RAGNARÖK FESTIVAL 2013

Relaxed and well-rested I arrive at the • Stadthalle Lichtenfels •, get my passes and pour with the first fans into the hall. It’s cold outside with an icy east wind blowing around the corner.

:: pics ::

On time, Swiss Folk metallers :: ABINCHOVA :: open the 10th anniversary festival. It’s never easy as an opener to catch the crowd but it works well this time, although the hall ain’t halfway filled. This kind of music actually doesn’t do anything for me anymore but I have to admit that ABINCHOVA is a downright likeable band and played such highly energetic show, presenting three new tracks.
Setlist: Hörensagen, Wandlung, Unter der Erde, Eule, Wegweiser

Next up is :: NOTHGARD :: a very young band with even three guitar players (one might be known from his other band Wolfchant). First the band has to face some technical difficulties with the monitoring system but the burn stages with their show, leaving me enthused. I got reminded of Children Of Bodom in their early days. These cats have an overwhelming delight in playing. Just great.
Setlist: Intro, Lex Talionis, Warhorns Of Midgard, Under The Serpent Sign, Carnivale, Ragnarök

Third band of the first day and we have to experience a total break stylistically ;) :: HELLRIDE :: is an acoustic metal trio playing classics and own songs. „The new wave of acoustic metal“ so to say ;) That was completely different music but unique. HELLRIDE made a little competition between a Korpiklaani and Motörhead song. Guess which one has one ;) Only the Type O Negative cover version was… well… I’m a die-hard Type O fan… This was a very entertaining half hour ;)
Setlist: Heaven & Hell, Ride To Hell, Death Is A Killer, Areals, Love You To Death, Ace Of Spades, Pursuit Of The Vikings, Vodka

Some confusion follows as thought that :: DARKEST ERA :: would be a Spanish band, but is a British one instead. However, those gents and ladies blow away everything. My first highlight of RAGNARÖK FESTIVAL 2013! Especially guitarist Sarah is rad! As I learnt sometime later, also the drummer is a she. Too bad, I could not see and take photos of her. The band’s debut album The Last Caress Of Light already dates back on 2011 and I think it is time for some new material. Oh, I think The Crest Of Doom must have been a new song already ;)
Setlist: An Ancient Fire Burns, On The Crest Of Doom, Heathen Burial, To Face The Black Tide, The Last Caress Of Light Before the Dark, The Morrigan

Right after :: WINTERSTORM :: hit the stage, play a good show but can’t catch much of my attention. They are just one of many Fantasy/Battle Power Folk Metal bands. Nice, but not really spectacular and unable to stand out the masses. I guess, many fans disagree here, as they do…
Setlist: Kings Will Fall, Winterheart, The Stormsons, Fortunes Blood, Humppa

…with my opinion about :: AVA INFERI :: which had a totally different approach. Well, there’s no accounting for taste, right? Right. Fascinating center of the show was of course singer Carmen Susana Simões, her voice, her outfit, her performance. Likewise atmospheric as extremely theatric. Musically surely heavy to take. Such performance only works when the sound is excellent. And it was obvious that many of the fans couldn’t do anything with the music ;) I liked it anyway ;)
Setlist: Intro, Majesty, By Candlelight & Mirrors, A Dança das Ondas, Last Sign Of Summer, The Heathen Island, The Living End, Onyx

Time has come for :: DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT :: and for the first time the Stadthalle was now really crowded and the fans finally responding much more enthused. Musically DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT are beyond any doubt and play an awesome show.
Setlist: Ewigkeit, Lichtmensch, Nachtsam, Der stille Fluss, Zerfall, Neubeginn

Before :: FJOERGYN :: enter the stage organizer Ivo Raab does so to say thank you for ongoing support of the festival through all these years and tried to wrench a minute’s Silence from the audience in commemoration of the fan who died last year at RAGNARÖK FESTIVAL. Unfortunately unsuccessful as Ivo spoke too quiet and hardly anybody noticed. Then it is up to FJOERGYN to please the audience with brand new songs from their upcoming new album Monument Ende, out in May 2013. And again Ivo Raab appeared on stage to perform the song Katharsis :)
Setlist: Wie Jahr um Jahr, Betonlethargie, Katharsis, Am Ende der Welt, Narziss(t), Monument Ende

Following band :: AGRYPNIE :: did not seem to have its best day. The guys look stressed, the CD for the intro got lost and planned pyros did not take place as well. AGRYPNIE have a new album out entitled Aetas Cineris, which gained 9.5 out of 10 points on NH. I personally miss the magic of its predecessor 16[485] that especially live (here the first two songs of it) causes goose bumps, no matter if with or without intro. One just can’t elude.
Setlist: Der tote Trakt, Kadavergehorsam, Trümmer/Aetas Cineris, Schlaf, Gnosis, Asche

Also :: DORNENREICH :: are true masters of a goose bumps atmosphere throughout their entire set. Tonight they played a best-of show with songs back to the 2001 album Her Von Welken Nächten. As one might have heard, DORNENREICH will release a new album in spring 2014, supported by a new tour :)
Setlist: Intro, Der wunde Trieb, Flammenmensch, Jagd, Schwarz schaut tiefsten Lichterglanz, Der Hexe flammend' Blick, Wolfpuls, Erst deine Träne löscht den Brand, Trauerbrandung, Wer hat Angst vor Einsamkeit?

:: ELUVEITIE :: I then leave aside. I needed a break and musically I don’t like them that much. But as I got told afterwards they had the best lightshow of the festival. Hmm…

And back for :: SHINING :: Well… okay. As it’s known a good SHINING show significantly depends on the sentiments of singer Niklas Kvarforth. Well, our protagonist stumbled on stage with a wobbly belly and an open pant. Seems to be a good day, because SHINING delivers one of these hate shows, means, Mr. Kvarforth behave like unruly brat, spites, scratches, bites and pulling other ones hair, preferably the photographers in the pit he even attacks with the micro stand. He tried to puke on us too but luckily he did not drink enough and for his sperm mess his get up and go has got up and went.
Musically it was for sure a great show but Kvarforth immediately destroyed built up atmosphere with his stupid behavior. But it seemed that was exactly what the crowd wanted to see. Many totally freaked out, as well as one of the attacked girlies in the photo pit, who, if allowed, would have thrown themselves on the feet of him. I anyway have already experienced much better SHINING shows.
Setlist: Låt oss ta allt från varandra, Ohm (Sommar med Siv), Vilseledda barnasjälars hemvist, Submit To Self-Destruction, Förtvivlan, min arvedel, Människa o'avskyvärda människa, For The God Below

Before :: HERETOIR :: are allowed to finish the first festival day I was back in the hotel. Shining totally overran their time limit till organizers unplugged them. As it was told, HERETOIR started their show at the time they actually should have finished. Well… The first festival day is over and for me it didn’t feel anything special so far. I start sorting out photos and get prepared for the next day... ;)