Watain - Sólstafir - Entombed A.D. - Grave - Atlantean Kodex - Skeletonwitch - God Macabre - Necrowretch

3 of 5 lamps are on already

[BRT] Aaahhh, PARTY SAN… That means a mental state of emergency and burning the candle at both ends ;) There is hardly anything I’m looking forward so much. Already on Wednesday me and Dajana are so squirrelly that we are on the verge to hit the road… But we make it to Thursday ;) Hyped up and underfed we enter the PARTY SAN ground very early and gulp down the first beers. That this would cause an aftermath I should have known...
[Dajana] Yessss. After a very relaxed journey the tent ritual follows, this time without the all destroying punch. After two years with certain black outs I decided to stay sober. More or less… ;) Erm… well…

:: pics ::

[Dajana] Our first stroll leads us to the :: DEAF FOREVER ::booth to get a signed copy of the first edition of this brand new metal print magazine, handled by those writers and editors that left Rock Hard Magazine earlier this year. Let me recommend this new mag to you, check it out and buy, it’s worth it! :) This again led to my first shopping attack as I heard from the new Morgoth 7” single for example… ;)

[BRT] First band to kick the festival off is :: NECROWRETCH ::serving a gruffy and boisterous Black/Death Metal fare, much diversified too. Great sound, pure fun.

[BRT] :: GOD MACABRE ::right after play classic Swedish Death Metal and need some time to gain momentum. Solid but also quite common. When the guys reduce pace they have their moments and remind occasionally on old Paradise Lost.

[BRT] Much better do it :: SKELETONWITCH ::The Ohio-based dudes blend elements of Black and classic Metal with Thrash Metal and have a hell of fun live on stage. So much delight in playing and kicking our asses to the moon and back ;)  They definitely play their very own brand and once again convince.

[BRT] Some love this band, others just don’t understand them… :: ATLANTEAN KODEX ::are live a force. They have great songs and are super congenial. Enthroned In Clouds And Fire might be not the best opener, but the Germans let Sol Invictus follow, that one smasher and I’m happy. Awesome! First highlight!
[Dajana] Hehe, Bert the Kodex’ man ;) Well, hmm… no. Hype or not and no matter what I don’t get close to ATLANTEAN KODEX. Perhaps I don’t understand them? ;) It’s not bad what they do there, and yes, they are likeable, but it’s not my cup of tea either. When it comes to epic hymns than other bands do it better. Much better ;)
[BRT] Nice to discuss about music but you’re absolutely clueless :-p
Setlist: Enthroned In Clouds And Fire, Sol Invictus, Heresiarch, Twelve Stars & An Azure Gown, The Atlantean Kodex, Pilgrim

[BRT] Next up are Swedish Death Metal veterans :: GRAVE ::Yes, they apparently do it well and get the crowd freaking out. But it’s also feels like as if they just do their daily routine. GRAVE play a best-of set, many hits and manage to grow during their show.

[BRT] Before we start with the second part of Swedish Death Metal some frowning companions hand White Russians over and other infernal stuff roughly translated to “straight in your face” or something like that. It took its toll anyway and let me experience the :: ENTOMBED A.D. :: show with mind and body in different dimensions. Let’s leave the nonsense with ENTOMBED A.D. and Entombed aside… The show of the Swedes kicked ass brutally! Truly! One hit followed another, the band was rampaging the stage as the crowd did in front of. It was a hell of a show! Of course, there have been grousers afterwards stating that Grave did the better show… it’s up to Brutz & Brakel to judge ;)
[Dajana] Thank god I’m not such grouser. I much more agree. 100%. The new album did not really meet my expectations but the show here and now was just stunning. ENTOMBED A.D. so rocked the stage. The first band tonight that really convinced. Now my “musical” PSOA has really started ;)

[Dajana] And here we are. Finally. Time has come for mighty, mighty :: SÓLSTAFIR ::. I expect the biggest and the best and don’t get disappointed. No way! SÓLSTAFIR play a breathtakingly stunning (fire)show, causing goose bumps all over the body and sending shivers up and down the spine. This was truly… beyond words! Sound was at the beginning a bit unbalanced but it got quickly changed. AND… this time SÓLSTAFIR played a brand new song from their upcoming album Ótta (out on August 29 – and you already could buy it in all formats at the Seasons Of Mist booth – guess what… ;) And the new record is a masterpiece!). Frontman Aðalbjörn Tryggvason is much talkative tonight, is very pleased to play the PSOA now for the third time (and so are we) and can’t believe the frenetic enthusiasm by the fans. Best band and show of the festival.
[BRT] SÓLSTAFIR co-headlining a PARTY SAN OPEN AIR day is quite an unusual choice (but a perfect one – Dajana) as the music is much quieter, more emotional and atmospheric. But the music perfectly suits the fire and the lights with the night closing in. No doubt, best show of the evening, even if I’m on the verge to be catapulted out of the orbit.
[Dajana] Just wait one more day. Tomorrow is full moon. That might give you extra power to reach outer space :P
[BRT] Extra power? Really? That would have killed me...
Setlist: Náttfari, Ljós í Stormi, Ótta, Lágnætti, Fjara, Goddess Of Ages

[BRT] Headliner :: WATAIN :: actually offers the same show as most recently in Oberhausen (or at PSOA 2011 – Dajana) but with slightly improved sound. Some pyros, some hits… but it did not hide the signs of wear.
[Dajana] Just another hyped band that fell short of expectations. Impressive stage scenery but a boring show. All the glamour is gone guys! And then this goony saying by Mr. Danielsson…
Setlist: De Profundis, Black Flames March, Malfeitor, Outlaw, Reaping Death, The Wild Hunt, Hymn To Qayin, Stellarvore, Holocaust Dawn

[BRT] Afterwards… Connection failed… No transmission…
[Dajana] Same here but much closer to mother earth than Bert ;) Oh… SHOOTING STARS!!! 1… 2… And nope, got not wasted this time, Bert took over ;)

story • Bert & Dajana • • • Fotos © Dajana Winkel • Photography