Saturday:
Early on the Saturday, we return to the Eindhoven icerink for the second day of Dynamo Metalfest. With the first band starting at noon, it’s a fairly long day. Today we have Headliners Dimmu Borgir on the menu, as well as Amaranthe, Flotsam & Jetsam, Forbidden, and more!
Opening the smaller stage are local battle of the bands winners, Cellarpigs. They play some good old-school Thrash Metal. For a new band and festival opener they play excellent. While showmanship is still a little muted the vocalist has a very impressive voice. Throw in an excellent Slayer cover, and it’s a shame there is so few people watching them at the noon slot. With a few more stage miles under their belt these guys could be going places.
Opening the main stage are War Kings. The first thought I have with the band is they are very larp. As someone who likes Black Metal I can appreciate theatrics, but this is a little comical. Especially, as every other song introduces a new gimmick. Guest vocals, a girl on a big tube described as a dragon’s cockring surfing over the crowd, a little boy on stage they ask the crowd to chant for who looked very awkward, a banner that a circle pit is formed around, and endless sing-along and call and return requests. “A” for effort, but it begins to feel a little needy as openers of the main stage. The music is catchy power metal played well, but a little derivative. The crowd seem to enjoy it though.
Next, we have Nekkenknaeker, young guys who got impressive synchronised headbanging over their deathcore set. Not my thing but they do their thing very well. Good to see young bands at that level, and while I’m at a loss what to say about the quality of deathcore, the stage presence and screams are definitely there.
Now we go from the future to the legacy, Flotsam and Jetsam know their craft through and through, and it shows. The thrash band give an excellent, if a little rehearsed show, with no flaws I can detect. The crowd clearly like them, and the show is solid. The only bummer is the massive pyro array that’s already on stage for Dimmu, pushing the band backwards about 1,5m and adding 20cm to the stage. This means the first rows can’t see as much as one would like for the prime slot.
Off on the small stage Distant have started their set. As its more metal/deathcore, I wont’ go in-depth about the show. I sadly missed the pit time, but the ecstatic crowd caught my attention. The band play quite well, and create quite the impressive mosh pit into which many black and white beachballs are released. A good time all round.
On the main stage, we get yet more deathcore with Whitechapel. The band likes to be low to the ground which with the very high stage and pyro setup makes shooting a challenge. Most of us photographers just stood around hoping they would come forward. The view can’t be great for the first rows either. Band djentily chugs through their set with heavy breakdowns and pretty solid growls. Thankfully no melodic clean singing breaks, which makes things a lot more bearable for me. The singer looks supremely bored though, but maybe that’s just their thing. They remind me a little of Slipknot in the vocals sometimes, but way heavier. They are however the first band where crowd surfers start to appear as people are really getting into things.
I decide to have a peek at Blackbriar on the small stage. Symphonic metal with an excellent vocalist whose highs are on the dreamy floaty side. Musically not the most innovative in the genre, but definitely good. They also know how to give a good show, especially as I later learned, they had next to no sleep prior to the show. The bassist especially is the most vigorous in his stage presence, besides vocalist. They are missing something to really get me hooked, but definitely solid. A band to watch in the genre, maybe.
Playing with guest guitarist Dan “Chewy” Mongrain from Voivod, thrashers Forbidden know how to give a show. The pit is whirling and the impressive high notes of vocalist are very clear and powerful. Amazing solos and leads also help break the old-school Thrash mold a little. The band play an older set of mostly their first two albums. Clearly all are seasoned stage performers and the crowd responds well to it. The duelling guitars are also a delight to hear. The injection of energy the band’s show brings is much needed at this point, so I’m very grateful for that.
As usual, the Clutch show is carried by vocalist Neil Fallon, but what a carry. The rest of the band play excellently, but showmanship is on the vocalist. He does command the stage very well though, and with his strong vocal performance one can’t blame the band for letting him take point. However its hard to see any of the other band members who chill a bit more in the back. The sound is a bit iffy to the side of the stage, but right in front its incredibly clear. A nice bit of Americana Stoner Rock in essence, brought with relish.
By this point I’m surprised the fest is not busy, about half capacity at my guess. I’m hearing only 3k tickets sold in the pre-sale. This does solve previous years issues of long waiting lines at the bars, which isn’t a problem at all this year. Nor anywhere else really. As a visitor experience the smaller crowd is great, but it can’t be great for the festival itself.
Now we’re on to Amaranthe. I’m not sure what to make of them. It’s technically very well done and even impressive, three vocalists, high tempo arena metal, but it gives me the vibe if you’d ask a Eurovision songwriter to write a metal song. And one for the jury, not the public. Additionally after a while the constant belting and high volume vocals of the female vocalist just start to grate and become annoying. In the harmonies with the clean male singer, she just disappears as they sing in the exact same timbre. It’s a pity, because it just leaves most of the crowd a bit confused.
It’s headliner time! Now I love me some Black Metal, but had never really seen Dimmu Borgir before or paid them much heed. So I was excited to see them and form an opinion. They have the theatrics down, and musically it’s good, but it just misses that threat and menace I want in my black metal. I’d describe it as Symphonic Arena Black Metal, and as such it’s an excellent gateway band. Mine was Satyricon, who have a bit more of that threat and menace to them, but I can see Dimmu Borgir being a lot if people’s first foray into the genre. It’s a good show, but doesn’t scratch that black metal itch for me. It turns out this show was the last show for long term guitarist Galder who announced his departure from the band after 25 years the day after this show, to focus on his other project Old Man’s Child. So I am glad I got to see them and watched till the end with him still in the fold.
I hear there is an after-party at one of the bars in town, but as I am hoping to catch the opening band tomorrow at 11:30, I won’t be partaking in too many parties myself. I will report on the the aftermath of said party for my Sunday review though, as the partygoers are sure to filter in a little later than me.
Sunday
Sunday we return to the IJssportcentrum in Eindhoven for the final day of Dynamo Metal Fest. By now everyone is a little worn out, but it’s still good times, especially with the likes of Bay Area Inthrashnational, Saxon, Skindred and Igorrr on the bill today.
The day starts bright and early at 11:30 with Hipptraktor; post metal from Belgium. They very much reminds me of their fellow country men Psychonaut. With delightful layered guitar scapes combined with good clean vocals and excellent screams in the heavy breakdowns. The bands don’t even have a backdrop yet, and were programmed very early, meaning few people are there. However, evidenced by the cheer the band gets when they ask if anyone knows their new album, they have dedicated fans present. They definitely deserve a bigger audience, and probably will quickly grow to get it.
Opening the main stage are Left to Die (members of Exhumed); old-school American heavy metal, pretty fun and straightforward, they play very well. The vocals remind me a bit of Lemmy. It’s a little too simple for my tastes and the band can’t keep my attention, so time to find some breakfast. Food options a plenty and after some scouting I find a delightful Indonesian streetfood cart tucked away in a corner.
Next up is Green Lung. A heavy metal stoner mix, they are excellent live band. Though you wouldn’t necessarily deduce it from their presentation, the band have heavy occult influences. This is seen in the beautiful props, though they are just background pieces. It’s no wonder they have a reputation as rising stars in the scene, with excellent vocals and guitar solos. The music is very catchy as well, and remarkably radio-friendly. Just generally a good time.
On the small stage I decide to check out Carnation. I’m not entirely sure if the band wants to be Black Metal or Death Metal. The vocalist sports corpse paint as the only one in the band, while his growls are more reminiscent of death metal. The music is at times the more punchy side of Black, and at times just straight up death, but neither is very convincing for me. Let’s settle on blackened death, and while the band has potential and plays well, a little more direction could be helpful.
Good lord, the vocals and raw charisma of Soen’s vocalist is something to behold. Beautiful guitar lines and a groovy as heck bass, weeping and sweeping solos, danceable tom’s in the drums, and heartfelt pianos breaks. Just generally a Beautiful experience. It feels like this may be what Amaranthe were aiming for in a way, but unable to achieve yesterday: vocals centered melodic metal, with enough bite when the distortion kicks in you still feel kick ass.
Now we’re in for a real treat with Bay Area Interthrashional; Led by Forbidden’s Craig Locicero, this is a massive collaboration of artists just celebrating Bay Area Old Thrash Metal. With a whirlwind rotating cast of guitarists, bassists and vocalist. It’s utter chaos that started off a bit rough sound-wise, but then cleared up, and just had a blast. I’m not usually into thrash much but my gods this was good and incredibly fun. Possibly the most crowdsurfers I’ve seen all weekend. Forgive me for not knowing all the names of the all-star cast, but with a minimum of 3 guitarists onstage at any one time, it is a lot to follow. Just a nutty pit set to endless guitar violence. Highly recommended.
Following that pile of madness is Skindred, a different kind of madness. I feel 16 again, even though back in those days I wasn’t super into Skindred. Of course, I know the few songs that became hits but never paid them much attention. However, live this is just a joy, and the entire field, which sadly is not very full, joins in waving side to side with Benji Webbe. This is incredible entertainment value even if you don’t like Nu-Metal. The band sound great too and clearly have a lot of fun on stage. You can’t take it very seriously, as evidenced by a pink fluffy hat Webbe eventually wears, but if you don’t it’s incredible fun.
Next we get Igorrr, and boy do I love this band. However, they are probably the weirdest band on the bill (and yes, I’m counting Skindred in that). Known for tossing baroque music, black metal and death metal, breakcore, 8-bit, classical vocals, screams, and chicken samples into a blender and somehow making that shit work, Gautier Serre’s band sadly does leave a large part of the crowd confused today. And I will admit it is a very eclectic mix, that I personally happen to adore. However the group definitely give an excellent show, both instrumentally and vocally. Especially impressive is drummer Rémi Serafino who plays the dang break core beats live somehow. And while I will always miss the original vocal duo, JB Le Bail and Marthe Alexandre do incredibly well live with the challenging material. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is definitely impressive.
Sometimes old bands loose their touch as they hang out in the headliner spot well past their prime. Not so for Saxon. Giants of the NWOBHM, these gentlemen know their craft. While I’m sure the shows are less energetic then they once were, plenty of headbanging is still about. Especially if you consider these blokes are in their 70s. Biff Byford’s voice also is still very strong and pure, his vibrato maybe a little stronger than it once was. The entire show is actually very well done and incredibly solid, if a bit straightforward after Igorrr. But man, they definitely are a good closer for the festival and clearly more to the taste of the audience today. Old rockers still rock on, and long may they do so.
And with the festival drawing to a close the first rumours about next year’s anniversary lineup are confirmed the next day, when the festival will be 3 full days, and host Gojira, Within Temptation, I Prevail, Static X, Kataklysm, and Obituary. Hopefully it will be busier than this years edition, though not so busy the bar lines get out of control again.
Read part 1 here:
FESTIVAL REVIEW: Dynamo Festival 2024 Part 1 Live in Eindhoven
Follow Dynamo Metal Fest here for news and tickets:
https://dynamo-metalfest.nl/
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY SUSANNE A. MAATHUIS
Follow her work here: