08-08-2015 Vagos Open Air

[schema type=”event” evtype=”Festival” name=”Vagos Open Air” description=”written by: Sandra Nunes” sdate=”2015-08-08″ country=”PT” ]

The second day sounded more than promising, and Saturdays are always so attractive so there were even more people than on the day before, energy is the word of the day and you’ll see why.

The first band to attack the main stage was a Portuguese one with big exposure, though have a long career but short discography with only 2 albums, “Deconstructive Essence” (2007) and “The Road Of Awareness” (2011), an EP “Symbiotic existence” (2004) and a demo “Outrage” (2002). I’m talking about W.A.K.O. (We Are Killing Ourselves) that brought some kind of a typhoon of energy to Vagos, formed in 2001, the band plays a grooving thrash metal that it’s impossible to stay quiet during their shows. Leading us to “The Abyss”, the vocalist Nuno Rodrigues and his partners in crime really convinced the crowd since the first notes, with lots of circle pits and crowd surfers, not forgetting the wall of death, those were possibly the most brutal moments of the festival.
“Drifting Beyond Reality” or “The Shadows Collapse within” were some other themes that literally set the WAKO Army in fire and of course, more work for the security staff.

Next band were our neighbors from Spain, Mutant Squad had the easy task to keep the crowd active, and they succeed with this “Overdose” of good thrash metal, providing us an energetic set that didn’t let anyone down, even with some sound problems on the guitars, promoting their debut album “Titanomakhia” (2013). The crowd was more than satisfied, though craving for the next bands…

Sometimes I wish I could be omnipresent, but while one of the greatest exponents of the German Thrash wave that need no introduction, Destruction, were destroying audience’s energy, playing hits like “ Thrash Till Death”, “Nailed To The Cross”, “Carnivore” besides “Mad Butcher” or “The Butcher Strikes Back”, I decided to attend at the Triptykon’s signing session and to relax a bit, then back to watch the performance at a safe place, due to the wildness of the moshers and crowdsurfers.
Well, the name Destruction says it all, Schmier, Mike and Vaaver gave some lessons of thrashinating professionalism and attitude, dealing with the technical troubles that insisted in ruining some performances of the festival, though that hasn’t demoted them from keep on thrashing. After all, they are a bunch of cool guys and old are the rags.
The best was about to come…the next bands would make the delights of the many metalheads, the first of them treading the main stage was Triptykon.

Led by the legendary Tom G. Warrior, the band played a profound set without any technical troubles and based in obscurity and annihilating moments from the past, reliving Celtic Frost themes “Procreation (Of The Wicked)”; “Circle Of The Tyrants” and “The Usurper”, not forgetting the Hellhammer era with “Messiah”.

Before entering at the photopit, me and my partners were told that we could possibly stay for the whole Triptykon set depending on the crowd’s reaction, if there were no crowdsurfers, it would be ok, but then during “Goetia”, our hopes were ruined and the order remained for the 3 songs due to safety reasons. Neither a contemplative show like this one deserved such reactions, but I know, it was intense in esoteric and hypnotizing terms.
With only 2 albums “Eparistera Daimones” (2010) and “Melana Chasmata” (2014) in their career, Triptykon are one of the most emblematic obscure metal bands, coming from the roots of Celtic Frost, or even what should be the continuation of Celtic Frost’s work.

The audience was ecstatic or crowdsurfing or simply headbanging during most of the time, and Tom G. Warrior was talkative, remembering the first time the band played in Portugal five years ago at another festival in the north of the country (SWR Barroselas) and was glad to be back, demonstrating why he is one of the iconic figures in the metal world. Sure we’re all morbid and more than delighted with this show at Vagos. Myself included.

Then the band that brought even more attention and set everyone in a delirium state, with such virtuosity and demonstrating guitar solos from its charismatic leader, Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society took care of Vagos.

Even the Portuguese BLS fan club was present and a lucky fan brought his guitar, holding it during the whole set, fact that Zakk noticed, pointed at him and signed the guitar in the end, asking someone from his crew to find the guy with the guitar, making the super fan’s effort worth, bringing him moments of happiness for life.

With two decades of existence and ten albums on the band’s curriculum, BLS is one of the greatest heavy-rock bands, mainly due to its frontman being so requested to appear on every music magazine cover, but he’s a true guitar virtuoso, we can’t deny it.

“Starting With The Beginning…At Last”, BLS proved to deserve the co-headliners status with an energetic set, killing it with mesmerizing solos and there was time to sing “Happy Birthday” to the bass player, John DeServio. But the best moment of the night was a thrilling one, when Zakk switched the guitar into piano just to pay a heartfelt homage to Dime Darrell “In This River”. There was still time to revisit the last album “Catacombs Of Black Vatican” (2014) through “My Dying Time”, “Hearts Of Darkness” and “Angel Of Mercy”, though the show came to the end in a “Stubborn” way. It was for sure a memorable show.

The following lords were also a bigger influence and reference in the metal scene, attacking with its blackened thrash with punk twists, another legendary figure making history in Vagos, ladies and gentlemen, we have the honor to introduce you, Mr. Cronos and his Venom band, headliners of the day.

Again, the circle pits and crowdsurfers were back during this potent and great performance of Venom, that with a 36 years old career, still have the class and power to please their old and new fans.
With a new album released this year “From The Very Depths”, from which a couple of songs were played “Rise” and “Long Haired-Punks”, the band also focused on their best hits from previous albums and classical themes like “Black Metal”, “In League With Satan” and “Witching Hour” weren’t forgotten. Such performance was better than the one I witnessed at Hellfest two months ago probably due to Venom having more time to play.

After this brilliant performance, many were leaving the place and only a few decided to check out one of the special guests of the festival, a legendary mark of the Lusitanian underground, that shared the same path as Moonspell, though evolving in different ways. Filii Nigrantium Infernalium is a national black metal band that was invited to perform at Vagos, celebrating the 20th anniversary of its debut EP, “A Era do Abutre” (translation: The Vulture’s Era).

With a dose of black humour and lyrics sang in Portuguese, the band gave a good show for the ones that were strong enough to support them, though there were some people asking them to go away what provoked general laughters, even from the band members themselves and the vocalist Belathauzer decided to dedicate a special song to these people that weren’t so supportive “Morte Geométrica” (translation: Geometric Death), leading everyone into the “Labirinto” of black n’roll. The few ones who attended the FNI performance were the lucky ones. No crowdsurfers nor moshers, just headbangers enjoying and the band was having a blast, even with a short set.

So the day 2 was over and full of energy and it was time to recharge batteries for the last day of the festival.

Links:
Vagos Open Air Website