27-07-2024 Stonehenge Festival

The morning

More than twenty bands are on the bill for this one day festival, divided over stages there is a back-to-back program available for the audience. And unlike other years, the first bands get at least 30 minutes to play this year. A big improvement, so we these bands can present themselves properly and play some more songs for us. Say for example Sun of The Suns. The band comes all the way from Italy to bring us their Progressive Death Core. Sure, their debut album dates back to 2021, but seeing they made all their way here to introduce us their music it is nice to see them a bit more. They seem to have a lot of enthusiasm and easily get the audience along. The Dutch Necrotesque follows up on them and have a heavier approach with their Death Metal. It is their music specifically which caught most attention.
Vendetta FM seems to be in disagreement with the audience’s relaxed attitude here in the morning. The guys have been around since 2007 and not really new to Steenwijk. When it takes too long for the audience to response their vocalist decided to jump off stage to hype everything up from a bit closer. Not too successful, the sun is almost at its highest point and the temperature is decently high. A lot of people already found their lunch at one of the stands that the festival has arranged. Plenty of choice after all.

The afternoon

The afternoon starts with a familiar face. The band The Lucifer Principle is on the bill with their Death Metal and their vocalist is part of the festival and seen announcing all bands to the audience during the day. The festival celebrates their thirty years of existence, but this band also has two decades on the counter. Three full lengths are out although the last years is a bit quiet when it comes to that. But performance wise the band sets the tone. They know what to do and have a good balance in their band making their sound roll over this parking lot the festival. No escaping, the band is one of the highlights so far. But sure, some more remarkable acts are up for today. For example the Basement Torture Killers, which are slicing up a teddy bear with fair precision and dedication during the set. The cut off teddy limbs and up being thrown in the audience and the filling would have many birds happy for their nest if it was in the right season. Musically, they have a good tempo going which sets things in motion. Sure it is not only the act people like them for.

Inhume was no stranger here today at Stonehenge and it is no surprise to see the guys conforming to our expectations. Brutal Death always does well here and with Inhume being around just as long as the festival it forms a good base to have many years of experience here. Inhume does not have any recent releases, but with four full lengths out there is enough material to fall back upon.
Haliphron is a much newer formation, but the members of this Dutch formation all have their name set with previous projects so we are looking at some familiar faces here today. This group blends Death and Symphonic Black which results in a dynamic outcome that has a vehement feel but melodies to surround the whole atmospherically. The band is one to watch and with a new album coming out in October, we surely will see them around.

One of our favorite shows of the day was by Carnation. A band from Belgium that has been growing a lot in the past years and stands out with their Death Metal here today. They have a good balance between their vehemence, the atmosphere and the performance as a whole. It does not take long for the band to get the audience enthusiastic and it seems all just is right here today. Birdflesh and Defleshed were entertaining the people who chose an early dinner but we are more surprised with the formation Benediction which had switched spot with Suffocation at some point. The guys formed in 1989 and this have a long history on their name. Plenty of material to choose from and the guys made some interesting choices for their set list today. “StormCrow” of their latest album seem to fall well with the audience today but also some older tracks were played.

More controversial was the appearance of Butcher Babies at Stonehenge. On the socials it was already made clear that not every one was looking forward to see them. At the festival itself it was clear that a whole bunch of people chose to grab some dinner and prepare for the evening program rather than watching them. And it was a bit of a disastrous outing for the band so to say. Sound issues delayed their set and also during it not everything went well. The band is known for the two vocalists but just a week before the event it got known that one of them is no longer part of the band. To be fair, the part of the show that did take place was energetic enough, but if it is enough for the people that did mind to go see them is to question. Some boo-ing at the delay indicates that even the ones who were open to see it did not get in the right mindset for this band.

The evening

In the evening we were staring with Suffocation, a band that always conforms our expectation and that was not much different this time. Tracks like “Pierced From Within” or “Thrones of Blood” are doing well here as they are the ones that we often hear in their set. And the majority of the set was filled with their most played tracks. Simply a show you can count on being successful. Terrorizer playing after them and it sets the tone. A decorated stage helps them in setting the atmosphere but the band is having the music as it strongest suit here today. They have a strong live performance and that was no surprise if you see their discography, a lot of live releases.
Belphegor was also a band that built the stage with a lot of décor to have the essence of their show becoming even more obvious. Their show is up another level though. Having the tempo roll over the audience a simple look of any of them can assure that they mean it. Over 30 years of history and experience and songs to choose from.

I am Morbid was one of the headliners of the day. Long time ago there was the Morbid Angel link but with many the years the act has become a name of itself. Still Morbid Angel to hear of course. And people seem to be all up that. An enthusiastic response was ongoing. David Vincent is the big name behind this formation but in performance it were more the guitarist who were drawing the spotlights. (Interesting fact, David was also involved with Terrorizer). A bit of pity, sometimes it is a bit out of balance, but in the end the show was a great hit here today.

On the other stage it was Deicide that is finishing off. The band pushed their stamp on the metal scene with a big imprint and there are some really dedicated fans at the front row. Earlier this year the band released a new album called “Banished by Sin” and it has been received quite well. It was their first album after their last one from 2018 and thus people have been waiting for it long time. Performance wise the band is not the most energetic but leave the music to make the impression. A heavy sound that feels like it gains decibels every song. They don’t need much extra, the music does the job for them. A great headliner here today.

Closing Stonehenge was a job for Graceless. Now we seen them around often and although as last band they may not catch the audience of Deicide as people walk out to catch a train, but surely a lot of people stay around. And make sense for the guys seem more enthusiastic than ever. Full power they march through their set to end the whole. A nice closer of the evening!