Sweden Rock Festival - Thursday
5 June 2008
Sölvesborg, Sweden
The temperature change from night to day was astounding and whilst a few hours earlier we were wrapped up in multiple layers of clothing in our tents, now it was sun cream, shorts and shades all round. Hence it was rather amusing when Chris Robertson yelled “Here comes the rain” as Black Stone Cherry hit the stage with Rain Wizard with not a cloud to be seen.
This young band from Kentucky, have been absolutely bursting with energy each time I have seen them and today was no different. Mixing choice cuts from their debut album with some teasers from forthcoming Folklore & Superstition, any tiredness remaining from this early start was knocked clean out of the crowd. Of that new material, Yeah Man has been on the setlist for a while and seemed familiar to the crowd. Soul Creek had a big rocking chorus, but it’s forthcoming single Blind Man that hit home, with Robertson’s instructions to the crowd on when to yell “Yeah!” well observed.
Sweden Rock gives bands a much longer time slot than usual at festivals and Ben Well’s looked surprised as he told us there was time for more songs than expected. Though after an excellent Maybe Someday, Black Stone Cherry’s set ended with a bit of an anticlimax, with extended solo segments followed by their usual rendition of Voodoo Child (Slight Return). Still I had brutal business in the Gibson tent, so tearing myself away turned out to be not as difficult as I expected.
Black Stone Cherry set list:
Rain Wizard / Backwoods Gold / Yeah Man / Rollin’ On / Hell & High Water / Soul Creek / Lonely Train / Shooting Star/ Blind Man / Maybe Someday / Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
The Gibson tent was hosting new bands in quick batches of four and at the tale end of the first block was the brutal death metal of Volturyon. With the bulk of the festival in a more melodic realm, I made a point of getting my fix of aural devastation and a wise choice that turned out to be. The girls thought the same when the muscular and bare chested frontman Olle Ekman took the stage, but there was to be no sweet serenades with the growler letting rip in a style not unlike Cannibal Corpse’s Corpesgrinder Fisher. Musically, that band was a good reference point, throwing in the clinical nature of Decapitated and brutality of Deicide.
With one of the clearest sounds I’ve ever heard a band of this nature get, songs from the Swede’s debut release Blood Cure dazzled with their dexterity. Aside from Ekman, the rest of the band have room to progress with their stage presence, though playing to a bright tent hosting people sheltering from the sun was no doubt a bit of a departure to the usual sweaty club atmosphere.
Volturyon set list:
Naked Blood / Forever Suffer / Initiate The Killing / Blood Cure / Drenched In Human Sludge
Sweden Rock had booked Sebastian Bach to play next on the main stage, however, a series of subsequent other European offers obviously seemed too good to turn down, leading to an impossible flight schedule ensuring Sweden Rock had to announce their first cancellation in 10 years. Instead Bonafide stepped in, with a similar set to the previous day, which I enjoyed watching on the big screens, in the shade of the bar eating a chicken Caesar salad! – The food options at Sweden Rock put UK festivals to shame.
Over to the Zeppelin stage next for Pain Of Salvation. Mainman Daniel Gildenlöw is known for doing things the way he wants to do it, so opening the set with what amounted to a long Pink Floyd like guitar solo was certainly not out of character. Eventually the noodling melted into opener The Perfect Element as Gildenlöw was joined by the rest of the band.
Touching on all but their debut album, Pain Of Salvation presented a varied, if at times schizophrenic set. Latest album Scarsick has been seen of a bit of a departure, though the energy of America and the madcap Disco Queen certainly added a spark and worked well in the festival environment. The whole band are clearly skilled musicians and are not afraid to show that. At times, it did feel like we were interrupting a band practice. However, Pain Of Salvation just managed to stay the right side of being over indulgent and with songs as strong as Ashes were very entertaining.
Pain Of Salvation set list:
Intro / The Perfect Element / America / Diffidentia (Breaching The Core) / Inside / Undertow / Ashes / Band Jam / Disco Queen
The sun was really beating down on us now and knowing we’d be seeing Primal Fear at Bloodstock this summer, a trip to the cooler confines of the shaded beer tent was required. Over on the Rock stage, providing very good backing to a few beers was bluesman Omar & The Howlers.
Coheed & Cambria had been seen as an odd inclusion by many, but it has to be said they were a bit of a surprising revelation. Being somewhat disappointed by the band’s latest album, No World For Tomorrow, it was impressive how well the material came over in the live environment. With little to say, he of the wild barnet, Claudio Sanchez took his band on a speedy run through of material mainly from the band’s most recent two releases.
With two female backing singers, the harmony vocals were in good effect and Sanchez’s guitar crunched much heavier than expected. Ten Speed (Of God’s Blood & Burial) was certainly catchier than its epic title might suggest, whilst throwing in a cover of Iron Maiden’s The Trooper endeared the band to the more traditionally metal minded members of the audience. With a set to see on the Zeppelin stage, it was a bit of a wrench to tear myself away as the anthemic Welcome Home rung from the speakers.
Coheed & Cambria set list included:
No World For Tomorrow / Gravemakers & Gunslingers / Ten Speed (Of God’s Blood & Burial) / A Favor House Atlantic / The Hound (Of Blood & Rank) / The Suffering / Feathers / Everything Evil Medley (Devil In Jersey City / The Trooper) / The Running Free / Welcome Home / The Willing Well IV: The Final Cut
Sonic Syndicate had drawn a very healthy crowd at the Zeppelin stage and were launching into Aftermath as we arrived. Richard Sjunnesson and Roland Johansson were going full throttle as they traded barked out vocals with the other Sjunnesson brothers on guitars, constantly swapping sides of the stage. Bassist Karin Axelsson was no slouch either and the end result was a mass of onstage movement.
Addressing the crowd in their native Swedish tongue, we were instructed to jump for Flashback, which was also aimed “at the guys pissing”, noting the line of urinals in clear view of the stage. Enclave took the foot of the gas before Unknown Entity took us back to Sonic Syndicate’s usual speed. The regular formula for a Sonic Syndicate song is reminiscent of Soilwork, who the band last toured the UK with, and In Flames, who they’ll coincidentally be visiting us with later this year. It was enjoyable stuff, though the keyboard melodies on backing tapes did have a tendency to sound like an ice cream van passing by!
Sonic Syndicate set list included:
Aftermath / Denied / Flashback / Enclave / Unknown Entity
I had been beginning to wonder whether I was tiring of seeing the Testament reunion line-up, however with a new album in the racks they seemed on fire today. Admittedly it’s the old classics early in the set that get the crowd on side and a one-two of Over The Wall and Into The Pit was a brutal call to arms. The two new songs from The Formation Of Damnation were sandwiched between one of Testament’s few “ballads”, Trail Of Tears which gave a brief respite. More Than Meets The Eye is the song which has been most widely distributed on magazine compilations ahead of the album, and the crowd seemed familiar with the “woah’oh” sing along parts. Henchman Ride meanwhile is just made to headbang along to and had the desired effect.
Chuck Billy seemed to be having a ball as he mimicked on his microphone stand Alex Skolnick’s lead work. Skolnick himself continues to amaze with his playing and it has to be said this solidified line-up feels as tight a live unit as I have seen from Testament and will certainly give Heaven & Hell, Judas Priest and Motorhead a run for their money in the States later this year.
Testament set list:
Over The Wall / Into The Pit / Apocalyptic City / Practice What You Preach / New Order / Electric Crown / More Than Meets The Eye / Low / Trail of Tears / Henchmen Ride / Souls Of Black / The Preacher / D.N.R. / Three Days In Darkness / Alone In The Dark / Disciples of The Watch
There’s a throw back to the Silence Of The Lambs, as Dave Draiman is wheeled out on stage in straight jacket and Hannibal Lector style mask during the introduction to Disturbed’s set. Having being unshackled and unmasked, the American’s were quickly off the mark with the very catchy Perfect Insanity from new album Indestructible. It’s too soon for this audience to have purchased this album, but including four songs from it was not a problem due to the quality of the songs. A few had bemoaned what they deemed a “nu-metal” band being added to the Sweden Rock bill, however, whilst Disturbed did emerge at the same time as that trend, to my ears they’ve always stood apart as a modern take on a traditional metal band. Indeed, the response at what is a classic rock/metal festival would indicate they have been accepted “into the fold” and have solidified their fan base.
Strolling around the stage with an air of confidence, Draiman employs less of the so called “monkey noises” and relies on the rich quality of his voice which has improved greatly. The band’s excellent take on Genesis’ Land Of Confusion turns a few heads who were perhaps unknowing of Disturbed’s hit cover version and lines things up nicely for raised fists during Ten Thousand Fists. My one negative observation would be that the presence of just one guitar with Dan Donegan at times leaves the band with less punch, but that wasn’t an issue as Down With The Sickness sent us jumping around.
Disturbed set list:
Perfect Insanity / Voices / Liberate / Prayer / Indestructible / Just Stop / Remember / Fear / Deify / Stupify / Land of Confusion / Ten Thousand Fists / The Game / Divide / Inside The Fire / Stricken / Down With The Sickness
The Carcass and At The Gates reunions were two great pulls in getting me back to Sweden this year and it was the latter that were up first. Once again, the soundman did the festival proud with a beautifully clear sound and there were no signs of cobwebs on this line up as they ploughed straight into Slaughter Of The Soul. With a giant backdrop featuring the At The Gates logo and trademark firearm, the Swedes treat us to the bulk of the classic Slaughter Of The Soul album, together with a large chunk of Terminal Spirit Disease and choice cuts from their earlier repertoire. In fact, although that earlier material doesn’t have the groove of the band’s later much copied sound, its to be hoped a live document of this tour will surface as, enriched with a good sound, songs such as Windows really hit home.
There’s no hint that this reunion will last much beyond the current tour and all the band members seemed to be relaxed and enjoying the opportunity to celebrate their past. Tomas Lindberg had lost none of his spite in his vocal and with the Björler brothers and Martin Larsson skulking about as shadowy figures on the stage bathed in red lights, Lindberg led from the front in terms of presence. Adrian Erlandsson was on top form and as he clattered around his kit during closer Kingdom Gone, I was already looking forward to catching At The Gates again at Bloodstock Open Air.
At The Gates set list:
Slaughter of the Soul / Cold / The Swarm / Terminal Spirit Disease / Suicide Nation / Raped By the Light of Christ / Under a Serpent Sun / Windows / World of Lies / The Burning Darkness / Forever Blind / Nausea / The Beautiful Wound / All Life Ends / Need / Blinded By Fear / Kingdom Gone
Heading back to the main stage we pass The Orchestra –The Former Members of E.L.O. and Electric Light Orchestra Part II - phew! On some of the advertising this had been shortened to read just Electric Light Orchestra, but without Jeff Lynne that’s would be like Megadeth without Dave Mustaine. I’ve heard mixed reports, with some bemoaning The Orchestra’s elevated status on the bill and others simply enjoying the opportunity to hear the E.L.O. classics. Certainly I enjoyed hearing my own favourite E.L.O. song, Don’t Bring Me Down, which just happened to be their closing song as I wandered past.
There was a great anticipation of Judas Priest’s set from many people I had met, but I have to admit I was cautious after watching the Scorpions run away with the spoils supporting Priest on their last UK shows. Rob Halford seemed to struggle at those shows and his performance was incredibly choreographed and tonight was even more so.
Opening with new song Prophecy, Halford sneered “I am Nostradamus” as he wretched off some kind of throne looking like Bagpuss’ Professor Yaffle carved wooden bookend waking up. Singing in a doubled over position we were wondering whether Halford was leaning forward to read an autocue, but given most of the classics were sung in this position it would appear that Halford was struggling to summon his voice. Indeed, many of the usual high vocal lines were sung an octave down, such as Rock Hard Ride Free, and when Halford really did go for it during Painkiller, one feared he might keel over.
Musically the band were tight, though guitarists Glenn Tipton and KK Downing appear happy now to take less of the limelight and leave that to Halford’s theatrics. When Halford dropped the play acting such as during Breaking The Law it felt much more like being at a metal show, though with multiple costume changes and overly pre-planned stage presentation much of the show was something of a chore. With a setlists of rarely played material, in the past I would have been lapping this up, however on the evidence of this and their Download performance I have a distinct worry that Judas Preist are well past their best.
Judas Priest set list:
Prophecy / Metal Gods / Eat Me Alive / Between The Hammer And The Anvil / Devil’s Child / Breaking The Law / Hell Patrol / Death / Dissident Aggressor / Angel / Electric Eye / Rock Hard, Ride Free / Sinner / Painkiller / Hell Bent For Leather / The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown) / You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’
LINKS:
Sweden Rock Festival
Judas Priest
Electric Light Orchestra
At The Gates
Disturbed
Testament
Sonic Syndicate
Coheed & Cambria
Omar & The Howlers
Pain Of Salvation
Volturyon
Black Stone Cherry
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