Sara Hammerzmith

Do you want to know something?

This is the first time, obviously, that I’ve been here at Metalfest. But at this point, there is already one thing I truly love about this festival. Their stage times. First band starts somewhere around 11 in the morning, and the last band ends at 23 at night. Which means that, technically, you are already in bed by midnight if you so want. How amazing isn’t that? Especially for us elderly people who can’t be out partying all night.

I really, really, appreciate a long nights sleep. So plus points, more than plus points, to the festival for that. So, got up relatively early as per usual, ate my breakfast, died in the heat again. Eat, sleep, repeat, right?

After a few ifs and buts, when it got a bit cloudy on the sky, I pulled myself together and applied my Beast in Black make up. When playing around with outfits and make up, I always take inspiration from the latest album or some song. So my make up for Beast in Black is simply a green smoked eye with some gold dust here and there. Done! I was also premiering my new Mala Noche top, but none of you who reads this gives a fuck about that, right?

Anyway. I made my way back into the venue close to Elvenkings show as an old aquaintance plays in the band, and I figured it’d be good to see him on stage again. I arrived somewhere half through their set, so it wouldn’t be fair of me to try to judge them on that, but the few songs I saw was really good!

One of the major reasons we had gone in this early was to see Gus G. I want to say that I’ve seen him before but it is possible I’m mixing him up with some other guitarist.

Gus G

So, the show started like clock work – they are very good at keeping the times at this one. The show was great – it was a nice mixture of his instrumental stuff as well as his stuff with vocals, and the crowd was loving it. I sense a bit more dedication amongst the crowds outside of Sweden – but this isn’t the first time I say that, is it?

The show came to an end, and we then began waiting for the Beast in Black.

Beast in Black

The time has come! And it was here! Beast in Black entered the stage and opened with “Cry Out for a Hero”, and the crowd went mad! “Unlimited Sin” was next song down the line, one of my personal favorites off the new album – in fact – “From Hell With Love” as an album is just pure excellency.

“Beast in Black” and “The Fifth Angel” was next on the list, and wow. The reception. It was absolutely crowded, and I can’t help but wonder if they shouldn’t have been given a different time slot? “True Believer” and “Heart of Steel” was ripped off next, and Yannis energy – it never, ever hits wrong. He, as well as the band, delivered beyond control.

The sun was burning all of us alive, with a temperature closer to 30 than 20, and in a way I pitied, and everyone else I guess, the poor men on stage clad in complete leather uniforms form top to toes, but I guess at least they aren’t Lordi.

“Born Again” was next on the list, I guess we all wish we were after this heat, before heading into the headbang fest of the show with “Repentless”. Single “Die By The Blade” hit next, and then one of our most raging favorites – “Crazy, Mad, Insane”. Szilvi and I tend to go loose on this like cray cray.

“Sweet True Lies” followed, and then my own favorite of the whole album, the titletrack, “From Hell With Love”. I cannot get over this song. Like, ever. And then, “Blind and Frozen” before wrapping up the entire set with “The End of the World”.

That was an amazing show as usual. They really know how to deliver, don’t they?

We had managed to score pretty good seats being here so early, so we decided to simply remain put so we would have these awesome spots for Amon Amarth later tonight. So, we got to lazy watch the rest of the bands, first one being Stratovarius.

Stratovarius

I will admit upfront that I don’t know a whole lot about Stratovarius as I have never really fallen for the. But it was really great to see them live, at least once, and they put on a great show!

Cradle of Filth

I’ll admit that this is really not my type of music. I’ve tried several times to give them a listen so to speak but failed miserably. But still, they put on a show and I’ll give them some credit for that!

And at last, it was finally time for the band we’d been waiting for – Amon Amarth.

Amon Amarth

I have heard about this band so much. And it feels like every single metalhead male in the universe owns an Amon Amarth hoodie, making me question how commercial they have really gotten. Doesn’t affect their music though, just an observation.

Well, the show was incredibly impressive. I would I guess, expect a band of this caliber to have this kind of stage show, but I was really impressed and blown away, and they just made their way into my library this way! I really loved the creature during “Twilight of the Thunder God”. Intimidating, but oh so cool.

And with that, the second day of the festival was over and we all headed back to bed.

// Sara

This entry was posted on July 1, 2019 at 4:13 pm and is filed under Music, Travels, Uncategorized with tags amon amarth, beast in black, metalfest, plzen. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.