Festival was excellent!!
Started our long journey about 4:00 in morning, drove to Helsinki airport, took plane to Frankfurt. Trainride to Mannheim was delayed for whatever reason, but luckily just 15 mins stop in middle of nowhere.
There was one of organizing crew already waiting and took us to hotel. Opportunity to rest, maybe, but as this was free day without any obligation, German beer was more luring!
Venue was very nice. Located in industrial/warehouse type of area, behind fences you could sit outdoors or go inside in large enough, but not too large venue. Great PA system, big video screen, etc. basically all one would need for proper industrial show.
Fest started with THO-SO-AA, which was not bad, but I personally have not been so big fan of the work. Latest LP release was while ago on my playlist, and not that much to complain, but remains sort of anonymous work, as there is not so much of human element, more of technological feel to me. But nevertheless, I watched part of the show and not bad. Perhaps just plague of opening band to not be yet 100% in the mood.
Alfarmania was very nice! If I have to judge this as comparison to their shows in Finland and United Forces of Industrial, they did it much better! Not that it would have been too bad before, but now it seemed like vocal balances are better and less drinking etc. More focus?! Who know what exactly. Perhaps also strong PA and large video screen.
Ke / Hil show was very nice as well. Now I knew what to expect, so perhaps previous time at Tower Transmission I was blown away by seeing them first time. Now, knowing what to expect, it wasn't surprise anymore, but in conclusion that these guys know what they do. Cold and dark heavy electronics, repeating patterns. Laconic, processed vocals by each member, taking turns one song after another.
I didn't have much expectations for Brighter Death Now. I was under impression that it could be just drunken foolishness, but how wrong I was. Brilliant! Excellent gig proved that BDN is still going strong! 3 member line-up. mr. D.Nepal at bass, Roger doing vocals and Trepaneringsritualen guy doing... electronics? Not sure what, but at least 3 members on stage always look good! Very strong and pure sound, heavy throbbing beats, long fragments of samples etc. Nice!
Already close to 24h awake, and countless beers later, was pretty tired at this point. Hotel room was waiting...
Next day started where previous ended. After breakfast, weisse beer was luring... It was several hours until it was time to be at soundcheck. Nevertheless, arrived at venue perhaps first. Short burst of thunderstorm hit in, but luckily had already arrived and brought our gear in. Soundchecks seemed to take forever, but that said, sound of entire festival was good!
Pain Nail was first band, and set was quite close to what was done at London, but little different gear and slightly different structures and additions to songs resulted very good results. Especially metal percussion sounded perhaps better than ever before. Songs consisted mostly new unreleased tracks and couple alternative versions of previous album and 7" songs, which has taken quite different form. Possibly musically the best Pain Nail gig so far?
Trepaneringsritualen was project I had waited quite a lot. I think just about every record he has done is very good. But live show left me quite cold. It was 100% playback. Basically empty stage, where guy screams. One can give credit that he did vocals well. Rhythmic tracks, where vocals were in time, with raw, "black metal"-esque spirit. Despite lots of moving on stage, he could perform songs just like on albums, not miss tempo or such. Unfortunately vocals had quite a lot glitchy crackles. Maybe even broken cable, since there was more crackles when he was walking left side of stage. Sound was sort of lo-fi, less powerful than most of bands, but I'd guess original sound already is slightly more suffocating and then no proper mixer boost/eq'ing to take advantage of massive PA. It was ok, but as albums are so good, I was expecting more.
Propergol I had very mixed feelings like usually with Propergol. At the same time I appreciate his technical know-how. Utmost clarity, utmost care to detail, etc... but then in other hand.. Digital computer sounds in sync with video material which seems to me like modern computer game trailers. Hmm... All in all, people seemed to like it, but I watched for couple tracks and didn't feel like would need more..
I have seen Prurient several years ago. I didn't know what exactly to expect, as actually I have not yet even heard... is it already 2 latest albums. It just seems so "far away" from noise scene, hehe.. You know, I don't know if I have any Hydra Head stuff in my shelves. Or much of Profane Lore. Not that I would oppose those labels, but when releases happens on some other genre label who don't do trades or have much distribution within "noise scene", I never seen those available anywhere where I usually get my records/cd/tapes..
But right from the beginning, his set slayed! This was without doubt the best Prurient gig I have seen yet. Of course it is hard to compare with simple shows of 5 minutes feedback blast. Now, 40 minutes or so, lots of tracks with diverse sounds, great variation in vocal sounds, extremely piercing and loud. Most intense stage presence seen at the festival. Total commitment to both: sound, and physicality. Add also full video screen with collages.
After already full length set, Genocide Organ entered stage. Couple collaboration tracks of G.O.+PRURIENT proved to be excellent. Doubts what I expressed earlier on the day, was blown away by sheer brutality of this material. Then followed shorter, roughly 20 mins set of GENOCIDE ORGAN. What a great set it was! I don't know how much comments it would need? Only band to get pretty rough "mosh pit" moving on front of stage. Forceful electronics, cold vocals, loud sound. Noisy and brutal material. Excellent!! Can't wait to see full length gig later this year...
Next day, we didn't leave that area at all. Just bought beer from gas-station and hanged out in some childrens playgrounds, consuming time. Trip back to finland and return to home after midnight... Consuming, but really good trip!
