Getaway Rock Festival 2010
The Swedish festival summer has found itself in turmoil ever since Hultsfredsfestivalen, one of the previous giants, was cancelled due to poor economy and not enough ticket sales. Another big name, Arvikafestivalen, recently presented negative results and it remains unclear whether it will be able to continue next year. At the same time there are new festivals popping up all the time, also within the hard rock/metal scene. There was a lot of talk beforehand how unfortunate it was that Getaway Rock Festival in Gävle on its first year would be held during the same days as Rockweekend, located in the nearby city of Söderhamn.
Would both festivals be able to gather enough attention and visitors? On my behalf I had no problems deciding on which festival to visit when comparing the line-ups, which meant a hands-down victory for GRF. Why? Simply because the balance between brutal and softer acts as well as reliable veterans and exciting newcomers was nothing short of perfect. With three head-liners that couldn't have cost as absurdely much as for example Guns N' Roses or Aerosmith would have done, it was obvious that the organisers had reasoned that the budget should be distributed rather equally to get a strong line-up all around. Read on to find out what Metal Covenant thought about the performances at the first year of Getaway Rock Festival.
~ Niklas
|Thursday| - |Friday| - |Saturday|
Reviews by Niklas/Mozzy/Tommy/Tribe
Photos by Niklas/David
Thursday - July 08
Band: Raubtier
Monster Stage 12:00
~ By Tommy
Raubtier, Sweden's light version of Rammstein with slightly more melody
in the choruses, had the honor of playing the inaugural gig at this brand
new festival and it was a really good kick-off indeed. The three-piece
performed well in the scorching sun, the sound was good and singer/guitarist
Hulkoff's modest but funny talks in beetween songs made an enjoyable start
of the weekend. I love them on their debut album but I really did not
know what to expect from them in a live situation. I was positively surprised
as they managed to bring out the raw and primitive power behind their
songs well.
7,5 chalices of 10
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(sorry, no setlist)
Band: Wolf
Bandit Stage 12:50
~ By Tommy
Wolf's gig also surprised me but unfortunately in an opposite way. When
I saw them open the Rockweekend festival last year it was a good and energy
filled set which set the tone for the rest of that festival, but this
time there was something missing. The band seemed inspired enough but
it never really took off at any point. Some minor sound problems and a
surprisingly small crowd might have contributed to this, but also the
fact that the setlist was not optimal with a few too may long songs that
broke the momentum, and the song Voodoo I wouldn't at all mind if they
scrap from the set in the future. I never thought I would get bored during
a Wolf concert, because I love the band and their music is in general
brilliant and right up my alley, but there I was at times throwing an
eye at the beer tent when I instead should have been focused on the gig,
had it been captivating enough. But unfortunately it wasn't.
5 chalices of 10
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(sorry, no setlist)
Band: Dark Tranquillity
Bandit Stage 16:50
~ By Niklas
Dark Tranquillity's latest album We Are The Void is arguably one of the
greatest releases so far this year, and considering they've been touring
like crazy during this spring one can expect that their live perfomance
should be pretty damn solid by now. And while the band (particularly the
vivid front man Mikael Stanne) works hard and new tracks like Dream Oblivion
and The Fatalist feels like future live classics, something is missing.
As a festival act, Dark Tranquillity isn't really allowed to display their
whole catalouge and the key is most likely spelled out in their band name.
In the scorching sun in front of a surprisingly small crowd, the show
never really takes off as high as it usually does during Dark Tranquillity's
gigs. We will simply have to wait until their autumn/winter tour to see
what Dark Tranquillity in the year of 2010 really is capable of. Still,
easily the best thing I witnessed all day long.
7 chalices of 10
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(sorry, no setlist)
Band: Airbourne
Monster Stage 17:45
~ By Mozzy
One of the hottest newcomers on the scene in recent years, Australia's
Airbourne is a much-anticipated act at Getaway Rock. Aside from their
excellent albums, their reputation as an explosive, mad live band have
no doubt preceded them, and they sure live up to it. Bouncing eagerly
onto the stage, they burst into Raise The Flag, an appropriate call to
arms, and from here it's all guns blazing. Essentially a pub rock band,
or at least a band that are best suited to more intimate venues - this
they admit themselves - they adapt effortlessly to a festival stage. Singer
and guitarist Joel O'Keefe leads the charge; not standing still for a
second, the bare-chested frontman is singing and screaming, riffing and
soloing, leaping and running around, all the while displaying an endless
array of rock poses - everything done with firm dedication. His bandmates
complement the attack, with bassist Justin Street especially on fire.
While the show rocks like hell, it becomes just a bit unfocused musically
at times. Also, the absence of Stand Up For Rock n' Roll is disappointing.
That said, with a festival crowd ready for a party, Airbourne go down a storm at Getaway. The atmosphere builds steadily, to rise further during a thunderous Born To Kill. O'Keefe, who seems to get thinner and thinner, gulps whiskey and wine throughout the show and takes every chance to egg on the audience. During Cheap Wine And Cheaper Women, he manages to get many to sit on their friends' shoulders, and then, during Girls In Black, it's time for the singer's trademark show-off. Previously content with climbing up the side of the stage, he nowadays climbs all the way up onto the roof. There he leans out into the air and performs some guitar-soloing - to the great roar of the crowd, of course.
It may be that one day the crazy frontman makes a spectacular, high-flying
demise. All the same, one suspects that he very much ignores such concern,
being dead determined to continue with his band's mission - to rock hard
and to entertain. As O'Keefe informs the audience at the end, before managing
to start an unconventional moshpit, "we're not a metal band, but
we're a crazy rock n' roll band!" Indeed they are, and not just a
highly entertaining one but a damn terrific one as well.
7,5 chalices of 10
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Setlist:
Raise The Flag
Hellfire
Chewin' The Fat
Diamond In The Rough
Girls In Black
Cheap Wine And Cheaper Women
Born To Kill
No Way But The Hard Way
Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast
Runnin' Wild
Band: Cavalera Conspiracy
Monster Stage 20:00
~ By Mozzy
For the second time since the two Cavalera brothers reunited, fans in
Sweden get the chance to see them in Cavalera Conspiracy. Naturally, the
audience is large as the band kick off with the title track from 2008's
Inflikted. It is followed by a fantastic, explosive version of Sanctuary
and is accompanied by most of the songs from the album. With hardly any
chat between songs, this is very much a nonstop bombardment of brutal,
in-your-face metal. It is characteristic of the Cavalera brand; most aggressive
and very, very hard - the word 'hard' is indeed especially descriptive,
as the songs are delivered with a ruthless, whipping force. A main factor
is Igor Cavalera's unmistakable attack on his drums, also at a really
loud volume. Bassist Johny Chow adds fat bass and Marc Rizzo some blistering
guitar work and high energy as usual. Max sings in his marvellous, trademark
aggro style, but it is quite strange how his guitar is barely audible,
taking away some of the sharp attack.
To be honest, Max does not show that much vigour or mobility during the show, but his massive authority speaks for itself. The crowd follows his every call to fuck shit up, and by the frontman's request, a brutal moshpit erupts and keeps on going for much of the set. One fan can be seen rushing out of the battle field, blood running from his nose. A couple of minutes later, tissue in his nose and still bloody, he jumps straight in again. The highlight however is a guy on crutches who heroically joins in the sprinting, also being carried (!) round the pit for a short while. Priceless stuff.
As expected, we are treated to some Sepultura jewels; Refuse/Resist and Roots Bloody Roots - which include a murderous fast part - make the hair stand on your neck and incite some wild action. Unfortunately, there is no material from the earlier Sep albums, but that has probably to do with the limited time. On the other hand, we get a Nailbomb song, Wasting Away, as well as War Lord, a taster from the upcoming Cavalera Conspiracy album. Complementing the mayhem on offer, there is a laid-back, warm attitude onstage. As on the album, Black Ark sees duet vocals between Max and his stepson Ritchie Cavalera, while Max' son Igor sits in for his uncle behind the kit for Attitude, displaying some impressive talent. And at the concert's conclusion, drummer Igor's youngest son is led onstage to experience the salutations from an overjoyed crowd.
8 chalices of 10
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(sorry, no setlist)
Band: Exodus
Bandit Stage 21:15
~ By Mozzy
During the later part of Exodus' set, one member of the audience gets
so excited that he simply strips off his clothes, leaving them in a pile
with his girlfriend, and heads for the circle pit. His eagerness to join
in makes him falling over in the first sharp turn, but that does not deter
him as he thrashes about stark-naked for a couple of minutes. The band
break out in laughter onstage, prompting a crew member to film the entertainment.
The actual nudity aside, it is a beautiful sight, confirming the impact
and appeal of the Exodus live experience.
Opening with the two first tracks off the latest album, the reception is a bit lame to start with, leaving vocalist Rob Dukes and guitarist Gary Holt unsatisfied and stirring up the crowd. Before Iconoclasm, Dukes calls for an old-school circle-pit, and from here on, there is intense activity in a colossal pit. This certainly feeds off on the band too, who display high energy and dedication throughout the gig, Holt and his compatriots handle their instruments with tons of expertise and are ridiculously tight and well-trimmed together. Add a crisp sound and their delivery is simply a vicious, face-ripping onslaught. Combined with the set of classics at their disposal, Exodus could well be the essence of violent thrash metal. As for Rob Dukes, he is clearly not the greatest of singers but that has never been a main factor in Exodus anyway. He does his task well and surely has the attitude.
Song-wise, we get a string of old favourites, many picked from Bonded
By Blood but also newer belters. The numbers from the debut make the crowd
go mental, but songs like War Is My Shepherd and Blacklist are also a
pleasure to hear. Toxic Waltz sends the moshers into bliss, but finishing
with Good Riddance - a good song but not as well-known - instead of another
classic pearl hampers the finale. Nevertheless, the moshpit, consisting
of fans young and old, is a sea of happy thrashers tonight, and rightly
so because Exodus are on top form. One of the older participants, jogging
lap after lap with a contented smile plastered on his face, sports a t-shirt
with the classic "good friendly violent fun" on the back - as
fitting a summary as any, although this was rather a happening of "brilliant
friendly violent fun"!
8,5 chalices of 10
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(sorry, no setlist)
Band: Megadeth
Monser Stage 22:30
~ By Niklas
It's always been frustrating to witness Megadeth as a live act. The problem
has never been the songs, but rather the front man Dave Mustaine himself.
As charismatic as he might appear in interviews, on stage he mostly resembles
a wooden mannequin that hardly moves around at all and mostly stares at
his own shoes. Why not make any attempts to involve the audience in the
songs or at least try to sing properly? Mustaine's grunting vocals makes
it difficult to hear what he's singing about and therefore the complex
guitar solos and the thrashy riffs are the positive aspects of the show.
It's a shame since the set list is perhaps I've ever seen with Megadeth,
with classics like In My Darkest Hour and Holy Wars... The Punishment
Due mixed with more recent tracks like Headcrusher. But the show is still
a minor disappointment, considering that they should be able to pull this
off so much better.
6 chalices of 10
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(sorry, no setlist)
Friday - July 09
Band: The Quireboys
Monster Stage 12:45
~ By Mozzy
Compared to The Quireboys' previous visit in this country, for the gig
at Sweden Rock one month earlier, the gathering at Getaway Rock is small,
the stage time being 12.45. That does not put off this group the slightest,
however; being experienced in the game, they simply commence their rock
n' roll show in a confident manner. And equipped with a string of timeless
tunes, they just cannot go wrong. Playing irresistible blues rock numbers
such as Roses And Rings, Hey You and Mona Lisa Smiled, they soon create
a wonderful vibe, with a joyous reception and singing from the spectators.
Much of the appeal also comes from the infectious, cheerful atmosphere
onstage; it's obvious the band enjoy playing together and they have an
excellent, down-to-earth connection with the crowd. As always, it is a
treat to watch vocalist Spike, who clearly revels in his role as frontman
and true rocker. Having continuous sips of beer between the songs, he
sure is a character, with an expressive, entertaining stage manner. "We
have a delayed flight; I knew we should have got a private plane",
jokes the singer. Assuming the band spent their spare time in the bar
- not a wild guess - it is most well-deserved, as they provide a splendid,
feelgood start to the day.
8 chalices of 10
(sorry, no setlist)
Band: Sonic Syndicate
Monster Stage 14:45
~ By Niklas
The more times I see Falkenberg's Sonic Syndicate perform live, the more
impressed I get. By the constant movement on stage, by the seemingly tireless
bandmembers, by the song material that gets better and better with each
release. Sonic Syndicate as of today has an arsenal of compositions so
powerful that they easily can put together a more than enjoyable show
on the biggest stage at GRF, with old favourites like Jack Of Diamonds,
Denied and Power Shift as well as the new song Revolution, Baby that shows
good potential for the upcoming album We Rule The Night. What makes it
even more hard-hitting than before is the British newcomer Nathan J Biggs,
an astonishing recruit to the ranks who in spite of a young age seems
to be able to handle large audiences like this one in his sleep. The way
he and his bandmates deliver the hit single Burn This City with a sing-along
together with the audience is so convincing that I surrender completely,
and declare this to be the best concert of the whole festival.
8 chalices of 10
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(sorry, no setlist)
Band: Jorn
Bandit Stage 15:45
~ By Mozzy
Jorn Lande is one of the most heralded singers of the last decade, and
not without reason. In short, the Norwegian has an absolutely phenomenal
voice, with power, versatility and character, and it is a highlight in
itself to hear the man sing this afternoon. However, there are a couple
of other things to remark on. With his solo band, he has indeed released
some good albums. However, the latest effort, Spirit Black, was a bit
of a disappointment, comprising fine but quite unspectacular tracks. It
is understandable Jorn wants to plug his latest release, but with a good
portion of the set based on Spirit Black the show does not really lift.
Overall, the choice of songs is questionable, as many gems - such as Tungur
Knivur - which are simply better than some songs that are played, are
not included.
Also, despite being skilful musicians, the band - including the frontman
- are in truth not that entertaining too watch, and could well try harder
when it comes to creating a bond with the audience. Bassist Nic Angileri,
cheerily bouncing around, is the only one who seems to be truly enjoying
himself. A drum solo does not help matters either. Song For Ronnie James,
Jorn's tribute to his idol, is heart-warming but the actual song clearly
works better on record. The response get better and better though, and
overall this is surely a competent and enjoyable enough show, including
excellent tunes such as Stormcrow. It's just that expectations were higher,
and the band does not make things easy for themselves.
6 chalices of 10
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(sorry, no setlist)
Band: Degradead
Gasklockan Stage 16:15
~ By Niklas
Most of the bands playing inside Gasklockan are only allowed to play for
half an hour, which means that there is little room for fooling around
and performing filler tracks. On the contrary this is a rare chance for
many of these artists to perform in front of a rather large audience and
gain many new fans. Considering all this, Degradead's show at GRF is pretty
much as good as it can be and probably the greatest performance I've seen
them do yet. The set list is perfectly balanced, with three tracks from
the In Flames-produced debut album Til Death Do Us Apart and three tracks
from their sophomore effort Out Of Body Experience, while the stunning
opener Human Nature proves to be tasteful appetizer for the upcoming album
A World Destroyer, which I can't wait to hear.
8 chalices of 10
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(sorry, no setlist)
Band: Overkill
Monster Stage 17:00
~ By Tommy
This was a mighty thrash attack and one of the very best concerts during
the course of this festival along with Cannibal Corpse, Cavalera Conpiracy
and DevilDriver, who were the only bands that delivered a really stellar
set. One razor sharp riff after the other came blistering by on the stage
that had the best sound of them all on the festival, and Bobby "Blitz"
Ellsworth was conducting the show with an iron hand, seemingly as vital
as ever. The setlist was great, but not optimal, with a great mix of old
classics and cuts from the new great album. I honestly don't think a live
musical hour has passed so fast in my life before, and that proves the
old saying; "Time flies when you are having fun".
8,5 chalices of 10
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(sorry, no setlist)
Band: DevilDriver
Bandit Stage 20:45
~ By Tribe
This band was one out of two that I really looked forward to see on this
festival, and they absolutely did not disappoint me. Fast paced thrashy
metal with fat and juicy drums, vocals that are very well suited for this
style and very catchy riffs that make even the most depressed person smile.
California based DevilDriver came out as a very frenetic and tight piece
this night. The talk in between songs also felt very natural and honest,
in contrast to quite a few other bands I saw this weekend, and there is
by now a big aura of routine over the band. The best songs in the set
was Clouds Over California and Not All Who Wander Are Lost.
It was pure delight to see their dedication on stage, and they succeeded by far to create the biggest circle pit during this weekend. Which is not spectacular in itself, since they usually do, but even more impressive was the fact that vocalist Dez Fafara, as always, took the time to secure a safe environment for those who did not want to participate and clearly marked up different areas for the sane as well as the insane ones, and urged everyone to help picking up the poor fallen ones from the ground. I crown this the highligt of the Getaway Rock Festival.
8,5 chalices of 10
(sorry, no setlist)
Saturday - July 10
Band: The Crown
Monster Stage 12:45
~ By Mozzy
The resurrection of The Crown, a truly classic member of the Swedish death
metal league, came as wonderful news. A couple of years after their split
in 2004, the members - minus singer Johan Lindstrand - joined forces in
Dobermann, with the Deathstars' Andreas Bergh behind the microphone. Then
last December, the band - now with Jonas Stålhammar on vocals -
suddenly announced their return as The Crown.
So here they are, doing their ´real´ comeback, following a warm-up gig in their hometown a week earlier. Taking the stage to the colossal, heavy World Below, as the first band of the day, the turnout is not that large, but the ones in the front rows certainly make known their devotion throughout the show, headbanging feverishly and chanting the band's name. Without being that extrovert onstage, it's still obvious that the band too are enjoying themselves and the response they get. New singer Stålhammar does not have Lindstrand's authority or depth in his voice, but he does a fine job, interpreting the songs close to the studio versions and working the audience well.
But what is the real treat today is the songs. Executioner - Slayer Of The Light, Under The Whip, Back From The Grave, Total Satan and Blitzkrieg Witchcraft - to name a few - are pure death metal hits; remarkably catchy despite their speed and brutality. Performed tight as hell, these and the remaining songs in the set hit the spectators with an irresistible, venomous determination and force. It is hard not to mention drummer Janne Saarenpää, who massacres his kit with incredible intensity and precision. It is a veritable brick-in-the-face assault that is nothing but a sheer joy to witness. The mighty Crown has returned indeed, welcome back guys!
8,5 chalices of 10
(sorry, no setlist)
Band: Deathstars
Festival Stage 14:30
~ By Niklas
Something that made this festival stand out from all the others I've visited
is that the sound was so consistently good throughout all three days.
One of the few occasions when the sound failed was unfortunately during
Deathstars' show, where at least from my position close to the stage the
vocals seemed to disappear from time to time. That the vocalist Whiplasher
Bernadotte seems more concerned about how his poses look on camera instead
of focusing on the vocal parts probably isn't helping either. Not only
that, but the audience seems rather drowsy (half past two is considered
morning time on festivals, kids) which is another reason why the show
at times feel a bit stale, even if it all picks up towards the end with
hits like Blitzkrieg, Death Dies Hard and Cyanide. Plus, it's hardly the
band's fault that I've seen them three times in one year's time and know
the routines a little bit too well by now. Still, a new album sometime
soon would be nice.
6 chalices of 10
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(sorry, no setlist)
Band: Gormathon
Gasklockan Stage 14:35
~ By Tribe
I had early decided that I would skip Deathstars, which is not my cup
of tea, and instead check out the local and for me previously unknown
death metal band Gormathon. And now knowing the result I certainly don't
regret that move. The band managed to gather a modest 150-200 piece crowd
so there was plenty of space for me in the venue. Vocalist Tony Sunnhag
reminds me quite a bit of Johan Hegg of Amon Amarth and so does Gormathon's
music in general. Sunnhag performed a more than decent growl, but what
appealed the most to me was his more high pitched vocals in the choruses.
In many other cases I feel that does not really fit in but in this case
it was spot on. I want to add, after now having heard their debut album,
that the growl was more brutal live than it is on the album.
Gormathon had a nice and heavy groove with simple yet effective riffs
that made the crowd bang their heads consistantly throughout the gig.
They pulled off a really good gig despite the small crowd that had showed
up to see them. However, there is a bit more to wish for when it comes
to the other guys in the band. A little bit more motion and interaction
with the audience would not hurt, but I am sure that will come by time.
Musically, this band appeals to me very much and I hope they will keep
producing ace songs like for example Skyrider in the future. Then I will
keep being a faithful fan.
7 chalices of 10
(sorry, no setlist)
Band: Engel
Bandit Stage 15:30
~ By Niklas
After their debut album Absolute Design in 2008 Engel has pretty much
been on hiatus due to band member's Niclas Engelin involvement in In Flames,
filling in for the recently retired Jesper Strömblad. Bit of a shame,
the melodic death-influenced Gothenburg-group has potential and while
it becomes pretty obivous that they're still lacking a bit in the song
department, the show almost manages to remain entertaining from beginning
to end thanks to hard work from both the band and their fans. You might
say that it's either brave or stupid to open the concrt with the strongest
and most famous piece, in Engel's case the Bandit-hit Sense The Fire,
but the band luckily has a few more aces up their sleeves. As the grande
finale, Engel invites Lillasyster-vocalist Martin Westerstrand (formerly
of the band LOK) which looks a bit funny since he's in a wheelchair due
to spindal disc herniation, but his guest appearence on the closing track
In Splendour proves to be a rather memorable finish.
6 chalices of 10
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(sorry, no setlist)
Band: Crucified Barbara
Monster Stage 16:30
~ By Tommy
This was the third time I saw Crucified Barbara in a relatively short
time, and this was the best show so far. The girls have routine, they
have catchy songs and choruses for the most, but nevertheless I have always
felt there is something missing and this was no exception. Considering
the somewhat raw edge there is to their music, I miss some primal and
raw power behind everything since occasionally, during short periods,
it dies a little. It also appears as the band has not yet gotten completely
comfortable on the big stages and are probably, I'm just guessing here,
doing way better in small clubs still. But this aside, it was a solid
gig, no more and no less. The band and the crowd were enjoying themselves,
but it should be possible to bring it up at least a tiny notch in the
future. Then it should get really interesting. Now it's "just"
enjoyable in a cozy kind of way.
6 chalices of 10
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(sorry, no setlist)
Band: The Haunted
Bandit Stage 17:30
~ By Niklas
These days The Haunted rarely bring neither negative or positive surprises
to their gigs, it feels. Maybe it's because I myself felt that the latest
offering Versus was quite uninspired and the fact that the band doesn't
have a new album out might be the reason that this show falls a bit flat.
The Haunted nowadays has however a strong back catalogue to lean towards,
and songs like 99 or D.O.A. are always great for kickstarting an audience,
and with a vocalist as charismatic as Peter Dolving you can never become
bored altogether. It's simply solid thrash metal all the way through,
but when the biggest surprise this time is that their arguably biggest
hit All Against All isn't performed, it's difficult to get too excited.
6 chalices of 10
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(sorry, no setlist)
Band: Triptykon
Monster Stage 18:30
~ By Mozzy
When Deicide cancelled their appearance at Getaway Rock, the organisers
found a most capable substitute: Triptykon, the legendary Celtic Frost
main man Tom G. Warrior's new outfit. Triptykon is of course a new band
but basically Celtic Frost under another name and with a different line-up.
Much of the material written for the debut album was originally intended
for a new Celtic Frost album, which sadly did not happen.
Celtic Frost's performance at Sweden Rock Festival in 2006 is one that many find very memorable. Playing late at night, the ultra-heavy set was truly epic. This time, Tom G. Warrior and cohorts take the stage with the sun basking and the crowd - rather small unfortunately - a bit dozy from the heat. Opening with a bone-grindingly heavy version of Procreation Of The Wicked, the commitment from the band is visible right away; Warrior and his bandmates put on a gritty stage persona, with a resolute expression which harmonises with the sinister mood of the music. Bassist Vanja Slajh and guitarist V Santura are headbanging along, but overall there is minimal visual entertainment.
Though not the most energetic of shows, it is a captivating display with
the music as the focal point. The pitch-dark metal is as doom and gloom
as it gets under these conditions - the sunny setting is of course far
from ideal but does not actually affect things that much. The sound is
fat too, aiding the impact. Perhaps far too dark and depressing for a
festival crowd on paper, Triptykon go down really well. Though not everyone
is familiar with the music, many can be seen banging their heads in unison
to the monstrously heavy compositions. We get a couple of more Celtic
Frost classics, as well as material from the Triptykon album, from which
the concluding number in the set, The Prolonging, is an absolute beast.
This will not be a concert as spoken of as the afore-mentioned Celtic
Frost one, but it is surely impressive, proving that Tom G. Warrior is
very much a force to be reckoned with, even without the Celtic Frost moniker.
7,5 chalices of 10
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Setlist:
Procreation of The Wicked
Goetia
Circle of The Tyrants
Babylon Fell
Synagoga Satanae
The Prolonging
Band: Cannibal Corpse
Bandit Stage 19:45
~ By Tribe
The sound had earlier been good but not the best on the Bandit Rock Stage,
but during Cannibal Corpse's gig it was as good as ever gets. A crystal
clear sound and every single note played could be descerned, and that
says something considering the type of music they play. The mighty George
"Corpsegrinder" Fisher opened the set with the most brutal and
intense headbanging this festival most likely will ever see. It was the
start of an hour of complete pulverizing by this highly competent death
metal quintet. There was, not surprisingly, not one dead second but instead
an extremely heavy grinding which made me feel like a little schoolboy
that just got the verbal beating of his life by his step dad. Just like
a want it when listening to death metal.
Cannibal Corpse had complete control over the situation despite the relatively
complex music they play, but then again they have an enormous amount of
routine, and Corpsegrinder owned the stage and the audience with his mighty
voice. They were very tight and seemingly very inspired this day. When
they decide to visit Sweden the next time, I will definitely be there,
whereever it might be. This was the second best gig of the festival as
far as I am concerned, only beaten by DevilDriver.
8 chalices of 10
(sorry, no setlist)
Band: Europe
Monster Stage 20:45
~ By Niklas
Europe is a band that probably sounds better than ever now with all the
members in their fourties, gone is all the hairspray from the pinnacle
of their career, now replaced with a harder edge that in the year of 2010
is surprisingly enjoyable to experience live. The good sales of the latest
album has clearly been a boost to Joey Tempest & Co, who look more
confident than ever when unleashing tracks from both well-known and lesser-known
albums. Given the name of the festival the band doesn't miss the opportunity
to joke around a bit when performing the song The Getaway Plan and claiming
that it was written on the bus on the way to the gig. It's an altogether
very convincing performance, what makes this slightly more memorable than
on Sweden Rock Festival a year ago is that Europe since then has got themselves
their biggest hit since sometime in the 80s, with the ballad New Love
In Town. A song that not only makes for a great sing-along, but also gets
rid of the painful Carrie, a win-win situation in my book.
8 chalices of 10
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(sorry, no setlist)
Band: Vader
Gasklockan Stage 22:45
~ By Tommy
Not only was this a disappointment for me, it was unfortunately a disappointment
with a capital D. Vader drew a big and enthusiastic crowd and they performed
the set with millimeter precision as always. Very impressive. But alas,
the sound was just horrible and ruined the show completely for me. The
drums were too dominant and the guitars and Peter's vocals way too weak.
I know this band's songs inside out but most of the time I could not even
discern what riffs were being played. Bands like Torture Division and
Zombiekrieg had earlier that day had, if not great, at least a good sound
so it was not all due to the venue even though it was not the most suitable
one for a gig like this. Vader should definitely have played on one of
the outdoor stages, this was the biggest and really the only screw-up
in this area this weekend.
The setlist was good and intense but short, and the band performed it
flawlessly but the bad sound made this, extremely sad to say, more or
less a waste of time. Perhaps the experience was better front row because
the people located there sure seemed to go completely nuts, but since
I never spend my concert time there anymore, I would never know. I walked
around trying to get a sonically better spot but there was not one to
be found, since it was just as lousy everywhere in the back. An otherwise
musically extremely good festival ended with pouty lips for me.
3 chalices of 10
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(sorry, no setlist)
Band: Slash
Monster Stage 23:30
~ By Niklas
Judging by previous set lists on Slash's 2010-tour, his apperance on Getaway
Rock Festival would be a rather divided showcase. With songs from his
whole career, his new solo album and the bands Guns N Roses, Snakepit
and Velvet Revolver, would it feel coherent enough to actually work? The
answer to that question is - yes, and very much so. The man that holds
it all together is no one else than the vocalist Myles Kennedy from the
band Alter Bridge, who without any visible problems whatsoever does great
impressions of both Axl Rose as well as Scott Weiland, and does full justice
to classics like Nightrain, Slither and Sweet Child O' Mine. With four
of the best songs from the rather positive surprise that is Slash's solo
album, this becomes a rare occassion when a concert feels way to short.
Still, it could not have ended much better than with the encore Paradise
City, a perfect closure to the festival.
8 chalices of 10
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(sorry, no setlist)
Closing Words
Prior to the clash between Getaway Rock Festival and Rockweekend the media was talking about a "war" between the two, but it turned out to be more of a slaughter. GRF sold all their tickets (14 000) while Rockweekend only sold half as much, but the important thing here was how well organized GRF was. While it was the first time for the festival, the organisers were hardly newcomers and knew exactly how things like these should be done. Two large scenes outdoors as well as a smaller one indoors made the rather compact festival area feeling both diverse and well-planned.
Comparing to big names like Sweden Rock and Wacken Open Air it was also a relief to get away from the enormous crowds and instead spend three days on a festival with a more familiar feeling, were there was never any problems with getting stuck in long lines and such. Except for the fact that the different choices of food at display was rather weak (perhaps half of the salespersons were at Rockweekend?) there were no complaints on my behalf at all. That the weather was absolutely perfect was the icing on the cake.
When Slash had finished his set and the festival
was over, the organisers told the audience from the stage that the festival
had been a huge success and that there would be a second year of Getaway
Rock Festival. The dates have been set to 7-9 July 2011 and if the line-up
is just as good as this year, Metal Covenant will definitely show up to
bring you the reviews once again.
~ Niklas
Related links: www.getawayrock.se