Hellfest Open Air 2014
Our first festival attended as The Metalist took us to Western France, where the 9th rendition of the further acclaimed Hellfest Open Air was about to take place. Every year Hellfest Seems to have an all-star lineup, attracting 50’000 viewers from all over Europe and bringing a massive metal festival experience to all. We had to come and see what all the fuss was about, and watch some of our favourite bands amonst thousands of other metalheads. Reviews of each band we saw follow:
Event Review: Girugämesh
Our first live show attended as The Metalist, we set out to Japanese rising metal sensations Girugamesh at the o2 Islington Academy, London.
Mayhem – Esoteric Warfare
7 years later and more line up changes than a retail store, Mayhem are back with a brand new album to follow up 2007’s ‘Ordo ad Chao’. As a pioneer of the Norwegian Black Metal scene, a new Mayhem album is taken into high regard by the international Black Metal elite – but can ‘Esoteric Warfare’ live up to its expectation after 7 years of waiting?
Epica – The Quantum Engima
The fanbase of Epica has not stopped growing. Since Tarja Turunen was fired from Nightwish in 2005 Epica has become the focal point of operatic metal, gaining an exponential following over the past 9 years. With that rising following each release becomes more and more anticipated, and given that the previous effort ‘Requiem for the Indifferent’ was considered one of the weaker efforts, ‘The Quantum Enigma’ was a highly anticipated album.
Falconer – Black Moon Rising
Falconer have become somewhat of a cult power metal band throughout their 15 years of existence. They have gained a massive following with their raw, traditional and well produced power metal style, yet still managed to stay wrapped in the underground given the band have hardly played live. Evidently this is one band whose pure focus is the recorded music.
Mastodon – Once More ‘Round The Sun
Ever since their inception in the year 2000 Mastodon have been constantly pushing the boundaries in their music, flirting with progressive elements in their first couple of albums but mostly sticking to heavy riffs. Each album has seen a great progression in the band. From Leviathan’s titanic sound, Blood Mountain’s mad storyline and their arguable jewel in the crown Crack the Skye. Then came The Hunter, an album which, I believe polarised many fans thinking that Mastodon had sold out for a more radio friendly vibe. They seemingly could never quite get the right level of both demolishingly heavy and musically progressive.
Album Review : Marty Friedman – Inferno
Being one of the most talented guitarists in metal and not only having been in absolutely exceptional bands but improving said bands, from the shredtastic Cacophony to the absolute classic Megadeth albums, Rust In Peace and Countdown to Extinction. Friedmans influence is undeniable and now after having moved to Japan and adopted it as his second home we’re put back into the foray with his latest output “Inferno”.