Getting Stoked for Hellfest!
| Written by: | Darkside Momo |
| Published: | May 06, 2014 |
| Event: | Hellfest Open Air 2014 (Website) |
| Organizer: | Hellfest Productions |
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Galleries: |
Hellfest 2014 II by martsepp (43) A few pics of Hellfest 2014 by Darkside Momo (26) Hellfest 2014 by martsepp (65) |
In less than two months now, Hellfest 2014 will come to pass. Given the awesome bill, I'm sure that everyone who's going is pretty psyched about it. Right?
And so, after the 2013 hiatus (no MS staffer was present to cover the event - real life and / or a relatively disappointing bill be blamed), Hellfest will once again see some of us coming to the Clisson grounds. Expect a little report in the future
But for now, let's just make a reminder for those who spent the last few years in another galaxy. And something to whet our appetites for those of us who actually go!First things first, if you want to plunge in the past, find all our previous reports here; that's from 2007 to 2012 included, with totally (un)biased comments and great pics (usually)
The Fest
Well there's been quite a growth since the first Hellfest in 2006 (and the FuryFest before that) with its three stages and about 10000 people a day - and at the time it was already (by far) France's biggest metal festival! And no, I'm not kidding. But this evolution wasn't totally a smooth ride, as all those who attended the 2007 edition can attest. With its rain, mud, and serious organizational problems, it could have spelled Hellfest's doom. Still, there was an awesome line-up, and most of us who were there proudly say now "I've survived it". All in all, a success, but one who came with a warning: "learn from what happened or die"
Well, the organizers did learn and improved the fest a thousandfold. The 2008 edition saw what's still probably their best line-up ever, and this was such a smooth ride that it definitively placed Clisson on the world's metal map. 2009, 2010 and 2011 saw improvements and refinements, adding of a fourth stage and all getting better and better.
Then 2012 came. It was the year of change, with new grounds, six stages now, and even more metalheads - about 40000 persons a day. And that's what we'll have in 2014 - well, make that 45000 persons a day now.
As said previously, none of us reporting staff were here last year, so we don't know firsthand how Hellfest evolved. Probably for the best, but we'll have to check anyway (there was this toilets problem in the fest grounds, but as we all know "festival toilets are the very evil of all mankind"); Ben Barbaud (HF's mastermind) spoke in some French interviews of refinements on lights, decoration and all that kind of non-essential but so important stuff for a festival's identity.
BTW the map of the festival grounds has been published, and it is here!
The Bill
Enough to drool about, right?
Of the three headliners, only Black Sabbath did already come - after a fashion, as due to medical problems, the 2012 show was actually an Ozzy Osbourne And Friends one. But the band (well, with Metallica) that everyone in the Hellfest Forums always asked for is finally here. Scream for me, Clisson!
Quite a few new names this year, including, well, Soundgarden, but also Deep Purple, Status Quo, Therapy?, Satan, Lofofora, Death To All (old Death members playing Death songs), Gorguts, Unleashed, Dordeduh, Skyclad? The list goes on!
Then there are some bands that already came, like Godflesh, Clutch, Electric Wizard, Carcass, Opeth, Nile, Slayer, Megadeth, Rob Zombie or Emperor?
Once again that's quite an eclectic mix, with all these stages and bands, from small, up-and-coming bands (Mars Red Sky and oh so many others) to established ones, from hard-rock to death metal to thrash to punk to stoner?
The running order hasn't been officially published on Hellfest's website, yet, but it has already leaked here and there. Prepare to make some difficult choices...
My pick? Skyclad, obviously.
Ozzy playing madman at Hellfest 2011
Other stuff worth mentioning
1 - Wine!
Clisson is a city that is right in the [url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscadet]Muscadet[/url] area. You'll actually see vineyards just next to the campsite. So, of course, Hellfest HAD TO offer their own wine, both in bottle and on the fest grounds, where the dedicated wine bar is actually quite beautiful, with an old-school feel and a back wall fully in transparent glass just to showcase the vineyard just behind it. Taste it, drink it, it's good!
2007 bottle, Gaec Perraud, Domaine des Cognettes
Oh and by the way, in 2012 there was an oyster stand next to the wine bar. Oysters are for sure both a French delicacy and an acquired taste, but Muscadet goes very well with those .;)
2 - Decoration and art on the festival grounds
It IS definitely unique and creates special atmosphere - especially at night. I'm really curious about what they'll add this year!
Nightfall on Hellfest 2011
Beer bars in 2012
3 - Tickets
OK, the 3-days pass are sold-out. BUT there are still some places left for Sunday (with, you know, Emperor and Black Sabbath, for example). Also, Hellfest partners Zepass run an online re-sell place for HF tickets. Check it out regularly, as passes might be sold - at their original price! Link is http://hellfest.zepass.com/ but it's really for shame that it is only in French.
Well, enough said. See you there!
 | Written on 06.05.2014 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: 107 users
| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
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| Darkside Momo Retired Elite Posts: 9089  |
Written by [user id=4365] on 07.05.2014 at 23:25 well, the previous years camping area indeed officialy opened and closed at the same time... :/ Dunno, maybe you'll be able to camp next to the parksite (that is actually a road closed for the event)
---- 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 [user id=4365] on 08.05.2014 at 02:06 if they already know the lay of the land they'll surely find a spot 
---- 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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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Posts: 5989  |
I already got my awesome festival dose with Roadburn, and will even more in August with this first annual Southern Darkness Fest in Tampa, so I'm really not too jelly about anything besides Urfaust and The Ruins Of Beverast with this one  Have a great time though dude, take plenty of pics!
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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| Darkside Momo Retired Elite Posts: 9089 |
Written by deadone on 08.05.2014 at 08:31 Well France never really was a metal country - we still have our medieval integrists that petition regularly against Hellfest. It all changed about ten years ago through the actions of some bands and people who did everything to make it big here. Well at least for metalheads, regular people usually still can't even begin to fathom what metal is I suppose it's the same in Australia, so all you need is a few really dedicated people, maybe? Even if I suppose the price to organize a big fest down under would reach astronomic levels (all those plane tickets...) Written by Auntie Sahar on 08.05.2014 at 05:29 I'm sure JOOE will enjoy those two 
---- 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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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted Written by Darkside Momo on 08.05.2014 at 12:50 Yep, they comprise part of the my most anticipated consecutive run of bands of the weekend which goes Aluk Todolo, Obliteration, Ulcerate, The Ruins of Beverast, Dordeduh, Repulsion and then Urfaust. I'm not sure when I'll find the time to drink.
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| Darkside Momo Retired Elite Posts: 9089 |
Written by [user id=4365] on 08.05.2014 at 13:26 there's ALWAYS time to drink  like during Ulcerate they were boring live when I saw then (hopefully for you it'll have changed)No real "must see" bands except for Skyclad, Dordeduh and Supuration, but quite a few bands that I'll be sure to check - or enjoy again (Unleashed, Sepultura, Lofofora, Deep Purple, Godflesh, Annihilator, Solstafir, Iced Earth...). Then there are shitty clashes like Satan / Blockhead, Therapy? / Hail Of Bullets, Iron Maiden / Death To All and then Iron Maiden / Enslaved
---- 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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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted Written by Darkside Momo on 08.05.2014 at 14:06 Well I might get one of those pitchers and try to make it last the duration. Or send someone out for me I very much hope Ulcerate aren't boring. Too many bands I love on record are failing to deliver live these days. I'm quite lucky in that there's not a single major clash, maybe a few I wouldn't have mind seeing both of, like Soundgarden and Soilwork. But I'll probably be at all those bands you've already seen, aside from Lofofora, who I've never heard of, and Iced Earth.
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| Bad English Tage Westerlund Posts: 62135  |
Still has good line up, but this fest öost it menaing since staff and non users write good reviews as it was at past ... same prom did whit WAO and Pagan fest ... eventr eview magic is gone, ;(
---- 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 [user id=4365] on 08.05.2014 at 14:13 second way is the best. A pitcher might not be enough for such a long string of bands BTW I haven't seen Unleashed, Deep Purple or Annihilator yet, but they don't rank as high in my order of priority as Skyclad, Supuration or Dordeduh Lofofora: a great French punk/hardcore/metal band, who released three excellent albums (Peuh!, Dur Comme Fer, Le Fond Et La Forme), and a few less good ones. Lyrics are all in French, however. A youtube playlist
---- 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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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted Written by Darkside Momo on 08.05.2014 at 14:35 Sounds pretty fun actually. Might make a good break from the death and black stages. Naturally I have no idea what he's singing about but I'm sure it's all very enlightened
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| Darkside Momo Retired Elite Posts: 9089 |
Written by [user id=4365] on 08.05.2014 at 14:44 Well they've mostly got songs about state of society (as befits a punk/hardcore band), but also some fun ones about sex and/or weed; also, the Le Fond Et La Forme album is a bit more introspective than the rest. Live they were full of fun and energy. Been a while since I last saw them, but a moshpit with a mix of punks, hardcore and metal fans is a damn good (and violent) thing
---- 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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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306  |
Written by Bad English on 08.05.2014 at 14:31 Yes, the entire festival is now without meaning because we here at Metal Storm don't pay as much attention to it as we did 5 years ago. That's probably why nobody attends the festival anymore and why so many bands are turning down the opportunity to play there because there's just such a general lack of interest as a result of Metal Storm's slightly less blatant favoritism towards the event. You nailed it man.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| Bad English Tage Westerlund Posts: 62135 |
Written by Troy Killjoy on 08.05.2014 at 17:01 well I like read such reviews.. I wish more ms would write it as you see concert reviews are not written so much qas it was before
---- 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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| Vombatus Potorro Posts: 2394  |
Written by Darkside Momo on 08.05.2014 at 14:06 You probably saw the new running order with no Maiden/Enslaved/DTA clash ! However, it looks even worse for me, coz Vreid/Emperor still there and now I can't see Kataklysm nor Godflesh coz of Maiden change..... fuck this shit damn it....
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| Darkside Momo Retired Elite Posts: 9089 |
Written by Vombatus on 08.05.2014 at 20:56 Well, so that's Godflesh off, Death and Enslaved in! Slightly better for me indeed. I feel sorry for you, however...
---- 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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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
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| Vombatus Potorro Posts: 2394 |
Written by [user id=4365] on 09.05.2014 at 15:54 Yeah, the amount of rage over the HF forum is huge (me included ) ! But according to one of the dudes near the organizers, the reason the RO was delayed was to change the Maiden shedule + try to fix the Emperor/Vreid clash. And it looks like the problem comes from Emperor that don't want to play too late (like closing spot with Iced Earth) and also other bands that don't want to change their schedules... like the shitty 1349 demanded the headlining spot under the Temple... I say be gone with them ! Vreid would make much more sense actually as Temple headliner, but oh well, I'll keep whining till the end of June and beyond
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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted Written by Vombatus on 09.05.2014 at 19:08 Yeah I think given the circumstance Vreid would make much more sense than 13boring9. Well there's still a few weeks left so maybe something will come up.
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| Darkside Momo Retired Elite Posts: 9089 |
Hopefully for you there will (I don't really care personally, but totally understand you both). In 2011 they managed to avoid the Coroner / Bolt Thrower clash who had people (me included this time) roaring in outrage, so let's keep hope. Maybe it'll be a last minute change we'll know about during the fest itself, who knows?
---- 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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| Fallen Ghost Craft Beer Geek Posts: 725  |
I really really really want to go this year.. The line-up is friggin' insane! Too bad it's way to expensive for me to travel to the festival.. Don't have the time neither.. Going to Wacken Open Air festival but that lineup is a joke compared..
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| Ilham Giant robot Posts: 5161  |
I was just wandering on the Hellfest website yesterday, and I saw that the price for the global pass has climbed to the whooping diddlydoo sum of 185 muddafuckin euros. Isn't that a bit too much? The three times I've been to Hellfest, I struggled to gather the cash for the ticket and the train fare from Montpellier. I am still grateful Momo and Marie always shared food, drinks, and equipments with me. But 185 euros, is it still worth it? This years bill didn't really interest me, but I'd love to go back to Clisson next year. I'm gonna have to sell a lot of shitty logos to make it.
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| Darkside Momo Retired Elite Posts: 9089 |
Written by Ilham on 19.05.2014 at 15:00 Weel, that's indeed expensive and probably a bit too much, but as Skyclad plays I HAD TO go .BTW, glad to see you back!
---- 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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| Ilham Giant robot Posts: 5161 |
Written by Darkside Momo on 20.05.2014 at 00:47 Haha, I just love the enthusiasm you still have. Thanks man, it's a pleasure to be back. Send my regards to Marie, if you're still in touch. It'll be even more expensive next year for sure, but we'll see if the winds blow in that direction in time.
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| Darkside Momo Retired Elite Posts: 9089 |
Written by Ilham on 20.05.2014 at 01:02 Done - she says hello too As for more expensive, probably  And as far as enthousiam goes, well, it's music we're talking about, right? (and also  )
---- 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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