28-03-2015 E-tropolis

Location: Oberhausen (Germany)
By: Nina Mende

The spring festival season is running and we are right in the middle of it. This weekend’s place to be was the E-Tropolis Festival in Oberhausen, Germany. Since it’s not always nice and warm in March it took place indoors of the Turbinenhalle. A quite huge venue with different stages, Two for shows and one additional for the afterparty. The house was full from the very first band on, getting more and more crowded by the minute with more than 4200 visitors at its peak.

The German EBM and Industrial band Centhron did not only open the main stage but also opened the festival. Loud electronic music came blasting at the audience from the first song to the last. Distorted vocals along with raging Industrial music was heating up the air. Centhron is a trio with a bass player, a female synth player and the singer that was taking over the stage during their performance. Even though E-Tropolis Festival had just begun, it was quite crowded already. People warming their muscles with some dancing and getting ready for what was yet to come. Centurion was playing for forty minutes engaging the audience more and more with each minute into their show and the festival.

Phosgore was opening the second stage which was a little bit smaller than the main stage. Phosgene is a German duo from Fulda, Germany, the two are a couple. They announced that they will release a new album at the end of April. The duo threw thriving beats into the audience for about thirty minutes. The singer shouted and tried to animate the audience to go along. It didn’t take long and the room was on fire. The crowded venue of the second stage was in motion with everyone dancing along to the loud and heavy electro music. The tracks did not contain much of vocals, more samplers of movies and such. The stage was very foggy and the light was dim. A perfect setting for a dark electronic festival such as E-Tropolis.

Back over at the main stage Vomito Negro took over. Vomito Negro is a Belgian EBM pioneer which established a name for itself as uncompromising aural architect, combining power with emotion, EBM with vision. The trio welcomed the audience with an instrumental track before the singer hit the microphone to sing along to the mellow EBM music the guys were playing. The drummer had glowing drum sticks that would light up when being hit which fascinated quite some fans in the front row. But also further in the back the people were swaying and dancing along, cheering out loud after each song, making the band feel welcome and home. You could tell they are one routined band that has been doing music and shows for a while. Professional and totally focused on their music Vomito Negro went through their set.

The second band at second stage left the audience a little dazzled for the first few songs. Ambassador 21 is a Russian couple that play hard and heavy industrial music, fast and kicking ass with no mercy. Taking parts in shouting at the audience and jumping around on stage. Most of the lyrics were in Russian. The two were quite wild on the stage and tried to get the audience to freak out as well. Quite some in the audience were about to begin dancing along halfway through the show while it seems as if others were still trying to figure out what to think of the music. It was definitely unexpected and unusual. But powerful from first to last. The raging Russians did not tire and kept on shouting and moving around on stage, lying down on stage and flirting with the front row. The fast lights were blinding, so it was easier to focus on the music solely.

Spetsnaz was up next on the main stage. The audience was crowded with fans and friends. Swedish duo has become something close to a legend of EBM in all these years. The guys drove fifteen hours just to be able to be playing here at E-Tropolis. A long ride the fans highly appreciated and honored by cheering, singing along and dancing to each and every song they played. Catchy EBM music played by the passionate Spetsnaz that still enjoy being on stage as if it was one of their first shows. Joking around with the audience and talking to them, thanking their fans for coming out and then continuing to playing the catchy and thriving songs. Like a big family reunion it is always a pleasure to see Spetsnaz on stage. Even though it was only the two of them on this huge main stage the guys were taking over the whole stage and having a blast. Audience going wild dancing shouting cheering and singing along all forty minutes of showtime, which was a little short according to the fans. So they celebrated by getting a circle pit going. A rare sight at EBM shows. But definitely fun.

Torul was heating up the second stage. Torul is an electro-pop band from Slovenia, headed by Torulsson, who is a songwriter and the producer of the band. The trio consists of a guitar player, a singer and one man on the synths. The soft and beautiful voice of the singer along with the smooth melodies and the piercing bass coming from the electronic samples Torul surprised the audience. The mellow vocals and the catchy melodies carried a lot of emotions fascinated the visitors and got everyone to sway along. The music of Torul might as well fit into a pop or rock festival.

Grendel was ending the first half of the festival at main stage. The Dutch four piece includes one pretty blonde female on synths as well as on backing vocals. Each member had black paint on their bodies. Harsh and fast yet melodic music heated up the audience and let them go wild. The audience sang and danced along big time and ended each song with an immense shouting. The distorted vocals of the singer was backed up by the blonde that was also dancing and taking over some parts of her own. It was a beautiful and energizing performance that lasted for about forty minutes. Worth each and every one of them.

Solitary Experiments came on stage with matching red outfits. A five piece to celebrate their twentieth anniversary, along with two live drummers, they were getting the audience to burn calories and celebrate with them. The catchy EBM got even the last person in the crowded venue dancing along and have them all cheering out big time not only after each song but also in between. Solitary Experiments were talking a whole lot with the audience between the songs and thanking them. The two drummers were drumming their soul out. Everyone in the venue, band and audience were having a blast for forty-five minutes.

Leæther Strip continued the festival at main stage. Beginning with the audience singing “Happy Birthday” to the man behind the synths because he had just turned 70 everyone already felt like a family from second one on. As the music set in fast and heavy beats were coming out of the speakers to get the dancing started. Distorted and shouted vocals along with thriving EBM tunes lasted for an hour. The singer of Leæther Strip moved around a bit on stage and played with the audience here and there. Focused on his music he gave his best and succeeded. The audience appreciated this with a good applause between the tracks.

Frozen Plasma is a German duo that is currently touring through the cities and happened to stop by tonight at E-Tropolis. The venue was crammed with people wanting to see the guys perform their future pop music. Everyone was quickly dancing along and cheering, singing and clapping. The band talked to the audience quite a bit and celebrates with them. Catchy melodies along with sung vocals was keeping up the good times the visitors were having at E-Tropolis festival. Fifty minutes that kept everyone going.

Twenty-five years of Laibach. And tonight they performed here at E-Tropolis. Laibach is a Slovenian avant-garde music group associated with industrial, martial, and neo-classical musical styles. A five piece with a female and a male singer taking parts. Watching them perform sometimes reminded of watching a politician making his point. An impressive and breathtaking band with their unique style and their seriousness of the lyrics, reflected by their strict outfits and motions. The low voice of the male singer along with the classic voice of the female acquaintance made a perfect match. Their followers were equally impressed and celebrated the show Laibach was performing tonight. The screens on the back of the stage were showing videos matching the songs they played. Sometimes the vocals reminded of an army choir. Even though the songs were very political they were still absolutely catchy. There was no talking between the songs, instead the samples were taking over the words they could have said to their audience. Even if you are not into the music Laibach are making, you should definitely check out their performance act. It will leave you speechless.

Solar Fake was bringing the attention back to the dance floor. The German duo presented their electro music with old hits and new songs off their upcoming album. For some reason the front row was filled with overly excited girls that were screaming and cheering loudly. The dim light and the fog completed the atmosphere and got the shoes moving on the floor. Catchy and easygoing songs that were still stuck in the heads after the performance was over. Everyone in the room was going along and made it feel like home. Sven Friedrich, the head and founder of Solar Fake, was talking to the audience between the songs, telling stories and saying thanks. Dancing between his singing and animating the fans to go along even more. A beautifully spent hour. Make sure to check out the new Solar Fake album “Reasons To Kill” as well.

Project Pitchfork, there is no need to introduce this German electronic band. But they still got announced and introduced. To make it more exciting for both parties, a fan got to meet them shortly before the show and then announce them. The dark synth rock band brought along two drummers to rock the stage and bring the night closer to an end with a big bang. Lots of fog and the gloomy voice of the singer completed the dark atmosphere the music of Project Pitchfork aims at with their music. The venue was packed with fans, so it was no surprise that everyone was able to sing along and dance along. A fascinating atmosphere that is somehow creepy yet warm was keeping everyone under the spell of the guys. Performing for a little over an hour they rocked the house and impressed everyone watching.

De/Vision was calling it a day at the second stage. The German synth pop duo danced the night away with their catchy songs that everyone could sing along to. The live drummer added some well fitting edges to the otherwise absolutely smooth and easygoing music of De/Vision. Everyone in the packed room was dancing along, sweating and having a good time. The band and audience made it feel like a family reunion and celebrated this show. The singer was dancing on stage between his vocal parts, putting on some stunning dance moves. The keyboarder did not only sing the backing vocals but also performed one song himself. An amazing end for the second stage and lots of fun to watch for more than an hour. De/Vision is always a great catch to see live.

VNV Nation was closing the festival and calling it a night. A highlight for the fans and a wonderful closing band for all visitors. VNV Nation played all their hits, old and new, for almost ninety minutes. Heating up the audience one last time and getting everyone to sing along. Thanking the audience and telling stories between the songs VNV Nation made the big venue seem so small and intimate. At the end they were inviting everyone to be back next year.

Don’t miss out on next year’s E-Tropolis Festival. It will take place on March 5th 2016 in Oberhausen. The East-Germany sister of E-Tropolis, E-Werk Ost, will take place on March 4th.

Links:
E-tropolis Official