ROCKWEEKEND 2009

DATE:

VENUE:

Thursday 9th July - Saturday 11th July 2009

Kilafors Herrgård, Sweden

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATOR; CHICKENFOOT; GEMINI FIVE; U.D.O.; ARCH ENEMY; MUSTASCH; PARADISE LOST; CRUCIFIED BARBARA; CORRODED; PURE MANIA

SATURDAY

NAPALM DEATH; DIMMU BORGIR; EDGUY; QUEENSRŸCHE; HEAT; HOT LEG; NIGHTINGALE; SCAR SYMMETRY; MEMORY GARDEN; WOLVERINE

D-A-D; W.A.S.P.; DARK FUNERAL; TESTAMENT; DIA PSALMA; LA GUNS; DEAD BY APRIL; WOLF; FAST FORWARDS; TAD MOROSE

Reviews & Photography by Mark Holmes

PURE MANIA

I unfortunately miss Pure Mania as I'm still trying to finalise arrangements for a pre-organised Paradise Lost interview as the reunited Swedish punk rockers play (an interview that transpires not to happen as I discover from PL's tour manager their stage time has been shifted to four hours earlier as they have to catch an earlier than expected flight post-performance).

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FRIDAY 10TH JULY - PART 1

CRUCIFIED BARBARA

With a large crowd already gathered at the left hand stage prior to Crucified Barbara's appearance, it seems the Stockholm-based Swedish rock-metallers are a big draw on Rockweekend's 2009 lineup. And they are greeted with loud cheers by those standing on the straw-covered muddy field as they take to the stage on what fortunately promises to be a rain-free day, albeit windy and overcast. Crucified Barbara are a relatively new discovery for me having only heard their sophomore album 'Til Death Do Us Party' a couple of weeks previously (albeit released back in February this year), and their brand of rock/metal, although retro-sounding in its foundations, also pertains to a more modern essence with darkly-menacing grooves and some efficacious post-thrash riffing. And I am pleased to say that such a dynamic is also conveyed effectively through their live show, aided by a fully resonant sound through the PA as their material is delivered with intense gusto...that is, after a slightly weak start as the Swedish quartet initially look a little uncomfortable on stage for the first couple of minutes, but soon seem to settle into the vibe. The likes of 'Sex Action', 'Pain & Pleasure' and 'Losing the Game' burst forth from the PA speakers as the festival audience are coerced into their first real movement of the day. Mia Coldheart's live vocals impress me greatly with their impassioned power as songs' lyrics (which, it has to be said, occasionally verge on clichéd rock cheese in their content), are sung with affective conviction. Collectively, as a live act, Crucified Barbara are tight, compelling, and damn good fun as the four talented musicians work their way through a forty minute set of powerful music. Mightily impressive.

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PARADISE LOST

Through the various disparate musical shifts Paradise Lost have taken with their songwriting during their lengthy career, they've always managed to sustain a large, loyal fanbase throughout the world. It is somewhat of a surprise then that as they appear onstage just after 6:30pm, the audience is big, but not as sizeable as one would have expected. Perhaps the message hadn't been well enough communicated that their stage time had changed at the eleventh hour to four hours earlier. Perhaps many favoured securing a good spot in front of the adjacent main stage in preparation for Mustasch's appearance. Whatever the case, those who witness their hour long set are treated to a performance of musical perfection as they play a set of crowd pleasers such as 'Hallowed Land'; 'Erased'; 'Say Just Words'; 'Ash & Debris'; 'Requiem'; 'Pity the Sadness'; and 'As I Die', with the latter sarcastically dedicated to Michael Jackson. In fact, frontman Nick Holmes, one of the most down-to-earth, unpretentious performers in the business, is on fine form with his trademark sarcastic wit as, after a couple of songs, he asks crowd members near the front who is due to appear next. He is informed it's Mustasch to which he enquires "are they any good?", responded to with shouts of "they're okay", before he proceeds to address the other main stage crowd by saying "you lot - you might as well come over here and watch some music as you've got an hour!". He also states that the band have spent a lot of time in Sweden recently (presumably while recording forthcoming new album, 'Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us') but claims to be lazy as cannot speak one word of the language, so enquires what the Swedish for "thanks" is, to which he is, of course, told "tack". Six years have passed since I last managed to catch Paradise Lost live (at the Bloodstock indoor festival in 2003), and they remain an engaging live band in 2009. The recent recruitment of one-time Cradle of Filth drummer and ex-At The Gates sticksman, Adrian Erlandsson, is a more than welcome addition to their lineup as he beats his skins and cymbals with unfaltering stamina, affording the Halifax boys' live sound a more dynamic, solid backbone. Overall, a fine performance from one of the UK's finest bands. Shame on all those (Mustasch fans) who opted not to watch!

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MUSTASCH

A prior commitment means I miss the majority of Mustasch's set, though do venture back into the festival's main arena to witness the bizarre sight of large net containing inflatable balls attached to a crane suspended over the audience, and then deposited on the crowd. I had wondered why a crane was parked between the two stages but, of course, my curiosity is answered. It is then amusing to observe people trying to hurl balls onto the stage as Mustasch approach the end of their set!

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CORRODED

Up next on this second day of Rockweekend 2009, and one that is blessed with significantly better weather than the first, are Swedish band Corroded. Unaware of them and their music before today, I am quite taken with their rock/metal oriented material, which also incorporates mild grunge and stoner elements into the mix - kind of like Clutch-meets-Grand Magus-meets-Nickelback, but with a real serious groove. And their heterogeneous image is one that aptly fits their cross-generic approach to songwriting. Performance-wise, they are also an engaging spectacle - in particular, frontman Jens Westin as he strides around the stage during songs' instrumental sections, yelling at the audience with commanding authority as crowd members respond with horns in the air and reciprocal yells. With a short half hour set, Corroded keep matters succinct, though visibly win over the festival's audience with their dynamic stage presence and groove-infused music. A great performance.

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