Reports

METALCAMP 2007 - Headbangers Holiday

16.7. – 21.7. 2007
METALCAMP – Headbangers Holiday, Tolmin (Slovenia)
CRADLE OF FILTH, SATYRICON, DISMEMBER, UNLEASHED, KREATOR, DORO, SADIST....

We set about for a trip to Tolmin from Olomouc Monday July 16th early morning. Our aim was to get through Vienna pretty early to avoid any traffic obstacles and challenges. We generally made it and departed at 5am. Misinas proudly owned new Opel Astra Caravan was about to get through tough test. Since last year we even added one more pal so we're 5 and it quite obvious that our "Oplie" was nicely in lowrider style (due to stamina as well). Nevertheless we pass the Vienna with no delays,and running through highway paasing Ljublana to unchartered areas where  GPS is the only guide. Cant mention that Slovenia is quite fancy country, well preserved environment and everything clean unordinarily. And this weve just seen from car! Through long Canyon (app.60km) were driving along narrow pathway and  it looks as  the end of the world, the hills diminish and the lowlands with rivers and creeks and blue lake appear.Suddenly were getting to Tolmin, Cindiny the campsite entrance and meeting first metal mates. Were surprised pleasantly of the numer of tents we already see there. So we do the same and join with Czech tent „city“, upraising the flag and cheering with beer for safe arrival.Right then we get about to explore the site, changin the tickets for badges, lets say they do, Im getting accreditation at the entrance tent very easily. We reveal one big stage on the meadow which is now being finished. Second one is further at the area in the shade that later appears as blessing. We follow the way to beach stage with plan in hand. Its situated at the the junction of the rivers Tolminka a Soèa. The music reproduced, in general for the metal fest atmosphere completing,  or if you like the atmosphere of the metal bech that is most for relaxation after tough rock nights. You can drown your throat,take sit or have swim in crystally clear rivers. Well you have to be hard guy cause the water has 10degrees,  but in fourties we even didn’t realize. Whatsmore 6 cans of czech beer was out in five minutes. The exploration has been finalised by Tolmin visit and mapping the terrain- we found the grocery store and whre to get some meals. We spotted the poster of local groups, such as The Drinkers and Zablujena Generacija, which we assumed as some “punkies”. Laughing we set about to camp and lookin fw to first “musical” day.

Tue/ Day One/trip and Sepultura

We wake up pretty early on Tuesday and have in plan to visit Tolminski national park. We use “action” discount fee for fest visitors,givin 1Eur and heading to Dantes cave, suspension bridge and Bears mouth. Tourist trail leads along rocks and falls over footbridges over clearly crystal Tolminka river which created many natural interests in calcium rocks by his wild stream. We meet not one of our colleagues enjoying the magical creations of “Mother Nature”. We didn’t regret for the trail at all. We hide in air conditioned lunchroom in the Tolmin centre and having good  proviant. Were already excited about eves Sepultura. We leave for smaller scene where technical metal has been portionned by technical Sadist.I wasn’t pretty fascinated by their show excluding guitarist  managed to play on the piano as well. Swedish One Man Army were much more interesting. Aggressive but melodic death-thrash in typical northern cut was great to listen to and the audience has been growing as well. Mealtime (bellyworshipping). Were queing with others (where the helldid they come from so fast) awaiting the brasil legend Sepultura. The Critics and medias acc. Them claim that after Max Cavalera and his brother fled, they nothing to “deliver”. But I presume that it’s the other way. What I saw and heard that noght was just validating it. Energized set “rolled” all doubts down into darkest corner.  Derrik Green is Mr Singer, charismatical and incommutable.

Old Guitar school Kisser, PaoloJr. Doesn’t let us forget the old golden times. So the hits from ancient albums  Schizophrenia, Beneath.., Arise, but even new stuff from newer Against and newest  of Dante XXI are rockin. All have good “charge” and not only me considers this performance  as very successful. Even when im falling asleep I hear Roots, bloody Roots!!

Wed/day 2nd- Doro, Dismember, Korpiklaani, ..

Wed has become lets say funny day. Were pushed to the altan shade right in early morning where our flag is proudly pitched. We ate cookies and beer and took desinfection in destilled form. When it became lethal we rushed to Tolmin for lunch which we closed by desinfection again in a form of local speciality Pelinkovac.I never drank such a bitter stuff. Javor,who became the man of Wed called this dring purposely „something for shiting“, when ordering appropriate drink for Agáta-Alžbìta issues. Luckily we leave on time and march into campsite. Taking the swimsuit in a tent and heading to rescue ourselves into icy waters of Soci river. Bless the Soci! Water is saving us from sure heatfaint and keeping us among Alive. We got so stuck that almost missing the start of Finish folkmetalists Korpiklaani.Together with Filip we just confirmed by sight last years Wacken memories, where we “pogged” for life, and jumping into crowd in sandals and trunks. Just noticing that pogo has been danced even earlier than they touched wires. The “Pot” (front crowd center) became our home for the rest of the performance. When it started appearing we run out of strengths, the hits such as Hunting Song a Beer sucked out the last rest of energy so we got out as dudmen(watermen) drowned in our sweat. Korpiklaani confirmed at 100% its festival uniqueness and I dare to tell theyre one of best summer fests groups. It didn’t even affect big amount of new album Tervaskanto recrds which are in typical spirit. Maximum satisfaction.  After we just breathed in and breathed out, swedish oldschoolers deathers Dismember were aleready setting up the stage. I was lookin fw to them and they didn’t failed at all. Satisfactory, raw, aggressive and melodic death metal played with maximum eager was their great card. Who would be keep sitting records Cascet Garden nebo Dreaming In Red? You can find the answer by yourself. After this we keep waiting (some with peace of despect) for first heavymetali,hard rock metal singer Doro Pesch.She scattered threats of farmers that’s oldschooler. If shes then Im paleontolg cause I liked it pretty much comprising of tougher pieces what has been acclaimed by auidence. Thanks to Javor who fought to the frony with me I managed even few cool pics. Outrageous performance of charismatic German was honourable finish of „funny“Wed. Have to mention Javors day valuation from Thu morning:  „Where the hell has the Wednesday gone missin???“,shakin head and lookin with sleepin eyes. „I remember morning whiskey,blurred Tolmino lunch and suddenly I stand in third row on Doro!“.

Thu/day 3/Kreator, Satyricon, Pain, Unleashed, ..

Thu morning was much more smoother and relaxed than the day before. We wake up slowly and eating pastry as good workers, czech traditional salami “Vysocina” and extraordinary local burek. Were heading to showers afterwards and we become more cultural and relaxing at tents and heading to creek to cool down. We re establishing international cooperation in order to build a dam and using the stream to sail like a boats J Some time we spend on beach stage and still during hard eve sun were approaching the main stage which started just storming. We cant miss  greatest band at all- swedish metal fighters Unleashed. Johny Hedlund with power of real  Viking grabbed the mike and started together with his pals.. the all rolling stream of energy of which their music is so much packed with. The again excellent sound was even enlarging the overall performance experience. It was built on record from actual CD Midvinterblot,well mixed with hits from older. All raved pretty much during Death Metal Victory and shouted Neverending Hate! Unleashed didn’t loose any strength during last years and are on of those you should praise.They didn’t  sell themselves even their style. Unleashed Victory! For me one of peaks of the festival. Northerns don’t stop raving cause Peter Tägtgren with his disco-metal band (as Flip described their style) Pain just entered stage. Rhytmic, jumpy nevertheless hard music decorated by quality vocal and strong melodies moved the audience again.I heard them for the first time and definitely not the last time.I cant get rid of the “tying” melody of the hit Shut Your Mouth. Black metal hell of excellent character was performed by  Satyricon. Black metal is not stranger for me and these Norwegians definitely kick the first league. No cliches but all classical sequences keeping the black were great to listen to. Filip almost lost his head and Mišina was noddling in way of agreement. Great performance, great experience. Suddenly the headliners time came- German thrashmetal Kreator. I can write here hundreds of lines as in my Basinfirefest report but it would be just repeating. Theyre just exceptional, incommutable, professional. Mille is true frontamn, even in his age he can rotate his “root” which was followed in such a late time only by Agata/Alzbeta. Hymns as  Extreme Aggression, Coma Of Souls, Flag Of Hate appeared ..you could hardly find any unsatisfied.

Day 4/Fri/ Motörhead, Cradle Of Filth, Ensiferum, ..

Fri morning was in a way of “no-job” and debates under gazebo(summer house), we went for lunch before noon and took unnecessary bath in a river. And switching between beach stage and Talent party stage situated in high trees alley having blessing shade. That was the place where bands who I never heard about were switching. But have to admit that majority has captivated me.Its a place to appreciate the organizers whi made great local bands selection. During the way to camp we stopped at the main stage where Born From Pain were playing.Truly the music you can listen to. Dinner and hooray back to Ensiferum presenting by vikings slogans.Image all right, music - I don’t know man why theres so much rush around them!I definitely don’t wanna critisize but theyre in best better average and the word average is more then exact. I don’t feel anything special from their production. Theyre so fast evolved mixture what currently viking metal offers. Simply  –Im missing there live energy which is present at for example Amon Amarth. The atmosphere more than star one we were awaiting from british Cradle of Filth for what we got exact punishment. First disgust was corrupted sound (first and last time at Metalcamp) which suddenly started to be about to get fixed but Dannys scream, became strangely chopped sound. I thought for a while that his vocal chords are getting away but his next behaviour showed true reason of the sound shit. He was jumping as a hobit what looked like a part of show.But when he knocked down the ventilator, which was on the stage to avoid his overheating, he got the first shower of beer cups.He didn’t enjoy it much and untactically kicked one back to audience. And as every action creates reaction he suddenly appeared in a cups rain. He ignored it for a while but when suddenly the mike broke down again he threw it to the side of stageand Cradle just left without possiblity of comeback. This was the only extravagance of the normally flowing fest. At the end it was quite fine to see Danny pissed without pose.Motörhead then got much bigger space to get ready the set. Even I didn’t see the whole performance, I know the classics of the classics. Filip and Javor who stayed till end just confirmed it later. Same as in Wacken – unbelievevably dose of real rock energy.

Day 5/Sat/ Immortal, Blind Guardian, Sodom, The Exploited, Grave Digger, Aborted, ..

Its  gone so fast and there was just last day of Metacampu 2007 in front of us. Trully packed by stars..suddenly many people just arrived for weekend and it was really full. Were packing and getting ready for a journey. Normally the last night becomes little bit louder so we choose this option from tactical point of view due to morning traffic as well. We take last lunch, river bath and getting to Aborted. Brutal, no-compromising death in full heat of afternoon sun. I respect all the musicians they resist in such weather. At least they got proper support from audience. Following Grave Digger had similar conditions. They didn’t let fried and served proper power. Even they already play about quarter of hundred they have still sth to tell. The heat has peked so much that we realized to get refreshment and stoned little bit so we listened The Exploited more less from distance. Anyways it was obvious enough that they seem to fit more to Metalcamp than punk fest. They play non-compromised music, hard but still keeping the classic seuences which secure circle pit, pogos and true excitement.German trashovou legend Sodom we already enjoyed in front of mix. The band which has been on every metalists badge confirmed the status of legend. Even being in the shade of progressive Kreator, it doesn’t take anything from the performance- straight,punching, raw toughness. During Agen Orange the freakin audience was tempting for Ausgebombt which didn’t appear even despite loud cheering. But it didn’t generally harmed the Sodom experience I saw for the first time. The last- Blind Guardian and Immortal. Finally after long setting up Guardian started their typical and all ways original speed.Even its been cliched by many bands, its not the point of these Germen. Make it shorten: If speed metal,then Blind Guardian.We kept the words of the classic to get away in the best… When sat turned to Sunday, tolmin valley is filled with beautiful Valhalla, we lift the anchor and boating the Mišinas Astra andheading to Ljubljana. We unfortunately missed  Immortal but we simply havent been igfted to enjoy everything.

Night route never easy but thanks to Misinas driving resistance, good paths and quite low traffic we make it fast and at half past eight we lift Thief in Brno. Then just to Jevicko and Olomouc and our Headbanger’s Holiday are past.

Theres only last review to drop here. Mišinas quotation: „It was different from Wacken but great as well!“.Underneath I can easily sign up, same as under Filips: „Same as useless taking T/shirt to Wackenu, taking jumper to Tolmin“.This is the way with certain exxageration I can describe the whole event. To describe closely:
1.Campsite securred concerning hygiene. Toi-toik mostly clean, hot showers present, stands with fast food and organizers at all places.Who would expect german precision would be mistaken..were Slavics at all J camping wild but always in certain rules. No bigger problems appeared.
2. Music production has been great deal of quality all the time. Excellent sound (excluding COF)in all ways. Balanced basses, high vocals and recognizable middles ..at both stages.We liked the system of production much. Every eve had its star, you could catch up all easily and you could even get to know local cultural and natural sightseeings. 
3.Prices at the place were clasically lifted , mostly beer, when slovenian Union was priced unholy (what else to await at metal camp) 3€. You could even get Heineken which was at least drinkable.  Union stands mostly looked abondonned. Refreshments was classical fast food, vegie standand localí „pleskavica“,together with ajvar didn’t have a mistake.You could even get food up to 3€ which was fine. Good presso, social 1€. In 20mins you get to Tolmin,where you could get groceries for Prague prices.

In coclusion: Who wants to enlive metal holidays, this exceptional event, don’t hesitate and set about ot Metalcamp. It’ s worth it!!!

Translation: Geg

Vader • 07.12.07
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