European festivals are a maelstrom set to upheaval although there is a slight minority that opted to be hackneyed, which consequently oxygenated an oddity that needs a changeover in the scenery. French, Clisson based Hellfest Open Air Festival remains uncompromised throughout a decade of gyroscopic craves, ingeniously avoiding to be retrogressive.
Next year’s edition, 2015, will celebrate the tenth anniversary of Hellfest Open Air Festival, a reminiscence of shorn and of epidemic proportions, as the line-up proposed roves in distinctive directions regarding musical tragicomedies;
Ingrained United States alternative metallers Slipknot, which recently yielded their shakened return after a controversial hiatus and insecure future with this year studio release, ‘5: The Gray Chapter’,which failed to retain my personal lunacy I dare say, bearing in mind to constantly rail in protest against their prototyped downbeat. However, their shell shocking, shattering live performances can rapidly turn the audience into an incendiary time bomb. Therefore, their incision on the Hellfest Open Air Festival could not be more justifiable.
Elderly known German rockers Scorpions, often ranging between heavy metal and by far commercial radio melodies, are also one of the confirmations. I have seen Scorpions live in the past, during their coming to Portugal circa early 2000 if I reckon correctly, and despite their melodramatic posture and inclination toward the friendly, often comical verge, Scorpions live energetic magnitude have significantly down spiraled in recent years. Even thus, having in mind that they are definitely not one of my predilected acts, it may please in its entire plenitude other fans of the genre, especially nail-biting rockers.
Swedish main masts of experimental math metal Meshuggah have been touring incessantly until Summer Equinox, 2014, during the first strove of their 25th anniversary tour. There is not visible indication that Meshuggah are willing to slouch, as they recently announced the continuation of their special celebration tour. This time exclusively across Europe, during Winter Solstice, beginning on December 9th, 2014 and in Umeå, Sweden. The tour will be conducted until they reach Dortmund, Germany on December 21st, 2014. Tour which also includes dates in London, Gothenburg, Copenhagen, Lausanne, Milan, Paris and Amsterdam.
In commemoration of their 25th anniversary, Meshuggah unleashed a concert DVD featuring a double CD set and a Blu-ray edition, entitled ‘The Ophidian Trek’, on September 30th through European record label, Nuclear Blast Records. Meshuggah is reported to be materializing new writing material, yet in its early stages.
Swedish melodic death metallers Arch Enemy now fronted by former The Agonist vocalist, Alissa White-Gluz, are joining Hellfest Open Air Festival after a very competitive tour in response to the overwhelming positive criticism toward their highly acclaimed studio record, ‘War Eternal’. Apart from recent line-up changes, which sadly saw long-standing charismatic vocalist Angela Gossow get replaced, they recently parted ways with guitar player Nick Cordle, who is now replaced by Jeff Loomis, a United States musician best known for his remarkable role as guitar player for the progressive metallers, Nevermore as well as his solo material.
Swedish old-school death supergroup Bloodbath, which features maudlin Katatonia’s Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström, besides Opeth’s Martin Axenrot and recently recruited Paradise Lost’s Nick Holmes as its new lead singer, are preparing the release of their megatonic new studio record, ‘Grand Morbid Funeral’, which has been released by Peaceville Records on November 7th, 2014.
United States brute force doyens Cannibal Corpse were recently forced to cancel three out of eight dates, with a fourth event being cancelled halfway through their performance on their recent Russian invasion. The idolatry and christian censorship targeting their lyricism did not cease after attacking Polish blackened death metallers Behemoth and British gothic oriented black midians Cradle Of Filth as one expected, resulting in more verbally aggressive religious protests, tumults and boycotts lead by an organization self-proclaimed God’s Will. Despite the impertinent controversy, Cannibal Corpse have secured their presence at Hellfest Open Air Festival for 2015.
Finnish epic folk metal clan, Ensiferum, have announced the completion of their upcoming new studio record entitled ‘One Man Army’. The record is set to be released on February 24th 2015, through Metal Blade Records. Besides their confirmation as one of the acts included in the Hellfest Open Air Festival, Ensiferum are partaking in a tour this Autumn Equinox, 2014, and also reassuring North American folks that they are masterplanning their comeback in May 2015.
British darkened gothic black deviants Cradle Of Filth have confirmed their entrance into the studio on November 24th 2014, to record their new goetic opus, ‘Hammer Of the Witches’ (title in the works). The new studio album is tentatively etched for the beginning of June, 2015, meaning that Hellfest Open Air Festival audiences might receive an atrocious, frostbitten reception from the British pandemoniums in all their wild uproar or unrestrained disorder. All in all, Cradle Of Filth performances are the abode of all the demons, regardless of their utter craziness.
Swedish reanimated melodic death metal pioneers At The Gates are still harvesting the ongoing, favorable criticism collected on their long-awaited album, ‘At War With Reality’. After 19 years in a cryogenic stage, At The Gates took a fresh new breath with this release and established themselves as the veterans in the genre, spawning a myriad of melodic tunes into their exquisite thrashing, yet old-school death metal á la Gothenburg reminiscence. A terrific opportunity to see them live at Hellfest Open Air Festival is now confirmed.
United States, Floridan old-school death lobotomizing metallers Obituary, alongside with old-timers British Carcass, Bolt Thrower, Benediction and Swedish brutal haters Sinister, oddly resurgents Gorefest, this not to mention the now deceased and remarkable war machinery that once empowered Dismember, who are predominantly among the few of my old-school top-notch highly influential death metal selections. Obituary innate capacity to captivate death metal fans is inhumane, without changing their unique style through the years, ergo faithful to their roots. ‘Inked In Blood’ is their ninth studio record, crowdfunded via Kickstarter and then released on October 28th, 2014 through Gibtown Music and Relapse Records. Obituary are currently touring across North America.
While Swedish The Haunted are still promoting their latest studio effort, ‘Exit Wounds’, guitar player Ola Englund (known also for his commitment with Feared, and past achievements with Six Feet Under), recently announced a team up with former Decapitated drum player, Kerim Lechner in a new side-project called Eldvåg. The Haunted alongside At The Gates and Arch Enemy, might be one of the most progressive and representative acts coming from Sweden about to take the stage.
I made acquaintance with Australian envisioned metallers Ne Obliviscaris a couple of months ago, by mere coincidence. They are a truly intriguing act with a sonority of their own, as perfectly collected on their debut studio record, entitled ‘Citadel’, which has been released via Season Of Mist on November 7th at a worldwide scale, then followed in North America on November 11th, 2014. Ne Obliviscaris notorious efforts to bring up ‘Citadel’ quickly as they proudly dethroned the multi platinum Eskimo Joe’s Australian record in the deed of conveyance of the act that most funds have enhanced in a music related project through the now, resourceful use of independent crowdfunding through Pozible. In all its grandeur, Ne Obliviscaris young tenancy as a newcomer in the metal scene, leads them to be confirmed as another magnificent act to be performing live in front of thousands of metal enthusiasts for the very first time, at Hellfest Open Air Festival.
Summing-up to partake in the festival, are 128 confirmed presences, namely Nightwish, Judas Priest, In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, Lamb Of God, Anthrax, Exodus, Motörhead, Korn, Alice Cooper, Five Finger Death Punch, Faith No More, Godsmack, Marilyn Manson, Nuclear Assault, Airbourne, ZZ Top, Killing Joke, Slash, Hirax, Armored Saint, ETHS, Life Of Agony, The Answer, Iron Reagan, Ace Frehley, No Return, Sticky Boys, Breakdust, Limp Bizkit, The Quireboys, Billy Idol, Hollywood Undead, Beastmilk, Children Of Bodom, Finntroll, Mayhem, Satyricon, Alestorm, Dying Fetus, Venom, Arkona, Samael, Carach Angren, Shape Of Despair, Triptykon, In Extremo, The Crown, Fallujah, Enthroned, Skyforger, Vallenfyre, Skinless, Morgoth, Tribulation, Prostitute Disfigurement, Craft, The Great Old Ones, Khold, Der Weg Einer Freiheit, Coffins, Bölzer, Desultory, Hypno5e, Mütiilation, Necrowretch, Cock And Ball Torture, Nidingr, Vorkreist, Deep In Hate, High On Fire, Ahab, Saint Vitus, D.R.I., Russian Circles, Red Fang, Orange Goblin, Eyehategod, Terra Tenebrosa, Biohazard, The Exploited, Weedeater, Madball, Orchid, Trap Them, Body Count, The Atlas Moth, The Wounded Kings, Wolfbrigade, Envy, Les Ramoneurs De Menhir, Twitching Tongues, Glowsun, Witchthroat Serpent, Machete, Birds In Row, Broken Teeth, Samsara Blues Experiment, Midnight Ghost Train, Elder, Merauder, Rise Against, Off!, Les Wampas, Wovenhand, NOFX, Terror, Truckfighters, Dead Kennedys, Vitamin X, ASG, Rise Of The Northstar, Despise You, Code Orange, Defeater and Providence.
Hellfest Open Air Festival is aiming to impress from June 19th to 21st, 2015, by claiming their belonging to a highly flammable observance that by no means is a mischievous attempt architected in naivety.
The three day pass is available starting 06.00 pm, Monday, November 17th, 2014 onwards, exclusively through their official site. As a precaution and safety measure to prevent over-reaching itself, Hellfest Open Air Festival will slightly reduce its attendance capacity which will reassure the top-notch quality regarding their event. Meaning that lesser tickets will be available for purchase.
Be aware that 1 day tickets will be available at a later instance, whence the whole line-up is announced. The first sale went online September 1st, 2014, with the traditional 5,000 3 day tickets at a preferential rate which were completely sold out in less than 30 minutes. Last year edition was sold out by the end of January, 2014.
