is no other band playing at the same time.

Dutch public seems much more interested by the food stands, and as I’ve previously said, Dutchman eats early … so nobody for Allen’s band. Too bad because the show, if I does not reach the high level of their last performance in Bataclan, deserved a look. This time there was a real light show, not just a bunch of red contrejour lights as in Paris. Despite the sparse audience, the band seemed rather happy to be here.

Bboo :Not finding any information on this band, with only 30 minutes of play on the small stage, I was starting to ask myself if “Strawelte” was not a dutch word for ‘pause’ ‘break’ or anything like this. Well, apparently not ^^. Singing in dutch I don’t have any idea of their lyrics, but in terms of musical style, on the edge of folk and the clown oriented attitude of the band, I was left to believed that this band is a mimolette version of our famous Ultra Vomit.

Only concern, it does not seem to entertain a lot of people. Each other seems appalled, and THAT at least is funny.

SpiriT : From afar, it looks like a East version of Ultra Vomit, but closer nobody seems to laugh. Worse people around me seems dismayed. Well, in any case there is less than 5 minutes left…

Bboo :Dense crowd for Keith Caputo’s band. LoA is obviously highly anticipated and most people here seems to know every songs. It sings and sings … I start to believe I’m at a variety show.

On the other hand, the bands that defines its music as ‘alternative thrash metal’ should add pop music. Not my cup of tea, I dropped the case after a few songs.

SpiriT : More old school rock’n roll than heavy metal, the band plays in front of a crowd already committed to their cause.

Undoubtedly the first big sensations here for the Dutch public, the crazy Keith Caputo ensured a good performance, with a brilliant voice and his special touch. Somewhat surprisingly, you’ll love or hate it. I have quite enjoyed the show.

As the weather starts to be threatening, and having forget my k-way in the car, it’s time for a break.

If in France, the metalhead is believed to be a Satanist, psychopathic child killer, here, in the Netherlands, they seems to have much better press. Funny thing, throughout the sort of stinking river that runs alongside the site, many residents of all ages enjoy the show, freely, on their bikes.

Bboo : Hard rock Halleluja! Hard rock Halleluja! Hard rock Halleluja!
Is it necessary to introduce Lordi, the band that revolutionized the Eurovision?
Finnish heavy metal grimed, their music even if correctly played is not the first interested.
With such costumes and staging, impossible not to think to their American’s cousin Gwar. Especially when Mr Lordi sprays the crow with a watering chainsaw. The tent was full during the performance of Mr Lordi and his band.

SpiriT : No Hard rock hallelujah for me, as their show did took place in the same time as Hollenthon’s one. I’ll stay only three tunes, especially since the concert will be a little late. With their colourful show, the band is 100% as I have imagined. Poser to the extreme and with carnival’s costumes, clearly a band that does not take it too seriously and create a successful festive atmosphere. However I still have some trouble with the voice, sometimes very strident.

Between the second and the third song, we’ll be entertained with a short musical interlude. First we can hear a baby crying, then a roadie comes on stage to see what it returns. At this moment the guitarist stab him and beat him hard under the cheers of the crowd ;)
As i feared, the ugly clouds that had begun to invade the sky did not intend to come as tourists. A light rain had started to fall, apparently without any effect on the crowd, imperturbable as always.

SpiriT : I was expecting some Black symphonic Metal, Dimu Borgir style, and in the end it revealed to be some kind of heavy metal with a guttural voice not unpleasant.There was no keyboard on stage, so the entire symphony part is played from samples. Attitude as the look are 100% heavy metal: it runs, poses, laughs and smiles. Not very Black metal :p.

Quite nice but not my cup of tea, so with this rain I decide to shelter myself at the crew area. I will come back all packed, water proof in my giant condom, but the big rain fell only for a few minutes to give way to a Britain drizzle.