Hellfest: The best line-up since a long time?
| Written by: | Darkside Momo |
| Published: | April 27, 2018 |
| Event: | Hellfest Open Air 2018 (Website) |
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Galleries: |
Hellfest 2018 - The Bands (Sunday) by Darkside Momo (66) Hellfest 2018 - The Bands (Friday) by Darkside Momo (36) Hellfest 2018 - The Bands (Saturday) by Darkside Momo (71) Hellfest 2018 - Sights & people by Darkside Momo (36) |
Well, arguably that's debatable, but we sure have something better this than we had the last few year - even if I went in 2014 and 2016, it has honestly been a while since I haven't been that excited by a Hellfest line-up.
Seeing it, it's quite all over the place, from shitty nü to old legends and underground gems. Yet, come to think of it, it's a coherent mix of the crossroad of influences at the heart of Hellfest:
- Core and punk
- Old-school legends and big metal names
- Underground cool shit
- Sludge / stoner love
- French scene and market
The then-new Warzone in 2016
Mostly centered around the Warzone stage, the whole core & punk that were at the heart of Hellfest's first incarnation - that was the Fury Fest, back in 2004 and 2005 - are still very much here, but maybe less than some previous years (2016 comes to mind). Still with big names such as Hatebreed, Madball, Cro-Mags or Terror, legendary Bad Religion, or French luminaries Uncommonmenfrommars (that's a reunion show, by the way) or Les Sheriff, (and Converge on the mainstages), I guess there's enough to have fun i guess!
As far as legends are concerned, we already had a lot during previous editions - Motörhead, Black Sabbath several times - but well, this year's pretty great. Having both Iron Maiden and Judas Priest is reason enough to go for some; now add one ex AC/DC drummer (Chris Slade), legendary rock lady Joan Jett, Accept, Rose Tattoo...
About other big names, there's less thrash than usual (but still Exodus, and Megadeth if you wanna count them as such); others include Therion, Nightwish, Meshuggah, Europe... The list goes on.
As a side note, there's a surprising Arch Enemy / Amorphis clash on sunday, but heck, as I don't care about AA and Amorphis are rare enough in France, you can guess where I'll be.
But some more interesting shit, let's see on the underground side of things. With both Demilich (yeah!) and Akercocke, I'm a happy camper, but there's more: Zeal & Ardor (hell yeah!), Oranssi Pazuzu, Bathuska, Mysticum, Saor... The list goes on here too. Color me happy
And then there's the whole Sludge / Stoner / Post love affair Hellfest always had - and the Valley stage was born out of it. While Hellfest always featured some bands out of these genres (remember the Terrorizer tent stage on the old grounds?), or Neurosis in 2007?), it sure did take a lot of hints from Roadburn in recent years: the already mentioned Zeal & Ardor, but also Warning... Or Dälek, who are the first hip/hop band to play on the Hellfest Grounds. Sure, they're one of the most metal-friendly in their field, with their dissonant, industrial sound (and they were once signed on Mike Patton's label, and also toured with Godflesh and other metal bands...)
Anyway, Roadburn or not, it's pretty great to have all these bands, plus Neurosis (finally again!), Amenra, Church Of Misery, Eyehategod...
And finally, the French scene is always represented at Hellfest, more often than not on the opening slots, but not always. Luminaries this year include Benighted (once again, they should have a higher spot), The Great Old Ones, Hantaoma, Plebeian Grandstand, Celeste... among others.
Sadly, that's where we'll witness the whole ugliness of shitty French tastes of old. See, if nü metal was born in the US, I guess the second country of choice for the genre was France. Korn and others sold huge amounts of discs, and we had a plethora of nü-bands in the late 90's-early 00's. And well, this will show on the mainstages this saturday. With only a few exceptions, they're as horribly nü and mainstream (Bullet For My Valentine, Avenged Sevenfold) as they come. Seeing there are both Pleymo AND Limp Bizkit, I can't see how they could have done worse tbh. We're totally in the mainstream shitty French sector here. Seriously, give or take Mass Hysteria and ETHS, well, we only had shit in the nü department - Pleymo being the worst example ever (btw, I'm not counting Psykyp who, even they're basically of the same timeframe and audience, have a much wider panel of influences and sounds they cover). No doubt they'll have a lot of success, but that'll be without me. I'll be seeing Body Count, and apart from them I'll steer clear from the mainstages that day (note that while I don't like Deftones, it would certainly be blindly biased to call them shit - something they're obviously not, especially recently). But well, there's good stuff on the other stages, so who cares?
One a French related sidenote, let's mention some not-metal-but-related stuff. Last year, there was Perturbator; this time, we'll have Carpenter Brut - who did play at Roadburn and whose live members come from the Hacride ranks.
So yeah, it's one of the most diverse HF line-up ever. As always some genres are less represented - prog, as usual - but there's something for everyone, even proggers, with Sons Of Apollo and Steven Wilson. And, by now you'll have understood, as once every two years, I'm going to Hellfest and you'll have a report. I'll be enjoying my underground and/or non-metal stuff, consciously avoiding the mainstages on Saturday especially (Body Count being the exception).
Stay tuned!
 | Written on 27.04.2018 by Once your regular Hellfest reporter, now retired. I (strangely enough) listen to a lot of metal. And enjoy good beers, comics, novels and role-playing games. |
Comments
Comments: 27
Visited by: 162 users
| musclassia Staff Posts: 7626  |
Yeah, a mate and I bought tickets (inadvertently second-hand, so hoping they work!) just becuase the line-up looked so immense. The Sunday in particular I dread to see what the clashes are going to be like between the likes of Maiden, KSE, Amen-Ra, Z&A, Amorphis, Nightwish, AIC, Au-Dessus... even bands that would be 'oh I'll check them out' bands during most festivals I've been to (Ensiferum, Septicflesh, At The Gates, Baroness, Iced Earth) are going to be down the list of priorities on Sunday. Add in Neurosis, Enslaved and Oranssi Pazuzu on Saturday and Schammasch, Steven Wilson, Meshuggah on Friday it hopefully should be cracker. It'll be my first Hellfest (and second festival outside the UK after Roadburn 2016) so I'm pretty amped for it.
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| Bad English Tage Westerlund Posts: 62014  |
There are big names and in some way it can be bigger as WAO, even event name can make people thing wicked things, specially those who are not in a genre. Line up is great!
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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| Darkside Momo Retired Elite Posts: 9089  |
Written by musclassia on 01.05.2018 at 13:15 I don't know how second-heand tickets work (or don't). Hellfest has its 'official' second hand market, but after that... Seeing the latest Q&A on HF site Quote: Maybe you should see with Digitick to be sure everything is in order? I've never been to Roadburn, but be sure to prepare for a huuuge difference in score (we're speaking about 50000-60000 persons a day, here)  As for the running order, there's no official version of it online yet, but here's a fan-made one], which probably isn't totally exact but close enough Be warned, you'll have a Maiden / At The Gates clash
---- My Author's Blog (in French)  "You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you" "I've lost too many years now I'm stealing back my soul I am awake"
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| Kennoth Posts: 2502  |
Isn't a staff member supposed to be objective at least to a certain degree when talking about other genres and artists? Especially when writing an article for a metal website? We get it, you hate nu metal. It's been around for 25 years now though, so it's time to suck it up like a big boy. It's long overdue.
---- *insert something deep and profound*
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| Karlabos Posts: 5736  |
Written by Kennoth on 03.05.2018 at 04:19 Uh... Not really? I honestly can't think of any metal site where the reviews/articles aren't subjective...
---- "Aah! The cat turned into a cat!" - Reimu Hakurei
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| Cynic Metalhead Ambrish Saxena Posts: 7561  |
Written by Kennoth on 03.05.2018 at 04:19 I agree. Rather to jump on the wagon to bash "Nu-metal" genre altogether, it could have been better if details given about the nu-metal performances.
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| nikarg Staff Posts: 7346  |
Written by Kennoth on 03.05.2018 at 04:19 The fact that it has been around for 25 years just means that it's still a big pile of shit, but not nu anymore. Everyone (including staff) is entitled to their opinion so it's you who should suck it up like a big boy.
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| nikarg Staff Posts: 7346 |
Quote: I'll be seeing them on the 19th and 20th of July at Rockwave Festival in Athens so I don't envy you that much  The line-up has many interesting bands, however it does seem to be all over the place.
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| Darkside Momo Retired Elite Posts: 9089 |
Written by Kennoth on 03.05.2018 at 04:19  MWAHAHAHA Fun fact: we can be as subjective or objective as we want
---- My Author's Blog (in French) "You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you" "I've lost too many years now I'm stealing back my soul I am awake"
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| Darkside Momo Retired Elite Posts: 9089 |
Written by nikarg on 03.05.2018 at 11:50 yes it is. It's always been the case but it's even more true this year. I certainly don't mind! As for Maiden and Priest, I'll see a bit of Priest for sure, but Maiden will be more difficult. There's Amorphis before, so if I want a good spot I'd have to leave early (NO WAY) and also miss At The Gates... which isn't really an option either. Sucks - I would have loved to see another full Iron Maiden show - but hey, in festivals there are always tough choices to make!
---- My Author's Blog (in French) "You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you" "I've lost too many years now I'm stealing back my soul I am awake"
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| Darkside Momo Retired Elite Posts: 9089 |
Oh, and just for the record on that nü metal thingie: I'm glad Deftones are here to up the quality quite a bit, because, seriously, Limp Bizkit? (and Pleymo are as bad, maybe worse - they do it in French). You would have seen me giggle like mad, however, if they had booked, say, Slipknot and Clawfinger instead. Or Prophets of Rage (but they played last year, so there's that)....
---- My Author's Blog (in French) "You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you" "I've lost too many years now I'm stealing back my soul I am awake"
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| nikarg Staff Posts: 7346 |
Written by Darkside Momo on 03.05.2018 at 12:55 Tbh I'd choose Amorphis and At The Gates as well, since they will have new albums out (and both sound great from what I've heard so far), even though I'm a Maiden fanboy.
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| Darkside Momo Retired Elite Posts: 9089 |
Written by nikarg on 03.05.2018 at 14:48 Well... in the end it'll also depends on setlist I guess, but since they played Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son (the song) last time I saw them, I don't really see how they could top that - so yeah, Amorphis and At The Gates 
---- My Author's Blog (in French) "You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you" "I've lost too many years now I'm stealing back my soul I am awake"
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| flammeimwind333 Posts: 28 |
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| Kennoth Posts: 2502 |
Written by Karlabos on 03.05.2018 at 05:18 Emphasis on *reviews*. Of course you'll get subjective when doing a review of anything, there is no such thing as a truly objective review anyway. And if your idea of review is "this genre is dogshit" then that's your prerogative, even if it's intellectually cheap. But this isn't a review, it's an article. Imagine for example Rolling Stone doing a follow up on say, Coachella (or whatever it is that cool kids like nowadays) that goes something like "it's gonna be this many bands, alongside these wankers we don't like". I fucking loathe Rolling Stone, but I don't see it happening. If this is the current standard of journalism Metal Storm is content with, then sure, go nuts. I don't really care all that much anyway given that I'm here once in a blue moon, but then be honest about it. I came to Metal Storm in the first place to find a place that's not as toxic as Metal Archives, and for the most part it has been that place, but if this is the new standard then just say the word so that I can steer away. Written by nikarg on 03.05.2018 at 11:44 Oh shit, just don't cut me on all of that edge please. Written by Darkside Momo on 03.05.2018 at 12:48 Just because you can, doesn't mean you should
---- *insert something deep and profound*
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| flammeimwind333 Posts: 28 |
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| nikarg Staff Posts: 7346 |
Written by flammeimwind333 on 04.05.2018 at 15:07 Oh well
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| quirin Posts: 105  |
Written by musclassia on 01.05.2018 at 13:15 For second-hand tickets, I hear you must modify the owner's ID. Here's a link that should help: https://www.digitick.com/identification-css5-hellfestfestival-pg1007-pr1101.html Enjoy
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| musclassia Staff Posts: 7626 |
Written by quirin on 09.05.2018 at 19:24 I sent an email to Digitick last week asking about whether something needs to be done to make sure the tickets work for us, but I haven't heard a reply yet, might have to send another one.
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| Darkside Momo Retired Elite Posts: 9089 |
Written by musclassia on 09.05.2018 at 20:08 maybe wait until next week, as this is a short work week here in France, with two holidays 
---- My Author's Blog (in French) "You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you" "I've lost too many years now I'm stealing back my soul I am awake"
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| musclassia Staff Posts: 7626 |
Written by Darkside Momo on 09.05.2018 at 20:12 Haha fair enough, I had waited until Tues/Weds to account for the bank holiday in the UK just in case there was something similar for May Day in France, didn't know you guys had two holidays, get you :p
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| Darkside Momo Retired Elite Posts: 9089 |
Written by musclassia on 10.05.2018 at 12:46 well this week there's the 8th of may (for WWII) and Ascension Day (that's today)
---- My Author's Blog (in French) "You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you" "I've lost too many years now I'm stealing back my soul I am awake"
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| Liafev Posts: 650  |
Written by nikarg on 03.05.2018 at 11:44 What I don't get with people like you is, why the fuck do you even bother talking about nu metal if you hate it so much ? It's so childish. Bitching over something you don't like all day long when this thing has no impact on you life doesn't make any sense.
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| Liafev Posts: 650 |
As for the linup, though it's really good, I think the running order was better last year (at least for me), I have a few empty slots this year. But it'll be nice to have a beer and get some rest.
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| Darkside Momo Retired Elite Posts: 9089 |
Written by Liafev on 15.05.2018 at 10:35 time to rest is always good BTW, some big running order changes: http://www.hellfest.fr/en/running-order-a-jour/ With Tombs added - nice! - ; also, the Amorphis / arch Enemy clash is no more (I had a friend who was pissed by this one)
---- My Author's Blog (in French) "You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you" "I've lost too many years now I'm stealing back my soul I am awake"
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| nikarg Staff Posts: 7346 |
Written by Liafev on 15.05.2018 at 10:34 It is actually the only comment I've ever made about nu metal on this site, so you can hardly call it "bitching all day long". Also I don't hate nu metal, in all fairness I don't give a flying fuck. My comment was mainly a reply to the phrase "suck it up like a big boy". Read again, you might get it this time around.
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| Liafev Posts: 650 |
Written by nikarg on 15.05.2018 at 14:06 My bad, the "like you" part was only based on the other guy's comment I must confess. But the rest of the sentence remains true, even though it might not apply to you then, sorry.
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