Written by:	X-Ray Rod
Published:	May 09, 2017
Event:	Roadburn Festival 2017 (Website)
Location:	013, Tilburg, The Netherlands
Galleries:	Roadburn 2017, Day 3 & 4 by X-Ray Rod (66) Roadburn 2017, Day 1 & 2 by X-Ray Rod (57)

Roadburn day I

What keeps me attached to this festival? I started asking myself this question a while ago and there are many answers with various degrees of truth. At first it was convenience. My first Roadburn was back in 2011. I was just 17 years old with a very limited income so there were a couple of economic advantages for me. Getting there from my town in the south of Sweden is fast and relatively cheap, I got easy access to a roof over my head (eternal gratitude to Marcel after all these years!), and the amount of people was small enough for me to feel secure.

After a couple of years the aspects of convenience faded and the main reason I kept showing up at the festival was the music. That oh-so-wonderful eclecticism of the line-ups covering so many different shades of heaviness and experimentation. A place where the underground and Avant-garde is celebrated but the classic acts are never forgotten. A festival that year after year strives to bring you some of the most unique sets imaginable? But now, with this being my 7th year at Roadburn, I barely look at the line-ups. I don't scratch my head every day wondering which band I'm going to see. Nope, now I show up for the community and the spirit of the festival in general. All the familiar faces and friendly chats between sets, old friends and new ones in the making. This is Roadburn, my home away from home.

DISCLAIMER: Excuse my shitty cellphone pictures. I forgot my camera on the first day (it gets a bit better, I promise)? But now that I think of it, my actual camera is not that good to begin with, haha.

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Ash Borer

I first saw a glimpse of what these Americans could do back in Roadburn's 2013 edition. Unfortunately I had to leave very early so merely 10-15 minutes were enjoyed. This year was my opportunity to redeem myself. From what I gathered the set consisted mostly of songs from their latest album, The Irrepassable Gate. To be perfectly honest with you, their previous album, Cold Of Ages was more interesting to me but in a live setting these new songs shined through gloriously. The crescendos that kept appearing felt like the constant assault of wild waves in a storm. It was nearly intimidating at times. I later focused my attention to the vibrant and clear sound of the bassist as well as his thundering grunts. The real star though was the drummer who displayed ferocity and precision that was nothing short of frightening. Due to clashes, I only got to see 30 minutes but I left glad and excited about finally catching up with these guys and their brand of black metal.

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Ortega

Just like Ash Borer, Ortega is another band I had the misfortune of missing on a previous Roadburn (2014 to be exact). I was more than happy to finally see them live now that they have fresh songs to play from their latest opus, Sacred States. For some reason I didn't listen to that album prior to their set which might be one of the reasons I lost my shit once they started playing. I was astonished at how extreme and heavy they sounded compared to what I remember from their debut album, 1634. It felt like a hammer constantly hitting me in the form of repetitive and relentless riffs, mixed with extreme vocals that nearly went to black metal territory. Some decent atmospheric layers were done here and there by black noise mastermind Mories (of Gnaw Their Tongues fame), but Ortega are a band that clearly stand on their own with their trance-inducing sound.

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SubRosa

After Ortega I went to the merch stands that finally opened, and I got so carried away that I missed the first 30 minutes of SubRosa's set, which consisted of their album For This We Fought The Battle Of Ages in its entirety. I remember how enchanted I was back when No Help For The Mighty Ones was released and how brilliant it all sounded once I was able to see them live during Roadburn's 2015 edition. My only gripe with them is that there are so few differences between their last 3 studio albums that listening to more than one in one sitting ends up a bit monotonous. This was not a concern in this case though. SubRosa used the full capacity of the biggest stage at Roadburn to their advantage, using visuals of natural landscapes to enhance their ethereal sound. The vocals were delicate and bittersweet while the violins provided an almost sensual touch. Together with the heavy riffs and melancholic approach, this was an extremely touching set and its sheer intimacy was not held back by the large amount of people. I was caught off guard by their emotive performance and I could do nothing except sit down, close my eyes, and let the swirling waves of sludgey psychedelia bury me.

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Wolves In The Throne Room

This was the first of two sets I was really looking forward to seeing on the first day of the festival. These pioneers of the Cascadian black metal scene managed to elude me so many times that I nearly lost hope of seeing them any time soon. The band prepared by switching off most of the lights, putting up flags depicting different ritualistic and animal motives, extensive use of fog machines, and using strong and colourful lights on the lower part of the stage. It all looked just like a fire set at a remote campsite in the middle of the forest. As the ritual was about to begin I was wondering if there would be more focus on their latest electronic album Celestite. As the guitars cried a mighty call to the wild, I realized I was about to experience one of the better black metal concerts I've seen at Roadburn. The sound was a bit thin and with low volume for the first couple of minutes but all of a sudden it exploded into a kaleidoscope of both sound and colorful clouds of smoke. I can still picture the frenetic crowd as the first mighty riffs of the modern classic "I Will Lay Down My Bones Among The Rocks And Roots" crushed us all like a tsunami.

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Dälek

WOW, WAIT, HOLD ON A SEC! Hip-hop in my Roadburn?!?! But? MAH METAL BRUH!
Well, Dälek had absolutely no problem with showing everyone why they belong in a festival such as Roadburn. The trio play a brand of hip-hop so much darker, heavier and more noisy than most of your favorite extreme metal bands, and that's a fact. These are all attributes that Roadburn highly admires and considering some of Roadburn's previous non-metal adventures in the realms of acoustic, blues, jazz, and Avant-garde electronica, it really was only a matter of time til we got a proper hip-hop act. One of my highlights of the entire festival was when MC Dälek looked at the excited audience straight in the eye and yelled "ROADBURN, WHAT. THE. FUCK. IS GOING ON?!?!?!?" right before a massive beat and high-pitched rhythmic noises attacked us. I don't believe anyone was really prepared for so much fierceness right on our faces. Everyone was instantly on fire and the whole crowd turned into a huge noisy party. The groove that made everyone feel like a boss that night, the oppressive industrial effects, the inviting darkness of the ambient pieces and the venom that MC Dälek spit from the darkest corners of the streets? It all turned into an experience I will remember for a long time and I'm sure many Roadburners both old and young will think of it as a reminder of the adventurous spirit of the festival.

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Batushka

After a quick run to the merch stands in order to get a hold of Dälek's albums, I went back to the same stage to wait for Batushka. I completely missed the wave of hype when their debut was released, so my knowledge was limited to "black metal with chanting and cool outfits". I was very curious about it though and black metal felt like the proper way to end my first day. The candles, nice-smelling incense, beautiful robes and serious stage presence was quite a sight to behold. I was positively surprised that the vocals did not feel like a gimmick and actually added a lot to their otherwise standard black metal style. I felt like the sound was lacking on the guitar department though, as the riffs sounded thin in comparison to the vocals and drums but I still enjoyed the show. I probably don't sound particularly enthusiastic while describing their set... That might be because a part of me felt that the theatrics, while entertaining and well performed, created a huge mental distance between the band, the music, and myself, as it was almost distracting at times. I guess my final verdict would be a kind of flavorless "good but not great." I would definitely watch again if given the chance though!

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Roadburn Day II

After a great night's sleep I was certainly better prepared for the next day at Roadburn than how I felt the previous day (which was with a hangover, thanks Marcel). After a nice breakfast, I headed to Tilburg with my fellow Metalstormer Glenn (Nefarious for you all) to enjoy the premises of the festival and the bars that have been taken over by weird people all dressed in black! Enjoying our first beers of the day while watching all the "Roadburners" pass by, drink, chat and laugh really got us into the whole "Roadburn atmosphere" which I love more each year.

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Gnaw Their Tongues

Considering my high cheerfulness during the bright day, there was only one way for me to start my second day at Roadburn, and that way was to get my ears pierced with harsh noise/black metal/industrial terror by the multi-instrumentalist, multi-project-heading Mories. Roadburn has given me the opportunity to see him live under different monikers: Aderlating in 2013, Seirom in 2014, and Gnaw Their Tongues in 2015. This year, Mories, with the assistance of his wife, is bringing back his most well-known project. I'm not going to hide my fanatic ramblings, I'm a huge fan of his work and to see him play in one of the bigger stages instead of the smallest one made me eager to be there. Truth be told: I tend to prefer his older albums more than his last couple of full lengths but in a live setting Gnaw Their Tongues is a whole different thing. Just like I expected, the bigger stage provided the possibilities to achieve a perfect sound. Chaotic and so clear I didn't need earplugs. At times it was more riff-based than expected to the point of being headbanging-worthy but also orchestral and all around in-fucking-sane. Once the highly hypnotic concert was over, I left the main building, seeking shelter from the oppressive darkness. The fact that it's just two people creating this hellhole still leaves me speechless.

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Oathbreaker

This Post-hardcore band caught my attention back when Eros|Anteros was released and blew my mind with its loud yet very emotional style. My joy was doubled when I found out they will be playing this year, promoting their latest album Rheia. I was surprised that the Main Stage was reserved for them and for the amount of people that showed up. Once the first song started, there were no doubts in my mind that they deserve their fan base. The riffs had a black element in them that elevated the songs during their brightest crescendos. Caro's vocals are extremely fragile, as if the weight of the world and the music around her will crush her and the only thing that can be done is singing about her inevitable doom. It's interesting how at times her clean vocals do not sound particularly great and even awkward, but it gives her an innocence and emotional output that matches nicely with the capture & release type of music the band delivers.

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Emptiness

Nothing But The Whole was one of the more unique black metal albums of the last couple of years. A highly foreboding atmosphere enhanced by the always-changing songwriting, writhing dissonance and dark vocal delivery. I have no doubts that to some people, their latest album, Not For Music was a much less welcomed release considering its huge change in sound. Personally I loved it and my opinion did not change in a live setting. It was highly hypnotic and there was an erotic aspect to their music. It could be the repetitive rhythms, the whispering, echoing deep vocals or the overall atmosphere that made me believe I was in a goth club. It was nearly dance-inducing due to the bouncing melodies and industrial beat like something inspired by Godflesh's Pure. Looking back at the show, I'm sad that I wasn't able to gather some cash to buy their latest album right away!

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Chelsea Wolfe

One of the biggest joys you get after coming to Roadburn for a good number of years is that you get the chance to see firsthand how an artist grows. The development in songwriting and the increased number of fans is well deserved and a beautiful sight to behold. I first saw Chelsea Wolfe back in Roadburn 2012, not long after Apokalypsis had been released. After that I got the chance to see her up close near my area in the south of Sweden for a more intimate, mostly acoustic set. Her style that incorporates elements from neofolk, metal, electronic and ambient music keeps growing and growing, so to finally see her in the main stage was so exciting. Her vocals remain as unique as ever, taking the crown as the queen of dark and ethereal-sounding female singers. Unfortunately I was way in the back so I just sat down and closed my eyes. No doubt that I will catch her summer tour when she plays close to my town!

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Amenra

Ok, I've seen Amenra a couple of times at Roadburn as they seem to always be there somehow. Having witnessed their concerts in both acoustic and regular format, what more can I get from this post-metal band? The answer is a simple "well, more of the same" which in this case is fucking amazing! I simply do not get bored of seeing these guys live because their concerts are so intense, soul-breaking, and body-aching that they almost spoil their own work on the studio. If you had the pleasure to see them live before then you already know how it was like. I understand the criticism I've seen/heard in regard to this band and their almost too consistent (read: monotonous) releases and concerts but when the delivery is that good, you just don't care and embrace the crushing waves of riffs and emotional screams. Also, the fact that they got Scott Kelly from Neurosis to be there to sing in "Nowena 9.10" (my favorite track) made the concert extra memorable. If you have not seen Amenra live, please correct that as soon as you can if you want a pummeling yet moving live experience.

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Zeal And Ardor

Yeah, this is it. This was the band I was looking forward to the most for this entire festival. I witnessed one of the longest fucking lines I've ever seen at Roadburn for any band yet somehow I managed to secure a place in the middle of the second row (being a small guy helps!). If you think this whole project incorporating blues, black metal and electronica has been nothing but an overrated Internet gimmick, oh boy would your mouth be shut down to eternity if you had been among the 600+ lucky bastards at the Het Patronaat venue. I recall so few sets at Roadburn where the audience has been so consistently on fire the whole time. This was one of those sets. I already got a preview with those "live" videos of Manuel Gagneux with his recruits but the real thing is something else. I'm glad that the backing vocals were properly mixed this time (a bit too loud on those Youtube clips) and Manuel can really achieve an aggressive tone of voice when he wants to, which evokes a hellish atmosphere during the metal sections. Most people appeared astonished at how extreme yet catchy as rabies the act sounded in real life. Many knew the lyrics by heart and Manuel truly enjoyed that, inviting the audience to keep going. A half an hour of a brilliant performance was suddenly stopped by a major malfunction in which ALL the sound just died. I've never heard of something like this happening at Roadburn. "This is what happens when Satanic music is played in a church!" yelled someone. But then something magical happened which truly captures the essence of Roadburn as a festival. This is a place made by the fans for the fans. By the musicians for the musicians. Most of the "Roadburners" are so involved in the music industry in one way or another that a sense of comradery and understanding is mandatory. No one left the stage and many started singing "Devil Is Fine" completely a cappella to the point that Manuel could barely believe it as he approached us and began singing with us while the power was getting fixed. Like Bob Ross would say, it was a "happy accident" which made the concert even more memorable, especially once the sound was back on and the bluesy party of hell restarted more savage and joyful than ever. I truly believe Roadburn will remember this concert as one of their most memorable.

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At this point there was nothing I wanted to watch because in my mind, everything else would have ruined the night. Got a good ride back to my designated sleeping spot on the floor. Roadburn has done it again, two amazing days in which my senses have been constantly blown away. And there's still two more days to go through! Hope you enjoyed my incoherent ramblings about this festival I hold close to my heart, and wait for the second and last part that covers the second half of Roadburn 2017!