by Marcelo
“Too much breakdowns” this is how this festival should be called, but we’ll come to this later.
I left for Bologna early but due to traffic issues I couldn’t catch nothing more than the last couple of song of CAPSIZE, playing in the almost empty venue. I got to suspend my opinion on this young guys, but I got to say they try to difference themselves with some delayed guitars from the classic metal core stuff but they hardly succeed.
NO BRAGGING RIGHTS was one of the bands I wanted to catch and they didn't disappoint.
Even if still playing early (7 pm) and to few kids the band pulled off an energetic set partially interrupted by some “song informational” speeches by the singer.
Their set highlights were “Outdated” and “Brave Hearts” taken from their last album “The Concrete Flower”, these songs were particularly good because even if nothing extremely original, the melodic/harsh vocals was well translated in alive setting, as the singer could really deliver the vocal melodies (unlike others playing after them). Unfortunately their set-list wasn’t mainly based on their last record and their older stuff sounded like generic metal hardcore. Anyway, I liked their newer stuff, this band is going to grow in the next few years.
MORE THAN A THOUSAND came up next and then easily won the WTF? trophy of the night.
The only reason these guys were interesting were the singer, a clone of Andrew WK and the bass player reminding Rex from Pantera. Other than that, nothing interesting if you dislike cheesy metal core stuff worsened by modern electronic intros (a la Scrillex to be clear) in every fucking song.
You can easily imagine why I went to eat & drink something.
OBEY THE BRAVE set continued the trend with some slight improvements. Basically their song structures consisted of fast and two step rhythms with the topping of a “now we play the heavier breakdown ever” moment . The best thing was the singer’s stage presence, bouncing all over with hip hop gestures while the heavily tattooed guitarists stayed planted in their spot.
The venue got progressively filled with the STICK TO YOUR GUNS SET. I was aware by some internet research that the singer of No bragging rights was kind of a preacher (and sure he proved to be...), but he was totally annihilated by the singer Stick To Your Guns. Basically before EVERY song he produced some kind of a speech. Don't get me wrong, it’s great to try to inspire kids to self awareness and not being completely overwhelmed by corporate forces(even if I found ironic that all the band was wearing in Nike sneakers...), but trowing speeches between any pause just gets painfully boring.
Anyway, their set was a bit better than their predecessors, a tight, energetic metal core with the typical scheme bitter chorus, melodic refrain.
Finally, and let me repeat FINALLY, COMEBACK KID came in.
Though they’ve been playing this Impericon Fest for the least few years, it’s evident they bring something different to the table.
Starting with a blasting “G.M. Vincent and I” soon singer Andrew Neufeld put himself almost in the pit screaming vocals with the kids.
I’m more into their older stuff so my highlights were “All In Year”, “Talk Is Cheap” and “Broadcasting”(during which I found myself screaming TOBIAAAASSS, if you haven’t seen these video from these geniuses, go now! http://youtu.be/DglM9VsDOhg), as the band proceeded without almost no pauses between one song and another.
Even if the only founding members are singer Andrew Neufeld and guitarist Jeremy Hiebert their musical delivery was good as always and new members did not disappoint.
“Wake the dead” was as always the closer song, which Andrew sung almost entirely in the pit, visually and emotionally a great moment for an almost perfect HC song.
If you ain't got it, my winners of the night (ahah...)
TERROR came after and, as the kids were a little hesitant to mosh, singer Frank Vogel started to be…Frank Vogel!
If you don’t know the guy, here is a sneak preview, www.vogelism.com, he actually said a couple of these phrases.
Anyway, they delivered their tough/guy mosh core stuff that was heavily appreciated by the crowd.
To me, I just don’t understand how big this band is, as I can’t find any differences with Hatebreed.
That being said, they put on a solid show and surely they know how to make people move.
So finally, a long festival mainly for the fans of mosh core, I remain convinced that with some more musical differences between the bands it would be a lot more enjoyable.
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