Venue: Trix, Antwerp (Belgium)
By: Martine Goffard
This year again, the Heidenfest is sold out. No great news in the line-up, except Turisas as second headliner. A good thing for the band as this is their first Heidenfest.
The show is at Trix in Antwerpen (the old Hof Ter Lo). The venue has been redone lately. Now, we have a cloakroom, boxes for the merchandising and new lights and sound system. For the ones who, like me, have known the old venue with its poor lights, it’s now a pleasure to work in such conditions.
| The doors open at 17:30, but there is already a crowd waiting outside the building. It’s in front of a full packed hall that the first band comes on stage. The show begins with Skálmöld. The Icelandic band, created in 2009, is for me the revelation of this evening. I had heard two of their songs sooner that day and I wasn’t seduced at all. I was thinking “another unimaginative Viking metal band, not again”. I certainly chose the wrong songs. As soon as I hear the intro I am blown away by their musicality. The voice is not really original but their compositions are. The folk side is marked by passages of traditional Icelandic music. They even sing some parts in chorus and a capella. You can hear that their voices are harmonic and every band member is talented in singing. It sounds a little bit like Týr at some point. It would be interesting to follow their record further. |
| Complete contrast. The first band was brilliant, the second band is terrible. This is to music what a cold, saturated fat burger is to gastronomy. Trollfest display their bad taste and their motivation in giving their singer a bottle-beer-like costume. This singer will spend the entire show bawling incoherent sounds in his mike. I’ll pass the description of what I can’t qualify music. This band tries hard to be a down-market Finntroll/Korpiklaani but without the talent or the charisma of Jonne. They just manage to give an idea of what’s left of a band after a party in a dirty basement. By the way, hobo look is not funny. Let’s go further… |
| Here comes Arkona. The Russians already have seven albums behind them though they are playing here among the openers. They have become one of the top folk bands due to the professionalism of Masha Scream. She does her best to instill in her singing all the richness of the Slavic melodies. To watch her beat the huge drum decorated with a bull skull and furs has something bewitching. This girl owns the stage. She runs in every corner like a ball of energy to spur on the audience. This last one looks like she is enjoying the show but it’s obvious the audience is keeping its strengths for later. The flute, the drums and the pipes offer variations and a catchy tempo. A too short performance again. Let’s hope we’ll see them one day as headliners. |
| The next band is the long awaited Alestorm. Geographically close (most of the members live in Netherlands), their fan club is here and unleashed. You just need to count all the parrots, the pirate flags and the inflatable cannot. The change in the atmosphere is radical. It’s suddenly warmer and we all start missing fresh air. Alestorm, it’s festive, cheerful and above all, alcoholic. I saw them many times for years now and I can say that the quality of the show depends of the alcohol level of the singer. Tonight, I don’t know if it was the sound, outrageously loud, or if Christopher was sick but they could have done a lot better. Some songs were barely audible. Despite that, the atmosphere was crazy and it’s always nice to hear old hits like Wolves of the Sea. |
| And here we are with Turisas. Incidentally, we may briefly note that a major change in the line-up has been done. For private reasons, Hannes Horma (bassist) and Netta Skog (accordeonist) have left the band and have been replaced by Jukka-Pekka Miettinen at the bass and Robert Engstrand at the keyboard. With the recent change of costumes, it’s nearly a new band that comes on stage tonight. And the show goes on. The music is powerful, the singing clear and penetrating. Again, the band gives its best in an outstanding performance. The charismatic Mathias, talkative as always, entertains the audience between each song. He shares with us his deception. In Belgium, he should have been offered trappist beers onstage and not the tasteless JupiTer (under the general hilarity, he’ll correct for JupiLer). Just before the end of the show, the band sings a cheerful happy birthday to some lucky one in the audience. Eventually, they sing their hymn, Battle Metal then salute the public. A real success for a first Heidenfest ! |
| It’s time now for the headliners, Finntroll. The Finns are regulars on this show. The black metal band gives its usual performance to a frenetic audience. Everyone is moshing and jumping. You better chose your place in the hall because the lack of fresh air is unbearable and the sound is too loud again. This is really sad because you can’t hear the subtle nuances of the folk instruments. All you have are saturated noises. Unfortunately, it’s not the first time for the band. I’ll soon believe that it’s better to appreciate their music at home and see them live for the atmosphere only. |
An enjoyable evening though I’m sorry to say there is nothing new here. It’s time to vary the bands because with the same names every year, always playing their best songs, it starts to get a bit boring.
More photo’s of this event can be found at Sabinevangameren.com
Links:
Heidenfest Official
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