Hellfest (Sunday) - Day 3 @ Clisson, France

Hellfest

Day 3 - Sunday

20.06.2010

@

Clisson, France

GENERAL SURGERY open the Hard Rock Stage's day of death metal with a late morning set of Symphonies Of Sickness-indebted gore-grind, but after the previous evening's victorious set by the masters themselves, it's hard not to see the blood-soaked Swedes for the pretenders that they are.

A bleary-eyed return to the Terrorizer Stage sees sludge supremo's 16 play a rabble-rousing set and SAVIOURS ripping through their Mastodon/Maiden-influenced metal with energy and enthusiasm, but at this stage of the days proceedings most people are more content to nurse their hangovers and save their energy for the latter half of the day's entertainment.

Over on Main Stage Two, ELUVEITIE are a surprising crowd pleaser so early on. Their melodic folk metal is punchy enough thanks to their vocals, yet atmospheric thanks to a plethora of traditional instruments on stage. Undeterred by the fact brutality rules the final day, Eluveitie manage to create the only circle pit out of tents, causing a tornado of dust and very happy festival goers. [LR]

DECAPITATED have no difficulties tearing heads off with their brutal and precise performance but the heaving crowd makes it difficult to actually make anything out aside from an occasional glimpse of the band's bobbing heads.

Back over to the Terrorizer Tent and WEEDEATER's evil rendering of the sludge template easily cuts through the tent's ganja-filled haze. Vocalist 'Dixie' Dave Collins sounds like he gargles daily with whiskey and razor wire and it's good to see that his recent accident involving his toe and a fully loaded shotgun hasn't diminished his ability to twitch and fidget like a man in the throes of possession.

It hasn’t taken long for blackened death heroes BEHEMOTH to eviscerate through the metalsphere as top dogs, and their live performance reflects the true power of the Poles. It’s only been a year since the release of ‘Evengelion’, but the songs that make it to the set sound as strong enough to be old classics. Many may say that Behemoth’s materialistic appearance is to enhance their status and brutality, but after today it’s a guarantee that the music does it all by itself. [LR]

The current lineup change should definitely not scare you off seeing this band live, as KATATONIA are as tight as ever. Regardless of many bands complaining about the sound on the Rock Hard Tent, the band’s more avant-garde approach is unaffected. Jonas guides the shoegazers through their more heavy material such as recent ‘Forsaker’ and favourite ‘Ghosts Of The Sun’. Some may have seen this as an opportunity for a break from the death that surrounds them, whilst others are clever enough to appreciate the melodic veterans. [LR]

A murky sound mix spoils SUFFOCATION's set and murmurings from back stage reveals that the majority of the Hard Rock stage's bill are unhappy with the onstage monitors. Once again the crowd are packed in like hairy sardines, rendering it almost impossible to see the stage and culminates in nothing more than a disappointing experience. Shame.

'My penis is engorged with blood for all of your rectums!' declares DEVIN TOWNSEND from the main stage 2, just before gurning and duckwalking through his band's effortlessly entertaining set of pop-tinged cyber metal. Devin once again proves that he's not only one of the finest vocalists in metal, but a hilariously light-hearted personality that shines amongst his often po-faced peers. The on stage sound is punchy and crystal clear and Mr. Townsend and co provide the first real bona-fide high point of the day.

Bands that choose to forgo their recent output to play their classic albums in their entirety can prove to be a mixed blessing, and at it's worst can often reveal a sense of desperation, but if you happen to be EXODUS and the album in question is the seminal 'Bonded By Blood' then it'd be churlish not to surrender to it's timeless brutality. Every track from 'Bonded By Blood' to 'Strike Of The Beast' is played with savage proficiency and the crowd respond by whipping up the most insane circle pit of the entire festival. A final blast through an intense Toxic Waltz is an added unexpected bonus and most in attendance will no doubt remember this triumphant set for many years to come. Brilliant.

MOTORHEAD do that thing they do and reel out all the expected classics both new and old. Lemmy as always, never seems to age and it'd be difficult to imagine a world without the old warhorses bulldozing through your town. Surely it's about time Lemmy got that knighthood. He's certainly earned it!

THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN smash up the Terrorizer stage, pour petrol over it, set fire to the rubble and then kick the remains into the awe struck audience's faces. They then repeat the process for the second song and for the remainder of their jaw-dropping set! The energy levels rarely dip as the mathcore merchants bob and weave around each other and it's quite simply incredible to think that the band can keep up this type of spazzed out energy night after night. One of the best live experiences ever. Go see them before they all end up in traction!

Admittedly the organizers did well providing different endings for all genres, and for the Rock Hard day of death, there was only one band for the job. BLOODBATH may have only ascended to the stage four times previous to this, but the tent is rammed with merch-clad metallers. Mikael Åkerfeldt is able to entertain the crowd with his dry wit as well as his stupidly exact death growls, so unlikely of the Opeth vocalist. The sound, unlike a lot of the day is tight enough to keep everyone mesmerized by chugging riffs and despite some rarities thrown into the mix, it seems impossible to dislike the supergroup’s set. Of course, it would be ideal if Bloodbath had a longer set, so classics such as ‘Cry My Name’ don’t have to be left off the bill, but either way everyone returns to their tents with a sore throat and aching neck. [LR]

JOHN GARCIA and friends end the evening's proceedings with a blissful run through of classic KYUSS tracks. Josh Homme may not want anything to do with his desert rock past, but he's quickly forgotten as Bruno Fevery proves a more than worthy stand-in. The heaving crowd are in rapture as Nick Oliveri and Brant Bjork make appearances for 'Green Machine', 'Allan's Wrench' and 'Gardenia' and John himself has everyone singing along with his spellbinding performance. All in all, a perfect end to a near perfect festival. Roll on Hellfest 2011!

Reviewed by Lily Randall [LR] & Clive Boddy
Photography by Frédéric Schadle (www.moocher.fr)
Special Thanks to MetalStorm (www.metalstorm.net)