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Articles : Metal Obsession in France: Hellfest 2015 Preview

By on May 15, 2015

hellfest_2015

Ever dream about that day where you’d see Judas Priest, Motorhead, Godsmack, Lamb Of God, Slipknot, Scorpions, Faith No More, ZZ Top, Limp Bizkit, Dark Tranquility, In Flames, Nightwish, Sylosis, Slash, and just a handful of other such bands in a little French city? Neither did I. The Hellfest promoters either have magical powers or this ardent passion for making metalheads all over the world shit themselves announcing line-ups of this caliber. Which also explains why it sold out in less than a month.

There is quite literally every heavy band you spent your awkward teenage years listening to, a representative from the countless number of sub-genres that have evolved from metal over the years. Europe is undoubtedly the hub for all things heavy metal, being the chosen summer destination for most music addicts; but with a reputation for possibly some of the most killer lineups in metal festival history. Hellfest has always stood out just a little further ahead than most. Six stages and 150 bands over three days of pure metallic bliss. It is definitely one that is on the bucket list for many. Metal Obsession will be attending the 10th edition of this massive French festival in the beautiful and mystic city of Clisson.

hellfest_2015_poster

 

Let’s do a quick (there’s no way I can be quick about this) analysis of the stages this year. The two Main Stages are mini-festivals themselves with all the big wigs of the metal world. Rob Halford and his leather-clad company in Judas Priest are bound to bring in the masses, especially after the release of their 17th album, ‘Redeemer of Souls’. Faith No More just released a killer new album, as well: ‘Sol Invictus’. And it’ll be nothing short of fascinating to see these guys live, playing new material after almost 18 years. Anthrax will also be there reppin’ it for the Big Four at France this year. One of the obvious highlights for me is the Scandinavian blood that will grace the Main Stages. My favourite Gothenberg metallers, Dark Tranquility, and their fellow Swedes in The Haunted. Lamb Of God – need I say more? – I’m really hoping they surprise Hellfest-goers with a new track given that they are in the process of writing their new album. Teenage me would’ve gone apeshit at the thought of seeing bands like LoG, Slipknot, Godsmack and Motorhead – Lemmy friggin Kilmister – all in a matter of 36 hours!

For lovers of all things Pagan, Folk and Fantasy , there’s no shortage of favourites, with bands like Arkona, Ensiferum, Alestorm, Finntroll, Skyforger and Samael; all of whom will be dominating The Temple stage. A stage which sees blackjazz geniuses Shining as headliners and a host of other brilliant bands like Satyricon, Mayhem, Vorkreist, Nidingr, Triptykon and In Extremo. But the highlight at this stage for me is definitely going to be the evil sounds from Carach Angren, a band that can make even the sweetest fairytale absolutely terrifying and gruesome. Dat corpse paint too! And Ne Obliviscaris’ label mates, German black metal band, Der Weg Einer Freiheit, who I’m really looking forward to, as well. If you haven’t checked out their absolutely stunning new album ‘Stellar’, do it now! Oh, and VENOM!!!

The Valley stage hosts some of the world’s finest, trippiest stoner rock and doom metal bands. This year we have the mighty Mastodon headlining this stage along with Orange Goblin and Saint Vitus, alongside the likes of Weedeater, Eyehategod (definitely looking forward to them), and Superjoint Ritual. But two bands that I know for a fact will be well worth all the pain to see live are Ahab and Elder. Both bands create some of the eeriest, yet unique and captivating music I’ve ever heard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I84762UVKSg

The Altar  is where I’ll be hovering around for the most part. The stage of all things extreme. Death  and black metal. More Scandinavian love for Finnish melodeath band Children of Bodom, as well as Sweden’s At The Gates and The Crown. At The Gates blew me away with ‘Slaughter Of The Soul’ and with them back after 20 years with new album, ‘At War With Reality’, it certainly will be special to see these guys live. I’ve already dedicated a paragraph to NeO but you can never talk about them too much. The top blokes from French atmospheric band Hypno5e  are another one of those ‘drifts you to another world bands’ that will be great to see in a live setting. Death metal pioneers Obituary will be headlining this stage along with the brutal Dying Fetus, Cannibal Corpse, Morgoth and Arch Enemy. I have goosebumps already. Headlining this stage on the first day are none other than Meshuggah. What more could you possibly ask for?

For the hardcore punks and punk junkies, The Warzone is where you’ll want to be. I mean, Body Count. Ice T’s going to be bringing the goods with other awesome bands like Rise Against, NOFX, Birds In Row, Biohazard, Terror, Merauder and Dead Kennedys. Some other bands to keep an eye and an ear out for are Desultory, Ghost Brigade, Rise of the Northstar, Snot, Terra Tenebrosa, Red Fang, etc. I’ll probably end up listing the whole bill right here so I shall stop with this… for now!

But wait… there’s more! Hellfest doesn’t just end with this massive line-up.  Clisson becomes metal paradise for three days with all kinds of other activities and entertainment for punters to indulge in including Hell City Square, an Extreme Market where I’m sure I’ll be spending extreme amounts of money, both on food and on merch; a big arse Ferris Wheel; bars; wine bars; free camping; and heaps of other cool stuff.

Bottomline: By the end of those three days, I’m quite sure I will possess no neck, no sense of hearing and will have to crawl around on a skateboard, but for Hellfest, why the ‘hell’ not?

Stay tuned to Metal Obsession for all our upcoming shenanigans at Hellfest!

About

Prarthana is a vegan, Indo-Aussie, heavy music addict, fluent in sarcasm and metal. Traveling is an obsession as she enjoys taking in the history of various countries and following her favorite bands. She's either eating, teaching grammar or learning an instrument, when not occupied with windmilling in the faces of other humans.