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 THE
THIRD DAY: 03 August 2003 -
INTRODUCTION
- RAWHEAD REXX - SYMPHORCE - NILE - TANKARD
- ROTTING
CHRIST - SLAYER - CONCLUSION
PICS BY: ©Stefan
"Absolut_Evidence" Vogelaar
REVIEW BY
dalia "gryphon_spirit" di giacomo
The public
use of these fotos
is strictly prohibited without written
permission
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| waiting
for Slayer's signing session
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Third and last
day of the Z7 "metallic" days , again hot , very hot, outside
and inside the venue. Again sunny , no clouds, no escape: but ehy people,
it's summer and what an exciting summer day for most of the Metallers present here: Slayer will play this evening: you can imagine
that their "ghost" has dominated this festival since Friday
but today is when the great event will happen. It is the highlight
of the highlights: their gig is awaited and thier signing session
too: planned in the late afternoon, it will create a long queue much
before. No one still knows that the signing session of Slayer will compress
in some way that one of Tankard and that the much desired gods will sign
for 7 minutes only more or less, letting the most part of the
patient queue to its destiny...
me personally, though
interested to see Slayer live, i get no crazy at the idea, and about
their signing session i couldn't care less, though i am not content of
how lots of admirers have been traited. Mahhh of course there will be an
explanation....more than Slayer i will enjoy the sun,
Tankard and Rotting Christ, anyway . And again i will be not
disappointed. Today it's the turn of Zatokrev, Soul Strip,
Disparaged, Elis, Rawhead Rexx, Schandmaul, Symphorce, Nile, Tankard,
Rotting Christ, Masterplan and Slayer. My targets are
Symphorce, Nile, Tankard, Rotting Christ , Slayer . Let's start
again! |
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| RAWHEAD
REXX www.rawheadrexx.de |
| one pic taken
during the signing session |
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| SYMPHORCE
www.symphorce.net |
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| 15:30 Symphorce
begin their show, we enter the venue. The sound seems solid and
vigorous,
i try to get nearer to the stage, but when i have done half of the way, i
realize even too clearly that the sound turns to be sharper an sharper,
the more you approach the band. it seems the same problem seen yesterday
with Circle II Circle: no way, i am not minded to repeat the experience.
So i find a place when i can sit down , observing the stage from a
certain distance. The band has a great mobility, singer Andy B. Franck (BRAINSTORM)
displays a voice that, under many points of view sounds even better that
Zak Stevens' timbre. "Seid ihr noch gut drauf?" "Jaa"
"Ihr seid Klasse!!" Yes, Pratteln is a pole that draw real
cool guys: an audience demanding and also sympathetic. . Sorry that i personally begin to be caught by a solemn allergy to
this music. Two , three songs and i cannot stand it anymore (it=
to listen to this concert) . Symphorce are fresh, good mooded and
engaged, but both the sound set in a wrong way and above all the notes
that go up and down too much modulated make the gig absolutely unbearable for me. While i could
follow the music offered by Secret Sphere, now it's really impossible.
Not my blood, sorry. Obviously i want to reserve a final opinion about this band, but,
for the moment, after a first impact , my reaction is
this one. I decide to run away after the foto shoot has done, and
one of the last thing i see is Andy kicking a bottle of water (plastic of course!) towards the crowd: goal!! |
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| NILE
www.nile-catacombs.net |
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| Nile are awaited.
Nile are
considered the american death act to beat. First is Death, second
is Epic: i'm really curious to hear how they will propose their Death of
the Ancient Egypt. Their songs have an exotic fascination: Death can be hybridized
in an incredible different ways , Death as cradle of
everything metal: Death + Black, Death + Doom, Death + Medieval, Death+
Thrash, Death+ Heavy just to mention some of the creatures. To combine
Death + an Epic background that sounds with the accents of mysterious
ancient lost civilizations, is surely an original brainwave. But
attention the music in itself is an angry Death. So they don't sound
"Egyptian", but are embedded in a kind of "dynastic"
reminiscence. 16:30, after a
kind of mythological atmospheric heavy and dark intro, mastermind Karl Sanders, Jon
Vesano, and mates start off with a
furious music . Vesano in full shape begins a savage headbanging
with a style that sometimes seem nearer to Black. The blonde large sized
Sanders, who evidently left Vikings preferring Pharaos,
plays with extreme concentration and the same does Dallas. the band of
Kheftiu Asar Butchiu and Ramses, Bringer of the War, play relentless
speed intense assaults . Potent energy. No scenery at all, no pyramids,
no temples, no serpents, no Anubi or Seth, the only optical trace of the
ancient land of the river Nile is the Ankh of Sanders' necklace. Vocals are extremely
low and cavernous : a really impressive evocative low growling . Sanders and
Dallas amplify very often Vesano's growling, even better, many often is
Sanders in foreground. But the only thing you could take for
Egyptian is the atmospheric sacral ritual background
that provides the taste of the lost world . The black flavored Stones of Sorrow is among the songs that made the audience
lively, though a bit hypnotic people raise their hands and follow the
music. An encore is called, and when the show is ended Nile go down
the stage and shake the hands of all their fans in the first rows. Very
good gig. |
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| TANKARD www.tankard.org |
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| 17.30. Beer,
beer, beer! The band that has done of beer (and relative typical
tankards indeed) their coat of arms take the stage welcomed and warmly
supported by their "maniacs", beerdrinkers and Death lovers. They open fast with an enthralling and catchy
thrash-y Alien. Gerre is
at once the favorite of the situation. Bass player Frank seems to be
very happy, extremely good mooded, having a smile for everyone (congrats!
he is daddy again for the third time !). Guitarist Andy and drummer Olaf
appear immediately to be top-notch. Ok , do you expect something else
from Tankard? I saw them in Luzern and it was such a brilliant
concert, so i'm very content to see them again. This is another among
the band i personally like the most, cause they deliver energetic
and potent metal of first quality, remaining underground in the
spirit, ironic. They don't take themselves so seriously but, at
the same time, they care about the quality of their gigs more than they let
understand,
i presume. Alien is followed by Need money for Beer, "Hallo Pratteln!
es ist scheissekalt hier, it is terrible cold here: now something to
warm up!" my gosh here everybody is sweating and perspiring ,
what do we deserve now? Space Beer!! catchy and heavy synchronous
grenades start from the instruments, the band showcases an excellent and
confident mobility , and, more than this, Gerre is even too much
lively : he walks relentless, hyperactive from one
point of the stage to another without stopping if not when speaking with
the crowd, while guitarist and bass players change their placements in a
less frenetic way. The sound is good balanced . "Wir
brauchen noch mehr Bier auf der Bühne!", Gerre exclaims , announcing
then Rectifier. ah it is like a bomb!
Rectifier, Rectifier - I know
your name, you no-good liar!
Rectifier, Rectifier - I´ll chase your ass till you expire!
Rectifier, Rectifier - My gun is loaded-time to fire!
High dose of fun and
entertainment. We go on with Maniac Forces, the Morning after and
Zombie Attack. The audience is more and more involved. Drums are
powerful and blasting. "Geht's noch Leute?" asks Gerre.
everybody is fine , just in need of some beer more! So we proceed with
New Liver
please and Chemical Invasion. Gerre and his belly are entertaining a
lot, vocals are good, his 3 band mates are doing a great work in this
overheating. Gerre doesn't forget to shower with a dose of beer from a
can, one of the
many that are opened , and however beer cans fly from band and crowd and from
crowd to band. Gerre doesn't fulfill the wish of all who shout -auziehen- ausziehen- , no strip-tease, but the shirt is
pulled up till
the face and beer , well it can be free and undressed!: so Freibier can be
played,
followed by (Empty) Tankard. Encore and final launch of Gerre's shirt
close the show. |
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| ROTTING
CHRIST http://rchrist.conxion.gr/ |
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| 18:40
outdoor stage, I'm ready for one of the best moment of this third
day. Another moment dedicated to Black music, but this is a melodic
Black full of dark passages and severe harmonies, full of totally
enjoyable pathos. Aggressive and monumental , rhythmed and almost sacred,
inspired but also catchy enough to be liked by all who appreciate good
intelligent metal, from Gothic to Black , from Cyber to Death they can conquer every heart remaining however elite.
Cannot wait to attend
another gig of them: i saw them last winter: brilliant music but a bit
cold and static the stage acting, how will be they now? I expect a fully
persuading performance, cause their music deserves a top concert,
nothing less than this. A good number of people is waiting and Rotting Christ take the stage punctually. Dark intro, a bit of smoke effect.
they appear severe, concentrated, determined. After having seen Tankard
, it seems to land now on another planet. But ehy, i feel at home on this
"planet". Hieratic and solemn they start off with In Domine Sathana from their
new album Genesis. Sakis sings at once in a very aggressive way. The general picture seems to be cold, but i know that Rotting
Christ are serious and inspired they take a bit to warm up. People
is very attentive , many don't seem to know them very well and look like
"who are these guys ?" In Domine Sathana is not
an easy song:
hypnotic, pushing , heavily peculiar, haunting. Maybe not the ideal opener.
But the band plays
tight and perfectly coordinated. And starting from the second song:
You are I (Khronos), the ice is broken, in advance if compared
with the gig i saw in January. People is
attracted more and more and finally Quintessence, the third song
proposed, fascinates everybody with its impressive spoken intro, with
its vibrating drums, with its unstoppable progression. One
cannot explain with words how wonderful Quintessence (Genesis)
is, one has to
listen to it, simply so: it's a masterpiece. No discussion. And now this
song is played and sung perfectly, with perfect coordination. By the
way this coordination is one of the distinctive points of Rotting Christ
during the whole gig: all is exact, the notes fall in perfect
timing. The interest increases and the first
headbangings start. More and more people feel the appeal. A young lady at my side asks me
"But ...where are
they from??" "from Greece!!" "Ahhh!" and i
quickly mention to her Genesis. "ah thank you!" and is
she adding in German to his friend: "Die sind geil, ehrlich!"
that translated sounds more or less "they truly kick ass!!" I
presume i'm smiling: she will not the only one person to be enchanted
for sure! Thou art blind (Khronos)and King of stellar War
(Triarchy of the lost Lovers) are preceeded by Sakis' greetings and thanks. After the middle intro , we can
appreciate The Sign of evil Existence. many banging's, the
band is simple super: shows mobility, Sakis vocals become warmer. The whole band bites
in complete confidence.
we will see Sakis and mates banging, we will see Sakis jumping a bit , losing nothing of his
severity. Keyboarder George is the only one to remain almost perfectly
static , but well this is his style. Agreeable is the recurrent
weeping lead guitar, and brilliant are the drums. Archon
(Triarchy of the lost Lovers) and Non serviam (Non Serviam) are presented too and finally another big
calibre,
supported by a kind of church --like chorus in background that is so
emotional ,above all in the outro part, and opened by such a thin , but
extremely atmospheric and impending intro in Black taste: Under the
Name of the Legion (Genesis). Another
masterpiece whose outro indeed closes a show that has been successfully and
flawless.
19:27 the encore is
called and Sakis asks "do
you want something more??" Yes, and how! and the band
proposes Among two Storms (A dead Poem)
"You're fucking
great!" is Sakis final greeting, letting us in Slayer's hands. Time has
flown away on the wave of another excellent gig. |
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me at the signing session
of Rotting Christ
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| SLAYER
www.slayer.net |
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| 21:15 Slayer
should take the stage. The sound check and, in general, the preparations
the for this show have
been meticolous and have taken almost an hour. In front of the outdoor
stage many security members are lined. The festival area is mega crowded. 5 minutes later the crowd
begins to be more and more impatient, people shout -Sla-yer - Sla-yer-. The
security guys are watching this impressive sea of persons whose
irritation and eager clearly grow. At 21:28 (with "only" 15 mins
delay)
the heavy intro, the smoke effect and intermittent orange-red lights let
trigger the enthusiasm: Slayer are here, their fame seem
to run from one generation to another , moreover it doesn't matter
which style one prefers: everyone seems to worship them with a touch of
internal angriness . It is one of the first thing i
notice, their show are sparking off in many people the surfacing of
rage and anger, like it would be a call to arms. The gig begins like it
will end: it is an avalanche of extreme mighty and solid attacks. My
impression is that their strength is placed exclusively in
the music, and this is a plus point: unfortunately the sound is too focused
around high tones and this is a minus point: i still need
those damned ear-plugs. There is no particular scenery, the quartet
acts in a rather simply way and if you woudn't see that big
quantity of persons lined close and tight like soldiers, you could even
wonder who is now playing . Araya, in the middle of the stage,
seems even unpretentious under in spite of being under constantly
changing colored lights. He is putting a certain aggressiveness in the vocals but
,at the end of
story, that's all, moreover Araya's voice doesn't stand out like it should
be. Jeff Hanneman mainly acts on the left, while Kerry King on the right . of
course they have a good mobility , but it's not their
peculiarity, Tom Araya is left often in a more advanced position in
order to catch the attention on his person, sometimes it happens the
opposite and we can see King and Hanneman nearer to us. One thing must
be said: individually they play very well, without doubts,
and one other
thing must be said : their drumming is simply excellent, but one last
thing must be added too: if they would have the courtesy to play together
it would be far better. More than a band it seems a group of 4 distinct
musicians who hold together line and songs without a perfect and
sincere cohesion in my opinion, being only the drummer the one in
perfect timing always. The average quality of the tracks suffer, and the
gig, though roaring is anyway flat . Even many of their die hard fans,... you know..., those who have
seen them more than 10 times and remember every single note of every
single show attended, admit, at the end of the concert, that yes they
have played well, but that in such -and -such a day, of
such-and-such an year - in such -a-such a place they played much better.
Ok musicians are not (war) machines, but ehi it's Slayer , are we at the top
of the constellation or not? if yes the least thing one could ask from
them is a gig played with determination, still believing in what they
are doing, the rest will follow by itself. if resumed in few words,
this evening i see Slayer as a more brutal and faster variant of Metallica,
though i don't see
absolutely in Slayer THAT fast band to beat. cause so hyperfast are they
: fortunately , cause they can still impart a down - to earth
horsepower;
in their repertoire a couple of songs that simply kick ass like Mandatory Suicide,
which has unchained another wave of crowd surfing. By
the way, in the setlist are included ,among others, : Disciple, God
send Death, The Anti- Christ, Mandatory Suicide, Hell awaits,
South of Heaven, Angel of Death, Piece by Piece, Necrophobic,
Altar of Sacrifice , Jesus saves, Dead Skin Mask, Criminality, Reborn,
Epidemic , Postmortem . Ovations are countless , lots of crowd
surfers are promptly rescued by the security. The words visible
under the drums "God hates us all" lets remind of the
title of their latest album and their philosophy. The enormous groove and menacing effect has been reached anyway. Araya has thanked the fans,
he has shortly entertained the crowd during the concert and he has
found the time to video record the ovation mayhem of the horde in
front of him, telling simply not much than "smile!" The encore
time was incredibly intense and one of the best final greetings was
Araya's "Thank you very much ..for everything!" |
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| CONCLUSION |
| And
finally, short after Slayer's gig, Dane, of the Z7 Konzertverein (direction
and promotion) , gets the stage for the final good bye coming from
the whole Z7 "family". The echoes of the battery of
riffs unchained by Slayer are still pulsing in our head "Wer hätte
das gedacht!" -who would have ever thought that we could guest Slayer
on this stage this evening!!" says Dane very proudly and touched .
Indeed she adds "wir sind mega stolz- we are mega proud, die sind
absolut geil !!" . "Habt ihr Spass gehabt?" this is to
say "did you have fun?". Of course!, people are satisfied and
grateful "Kommt gut daheim! come back safely home! " Bis
zum nächsten Mal!" Till next time7! Count us in!! |
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PICS
BY: ©Stefan
Vogelaar
REVIEW BY
dalia di giacomo
The public
use of these fotos
is strictly prohibited without written
permission
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written
by dalia di
giacomo
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