24-06-2016 Dokkem Open Air

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A new year of Dokkem Open Air and again we found ourselves at a new location. Not too far away, a stone’s throw away from where we have been before. It does never really matter, it’s the people that loyally visit the festival each year that make it the party it is.

The first band we get to see is Bliksem. They are from Belgium and we have seent hem on Frysian soil before. For some reason we expected something a bit different as when we walked in they had just started and the songs were quite different from what was left in our memory from last time. A bit more Psychedellic, doom influences there. A good idea as the band shows some strong moments in there.
Later they went with a bit faster tempo and does the image match with what we remembered. Suits them either way. Good to see they have some diversity and they were able to energize the early arrivals at the festival.

Heidevolk, a name that stands strong far beyond the border of Netherlands even though they sing in Dutch. A few weeks ago we spotted them at the Fortarock festival where an entire audience enthusiastically cheered along with them, today the response was a bit calmer.
Does not mean that the people were not enjoying it. Many raised their horns to the guys from Arnhem and while they were promoting “Velua”, their latest full length, the band also makes time to play some more older songs for the fans to enjoy. With the sun on the field, a beer in their hands the people watched it and the guys played a good show with plenty of enthusiasm.

The British formation Raven has been around for quite a while. They formed in 1974 and anno 2016 they are playing at Dokkem Open Air. Unfortunately their show was a bit of a disappointment. The first couple of songs seem quite dull, not much going on, a lack of power and energy in the music seem to strike the guys. They did gain some enthusiasm after a while to keep things going, but it is clear them guys are not the youngest anymore. Vocal qualities were poor, the guitars seem to be a bit flat and performance wise they try to make up for it, but how genuine is it? A pity, but their show did not end up in this weekend favourites.

Also around for many years is the Swedish band Grave and they gave us much more worth the money. Last year the guys came with the album “Out of Respect for the Dead” and it sound as brutal as ever before. And yet again the guys prove to be a stable factor, the show of today was as good as one may expect, no question about that.

The guys made a good selection for the setlist, covering some older material as well as their latest release which gives a good mix, but shows also that the band always stayed true with themselves and keep it up. Live the band is warming up the audience as if it does not cost them any effort. A strong performance as expected.

Primordial may have been a bit of a surprise for us. As we were not so sure how we would like them, they manage to convince easily with their mix of folk and Black metal. Hypnotic, he walks to the front of the stage, the vocalist of Primordial. He points his finger towards the crowd and gives us a blank stare. The music comes in, dark and evil but with a progressive edge.

The guys like to put in a bit of extraordinary to spice it up. And while it is perhaps a little odd sometimes, the instrumental part of the band is strong. They lay down and atmospheric mood and if you combine it with not only the vocals but also the mimics of their frontman, a quite strong show stands. And it seems that the audience did like them, with curiosity they observe and let them be taken in by Primordial. One of today’s biggest surprises, we like them!

Melodic Death band Soilwork has been an often seen guest by now. Their last release “The Majestic Ride” has been favourable by many as well as by us. The melodic side of this band is often the reason you like or dislike them, but how live performances are is a factor too. Of the many shows we have seen by the band on a diversity of tours and festivals the guys usually have a great one or a really sucky one. Often this has a lot to do with the vocals which are not always as strong as on a recorded Soilwork experience.

Today wasn’t their best. Must be said, they had some sound troubles as well which affected also the vocals and the ability to hear them but that was not all. Especially in the older songs they played, “Follow The Hollow” for example, the vocals are clearly not up to what it could have been. Yet the band is energetic, which makes up for it a bit. The catchiness that comes from their music brings also some movement into the audience, a slight moshpit. People are enjoying this band nevertheless.

Last was Testament. I remembered seeing them two years ago at this festival as well. Late. They were late. And so they were late today as well. But some bands are worth waiting for. So Testament begun to play and did a good first song before the electricity failed. A drumsolo followed but it still took a bit before the guys could continue. Not for long as again the electricity failed.

It turned out later that their own lights have been the cause of this. But Testament was not ready to leave that fast. The festival had a second stage, a party stage where metalkaraoke and other entertainment takes place and this exactly is where Testament ended up. On this small party stage, close to their fans. An intimate Metal experience! Who had seen that coming from a band that has their incense getting ready, the stage spiritually cleaned and whatever else was going on?? Well some bands are worth waiting for and although the fans had quite some waiting to do, Testament rewarded them very well for that.

Photo’s by sabinevangameren.com

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