Posts Tagged ‘metalhead’

As a metalhead, you probably have a pretty decent music collection. Metalheads are, by nature, hoarders of music – from the rare and impossible-to-find bootleg live albums that sound as if they were recorded from a first generation iPhone stashed in someone’s shoe, to the expensive and extravagantly packaged digipacks with the four discs of live footage you never intend on watching.

What do we do with all these CDs, vinyl, and files upon files of musical happiness? Do we throw them in the corner of our bedroom and forget about them. Of course not. Metalheads need a way to organize their collection – we put more effort into devising a sensible cataloguing system than most museum curators put into the catalogues of priceless artefacts in their care.

But why, I hear you ask, is categorizing your music collection even a topic for discussion? Surely most metalheads know how to put things in alphabetical order? Ah, but there you are wrong.

I have never met a metalhead who alphabetizes according to band name, unless his girlfriend or iTunes did it for him, and even then, he’d change it in a second if he wasn’t so lazy. No, what would be the point in that? You’d have Mariah Carey next to Mastedon, Immortal next to Iron Maiden … no, no, no. NO. It just wouldn’t work.

Most metalheads I know, who all have more CDs than Germany has kebab shops, organize by genre. Death Metal CDs on one shelf, ranging from simple original death metal bands like Obituary and Cannibal Corpse on the left (each band’s back catalogue organised chronologically, obviously) through to melodic and technical death in the middle, followed by death/black, grind/death and other death crossovers, and the more obscure industrial death, folk death and barely-death at the end.

This photo is of one of the 5 different CD stacks we have in our house, not including the stacks in the bookshelf, in the car, under the bed, and in random piles across my husband’s desk.

Then there’s black metal – from Venom through the whole Norwegian scene, (Mayhem, Burzum, Immortal) through the un-black (Antestor) and not-really-black-but-sorta-fits (Cradle of filth, Dimmu Borgir). Power metal on the shelf below – from traditional power (Blind Guardian, Helloween etc) to more raunchy traditional inspired power in the middle (Iron Fire, DreamEvil etc) to wanky orchestral power bands like Nightwish and Kamelot at the end. Bands that – while not being metal themselves – have played a heavy influence on the genre go on the topmost shelf. That’s Pink Floyd, Uriah Heep, Alice Cooper, Led Zepp, etc. Bands that bear no resemblance to metal but we still kinda like them anyway go on the bottom. There’s mostly grunge there – the entire Kyuss catalogue – and a Sarah Maclachlan CD that’s never been listened to (honestly) but you just haven’t got around to throwing away.

I once met a metalhead who organized his CDs in chronological order. Albums released in the same year are organised alphabetically. Looking at his rack demonstrated the evolution of metal music for the past three decades. It’s interesting to look at, but seems difficult to maintain to me.

From Corpsepaintkitty.com

Some people throw their CDs in the corner, and they get mixed up with the dirty laundry, and they stand on them and break them and can’t afford to replace them. This is why I no longer lend out CDs.

Once upon a time, before the great joining of the CD collection that is my marriage, I alphabetised by the second letter of the band or artists name. So Metallica would be filed under “E”, Iron Maiden under “R” and Tyr under “Y”.

But alas, my husband declared this perfectly sensible system strange and unwieldy, I reorganized all our CDs according to the age-old genre tradition, but it lasted all of three days when CDH discovered that Iron Maiden – his then favourite band of all time – had been placed near the bottom of one of the stacks due to their position in the rankings. Now we function on a purely shove-it-anywhere-and-come-here-for-some-sex system, which works very well indeed.

So, how do YOU categorize your CDs, if at all? Do you even own CDs, or are you all about the vinyl? Are you all about electronic music files or holding the CD booklet in your hand? Do you buy the special editions in the fancy cases with the extra DVDs and artwork (they annoy me because they don’t fit in the racks)?

Who am I?

I’m Steff. Born in New Zealand, raised on a steady diet of metal and out-of-print archaeology books, I’m now a freelance writer, accessible formats producer, and full-time iron maiden.

You can keep up to date with all the metal madness at my Steff Metal blog. I update 4 times a week with reviews, articles, advice and silliness about living the metal lifestyle. I also write a webcomic about black metal cats at Corpsepaint Kitty. And, for alternative biz owners, I run a creative business community for the dark side at Grymm & Epic.

Alice Cooper happens to be one of my favourite artists of all time. Growing up, my dad was a huge fan, and I have fond memories of dancing around the living room to “Welcome to My Nightmare”. He’s one of the most important figures in rock music, and has shaped much of the imagery and attitude of the heavy metal music we love so much.

I’ve seen him perform twice, once at a two-day festival Rock2Wgtn, where he stole the show from the other performers with a realistic hanging. The last time was in my city, Auckland, when he was touring his Welcome 2 My Nightmare album, and I was right up the front, only a few feet from one of my idols.

Since we’re all going a little Alice-mad over at LippyHQ, and because you’ve only got a few days left to enter the competition to WIN FREE Alice Cooper tickets, I thought it would be fun to entertain you all with a few Alice Cooper quotes and trivia.

“From the moment I leave my house or my hotel room, the public owns me. The public made Alice Cooper and I can’t imagine ever turning my back on my fans.”

His album Love It To Death was recalled so designers could airbrush out Alice’s thumb from the cover, since the label received complaints that it resembled a penis.

Although he was born Vincent Damon Furnier, in 1974 he legally changed his name to Alice Cooper.

Alice’s first record deal came about after he discovered where Frank Zappa lived. Cooper took his band over to Zappa’s house at 7 in the morning, set up in Zappa’s yard and started playing. When Zappa came out and demanded to know what was going on, Alice said, “The band will continue playing until you do one of two things: give us a record deal or call the police.” Luckily for Alice, Zappa chose the former.

“He (Marilyn Manson) has a woman’s name and wears makeup. How original.”

Alice Cooper is an obsessive golfer, playing 6 days a week if he can. He’s played in a number of Pro-Am competitions and hosts his own annual celebrity golf tournament, with the proceeds going to his charity, the Solid Rock Foundation.

“I appreciate an audience that reacts to the music, even if they jump on stage and try to beat us up, I think that’s a fantastic reaction. I think that they’re really hearing something then.”

Starting in 2004 Alice Cooper hosted a radio show called “Nights with Alice Cooper” that was broadcast across in over 100 stations across the US and Canada.

The magician James Randi designed many of Alice Cooper’s stage props, including the famous guillotine, and the magician often appeared on stage in early performances as the executioner.

Alice Cooper co-founded the notorious drinking club, The Hollywood Vampires.

In 1978, Alice Cooper performed “Welcome to My Nightmare”, “You and Me”, and “School’s Out” on the Muppet Show, and played one of the devil’s henchmen attempting to dupe Kermit and Gonzo into selling their souls.

In 1994 Alice Cooper released an album called The Last Temptation, a concept album based on a three-part comic book series written by Neil Gaiman and released concurrently with the album.

At the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival show in 1969, a fan threw a live chicken on stage. Alice, who came from Detroit and wasn’t familiar with farm animals, generally didn’t realise that chickens can’t fly. He threw the bird in the air, assuming it would fly off to safety. Instead, it fell straight down into the mosh pit, where the fans tore it to pieces and threw the bits back on stage. Newspaper headlines later claimed Alice had bitten the head off the chicken and drank its blood. Frank Zappa advised Cooper not to correct them.

Readers, what other Alice Cooper trivia can you share (in the comments)?

Special thanks to AliceCooper.com (the official website of Alice Cooper) for article images.

Who am I?

I’m Steff. Born in New Zealand, raised on a steady diet of metal and out-of-print archaeology books, I’m now a freelance writer, accessible formats producer, and full-time iron maiden.

You can keep up to date with all the metal madness at my Steff Metal blog. I update 4 times a week with reviews, articles, advice and silliness about living the metal lifestyle. And, for alternative biz owners, I run a creative business community for the dark side at Grymm & Epic.

While it’s undeniable that metal is definitely something you need to listen to, many discerning metalheads also round out their knowledge with a little heavy metal literature. There are many books on the market about metal, from general guides to in-depth histories of different genres to rockstar memoirs … and even a cookbook or two.

If you’re in need of a little metal reading this summer, here are some of my favourite books about metal:

Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal, Ian Christe (It Books, 2004)

Arguably the best general history book on metal on the market, Sound of the Beast is packed with to the teeth with nerdy metal facts and genre history. Sound of the Beast is aimed toward an audience that’s already neck-deep in the metal subculture, and fans will find interesting facts and figures on every page. My only fault with this book – and it’s a minor one – is that Christe devotes a disproportionate amount of space to bands like Metallica, at the detriment of certain lesser-known genres.

The Top 500 Heavy Metal Albums of All Time, Martin Popoff (ECW Press, 2005)

Martin Popoff is a legend among heavy metal writers. This book is comprised of irreverent, meticulous and often humorous reviews of 500 of the most influential metal albums of all time. The choice of albums was decided by poll, and Popoff adds his own opinion about releases he doesn’t feel warrant the credit they’re given. Popoff isn’t afraid to voice criticism and his book incites an equal number of fans and detractors. This is the book that gets metalheads talking at parties.

Hell Bent for Leather: Confessions of a Heavy Metal Addict, Seb Hunter, (Harper, 2004)

In Hell Bent for Leader, Seb Hunter attempts to explain metal in terms anyone can understand, starting with his discovery of metal at a young age and ending with is his fifteen minutes of fame as an image-conscious metal musician. Part adolescent memoir, part sociological history, Hunter uses his own experience to explain the history of metal, its sub-genres and its fans. Not afraid to laugh at the music – and at himself – this book is a great read for anyone interested in learning more about metal.

The major niggle I – and many other fans – have with this hilarious romp is that Hunter leaves the world of metal in the nineties when grunge took over. As far as he’s concerned, that is when metal died. Given the growing popularity of metal and the plethora of new sounds and genres that have emerged since the nineties, I definitely think Hunter could do with listening to some Mastedon.

Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground, Michael Moynihan, (Feral House, 2003)

Mixing metal and true crime, Moynihan tells the story of the early black metal scene with a focus on the crimes perpetrated in its name. If you’ve ever been curious about the formation of the black metal scene and the workings of the Norwegian “Inner Circle”, this book provides a thorough overview.

While parts of this book capitalize on the sensationalism of the crimes, metalheads will enjoy the interviews with infamous black metal legends like Varg Vikernes, Anton LeVay, Samoth (of Emperor) and Dani Filth.

Choosing Death: Improbable History of Death Metal and Grindcore, Albert Mudrian (Feral House, 2004)

As the editor of Decibel Magazine, Mudrian definitely has the qualifications to write a genre-history, and Choosing Death happens to be one of the best examples of a journalistic approach to metal commentary in book form. In other words, it’s bloody good. Mudrian not only demonstrates the importance of bands like Morbid Angel in the formation of death metal as a genre, but he profiles bands that push the envelope in this style of music.

Seasoned fans will learn a lot from the interviews and historical facts in this book, and beginning death metallers will gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities of the genre.

Metal: The Definitive Guide, Garry Sharpe-Young, (Bazillion Points Books, 2007)

There are a few coffee-table books floating around aiming to be the definitive guide to metal, and this is probably the best one. Packed with memorabilia, biographies, quotes and discographies, this is the kind of book you return to again and again when you’re seeking a piece of information about a band you love. If there was ever going to be an encyclopaedia of metal – Metal: The Definitive Guide would be it.

What are your favourite metal books?

Who am I?

 I’m Steff. Born in New Zealand, raised on a steady diet of metal and out-of-print archaeology books, I’m now a freelance writer, accessible formats producer, and full-time iron maiden.

You can keep up to date with all the metal madness at my Steff Metal blog. I update 4 times a week with reviews, articles, advice and silliness about living the metal lifestyle. And, for alternative biz owners, I run a creative business community for the dark side at Grymm & Epic.

One of the most common questions – comments I receive on my blog or via email is this:

It’s all well and good for you, Steff, having such a thriving local scene and international bands in your city all the time. But I live in Atlantis/Timbuktu/The Arse End of Nowhere, and there is NO metal scene here. I am one of, like, three metalheads, and the other two are complete knobs. How do I get involved in the local scene?

The truth is, I used to think exactly the same thing about the metal scene in New Zealand – that it was non-existent and insular and unwelcoming and not nearly as good as Germany or the US or London or practically anywhere else.

While the local music scene definitely ebbs and flows in terms of quality bands, frequency of gigs and enthusiasm of the audience, you will find a thriving, passionate underground metal scene wherever you are in the world – sometimes, it’s just so far underground you need to dig a giant hole to uncover it.

So if you’re sitting at home thinking there’s no local scene for you, read on for my tips on finding and supporting local music.

Fractured - a local Auckland band playing last weekend.

Find Metalheads Online:

You don’t have to interact with them – metalheads in online discussion forums and Facebook convos tend to devolve into “my genre is better than your genre” penis measuring events – but if you find the places where local metalheads hang out online, you can start to get a feeling for your local scene. Most cities or countries will have an online forum, a Facebook page, or even a twitter feed advertising local gigs and helping bands

Listen to Local Metal Radio

One of the best ways to discover new local metal bands without the hassle and expense of going to gigs is to simply tune in to local metal radio shows. Most college and independent radio stations will run some kind of late-night weekly metal show, where a couple of DJs who get paid in free CDs come along to the studio to bang their heads for a couple of hours. Local metal shows will have a high portion of local content, and will also have gig listings and notices about specific events.

Attend Gigs

One too many “10 bands for 10 bucks” shows where you sit through ten sets of the same Pantera-cover material can put you off local shows, but they’re one of the best ways to get to know local acts and local metalheads.

Ask friends or people you talk to online for recommendations of local acts who play in a genre you enjoy – statistically speaking, there’s bound to be at least one band playing in every genre in your area. Once you’ve got a list of recommended bands, go to their websites and check them out – listen to any tracks they’ve got up online, and check to see if they have any shows coming up.

(Don’t be put off if what you hear on their recordings sounds less than stellar. Many bands sound much better live than they do on record, especially if they’ve recorded on a shoestring budget.

Go along to a show and give each band on the bill a fair chance. Between sets, head outside to where everyone is smoking and chat to people – it’s usually the easiest way to meet folk, since you don’t have to shout over the noise. Even if the bands are all shite, making a new friend can turn a boring evening into the best party of the year.

Get Involved with Promotion

If you’re not a musician, there are plenty of things you can do to help support your local scene and help it grow. Underground music cultures thrive because of the dedication and talent of all the individuals who pitch in to help, so if you can design gig posters, do live sound, help drag a drumkit up the venue stairs, or take band photographs, then start volunteering your time to support the music you love. Not only will you gain a new appreciation and insiders look at how your local scene operates, but you’ll be making friends with some wicked metalheads in your area.

Introduce International Friends to Local Bands

Whenever we travel overseas, we like to bring Mp3′s or discs of our favorite local bands for new metal friends to listen to. I also regularly blog about local New Zealand bands to an international audience. I like knowing I’m doing my bit to spread the word about kiwi metal.

Readers, how do you get involved with your local music scene?

Who am I? I’m Steff. Born in New Zealand, raised on a steady diet of metal and out-of-print archaeology books, I’m now a freelance writer, accessible formats producer, and full-time iron maiden.

You can keep up to date with all the metal madness at my Steff Metal blog. I update 4 times a week with reviews, articles, advice and silliness about living the metal lifestyle. And, for alternative biz owners, I run a creative business community for the dark side at Grymm & Epic.

A recent article on Metalsucks called for the death of mosh pits. Why? From the author, Kevin Stewart-Panko, “… there’s a fine line between the expression of excitement the way excitement used to be expressed and the way mosh pits have become the breeding ground for fucking idiots to put their heads down and charge into one another like big-horned rams. Mosh pits have devolved into nothing more than seething masses of drunken fuckwads blindly running into and/or body/shoulder checking each other completely out of time to any music being played in the building.”

The comments thread of this particular rant demonstrated just how contentious this diatribe is within the metal community. On the one hand, hundreds of readers piped up to echo the statements in the post. “It is strong, powerful and elevating music, but that shouldn’t mean it’s okay to clock one guy in the face, then go to town on the next. Metal isn’t about being a tyrannous bully.” one readers says. But many people expressed a belief that metal is primarily a “youth culture” and that all the people complaining about pits are “oldies” who are simply worried about losing their false teeth. “Stop having fun!” one commenter wrote sarcastically replied. “Musicians want to see people going crazy, not standing with their arms crossed,” said another.

Is metal a youth culture? Is this just old-timers complaining, or should mosh-pits be banned or otherwise controlled?

The truth is that most people discover metal in their youth. It’s strong, independent, powerful music that perfectly articulates the crazy emotions going through your head. Metal gives us an outlet for anger, aggression, rebellion, pain, loss, heartache and loneliness. It also gives us a sense of belonging, because the sense of community within the metal culture is strong, especially in tight-knit local scenes where bands support each other’s shows and fans look out for each other.

Many people discard metal – or it takes a backseat spot in their life – once they pass through the tumultuous teenage years. But those people that stick with it are metal fans for life – and they’re even more dedicated and brutal than the youth fans.

Me, crowd-surfing through a mosh pit at Wacken Open Air 2011.

At 27 years of age, I sit somewhere in the middle of this spectrum. I’ve been going to shows for about ten years, and I’ve been in some good pits, some appalling pits, and some downright terrifying pits. The difference between a good pit and a bad pit isn’t the genre of music or the age of the people involved, it’s whether the crowd is respectful of others and have come to the show to have a good time.

“Pit-Etiquette” is the basis for any good show. Pit-Etiquette is a bit like the Spartan warrior code – you look after your pit-mates. If someone falls over, you help him or her up. If someone is in trouble, you get him or her out. If people are having a good time and headbanging by themselves, you don’t drag them into some circle-pit punch up. You hug your pit buddies after the show. You get bruises, and it’s ok. You don’t take anything in the pit personally.

The pit can be wild, it can be crazy, but it should never be dangerous. It should never be about defending your life or saving your teeth or. In the bad pits I’ve been in I’ve been punched repeatedly in the face, I’ve been trampled. I’ve been shoved into and over speakers. I’ve been deliberately kicked and slammed into. I’ve been groped. I’ve had people drag me unwillingly in from the edges into those flailing, pushing, karate pits that I’m too small to be able to handle.

It’s not related to a specific genre or band. I’ve seen Iron Maiden play in three countries; twice I’ve been to the front. In England it was people jumping up and down, headbanging, having a great time. In New Zealand it was shoving, pulling, fists wailing, and so intense I fell over three times during one song, and no one was paying attention. If my friend Johnowar hadn’t been there, I would’ve been in a lot of trouble. But then, I’ve been in some amazing pits at New Zealand shows.

In a good pit, everyone’s there because they want to see the band, and they respect that fact that the people around them want to see too. In a good pit, everyone moves collectively, jumping, spinning, and seething forward and back or in great circle. People slam their fists in the air, they wrench their necks as their hair flies around, they stomp and shout and put their arms around people they’ve never met before. They move with the music, they become part of it. It’s tribal dancing on the purest level.

From my Corpsepaint Kitty webcomic.

I don’t believe mosh pits should be banned or controlled or any of that. The pit is an important part of the concert experience, whether you’re in the fray or not. I reckon each and every metalhead has a responsibility to make sure their actions at a show don’t detract from other people’s enjoyment. We’ve all come to the show for the same reason – to see a band we’re into, to have a good time, to meet new people, to bang our heads. So let’s practice a little pit etiquette – look out for your fellow metalheads, and don’t punch and kick and be an idiot. It’s pointless and contributes nothing to anyone’s concert experience.

End rant.

Who am I? I’m Steff. Born in New Zealand, raised on a steady diet of metal and out-of-print archaeology books, I’m now a freelance writer, accessible formats producer, and full-time iron maiden.

You can keep up to date with all the metal madness at my Steff Metal blog. I update 4 times a week with reviews, articles, advice and silliness about living the metal lifestyle. And, for alternative biz owners, I run a creative business community for the dark side at Grymm & Epic.

Hallween isn’t a big holiday in New Zealand, not like it is in the US (I can’t wait to visit the States during Halloween and see all the decorations and the kids in their costumes). But, since Halloween is practically made for us alternative types, my friends host an annual Halloween party, and this year’s shindig was the best yet.

What are the elements for the perfect Halloween party? Well, we have the group of awesome friends, the creative costumes, and the date and venue. Since the weather’s warming up over here, we fired up the BBQ. Tarah, the gracious host, cooked a feast of Halloween goodies – bat and coffin cakes, devilishly dark chocolate brownies, and severed finger biscuits.

This year I went as Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile. My dress is vintage, with a cincher belt from an outlet mall. My cartouche necklace come from Egypt, and spells my name, with a depiction of the goddess Ma’at on the back.

Tarah, the host of the party, looking stunning as a vampire nun.

Kelli (left) and Amy (right) as Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett. These two are studying costume design and made everything themselves (including the pies. One even has a finger poking out).

Tim, as Getafix.

Jaimee, looking stunning in her Dia de los Muertos makeup.

And, probably the best costumes of the evening, two friends showed up dressed as two other friends. Here’s two Johnowars:

And two Tarah’s.

Metal was played, silliness and singalongs abounded, pies were consumed, rakishly handsome men disappeared in the night. The perfect Halloween party – heavy metal style.

Halloween used to be a sacred time of year – a time of rebirth, of worship and celebration for the death, a time when magic is profoundly, wonderfully real. I love that in the 21st century we’ve modernized these ideas and created our own rituals. There’s always a little bit of magic in the air on Halloween, don’t you agree?

Who am I? I’m Steff. Born in New Zealand, raised on a steady diet of metal and out-of-print archaeology books, I’m now a freelance writer, accessible formats producer, and full-time iron maiden.

You can keep up to date with all the metal madness at my Steff Metal blog. I update 4 times a week with reviews, articles, advice and silliness about living the metal lifestyle. And, for alternative biz owners, I run a creative business community for the dark side at Grymm & Epic.

Keep it brutal \m/

Phew! I don’t know about you, but October has been a crazy month for me. I’ve travelled across New Zealand and back – twice, slept for four days in a Viking tent, interviewing metal bands, running Metal Guitar Week on my blog, being interviewed on Rock n Roll bride, planned my Halloween costume, ran a photo shoot and worked on the launch for my new heavy metal webcomic – Corpsepaintkitty.com!

With all this going on, the only thing keeping me sane is the constant pounding of heavy metal in my ears. Here are some of the albums that are making me happy right now.

The Physicists – Observation

This unusual Finnish outfit combine death metal, lyrics about mad scientists and mathematics gone awry, and electronic bleeps and bloops to create a crazy sound described only as “Mathdeathboogie”. Observation is catchy as hell and one of the most original metal albums released this year.

The Universe Divide – Dust Settles on the Odontophobes

Instrumental albums are always a bitch to pull off – they either end up drawn-out and boring, or overblown exercises in guitar virtuosity. Dust Settles on the Odontophobes is neither – it’s a piece of poetic, progressive mastery that draws you in right from the first note.

Oak Pantheon – The Void (EP)

A killer debut EP from one of the most sophisticated melodic black metal bands I’ve heard in a long time. Oak Pantheon use keyboard and acoustic guitar sections to create a masterpiece of atmospheric BM. Fans of Agalloch will dig this album.

Opeth – Heritage

If you fell in love with Opeth’s beautiful, haunting progressive death metal and lead singer Mikael Akerfeldt’s mix of clean vocals and growls, Heritage may come as a bit of a surprise. On this album Opeth have done away with the harsh vocals and much of the death metal and created a purely progressive rock odyssey. Fans of porcupine tree and Jethro Tull will find much to enjoy here.

Pain – You Only Live Twice

Germany’s answer to nu-metal bands like Disturbed, this project of Hypocricy’s Peter Tägtgren kicks out another album of punchy riffs and hard rock groove mixed with 80s electronica and techno.

Van Canto – Break the Silence

Van Canto started off as a metal covers band with a difference – they sing acapella (unaccompanied by instruments). That means every riff, every solo, every bass line is done for the five vocalists. What started off as a bit of a joke has now turned into four studio albums and headlining shows across Europe. Van Canto’s forth album, Break the Silence, is a great mix of covers (Sabaton, Manowar, Running Wild) and originals from the fun German band.

What are you listening to right now?

Who am I? I’m Steff. Born in New Zealand, raised on a steady diet of metal and out-of-print archaeology books, I’m now a freelance writer, accessible formats producer, and full-time iron maiden.

You can keep up to date with all the metal madness at my Steff Metal blog. I update 4 times a week with reviews, articles, advice and silliness about living the metal lifestyle. And, for alternative biz owners, I run a creative business community for the dark side at Grymm & Epic.

Keep it brutal \m/

Steff

Last month I talked about our adventures at Wacken Open Air. This time, I want to show you a festival with a completely different atmosphere. Held on the grounds of a centuries-old castle in the middle of Bavaria, the Veldensteiner Festival is an intimate, one-day celebration of folk metal and medieval rock.

If you’ve never heard of either of these genres before, you’ve been missing out on the biggest musical trend to hit the European metal scene. Folk metal and medieval rock celebrate the meshing of two worlds – the jaunty jigs and haunting dirges of ancient folk music and instruments with the amplified, distorted happiness that is heavy metal.

The line-up at the Veldensteiner festival consisted of some of the genre’s leaders – German medieval rockers Subway to Sally headlined, alongside their countrymen and purveyors of cello-infused industrial rock Letzte Instanz and Swiss metal band Eluveitie. Nachtgeschrei, Fueurschwanz and The Sandsacks completed the line-up.

Arriving at the castle via a steep cobbled path that wound through the village, we passed under the battlements to find ourselves amidst a medieval market. Sellers called to us from their tents, proffering Celtic jewelry, replica swords, medieval garb and mead aplenty. After catching the whiff of festival food, we tucked into a breakfast of spies (meat-on-a-stick) and crepes (filled with nutella. Nom nom nom), washed down with a drought from the castle brewery.

Eluveitie are one of my favourite bands right now, so I was very lucky to get a photo pass for their set. Don’t you think Chrigel, their lead vocalist, is gorgeous?

For me, the standout band of the day was Nachtgeschrei. Their unique blend of melodic, folk-influenced rock kept the crowd happy. I’m hoping to see Nachtgeschrei playing at more festivals next time I’m in Europe.

Finally, it was time for Subway to Sally. I took a spot in the middle of the crowd while my husband went off to take photographs. What an amazing show – Subway to Sally love to create an atmosphere with pyrotechnics, fog and interesting lighting effects. They played some new songs, and all of my favourites, “Fueurland,” “Besser Du Rennst,” and “Sieben”. I loved being amongst a German crowd to see such a popular German band – people sang and held hands and danced in circles and had a great time. The vibe was just amazing.

As the moon rose over the castle, it was time to go home. The Veldenstein festival was over. One last beer from the tent, and we were off on another adventure.

Who am I? I’m Steff. Born in New Zealand, raised on a steady diet of metal and out-of-print archaeology books, I’m now a freelance writer, accessible formats producer, and full-time iron maiden.

You can keep up to date with all the metal madness at my Steff Metal blog. I update 4 times a week with reviews, articles, advice and silliness about living the metal lifestyle. And, for alternative biz owners, I run a creative business community for the dark side at Grymm & Epic.

Keep it brutal \m/
Steff

Hi fellow metallers and miscreants! I just got back from Wacken Open Air, the greatest heavy metal party on earth, and thought I’d share with you some of my adventures in the holy land of heavy metal.

I'm stoked to be at WOA for the second time this year

The Wacken Open Air festival began in 1990 with a handful of German bands on a farm in rural Germany. Since its humble beginnings, Wacken has grown to one of the largest and most beloved heavy metal festivals in the world – attended by 75,000 metalheads from all over the world including, this year, a huge contingent of kiwis, and some sheep.

Our campground sheep

In the middle of the night, someone stole one of our sheep. We’re glad they never brought it back.

We arrived two days before the music began, giving us plenty of time to enjoy beer with our friends and browse the metal and medieval markets. Here, metalheads can find everything from clothing and patches to drinking horns and replica weaponry. I blew the budget at my favourite sock stall.

CDH perusing the shops in the metal market

Viking horn! (if you don't blow it correctly, it sounds like a farting elephant)

The first must-see band at Wacken is the Wacken Firefighters. This is the volunteer fire brigade from the town itself, performing classic German drinking songs in all their brass band glory, while a horde of drunk metalheads link arms and dance. It’s brilliant fun and I even got my crowd-surfing on!

The Thursday was a quiet line-up for me, with Helloween blasting power metal classics and my favourite band, Blind Guardian, taking the stage for a headlining slot. With the band playing flawlessly and the crowd singing every word, this was a magical set and the perfect end the first day of music.

Happy metalheads at the Wacken Firefighters

Friday was my busiest festival day, starting at midday with Ensiferum and not finishing till 3am with Apocalyptica’s mist-soaked cello instrumental set. The highlights of Friday were definitely Van Canto – a heavy metal cappella group – and Judas Priest. I’ve never seen these legends perform live before, and their show – one of the first in their epic farewell tour – slayed. Rob Halford is still pulling out some amazing vocals.

The Shining, at Wacken Open Air

On Saturday I got to catch one of my favorite indie acts, Norwegian jazz metal band the Shining, who played a half-hour set on the WET Stage at the same time as Iced Earth. Tobias’ Sammet’s Avantasia stole the day with a flawless, energetic performance, accompanied by special guests Bob Catley (Magum), Hai Hansen (Gamma Ray, Helloween) and Michael Kiske (formally of Helloween). After some epic dinner hotdogs (mine was covered in chilli. Sweet), we dove into the mosh-pit for Kreator.

And just like that, another Wacken was over. We had only to pack up our beer bottles, say goodbye to new friends and old, and leave the hallowed festival grounds. Until next year, WOA. Horns up \m/

Goodbye Wacken! Till next time!

You can see more Wacken photos at the official Wacken gallery.

Who am I? I’m Steff. Born in New Zealand, raised on a steady diet of metal and out-of-print archaeology books, I’m now a freelance writer, accessible formats producer, and full-time iron maiden.

You can keep up to date with all the metal madness at my Steff Metal blog. I update 4 times a week with reviews, articles, advice and silliness about living the metal lifestyle. And, for alternative biz owners, I run a creative business community for the dark side at Grymm & Epic.

Keep it brutal \m/
Steff

For those of you in the northern hemisphere, summer is upon you (lucky minxes), and that means the best time of year is about to begin – festival season. From Wacken and Hellfest in Europe to Ozzfest and Deathfest in the US, every year metalheads descend in their thousands to stand in the sun, camp in their own filth, drink expensive beer, and watch their favorite bands.

As my home turf here in New Zealand is fast descending into winter gloom (and we’re not exactly renowned for our metal festivals. Hobbit and Gumboot festivals, yes, metal festivals … not so much), I’ll be boarding a plane shortly to Europe to attend two festivals – Wacken Open Air, and the much smaller and more curious Veldensteiner Festival. Needless to say, I’ll be bringing all you grymm gents and metal maidens updates on my adventures.

This will be my second trip to Wacken, the so-called “Holy Land of Heavy Metal”. The festival occurs annually in the tiny town of Wacken (pop 1800), an hour north of Hamburg, where the town’s population swells to over 70 000 black-clad metalheads from all over the world. Three days of music, mischief and mayhem – I can’t wait.

If you’re thinking of donning you best mosh-pit attire and heading out to a metal festival this summer, here are my top survival tips:

Wear Sensible Shoes: for most metal festivals, this means boots. Why? Because everyone else wears boots, and if someone stomps on you in the mosh pit, you need to be able to stomp back. Wacken can get muddy and filthy, and a good pair of combat boots will ensure your feet stay free of gunk.

Sun-protection: At Wacken, most of the injuries treated by the first-aid crew involve people falling asleep in the sun and getting sunstroke. Bring plenty of sunscreen (spray bottle recommended), sunglasses and a hat.

Your hat doesn’t have to be boring, however. Most metalheads like caps or cowboy hats. Me? I’ve got an authentic 19th century English military beret.

Drink plenty of water: And no, beer is NOT water. Alcohol dehydrates you and makes you more prone to sunstroke and falling asleep during your favorite band. Try to drink one glass of water for every glass of beer.

Bring a “tent marker”: whether it’s a flag, a sign or, in our case, a giant blow-up sheep, you need something to distinguish your tent from the 70 000 other tents pitched on the campsite. It’s quite commonplace to arrive back at your tent to discover a sleeping metalhead who, after spending three hours stumbling drunk around the campsite looking for his own tent, simply decided yours looked like the next best thing.

Drinking Horn: the must-have Wacken campground accessory.

A copy of the running order: due to some corporate policy I cannot fathom; many festivals don’t give you a copy of the running order at the gate. In fact, even if you buy a program, you’re not guaranteed to get an up-to-date list of who’s playing when. There are signs posted, but you will inevitably be in an area without signs wishing you knew who was playing when and where. Print a copy of the running order off the website before you leave in the morning.

Toilet paper: never leave home without it.

Keep your clothes simple and comfortable. Since you’re at a metal festival, you’ll probably want a black t-shirt (and remember the rule about not wearing the shirt of the band you’ve come to see). Team this up with shorts or your favorite pair of Stretch fuck*n jeans. Bring an extra warm layer like a hoodie or jumper to cover yourself with in the evening, when the air cools.

I don’t advise wearing a skirt or any delicate jewelry if you intend on going anywhere near that mosh pit.

Alternatively, you could wear this:

Pack all your essentials in an over-the-shoulder or cross-chest bag: your wallet, cellphone and keys, pen and pencil (for writing down the number of the cute metalhead boy you meet in the pit), bottles of water, camera, snack, sunscreen and lipgloss.

Most importantly, have a blast! Yes, it’s dirty, smelly and crowded, but you’re with your people. The festival atmosphere is magic – at what other event do you get to spend 3 days hanging out with the coolest people on earth?

Who am I? I’m Steff. Born in New Zealand, raised on a steady diet of metal and out-of-print archaeology books, I’m now a freelance writer, accessible formats producer, and full-time iron maiden.

You can keep up to date with all the metal madness at my Steff Metal blog. I update 4 times a week with reviews, articles, advice and silliness about living the metal lifestyle. And, for alternative biz owners, I run a creative business community for the dark side at Grymm & Epic. I’m also on Twitter.

Keep it brutal \m/
Steff