AMON AMARTH, OBITUARY, LEGION OF THE DAMNED, KEEP OF KALESSIN

Full Of Hate Festival

26.03.2009 Berlin/ Postbahnhof (GER)

This name sounds even today very known and proud… Yeah, the idea of reactivation the festival, uniting yet 15 years ago with the help of famous (and today unfortunately dead) Metallysee Agency the bands conquering effectively the European countries is back and can to see, that the work of Austrians from Rock The Nation is more and more appreciated by the maniacs of metal all over the Europe. As we have regular so called Metalfest at winter days, now it’s the time for something others and this time Full Of Hate Festival is reborn again – the spring tour with the line-up not worse than the hordes playing in December. Additionally, taking into consideration the circumstances and realities shaping the European outlet, can just to admit, that the commercial success of this undertaking was guaranteed already by the start of that: AMON AMARTH, OBITUARY, LEGION OF THE DAMNED, KEEP OF KALESSIN – all of those bands, having a solid support among the European maniacs could only to make the venues full of people. In the capital situated between of Spree and Havel rivers, the admirers of hordes mentioned above honoured with their presence the hall of Postbahnhof in the number about 1000 persons.

The event was begun by the show of KEEP OF KALESSIN. This Norwegian horde attained the honour of touring with the giants of music extreme already during the December hell spreading across the Europe – as named Metalfest and mentioned somewhere here. Although their music presents itself in my opinion more than admiring, I admit, that the opening the concerts by them is a kind of task being suitable to their position. Anyway, the tracks of KOK, especially from “Armada” or “Kolossus” albums, sounds at live version very great and beyond all doubts that’s a gorgeous band, but as the opener the Norwegians fells out better than a headlining band.

The reception of the northern horde was naturally very warm, but the atmosphere was increasing drastically, when on the stage appeared itself the one of death/ thrash metal sensations of latest years. The Dutch commando LEGION OF THE DAMNED released yet in the end of last year the new awesome album “Cult Of The Dead”, including the next fresh dose of sharping sounds of highest quality, but except of this being also a good confirmation of strength and power so characteristic for this band, making last time his reputation worse by the remake of last OCCULT album. Fortunately, the newest work of Dutch headbangers could to wash out very effectively a taint on their honour and thank a few of tracks played during the show was able to convince oneself about the good creative condition of Maurice, Richard, Harold and Erik, denying at the same time to the stupid theory about the copying of SLAYER or the others of thrash classics. Ladies and gentlemen strengthen in this confirmation – the inspirations aren’t the same things as the scraps. I like this band, who doesn’t it – that’s his problem. Connecting the animal fury of new album with the wild headbanging of band members, LEGION OF THE DAMNED shows oneself as a real killing machine, uncomparable with the other hordes. When the sinister intro “Sermon Of Sacrilege” beginning the new record announced the carnage, the riffs of opener “Pray And Suffer” completed the landscape of massacre. Following by the path of blood, the instruments of guys and iron throat of Maurice provided to consciousness of somebody standing in front of the stage the true feeling of madness. Although the strength of newest album deserves to be rewarded as a one of the best thrash records of last year, very tactless would be to forget about the other tracks from previous releases exploding like the thousands of grenades or bombs – “Werewolf Corpse”, representing the debut album of Dutchies still stays as a dangerous and hateful concert hit! The next new track (“House Of Possession”) soon was followed by the title song of “Sons Of The Jackal” and then we have to do with the shapely mix of newest stuff (“Cult Of The Dead”, “The Final Godsend”) and older shots (“Slaughtering The Pigs”, “Diabolist”, “Bleed For Me”, “Legion Of The Damned”). I don’t know how much of my hair I have lost this time during those 45 minutes of merciless banging by my own head, but my exhaustion and sweated body were the signs of my highest honour for the band, playing probably for this moment in the first league of European extreme. Period.

The statement about these Floridian metal masters published on My Space profile of them as “heaviest band in the world” has in 100 percent no shadow of exaggeration. 20 years of existing, in the middle of this time the worsening of quality, followed finally by two break-ups – somebody could to say, that with so profuse burden of experiences OBITUARY should to retire, letting to his members be as the good husbands, fathers or uncles. But which kind of answer would we hear in due of this proposition? Five guys as a one man would scream loudly forwards: NO!!! This is the praiseworthy attitude: in spite of reverses of fortune or the age’s average – do what you want, especially when your supporters keeping you alive. Since five years, as the musicians of OBITUARY are with us again, recording the next albums and touring all around the world to make happy every fan of them, the name of this band and his almightiness stays inviolable beyond all times. The present tour was of course yet still a part of promotional campaign last album “Xecutioner’s Return”, although notorious is a fact, that the successor of him, titled “Darkest Day” is coming at a quick pace. Before his releasing of course we can to relish ourselves by all OBITUARY songs, so good known to us and being for us like the true death metal hymns. Who visited although one time a venue where this group was playing, knows probably what’s able to do John Tardy by his unearthly voice (to remember about his awesome hair is very important too, especially by the women part of audience, hihihi!), supporting by his talented comrades. Sometimes hearing the opinions about Ralph Santolla as the guitarist who doesn’t fit to the whole image of OBITUARY, I wonder myself how funny can to be the author of this statement. This man is a Guitar God, doing his tasks more than correctly whenever and wherever, but the main creator of guitar force of OBITUARY – Trevor “Beardman” Peres – absolutely doesn’t keep in his background. Having yet so precious rhythmic section Donald – Frank, the death metal killing machines works always perfectly like a good oiled engine, isn’t it? Yes! A few examples of masterful? Here you are: “Evil Ways”, “Face The God”, “Turned Inside Out”, “Dying”, „Insane”, the immortal interpretation of „Dethroned Emperor” (if somebody doesn’t know yet, who’s author of this hymn, should only to be suffocate!), “Threating Skies” (finally I could to listen one of my favourite OBITUARY tracks after so many years), “Final Thoughts” (the next surprise from forgotten last time “World Demise”) and crowning like always every gig of Floridian gods “Slowly We Rot” – great, great, great! Hope to see you soon, dudes! Good luck with the new forthcoming album, that will be surely the same good like everything you have recorded. I am not afraid of you and believe in your next success!

And finally twilight of the thunder God has come. Literally and by the metaphor. Watching the performances of AMON AMARTH in Germany so many times I have noticed nothing special except of one thing – the audience visiting the shows of this band can always to fill very tight the inside of every venue. Unimportant, or they plays as the headliner or ordinary support, no meaning has the place of action – every time the Sons of Odin have a full assembly, without fear to be washed-out. The last year touring as the support of SLAYER not only made stronger the position of latest album of this group, but except of this effectively helped to AMON AMARTH in joining to the absolutely leaders of European death metal. I don’t know, or naming the Swedes as commercial band or maybe rather – the favourites of Metal Blade would be right here, but much of you could to sincerely admit, that the success of this quintet finally must to come, even after so many years… It’s very difficult to value how they done it, if their music stays still as a not complicated death metal with the elements of melody, but maybe during so many years the music of them became better and better? In the summarizing of Anno Satanas 2008 “Twilight Of The Thunder God” had a very solid position, so nothing strange that the warm reception in due of this album is visible to this day. Of course, the stuff of previous albums like “With Oden On Our Side”, “Fate Of Norns”, “Versus The World”, “The Crusher”, “The Avenger” or “Once Sent From The Golden Hall” sounds the same selective and hard, letting to experience by the all of maniacs the real ecstasy. Celebrating the ritual of ancient Scandinavian tribes, worshipping the gods of Asgaard, AMON AMARTH presented all the best pieces of the whole discography. The majestic intro and… go ahead! “Twilight Of The Thunder God”, “Free Will Sacrifice”, “Asator”, “Varyags Of Miklagaard” , “Fate Of Norns”, “North Sea Storm”, “Guardians Of Asgaard”, “Ride For Vengeance”, “Under The Northern Star”, “With Oden On Our Side”, “Death In Fire” , “Victorious March”, “Cry Of The Black Birds”, “Pursuit Of Vikings” – who will tell me, that show of AMON AMARTH couldn’t be a good soundtrack for the series about Viking warriors descent of Discovery Channel? It was a really strong and powerful gig – long live our warriors! Hegg, Lundström, Söderberg, Mikkonen, Andersson – their names will be engraved on the holy stones with the golden letters. Odin with you, brothers!