Top Shows
Parkway Drive
Despite the jet-leg, those guys delivered a fantastic show, perfectly suited for a festival: Energetic, fast, sun was shining and no fillers or BS. The set list was great and even included a cover song, an amazing version of Bulls on Parade from Rage Against the Machine. Even the new song is an instant classic. Kudos!
Arch Enemy
Despite the tough competition on the main stage (Alice Cooper), the Marquee was packed for AE! Alissa White-Gluz was outstanding and is now fully owning her role replacing Angela. Another fantastic set list combining the classics and only the best songs from the new album. The sound was good and the crowed was energetic and going nuts. I haven't seen that many bodies surfing in any other show this year.
Ne Obliviscaris
A small crowed for this relatively new band from Australia. Too bad because they are awesome. Their new album was by many considered one of the best albums of 2014. The 3 key songs from it were played, plus an older one. Yes, just 4 songs as they are all north of 10 minutes. Very technical progressive death metal including two singers and a violin. In a world of generic metal, good to see new blood with original and different music.
At The Gates
Here we had no surprises on the set list - which is great as it's an awesome one. Mostly based on the fantastic new album At War with Reality and their ground braking Slaughter of Souls. The crowed was not so big, maybe because they were recently headlining shows in the Benelux area. There was also some technical issues to get started but after that the sound was quite good.
Dragonforce
Not until the show started with a high pitched screen and the virtuoso guitar players entered the stage that I realized how much we missed power metal during this year's edition. That's a shame because Dragonforce delivered one of the most energetic and enthusiastic shows of the weekend. 4 songs of their recent and best album yet were highly appreciated, including an interesting cover song from Johnny Cash (Ring of Fire). Other than that they brought back an old song to the set list and obviously played their two big hits. Keep it true!
Exodus
I didn't know that Gary Holt wouldn't be there so that was a disappointment. Other than that the show was great. Heavily based on the excellent new album Blood In, Blood Out plus the classics Bounded By Blood, Black List and Toxic Waltz. Good sound and very energetic...such a great old school thrash show made me realize also how much this edition missed thrash bands.
Evergrey
One of the few power progressive representatives Evergrey didn't disappoint and a very crowded Metal Dome saw a fantastic show balancing the new good album and mandatory classics.
Slipknot
After many years the arrival of their 5th studio album finally convinced me and even though I've seen them before, this was the first time I actually enjoyed it. 9 maniacs full of energy putting up such a great show and now they have all these new great songs to create a massive set list. No wonder they became such a huge headliner.
Faith No More
Not sure if it was Sunday late night or the band got some bad vibes from the audience, but Mike Patton and friends were not really friendly and enthusiastic. But to a fan like me, that wasn't a problem at all. Not sure what people expected, but if you know their new album and have been following what they are doing in this tour, then there were no surprises. Set list was perfect with only great songs. Maybe the encore could've been better. FNM is such a unique band, I wouldn't expect that people who don't know their albums to really like it . Feels like people want more of the same...so many generic bands played this year.
Judas Priest
My only problems here were that the sound was very bad and the crowed was apathetic. I know they are old, but they are the Metal Gods! The set list was so good, specially the first half.
In Flames
The set list was fantastic, the energy was high, the crowed was insane and the weather great! A perfect mix - except for the sound that was not really loud enough and too much bass-drums.
Avatarium
What a great band and fantastic front woman. Only great songs and very enthusiastic musicians, Why not a top show? The sound could be better and the timing a bit later to get more people in.
Lamb Of God
Great show, energetic, fast, and the sun was shining. The set list was great but two songs of the new album may have broken the sequence a bit. I was expecting the crowed to be more enthusiastic though. Headlining the Marquee may work better for them.
Blues Pills
Basically the same comments as Avatarium! Just 70s rock instead of Doom!
Kiss
We've seen they before right? And we got more of the same tricks, movements and comments...but this time with half of the "team". With that said the set list was really great, so still enjoyed it very much.
Good Shows
Cannibal Corpse: Very good show in the packed Marquee, a roller coaster of brutal Death Metal song after song.
Five Finger Death Punch: Not particularly fan of the set list and also the sound wasn't good. Lift Me Up was worth the show.
Scorpions: Too vanilla? Nothing really special, many solos and ballads..cheesy crowed.
Slash: It was a good show, but it didn't really get me pumped
Ensiferum: Also good band and I really like the new album, but I didn't know other songs and couldn't hear the vocals.
Danko Jones: Great rock n roll show - went well with sun and beer!
Airbourne: It was a good show, but it didn't really get me pumped either
Worst of all: Sonata Arctica
Parkway Drive
Despite the jet-leg, those guys delivered a fantastic show, perfectly suited for a festival: Energetic, fast, sun was shining and no fillers or BS. The set list was great and even included a cover song, an amazing version of Bulls on Parade from Rage Against the Machine. Even the new song is an instant classic. Kudos!
Arch Enemy
Despite the tough competition on the main stage (Alice Cooper), the Marquee was packed for AE! Alissa White-Gluz was outstanding and is now fully owning her role replacing Angela. Another fantastic set list combining the classics and only the best songs from the new album. The sound was good and the crowed was energetic and going nuts. I haven't seen that many bodies surfing in any other show this year.
Ne Obliviscaris
A small crowed for this relatively new band from Australia. Too bad because they are awesome. Their new album was by many considered one of the best albums of 2014. The 3 key songs from it were played, plus an older one. Yes, just 4 songs as they are all north of 10 minutes. Very technical progressive death metal including two singers and a violin. In a world of generic metal, good to see new blood with original and different music.
At The Gates
Here we had no surprises on the set list - which is great as it's an awesome one. Mostly based on the fantastic new album At War with Reality and their ground braking Slaughter of Souls. The crowed was not so big, maybe because they were recently headlining shows in the Benelux area. There was also some technical issues to get started but after that the sound was quite good.
Dragonforce
Not until the show started with a high pitched screen and the virtuoso guitar players entered the stage that I realized how much we missed power metal during this year's edition. That's a shame because Dragonforce delivered one of the most energetic and enthusiastic shows of the weekend. 4 songs of their recent and best album yet were highly appreciated, including an interesting cover song from Johnny Cash (Ring of Fire). Other than that they brought back an old song to the set list and obviously played their two big hits. Keep it true!
Exodus
I didn't know that Gary Holt wouldn't be there so that was a disappointment. Other than that the show was great. Heavily based on the excellent new album Blood In, Blood Out plus the classics Bounded By Blood, Black List and Toxic Waltz. Good sound and very energetic...such a great old school thrash show made me realize also how much this edition missed thrash bands.
Evergrey
One of the few power progressive representatives Evergrey didn't disappoint and a very crowded Metal Dome saw a fantastic show balancing the new good album and mandatory classics.
Slipknot
After many years the arrival of their 5th studio album finally convinced me and even though I've seen them before, this was the first time I actually enjoyed it. 9 maniacs full of energy putting up such a great show and now they have all these new great songs to create a massive set list. No wonder they became such a huge headliner.
Faith No More
Not sure if it was Sunday late night or the band got some bad vibes from the audience, but Mike Patton and friends were not really friendly and enthusiastic. But to a fan like me, that wasn't a problem at all. Not sure what people expected, but if you know their new album and have been following what they are doing in this tour, then there were no surprises. Set list was perfect with only great songs. Maybe the encore could've been better. FNM is such a unique band, I wouldn't expect that people who don't know their albums to really like it . Feels like people want more of the same...so many generic bands played this year.
Judas Priest
My only problems here were that the sound was very bad and the crowed was apathetic. I know they are old, but they are the Metal Gods! The set list was so good, specially the first half.
In Flames
The set list was fantastic, the energy was high, the crowed was insane and the weather great! A perfect mix - except for the sound that was not really loud enough and too much bass-drums.
Avatarium
What a great band and fantastic front woman. Only great songs and very enthusiastic musicians, Why not a top show? The sound could be better and the timing a bit later to get more people in.
Lamb Of God
Great show, energetic, fast, and the sun was shining. The set list was great but two songs of the new album may have broken the sequence a bit. I was expecting the crowed to be more enthusiastic though. Headlining the Marquee may work better for them.
Blues Pills
Basically the same comments as Avatarium! Just 70s rock instead of Doom!
We've seen they before right? And we got more of the same tricks, movements and comments...but this time with half of the "team". With that said the set list was really great, so still enjoyed it very much.
Good Shows
Cannibal Corpse: Very good show in the packed Marquee, a roller coaster of brutal Death Metal song after song.
Five Finger Death Punch: Not particularly fan of the set list and also the sound wasn't good. Lift Me Up was worth the show.
Scorpions: Too vanilla? Nothing really special, many solos and ballads..cheesy crowed.
Slash: It was a good show, but it didn't really get me pumped
Ensiferum: Also good band and I really like the new album, but I didn't know other songs and couldn't hear the vocals.
Danko Jones: Great rock n roll show - went well with sun and beer!
Airbourne: It was a good show, but it didn't really get me pumped either
Worst of all: Sonata Arctica
