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Skogsröjet 2013

My second visit at Skogsröjet festival, located in the village of Rejmyre, about 185 kilometers (115 miles) Southwest of Stockholm, Sweden. The festival opened its gates on Thursday evening 25th as a warm-up including a Gilby Clarke acoustic set in the bar area. Friday morning was rainy, but when I arrived on Friday afternoon I was met by a great festival weather. I saw some puddles on the asphalt, but the temperature was around 25°C (77°F) and partly cloudy most of the weekend, with a bit chillier nights.

With only around 4000 visitors each day Friday and Saturday and with limited funds, the festival had announced a fantastic line-up. Unfortunately a lot of the festival goers decided to bail out on the smaller and less known bands during the afternoons and on some shows I counted to a poor 100-150 people in front of the stages. I believe a good idea would be to let the more known bands play the main stage from early afternoon to bring people down to the grounds.

With two stages and a compressed schedule, a few bands conflicted during Friday night. A schedule with no time for changeovers is doomed to fuck up. When I arrived in time for Treat we were already running late by 15 minutes and when Helloween started its set past midnight, we were 40 minutes late. Personally I would prefer at least a 5-10 minute break between the sets and one band less. Now I had to decide a couple of times if I should stay and see the last songs of a band or leave and see the first songs of another band, both equally important to me.
//Tobbe

|Friday| - |Saturday|

Reviews and photos by Tobbe

Friday - July 26

Band: Treat
Rockklassiker Stage 17:40-18:40

With Treat out on their farewell tour in 2013, I once again had the opportunity to catch a set. I wasn't that pleased with their performance at Sweden Rock in early June and therefore I didn't know what to expect from this late afternoon gig at a festival 1/7 the size.

It took like forever to get my wristband, so I thought I was late for the show. This time Lady Luck smiled upon me though. As the schedule was running late, I arrived in the opener Roar and I couldn't instantly see that Treat was armed to the teeth, when not playing at noon like last time I saw them. They showed joy and excitement for their duties and drummer Jamie Borger was shining bright with his repertoire.

Treat forms a solid unit and with Fredrik Thomander, who co-wrote about half of their last album, on bass, I think it's a shame that they have decided to call it quits. It's not all about the original members anymore, meaning that vocalist Robert Ernlund and guitarist Anders Wikström have had much weight lifted off their shoulders. Keyboarder and guitarist Patrick Appelgren shows us what he's got and all members contribute to the performance to make it something worth being there for.

With a mixture of new and old stuff, they play pretty much the same set that they have played the last three years. I think it's really funny when Ernlund tells us that they have checked out Facebook and internet forums to find out which songs to play. A good one, Robert. If they had changed their setlist, they would have for sure earned a higher rating.

Performance: 6 chalices of 10
Stage sound
: 8 chalices of 10
Best
: Changes, Skies Of Mongolia and drummer Jamie Borger
Worst
: Get You On The Run


Setlist:
Roar
Strike Without A Warning
Ready For The Taking
Papertiger
Medley: Rev It Up/Party All Over/Sole Survivor/Too Wild
We Own The Night
Changes
Get You On The Run
Conspiracy
-----------
Skies Of Mongolia
World Of Promises


Band: Shotgun
Tube Stage 18:40-19:25

With 2/4 of Shotgun Messiah's original line-up, Shotgun with vocalist Zinny Zan and drummer Stixx is completed by bassplayer Chris Laney and Danger Danger guitarist Rob Marcello. With only half of the original members, only half of the name is used. This gig was their first appearance, but it sure didn't looked like it. Total professionals.

I remember buying Shotgun Messiah's self titled album many years ago. I liked a couple of songs, but the approach and the production was too weak for me, as I was more a heavy metaller than a sleaze rocker. When I now hear the songs live, they blow me away. What a different arrangement. The songs sound fresh and also somewhat up-to-date and I would never had thought that I would enjoy this show this vividly.

Marcello is a fantastic guitarist and he lifts some of the decent songs to new and unknown levels. The songs are so much better live and the guys on stage are focused and committed. This was one of the festival's best moments and these forty-five minutes went by way too fast.

Performance: 7 chalices of 10
Stage sound
: 8 chalices of 10
Best
: Squeezin' Teazin' and Sexdrugsrockn'roll
Worst
: A few songs wouldn't have made the set if there were more songs to pick from


Setlist:
Squeezin' Teazin'
Don't Care Bout Nothin'
Nowhere Fast
Bop City
Dirt Talk
Nervous
Shout It Out
I'm Your Love
Sexdrugsrockn'roll


Band: Lordi
Rockklassiker Stage 19:45-20:45

Every metal kid's favorite monsters? Not really. I believe it's more the kids' parents that enjoy this show and use the kids as a subterfuge. Mr. Lordi brings his accessories on stage, one after the other. It's smoke-guns, dolls, skulls, etc. With his massive outfit, there is not much room for explosive moving patterns and some visual experience is missing. The actual show is pretty amusing nevertheless.

The songs however are not much to my liking. They tend to be somewhat the same all through and they are simply not that good as a whole. With six songs off The Arockalypse, they play a set with their most known songs, since their Eurovision Song Contest winner Hard Rock Hallelujah comes off that album. With this in hand, I can't offer Lordi more than 5 chalices for tonight's performance.

Performance: 5 chalices of 10
Stage sound
: 7 chalices of 10
Best
: They Only Come Out At Night and Sincerely With Love
Worst
: Lordi played 6 songs off the album The Arockalypse


Setlist:
Intro
We're Not Bad For The Kids (We're Worse)
Bringing Back The Balls To Rock
The Riff
Who's Your Daddy?
Blood Red Sandman
It Snows In Hell
Drum Solo
Supermonstars (The Anthem Of The Phantoms)
I'm The Best
Guitar Solo
They Only Come Out At Night
Devil Is A Loser
Hard Rock Hallelujah
Sincerely With Love
Would You Love A Monsterman?


Band: Gilby Clarke
Tube Stage 20:35-21:30

Performance: - chalices of 10
Stage sound
: - chalices of 10
Best
: ---
Worst
: ---


(sorry, no setlist)


Band: Kreator
Rockklassiker Stage 21:45-23:00

Main man Mille Petrozza said during the set that they were a bit concerned about playing this festival, when being the only thrash metal band in the line-up. He then lied, straight to our faces, and told us they shouldn't have worried at all and that they were satisfied with the crowd's response.

With a small crowd like this, Kreator's moshpit don't fall out the way we're used to and with four security personnel also trying to stop any violent activities in the pit, this turns out embarrassing, as Petrozza is encouraging more violence in the pit simultaneously.

The band played a pretty varied set with mainly songs off their two first albums and songs from the 2000's. No matter which Kreator fans you ask, they all want to hear different songs from this band. Some wants their older stuff and some don't give a damn about those songs. I think they do a solid job putting this list of songs together, but I really can't see what's good with Flag Of Hate.

The main man was as angry as he always is and Ventor was beating his skins to the extreme. Bassplayer Christian Giesler however must have been on sedatives. A totally death boring aura surrounded him throughout the entire gig and that overshadowed part of their appearance.

Performance: 6 chalices of 10
Stage sound
: 6 chalices of 10
Best
: Violent Revolution
Worst
: Flag Of Hate and the bassplayer Christian Giesler


Setlist:
Mars Mantra (Intro)
Phantom Antichrist
From Flood Into Fire
Under The Guillotine
Endless Pain
Pleasure To Kill
Hordes Of Chaos (A Necrologue For The Elite)
Death To The World
Phobia
Enemy Of God
Civilization Collapse
The Patriarch (recorded)
Violent Revolution
United In Hate
Flag Of Hate
Tormentor


Band: Lita Ford
Tube Stage 23:15-00:30

I have seen Lita Ford thrice prior to this appearance and on all occasions I left after about thirty minutes, no matter at what point during the set I entered the venue. This time I made it clear to myself that I would stay for the entire show no matter how it turned out. My expectations were low, but I tried my best to go there with a blank mind.

Oh my God. I can't believe I missed Helloween's first three songs to stay put in front of Lita Ford, but a promise is a promise. Most of the songs are truly bland and the extended version of Back To The Cave most be one of the worst songs ever. Out For Blood, Cherry Bomb and many more also sucks big-time. Even the drum solo is more interesting. The band is however a bit tighter than before, so at least she's got the common sense to rehearse nowadays. Also a few select songs are actually pretty good, so I hand out 3 chalices to Lita and her crew.

Performance: 3 chalices of 10
Stage sound
: 8 chalices of 10
Best
: Kiss Me Deadly
Worst
: Back To The Cave

Setlist:
Your Wake Up Call (Intro)
The Bitch Is Back
Hungry
Relentless
Living Like A Runaway
Gotta Let Go
Devil In My Head
Back To The Cave
Can't Catch Me (incl. Drum Solo)
Out For Blood
Cherry Bomb
Black Leather
Close My Eyes Forever
Kiss Me Deadly


Band: Helloween
Rockklassiker Stage 00:15-01:40

I arrive to Helloween's show during the third song, Straight Out Of Hell, and what first strikes me is how dark it is at the front of the stage. I could barely see the band's faces, as all lights were coming from behind and the headlights in the tower were not in use. It was like seeing silhouettes for the entire show. Definitely disappointing.

Two minutes after my arrival, Deris presents If I Could Fly off The Dark Ride and the band plays Waiting For The Thunder. Good job, Andi. That's just about how fun it got during the show, as things were pretty much running on daily routine. He later apologized for his fuck up when they eventually played that song though.

Deris is a fairly good frontman and his vocal performance is better than it was a few years ago, but still something in his voice is missing and it stains the band's overall effort. Guitarist Sascha Gerstner is on the other hand in full bloom nowadays. He totally kills Grosskopf and Weikath on stage, as he grows safer in his position. All in all, a day at work for the Germans.

Performance: 5 chalices of 10
Stage sound
: 6 chalices of 10
Best
: Future World and guitarist Sascha Gerstner
Worst
: The lights up front

Setlist:
Walls Of Jericho (Intro)
Where The Sinners Go
Eagle Fly Free
Straight Out Of Hell
Waiting For The Thunder
Steel Tormentor
Drum Solo
I'm Alive
Live Now!
If I Could Fly
Hell Was Made In Heaven
Power
Are You Metal?
Dr. Stein
--------
Future World
I Want Out

To the top

 

Saturday - July 27

Band: Elevener
Tube Stage 12:30-13:00

Performance: - chalices of 10
Stage sound
: - chalices of 10
Best
: ---
Worst
: ---

(sorry, no setlist)


Band: The Art
Rockklassiker Stage 13:00-13:25

Performance: - chalices of 10
Stage sound
: - chalices of 10
Best
: ---
Worst
: ---


(sorry, no setlist)


Band: Sister Sin
Tube Stage 16:55-17:35

Performance: - chalices of 10
Stage sound
: - chalices of 10
Best
: ---
Worst
: ---

(sorry, no setlist)


Band: Faster Pussycat
Rockklassiker Stage 17:35-18:20

Faster Pussycat had a short-lived heyday in the late eighties and nowadays vocalist Taime Downe is the sole original member. A band that definitely lead the rock 'n' roll life. These guys drink everything in reach and I doubt they use soap and water after this last gig on their European stretch.

What is my point then? Well, I see this band more as a cool act than a great one, aiming at both appearance and songs. With members not being sober on stage they truly live the life. This is however nothing that affects the total performance. It's more the way it should be, as they rush through their forty-five minute set with lyrics that perhaps shouldn't be taken in print.

The sound quality was satisfactory, but sometimes Ace Von Johnson's guitar was barely audible and that overshadowed some of his soloing. Still, a rather good gig and pretty much what I expected.

Performance: 6 chalices of 10
Stage sound
: 7 chalices of 10
Best
: Slip Of The Tongue and Pretty Ok
Worst
: The solo guitar was barely audible occasionally



Setlist:
Whorehouse
Slip Of The Tongue
Number 1 With A Bullet
Sex Drugs & Rock-N-Roll
House Of Pain
Pretty Ok
Don't Change That Song
Bathroom Wall
Pretty Fucked Up
Bathroom Wall (continued)
Shut Up & Fuck
Babylon


Band: H.E.A.T
Tube Stage 18:25-19:15

Performance: - chalices of 10
Stage sound
: - chalices of 10
Best
: ---
Worst
: ---

(sorry, no setlist)


Band: Lizzy Borden
Rockklassiker Stage 19:15-20:15

Lizzy Borden enters to Master Of Disguise and the vocalist with the same name truly masters that art. I caught sixteen of his different guises on camera and I bet I missed one or two. I see myself lose focus on the actual music from time to time, standing there waiting for the main man's next move.

Moves that includes biting a chick's throat and walking the front row and splash people with his fake blood, before eventually pouring the last liter over ecstatic and overjoyed fans, who then smear each other with that red viscous liquid.

On this beautiful summer evening, Lizzy Borden offers, in addition to the blood, somewhat of a best of-set with a few newer songs. Unfortunately we also get two covers for some reason I really can't get the hang of. The band has loads of songs that could make the set, so why play the boring Rebel Yell and the jaded Born To Be Wild?

Performance: 6 chalices of 10
Stage sound
: 8 chalices of 10
Best
: Notorious, Me Against The World and American Metal
Worst
: The cover versions of Rebel Yell and Born To Be Wild





Setlist:
Intro
Master Of Disguise
Notorious
Red Rum
Lovin' You Is Murder
Bass Solo
Tomorrow Never Comes
Under Your Skin
Rebel Yell
There Will Be Blood Tonight
Guitar Solo
Drum Solo
Me Against The World
American Metal
Born To Be Wild


Band: Pretty Maids
Tube Stage 22:20-23:30

Last time I saw Pretty Maids, I found it kind of dull and without life, so I walked close to the stage with cautious steps. The band enters and opens the set with Mother of All Lies and all my negative thoughts vanish in thin air. An explosive start and they are set to rock.

I really don't know what to think when they play six songs from their first two albums and five off their two latest. Most of the older songs are great, but still, so are their latest efforts as well and I would probably prefer if they ditched a couple of classics in favor for even more new songs.

The gig turns out great nonetheless. Bassplayer Rene Shades grows stronger all the time and he has indeed found his own room besides the veterans, guitarist Ken Hammer and vocalist Ronnie Atkins. An impressive performance by the Danish rockers.

Performance: 8 chalices of 10
Stage sound
: 8 chalices of 10
Best
: Mother Of All Lies
Worst
: Rodeo

Setlist:
Intro
Mother Of All Lies
I See Ghosts
Needles In The Dark
Rodeo
Yellow Rain
I.N.V.U.
Walk Away
Motherland
Back To Back
Little Drops Of Heaven
------------
Future World
Red, Hot And Heavy


Band: Twisted Sister
Rockklassiker Stage 23:45-01:20

Dee Snider used to say that Twisted Sister is back; bigger and badder than ever. I wonder if he knew how relevant that statement would be today. Since their comeback ten years ago, they improve almost every time I see them. It's just a good show in many aspects.

Dee is one of metal's best frontmen and he is rocking hard, the songs are great and so is the atmosphere. The frontman also had fun about the main stage's size, as he was wondering if they were playing a bar. Rest assured, he never was a man keeping his mouth shut.

As the festival's definite headlining act they use all lights available and for the first time this weekend the stage lighting is rather solid. A few pyros were shown also and it felt good with some fire to heat things up when the grounds of Rejmyre were slowly getting cooler.

Twisted Sister is entertainment. They never make you lose focus and if you like the songs, you will absolutely enjoy their shows as well. The songs aren't that long, making them intense and with Dee up front, there's no room for breathers. Once again they prove that they still got something to give.

Performance: 8 chalices of 10
Stage sound
: 7 chalices of 10
Best
: You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll, Under The Blade and Come Out And Play
Worst
: We're Not Gonna Take It



Setlist:
You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll
Shoot 'Em Down
Stay Hungry
The Beast
The Kids Are Back
I Believe In Rock 'N' Roll
We're Not Gonna Take It
The Fire Still Burns
We're Gonna Make It
Under The Blade
The Price
Burn In Hell (incl. Drum Solo)
I Wanna Rock
--------------
Come Out And Play
S.M.F.

To the top

The closing words

I know that it takes several years to create a solid festival and I think the organizers are doing a good job. I also enjoy these not too crowded festivals, as I can walk close to the stages without any pushing and shoving. I bow in honor to the people who handled the audio. The sound quality was stunning and this was without a single ounce of doubt the best I've heard on a festival. A totally outstanding effort. I will definitely return to Skogsröjet in 2014.
//Tobbe

Related links:
www.skogsrojet.se
www.facebook.com/skogsrojet