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Events and Reports - Sweden Rock Festival 2004 - Day 3 (Nina) - Axel Rudi Pell, Lost Horizon, Children of Bodom, UDO & Europe
Back to Day 2
Axel Rudi Pell
Axel Rudi Pell's ultra melodic and catchy Metal is something that appeals to me, so even though I only own one of his albums, I looked forward to experience the man himself on stage, together with some other great musicians; Johnny Gioelli with the magical voice, keyboard maestro Ferdy Dörnberg, and drummer Mike Terrana. Let it first be said, that all musicians of course held a very high standard, as I expected, but the concert itself was kind of in lack of something more than just showing of. Half of the time went with Axel playing solo upon solo and the other half with Johnny Gioelli presenting him to the audience! :) No, seriously, they were good, but the show just seemed to go on and on and was focused more on playing ability instead of, well songs!
Ferdy Dörnberg was a highlight to watch for me personally, this guy is crazy on a keyboard and he even carried it around on his shoulders, dueling on the instrument with Axel. A lot of this sort of stuff is fun to watch, but for a whole show is gets slightly boring to me, even the songs have to be stretched out to lasting a little too long for my taste, though I was happy to hear my favorite, Masquerade Ball.
All in all an okay show and for fans of correct technical playing it must have been awesome, but I got a little bored on some occasions.
Lost Horizon
Lost Horizon is a band I really love! Everything from written concept, appearance, musical skill to the godly, powerful music itself is brilliant! After having the pleasure to witness the band twice before, I had high hopes for today's concert. And they were absolutely fulfilled! Daniel Heiman (a.k.a. Ethereal Magnanimus) is one of a kind on stage, a real personality, who handles contact to the audience, singing skills and stage performance with equal strength. The whole aura of the band just reek of Metal and the warriorspirit of the band can be felt and heard!
The band started strong with Pure, and from point one heads were shaking everywhere, and I found myself jumping manically up and down, gasping for air in the packed crowd! I don't think I've ever seen this many people in front of Spendrups Stage, and personally I think they should have played at Sweden Stage. Welcome Back continued the show, followed by Again Will The Fire Burn, before going in to an emotional and competent version of Cry Of A Restless Soul! The show ended with Sworn In The Metal Wind and was definitely a highlight of this year's Sweden Rock Festival!
After the splendid performance of Lost Horizon, I had to kill some time before seeing Children Of Bodom, so I decided to relax under a tree in the company of Steen and watching Narnia. This was a surprising experience, as they sounded really great! The singer sounded almost like Rob Halford in his early years and the performance seemed really powerful!
Children of Bodom
This Finnish, unique band, with their own special blend of Power, Thrash, Black and melodic Metal provided a hard-edged change from all the softer bands playing at the festival. They were just wild, crazy and clearly showed that they are talented as can be!
Hate Me! Provided a good opener, with its catchy, melodic edge and showed that Alexi's hoarse, snarling vocals were in top shape today!
The many crazy Metalheads who had gathered for this Metallic assault were on to it from the start, going totally amok, giving the band their full support!
I went up front in the beginning but had to move more and more towards the back as the gig continued, and this concert was one of the few where I actually got a chance to look at the band while they performed. Damn, it felt like people where much taller than last year!
The guys looked like having a great time on stage and worked superb musically, especially an honorable mention must go to keyboarder Janne Warman, who handled his instrument with such ease, he made high technical ability seem like child's play!
The wild, energetic Needled 24/7 with the earhanging chorus translated great live, and I sang along as loud as I could, even the industrial part sounded cool, and the wild drive of the song made me jump and freak out!
The aggressive, but melodic Bodom Beach Terror, with it's great guitar passages, provided a little break from all the extreme wildness, where I allowed myself to take it a little easy and just enjoy the great performance and atmosphere.
Deadnight Warrior was a huge highlight, performed with great nerve and intensity, as well as spine chilling versions of Lake Bodom and Bodom After Midnight!
Children Of Bodom used some time fooling around with their instruments, and Alexi Laiho and Janne Warman's duel on guitar and keyboard were highly entertaining and skillful!
The band ended this extremely enjoyable and powerful show with one of their greatest songs, Towards Dead End, and I left, covered in sweat and with a smile on my face!
After this great show, I headed for the Festival stage to check out Nightwish, but sadly it started raining. A lot! Well, I thought a little rain shouldn't stop me from seeing a great band, but I was wrong. Soon my entire body was shaking so much, I couldn't pay attention to anything but a fantasy about getting some dry -warm!- clothes on! So, unfortunately I had to head for the camp.!
UDO
Well, hanging out in the camp, I lost a little track of time, and arrived a little after the beginning of UDO's show! The ageing German Metal hero seems alive and kicking, delivering a good show and still possessing the characteristic, rasp voice that so many love! Playing a lot of Accept classics was cool to me, who doesn't know his solo stuff very well. Balls To The Wall, I'm A Rebel, and other good old Accept tunes was a great experience, and the band worked great live! As a great end to the concert, we got Princess Of The Dawn, and the enthusiastic audience went wild!
Europe
After some party at the camp, I went to see the last hour or so of Europe. A band I could have been a big fan of, if I had more of their material, I guess. The Final Countdown is a magnificent release in my book, and honestly, the titletrack was the one song I'd really die to hear, and my guess was they would play that one last. The camping ground and streets were deserted, oddly enough the only people I could spot were some Swedes sitting in a camp and.listening to Europe on a ghettoblaster?!? Hmm, weird! The concert seemed a little sterile, meaning that everything was too smooth and overly professional. I missed a more intense, raw feeling, but maybe that's also partly because I was very far from the stage. A lot of the songs I didn't know, but the set ended with three diamonds in a row, Cherokee, Rock The Night and of course the grand finale, The Final Countdown, which made me use my absolutely last energy to freak out!
Well, another festival is over, and I'm heading home for the world outside, waiting for the next chance to visit the Metal world!
| You can click most pictures for a bigger version
Lost Horizon
Lost Horizon
Lost Horizon
Lost Horizon
Lost Horizon
Lost Horizon
The crowd at children of Bodom
All pictures taken by Steen | Written by Nina
Wednesday, June 23, 2004 |
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RevelationZ Comments
| Comment by abel (Anonymous) - Tuesday, February 15, 2005 | que viva!!! losT horzon
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| Comment by Emil Ryrberg (Anonymous) - Wednesday, October 12, 2005 | hello it´s me Emil if you remember me Daniel... I have not see you on a long time but i just hope that it´s going very good for you guys... see you later... you are so good... MVH Emil Ryrberg
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| Comment by Gothik Angel (Anonymous) - Saturday, December 3, 2005 | trop death...........
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| Comment by gothik angel (Anonymous) - Sunday, December 4, 2005 | hie j'adddore Bodom...angels don't kill bodom beach terror hate crew death roll a ecouter durgence
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| Comment by gothik angel (Anonymous) - Sunday, December 4, 2005 | hie j'adddore Bodom...angels don't kill bodom beach terror hate crew death roll a ecouter durgence
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| Comment by cristina (Anonymous) - Monday, January 23, 2006 | children of bodom is the best... i love it..... es eol mejor grupo que nunca haya visto......:D
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| Comment by CLOWN (Anonymous) - Tuesday, January 31, 2006 | DEATH TO ALL NON-METALS
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