NECKBREAKER’S BALL

The location PPC was not overloaded, but the extreme dance event for all head-bangers, namely the NECKBREAKERS BALL, cared for full house because of an alternating billing. For me personally, the percentage of only fun bands and the therefore augmenting alcohol consume was not really convenient, but the mood profited of this instance…I heard that the big beer cans were sold out totally, and EQUILIBRIUM have to be blamed for this deficit among others :) - but you’ll read about that later. Unfortunately you cannot look at pictures today – no photo pit!

• MILKING THE GOATMACHINE • confetti and uncle wolf

What a nice timing: the clock stroke 7 p.m. and the goats hobbled on stage. A little bit of Grind and fun and some short stories about the big bad wolf, enwrapped into groovy Grindcore contributed to the good impression of the opening act. After three tracks while looking at the funny goat masks, the joke fizzles out, the same with the alternation of squealed vocals as well as monster growls. No matter for the slightly tipsy crowd, which moshes despite the early time and dances pursuant to the band’s motto “Goats Just Wanna Have Fun”. Interim it got a little bit romantic, caused by some hearty balloons and confetti filling the air. There was nothing left to desire for fun metal-lovers. Nothing to nag about :)

• MÅNEGARM • needed time to unfreeze

Good humor is also spread by the Swedes, but their music contains much more demand. Besides swinging melodies and parts to sing along, some calm and contained sequences got their place, contributed by the violinist Janne. At the beginning of the set, the band seemed to be a little bit distanced and cool, but after the third track, the guys unfroze simultaneous to the nice response coming from the audience. Surprisingly, singer Erik talked about the last song after only 25 minutes. Some mosh-pits also took place during this time, which I do not wonder about because of the easy-going and danceable rhythms.

• EQUILIBRIUM • loud entertainers with silent voice

Once again fun and good humor, this time with less draft, but all the more resonance by the crowd! Apart from well-tried hymns Der Sturm and the unavoidable Met, some swaying songs like Blut Im Auge held the flag of mood and alcohol high. The new singer Robse growled and screeched with heart and soul, but his voice was dubbed too silently. As a balance, the crystal clear guitars dominated the scenery. The vocalist entertained with announcements of high spirits after looking down to the fans: “I see that you did not stop drinking in the New Year – yep, just down the throat!” A fan answered in felicitous manner: “We drink till D-EQUILI(B)RIUM!

• LEGION OF THE DAMNED • hefty, but one-dimensional

I did not reckon with LEGION-chants before their concert, but it seemed that many visitors waited for the Dutch horde. Well, what should I say, the sound was clear and a little bit soulless concerning the drums, but the songs did not miss out effectiveness. Now I realized definitely, why this event got its title full of stereotypes: hard hitters like the band hymn Legion Of The Damned, older material of the quality Death's Head March, Sons Of The Jackal or the newer breaker Killzone cared for the continuous desideratum to train the neck muscles. Of course the tunes are not really very variable, but the simple riffs hit the metal-fans’ nerves – and some mosh-pits proved that fact anew. At last, all skeptics were definitely convinced by the outstanding track Werewolf Corpse.

• KATAKLYSM • to be in the sick of it and not only nearby

That’s what I call closeness to fans! The sympathetic Canadians, first and foremost singer Maurizio acted in very hearty manner. Musically, everything showed up in felicitous steam hammer style and the artists also cared for alternation. Surprisingly, the group offered the rarely played track Years Of Enlightment/Decades In Darkness, which showed the versatile side through its dynamic build-up. The loudest reactions were evoked by the mid-tempo rippers Serenity In Fire or As I Slither. Before the last mentioned one, Mr.Iacono invited the fans to come up to the stage for an unleashed party. A few dozen followed his call. Yeah, it’s nice to rock on stage next to grinning guitarist Jean-François Dagenais! It is also fascinating to enjoy the impressing show of drummer Max Duhamel in proximate closeness. Afterwards, we enjoyed the remaining tracks like Shadows And Dust, Ambassador Of Pain, Manipulator Of Souls or The Road To Devastation in front of the stage :) Why is KATAKLYSM a dignified head-liner? This show was the answer: sympathy, dynamics and heart-blood sum up in a fulminant show!