Interestingly enough, the car was actually not as broken as we originally thought it was. It turns out, what my father originally thought was like, an engine problem was really just one of the front wheels almost coming off. Lucky me this didn’t occur halfway to Falun! Despite this, I still decided to leave fairly early on Friday morning anyway, and I actually for once managed to get going in a fair good amount of time.
On my way up to Falun I took the opportunity to listen through “The Last Stand” in preparation for tomorrow. And holy shit let me tell you this – when “Diary of an Unknown Soldier” started I was simply just enjoying it… until I heard the background arrangements, and recognized them from “The Lost Battalion”. As you all know about me, I love big and epic arrangements. And these orchestral arrangements they have with their songs – also with “Nightwitches”, I just… What happened is that I first started breathing very heavily. Heavy panting, perhaps. And then I just stopped breathing and when “The Lost Battalion” started… it was like something in me just exploded. It’s just… I can’t even really explain it. But every little inch of my body just exploded, because of the build from the previous song. Perhaps I’m the only person in this world who can feel this, who lets the song just eat you up and spit you out… So essentially, I had to pull over to calm myself down before an accident happened.
Then, I continued onwards to Falun. And it isn’t much to say. I passed Borlänge and Kupolen, and I revived some memories from the Peace&Love festivals I used to attend, and you always went to Kupolen to charge your phone. And always this classic line “It’s so good to back home here in Borlänge” – aka the time I found out Sabaton was a Swedish band.
Once I was in Falun and at Lugnet, where I by the way just to stay when I went to Peace&Love – so it was a bit of coming home, actually – everything went pretty fast. Not sure if you guys knew this, but my combicar is actually now a festivalvan, so everything was already done, so I got the wristbands, went to the car and got changed, and then into the festival area. Headed directly for the merch stand to pick up a Hysterica album for the signing session, then the festival shirt – you know, Lordi’s name is on it after all – and then onto the next merchstand to pick up Sabaton’s new album. Yes, I have indeed preordered the Tank edition, but I really really love these books they made, and I really want THAT version of the CD so… it had to be done.
I sat down on a hill casually watching a band while opening the CD and going through it. Seriously, I LOVE These little books. After some time has passed, I headed over to the signing area to meet with Hysterica. The first thing that happens when I get up to them is the bassplayer saying “OH NICE! A GIRL!” and I told her “Yeah, likewise!” referring to the lack of female (full female) bands on festivals. It was nice meeting them!
Brothers of Metal
While waiting for the signing session to begin, Brothers of Metal had just started to play on the stage, and I did quite frankly like the music that was coming out, so I decided to check them out. I really like the show they put on, they were extremely entertaining and I do look forward to see them again some other time. And their cover of “Swedish Pagans” was to die for, really.
After this, I headed back to my little car or van or whatever you want to call it to chill out a little bit. I called Paula over to hang out a bit before going back to the area to catch Hysterica.
Hysterica
So, this is a band I haven’t been all too familiar with for too long – I’ve known of their existance, but never checked them out too much, until it was set I was going to this festival, and started to check out bands, and that is the story of how I fell in love with them.
They put on a real good show, I enjoyed it like hell. I think it’s so fun, the singer looks so cute and innocent, but she’s a real metal beast, it was such a contrast to see her on stage. Supercool.
After this, again, headed back to the car and did some real nice hanging out with Paula and Michelle, talking about everything and nothing, listening to Lordi’s new single “Hug You Hardcore” that was accidently released. It’s suuuuch a good song! I can’t get over it.
We moved on to continuing the, party? in the common room of the cabins where we also got to catch up with Martine, Joran and Ted, and for me – to meet Helle for the first time. Of course, as the rude people we are we forced them to do the Vegemite challenge. I’m starting to finally get together all the people I want to have tried it, and then, videocompilation!
Hours went by and soon it was time to head back to the area for the last band of the day – Bloodbound
Bloodbound
Like seriously, you guys know about my love for this band. And when they walked on stage and started off the show with “Iron Throne”… You know, sometimes I forget about this band, and how fantastic they really are. Like you know… when you just hear the intro for “Moria” or for “Stormborn” and everything you cease to exist. It’s just you and Bloodbound, on this quest towards whatever we are doing. You feel yourself getting lost in this temporary world that is Bloodbound.
Aside that, because I could go on about that forever, it was a very good show. The boys delivered a tight and energetic set, and was the perfect wrap up for the first day of Sabaton Open Air.
Right after this, I crawled back into my little car getting ready for the next day. First and foremost, it was Lordi, and secondly, Sabaton and last but not in anyway least – the first time I’d ever get to meet Jonathan.
// Sara
Sara Hammerzmith 