Written by:	SirHooke
Published:	January 08, 2007
Event:	Frostrock 2007 (Website)
Location:	Zaal Blommenhof, Staden, Belgium

Frostrock 06/01/2007

Written by Suicider_Wolf

Introduction
The day started as another dreary Saturday with lots of rain and fog. In this rain and fog we waited for the bus? The bus that would take us to Frostrock. Frostrock was organized by some people I know and it was their first attempt to organize a metal event. After exiting the bus and entering the hall, I got my first impression: dark. There were no lights at all, except for those pointed at the stage. After our eyes got used to the lack of light, and after a couple of drinks, the event was finally starting. We were up to an evening of all-Belgian metal.

Curfew
First band for tonight was Curfew. They are an unsigned band from West-Flanders. I've seen them before but I hadn't paid much attention. My first impression was that they seemed to feel comfortable on stage; they were obviously having fun. Now to talk about their music, they play a sort of heavy metal, mixed with thrash and an occasional grunt. They sound raw and heavy but they have some calmer songs as well, they played one of those as a tribute to some friends. After their ballad-like song the singer appeared on stage holding an inflatable woman, he said her name was Charlene and she never surfed a crowd. But that night, she did There are only a few negative remarks I can make about this band: after a while their music gets a bit boring because most of their songs sound alike and sometimes the drums seemed to lose the sense of rhythm. I hope they get a contract soon.

Precious Stone
Precious Stone is, like Curfew, an unsigned band. They were known by the audience because the lead guitar player is the daughter of the couple who organized the event. This entire band exists of people who are younger than me, that is why they are so remarkable. They played some covers like The Trooper, Breaking the Law, and others. They also played their own songs. Their music is obviously influenced by Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Metallica. They all seem to have a decent amount of talent, especially considering how young they are. I was really amazed by the lead guitars, this girl managed to play some awesome solo, with few mistakes. Their show was nice and the crowd liked it a lot; it only had a few flaws: sometimes the bass dropped out due to difficulties, resulting in some awkwardly silent moments. Another weak point was the singer, I'm not saying he couldn't sing (he can) but he's just static. He doesn't move his feet during a song and most of the time he had his hands in his pocket. Apart from those things, I was really impressed. We will hear from them.

The Guardian
The Guardian was the first veteran band of the evening. This band has been playing Power Metal since 1999. A promising (and typical) intro started, and my expectations rose high. They all looked very professional and there was nothing to point out about their music, it is influenced by the 80's power and heavy metal - it has many catchy choruses, and is packed with tight riffs. They were enjoying themselves and they played their music with the whole of their hearts, but alas, the audience was not impressed. Even though the band tried hard, the band couldn't enchant the audience with their melodies. I felt sorry for them as I saw a large portion of the crowd head out for some air while The Guardian was playing. Better luck next time!

Crusader
These guys have been playing epic metal since 1996. I had heard of them before and I was looking forward to see them. Because of that, the waiting was even harder, especially because the setting up of the material and the sound check seemed to last for AGES. Then the intro finally started. The singer was very charismatic and his singing (and talking) was very enjoyable. The main theme of their music is the medieval period in time. They had songs about Joan of Arc, going on crusade (of course), fighting huge battles, and peasant life. I wasn't bored for a moment because their performing was great, the instruments were played with a lot of skill (understatement), the guitar solos were simple amazing and they put on an entertaining show. If you like epic and entertaining power/heavy metal, I would advise you to check these guys out. The only negative aspect was the tardy beginning.

Double Diamond
Just one look at these guys and you know it: Heavy F****** Metal! A bunch of older guys with big moustaches and leather pants, playing Old School Heavy Metal following icons like Judas Priest, Motorhead, Saxon, etc. They are called Double Diamond and they've been around for quite a while. (They even opened for HammerFall and they've played together with bands like Primal Fear, Blaze and W.A.S.P.) Now to talk about their music and performance, well I can say at least one thing: Experience + Talent = Solid show. They put on a flawless performance but during the third song, they lost their power (electrical power) so there was a bit of confusion. But the drummer came along and saved the day (and the show) by treating us to an outstanding drum solo. The rest of the show had its ups and downs (again because of some technical difficulties) but the audience didn't mind it because the band was really entertaining and the music was outstanding. This band was one of my favourites of the night.

After All
Technical difficulties delayed the sound check and because of that they began way too late. But anyhow, After All plays Thrash Metal with a little Hardcore side to it. The music was alright but it didn't impress me; the crowd was in the mood though. Every now and then a spontaneous mosh pit erupted and there was a great atmosphere. They put up a nice show and they succeeded in keeping everyone amused. After All had quite a reputation but I failed to see why, I was rather disappointed with their performance, but perhaps that's because my expectations were too high. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.

Oceans of Sadness
Now this is the band most of the people at Frostrock came to see. They started too late but that's understandable because every band was late. I've known this band for quite a while and I was anxious to see them live. My first impression was: Wow! These guys are better live than they are on CD in my opinion. They immediately kick in heavy and that definitely is the right way to do it. The crowd went wild and it was nearly impossible not to bang your head, also the singer managed to activate the crowd because of his hyperactive behaviour. He has an awesome voice and it was really stunning. The whole band is very skilled and their songwriting is OK. They all were very enthusiastic on stage and the atmosphere was very good. It is rather unfortunate that their music started to sound alike after a while and it was hard to stay in front because it was very loud. I do think they were a worthy headliner and their performance was nearly flawless. Also we had to leave early because otherwise we would have missed our last bus home.










Conclusion
Seen through my eyes, Frostrock was a nice experience. The atmosphere was nice, the bands were excellent and the management was certainly not bad for a first attempt. I hope they do this more often.

Curfew: www.curfew.be
Precious Stone: www.preciousstone.be
The Guardian: www.theguardian.be
Crusader: crusader.heavymetal.be
Double Diamond: www.doublediamond.be
After All: www.afterall.be
Oceans of Sadness: www.oceansofsadness.com