WITH FULL FORCE 2008

XV Edition

4 - 6.08.2008 Roitzschjora (GER)

For a few seconds just try to think what did you do 15 years ago. Well… the answer may be quite funny. But at the same time when you started to babble a few incorrigible optimists from East Germany decided to make their dream come true. A dream of making a real metal fiesta. And I don’t know if they even hoped to make it one of the most important, perfectly organised European summer festivals, but – damn me - they did it. And without any doubts there’s a reason to celebrate.

15th anniversary of this unique event where metal, hard core and rock’n’roll unite in one big three-days-long party was a quite big challenge for organisers. But it was picked up by booking such a strong line-up. But let’s start from the very beginning. Our upgraded THRASH’EM ALL/CORE-PORATION crew arrived at the camp site on thursday’s evening. During first night we survived quite a heavy rain almost without any injuries. Only one damaged tent – wasn’t a big price to pay. Trust me, it could be worse.

Friday morning welcomed us with quite strong wind and a camp looking like a battle field a day after. Our german neighbours were making jokes with polish national football team – echo of an awful Euro 2008 game – by shouting: Lukas Podolski! Our answer was simple – Fernando Torres! – and that was enough to silence the opponents. Few minutes later we had to met rather unexpected surprise. Someone stole our barbecue coal. The main suspects were the guys who asked us to share our meat with them. Fortunately there was no problem with buying another one package of precious fuel – and btw. generally WFF is really safe place - but disgust remained.

Day 1: HEADZ AT KNUPPELNACHT
When we arrived at the stage MESHUGGAH started their mind-crushing, intense, 40 minutes-long show. It was a kind of an intellectual journey. Their prog-mathy-jazzy metal definitely is not the best soundtrack for moshpit warriors. Band members were rather static. Of course I know that to play those complicated rhythm structures for sure is a technical challenge, but I expected the guys - who would even play such a warped riffs like those from „Bleed”, „Rational Gaze” or „Future Breed Machine” on the comb – to be more vital.

I’ve seen CALIBAN last year at WFF and DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER at BRUTAL ASSAULT 2007. So this time they rocked the crowd while I was looking for a MOTORHEAD logo car-sticker and limited edition of PARADISE LOST’s „Anatomy of Melancholy”. Representing German scene they are both good bands, but I decided to take a look at merchandise stands. For me and all my polish comrades being at WFF is not only a chance to get drunk and happy. It’s also a merchant crusade. We start to save our money few months earlier, just not to regret that we couldn’t buy all those CDs and shirts that are completely unavailable in our country.

It’s easy to name the force that made me go back in the front of the main stage - MORBID fuckin’ ANGEL. It was quite easy to predict that we won’t hear any songs from post-„Domination” era. But this time you could be wrong. Florida’s deathsters – joined by Destructhor from ZYKLON as a secondo guitarist – summoned the ancient ones with „Rapture” and „Pain Divine”. After so many years those tunes still sound evil. David Vincent in his latex shirt encouraged maniacs to go crazy, while Trey fixed his attention on frenzy solos. Don’t forget Sandoval’s flawless blast beats that powered the beast during: „Dawn of the Angry”, „Where The Slime Live” and a new track „Nevermore”. Without any doubts we can anxiously await the „I” album. That song has everything best MORBID ANGEL can offer – murderous tempo, brillant growls and crazy solos. Of course it’d be a crime if we couldn’t hear really old stuff. „Maze of Torment” and „Immortal Rites”, satisfied all old school maniacs. The encore was „God of Emptiness”. Majestic and powerful. The anthem that will always remain one of the best death metal songs ever written.

AGNOSTIC FRONT jumped on the stage with their energetic show and from the very beginning they’ve rocked the party with the killer tracks like „The Eliminator”, „Dead To Me” and „All Is Not Forgotten”. Roger Miret and Vinnie Stigma introduced us to join them in that pure experience. No theatrical elements, no artificial image. Only old school NY hard core. Powered by crowd’s reaction, living legends launched few more rockets ( „Peace” , „For My Family”, „Last Warning”, „Crucified” and „Pauly The Dog”).

Of course „Gotta Go” was the set’s most impressive moment. I’ve seen metalheads singing together with hard core maniacs. It’s a real pleasure. You know what is one of the greatest things about WFF? No prejudices. There’s only one thing that matters: heavy music and great fun. Doesn’t master if you prefer grim-faced norwegian black metal or NYHC, all those people who travel to Leipzig– in my opinion at least 30 thousands – create a real community.

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE is definitely not my piece of cake. The welsh metalcore stars started with „Scream Aim Fire” – the title track from the last album. A good choice. It’s one of my favourites BFMV songs. And I don’t care if the opening riff is a PRIMAL FEAR rip-off. Band player few more hits: „Tears Don’t Fall”, „4 Words”„Eye of the Storm”, and „Waking The Demon”. Crowd’s reaction was quite enthusiastic. But I have a general problem with that kind of modern stuff. I really like their thrashing riffs, but when they start to wheedle at teenage fans – those tearful choruses – there’s no choice, but to evacuate at the beer garden.

Anyway it was a good idea to regenarate before the real storm. It’s a shame to admit but it was a first time that I’ve seen Oakland thrashers playin’ live. HEADZ started to annihilate with „Clenching The …” and „Imperium”. Those tracks are so unbelievably catchy, complex and heavy at the same time. Flynn’s voice was a well heard above an instrumental background. That guy has a great timbre. Rob was in a very good mood. He called us between songs – you fuckin’ alocoholics. „Aesthetics of Hate”, „Now I Lay Thee Down” and "Ten Ton Hammer” grinded my backbone and made me want to scream for more. When Rob announced a very special song I expect everything but IRON MAIDEN’s „Hallowed Be Thy Name”. Some of you may already know that cover form KERRANG’s tribute compilation. But for me it was a great surprise. As a long time MAIDEN fan I must pay a tribute to estimable Demmel/Flynn guitar duel. Great job. Band played also monumental „Halo”, „Take My Scars” and „Descend the Shades of Night”. There was no other choice. „Davidian” as a grande finale of this stunning show was a real peak. Those guys succesfuly verified the decision to put them in main stage’s headliner position.

There was no time to rest. Knuppelnacht and everything’s clear. Greek’s ROTTING CHRIST summoned the ancient gods with the solid package of incantations taken mostly from „Theogonia”. Their dark, folk touched, melodic and melancholic black metal was a good soundtrack to that warm summer night. Sakis and his brothers for sure know how to create a mystic atmosphere.

I’ve seen BRUTAL TRUTH few days earlier in my hometown. So this time I decided to take a little rest. But I’m sure that they’ve destroyed the tent stage with their ultra sonic extremity. But there’s no other way if you have in your setlist songs like „Kill Trend Suicide”, „Walking Corpse” or „Birth of Ignorance”.

It was quite hard to survive another hour after so many great shows and polish vodka red bull party at the camp site to be honest, but there was no other choice than to face the real MAYHEM. Norwegian black metal legends built a wall of severe noise. Hellhammer’s insane drumming was almost hypnotizing. But the main actor was Attila. Dressed in white jacket and red shirt with sunglasses, carrying a noose in his hand he screeched with his malicious manner. A huge upside down cross with four-handed Christ hanged down his neck. Without any doubts that guy isn’t a normal person. When they started to freeze the moon I was seduced by the power of that anthem. The primal force of „Deathcrush” and „Pure Fucking Armagedon” ended that intense show.

I do regret that I wasn’t able to see KRISIUN. But those canarihnos for sure will reach Poland during their upcoming tours. So see you soon brothers. That was definitely enough for a day one.