Rising Force

The first act on the indoor stage to kick things off. The band that has been together for about a year and their sound is quite similar to European power metal, with the vocalists beautiful clean voice surprising everyone when she threw in some screams too! They were a good band to open up the Festival, what really stood out for me was when they played Mr Crowley by far the best Ozzy Osbourne song to cover and even though the crowds of people had not yet arrived for the Festival everyone that was there were nodding their heads to their presentation. If they’re ever in your area I recommend you go see them perform its worth it.

Dislocate

My first thought of their sound would be described as “drunk metal”, their vocalist did sound kinda similar to Blindspott’s. They had a mean energy to get the crowd going for the second act at the festival and were hillarious when the lead vox nearly slipped off stage, he was so into it he forgot how wide the stage was. The lead vox and bv’s burped during songs, what a good bunch of fellows to get otp to, real crowd pleasers so if you’re looking at having an epic evening and overall good time I recommend going to see them if they have a set in your town.

Devile

These guys opened on the outdoor stage and set it on fire (not literally) with the meanest moshers at the Festival, they kicked it into high gear as soon as they started with energy that could be sensed from the indoor stage bringing the punters outside for a looksee. Their sound can be described as Slayer with a lot of high screams, there were a couple of songs that stood right out for me which were Preacher (The John Key song) and No Man’s Land. The lead gat player had wireless so was able to interact with the whole crowd off stage and even though part way through the lead vox lost his voice due to windy conditions thank goodness for powerade saving the day J Mean bass solo too where everybody had a seat for it, excellent showmanship. If these guys ever pop up in a town near you recommended you go see them power play your ear drums.

Osmium

First thought when they started was Alice in Chains as it was also my first time hearing these guys too. Great second act for the outdoor stage, a few of their riffs can be described as that of Dimebag/Zakk Wylde and during their third song another vocalist from the crowd got up to scream with them and after the set they were asked to play a gig at a wedding in the Naki so you can fully tell that they were very crowd pleasing. Although it was relaxed to start with the build-up was well worth the wait. If they’re ever in your town stroll on down for an eargasm of mean riffs and awesome vox.

AMACHINE

Third act for the outdoor stage their sound can be described as that of riffs similar to that of Pantera, the drumming is insane and can get the full effect of how energetic the double kicks that I could feel all the way through my one ab J and give it up to the lead vox playing bass while singing is not an easy task, but you pulled it off so well that it makes me want to learn to slappa the bass J and a voice that has some mean deep brutal grunts. I fully had to put down my stuff to have at least one mosh to Abrasive Absurd which is their titled album available by going to their facebook page and purchasing it there for $10. The crowd were a bit slow to start but it’s probably the first time they have been heard and warmed up by the second song and as I looked around there were heads nodding, feet tapping and metal grins all around to be seen. If they are ever in your town I fully recommend going to see them for a massive windmill attack and eargasm. You guys shredded my socks right off.

Fractured

Fourth act for the outdoor stage was awesome to see both gat players off the stage putting on a mean show, and although the vox was trying to get a positive response for who likes Aucklander’s he was a mean front man top showmanship of the day, and as soon as he said “album giveaways” the crowd got their full body mosh on. I was a little too short to catch an ep but would have really loved one. I could hear a similar sound to that of Machine Head groove metal type and screaming squeals to go with it. The six-string bass is definitely making a come-back from the looks of things as it stood out with bass solos nicely done. I am hoping to see them in the future specially if they pop up in our town we will gladly welcome their hyper energy and charisma.

The Heathen Collective

The fifth band on the outdoor stage they started off with a little bit of air guitar as for the first three songs their gat player disappeared to get his head unit but they carried on well, even though he was not there for it considering their set wasn’t that long and the lead vox had the mean dry horrors drinking all of the crowds beverages J while the drummer and rhythm gat player kicked butt with mean riffs and massive double kicks. I would compare their sound as being a lot like that of Mastadon/Pantera and the comedic banter between songs is recognised as bidding for best lead man of the day, especially when singing (grunting/screaming), playing and head moshing throughout the whole set. Also there is some of their songs available for download on their facebook website if you want to have an eargasm I recommend seeing them live if they are ever in your part of town.

Horrendous Disfigurement

The final band on the outdoor stage was a brutal three-piece band from Hawkes Bay with brutal deadly grunts along with the fastest drumming I’ve ever seen, totally wicked and thrusting power chords that I’m sure opened the gates of hell and can be compared to Morbid Angel and Deicide. I didn’t even notice that they didn’t have a bass player but that fully didn’t matter coz the sound was intense as and reaching up into your soul to sign it over JI also noticed in the crowd and don’t know if it’s something Horrendous started but most moshing patrons were doing a hop, skip, jump dance to Funeral Dismemberment, interesting indeed. If they are ever in a town near you get down for an ear shot of brutal goodness and a hop, skip and a jump J

El Schlong

The 11^th band on the indoor stage all have leading vocal parts which is a combination I haven’t seen live from a metal band before. Hearing them for the very first time was an amazement of vocal switching and backing tracks with trumpets and tango riffing was quite a nice change of pace for the second to last band of the night. I was surprised to hear the leading lady doing screams similar to that of Angela Gassow and the bass playing like Opeth, the drummer was impressive with how beveraged up he was and completing the whole set in time AND screaming J It was great to see a female tap the guitar too, don’t see that too often. Their music reminded me of scenes from horror movies that could totally pass on something Stephen King has written and although the soundman kept turning the vocals and guitar down they didn’t hesitate to let him know. If these guys are ever in your town pop down for a bit of stress relief and ear play that will entice the senses.

Reamfist

1^st song started with audio very reminiscent of metallica’s one… the chopper/machine gun war sounds filled the room before going into a bass intro (where the bass tone sounded scarily similar too tool, unfortunately once everyone else started playing it got a little lost in the mix). The vocals reminded me a lot of randy blythe’s style/pitch hitting mids highs and growls with BV’s often throwing down some growls to harmonize with the lead highs/mids. Guitarist had to take a second to tune up his guitar when he switched over but that gave everyone 2 seconds to catch their breath before getting right back into the brutal.

Resporn

After hearing that these boys had opened for Animals As Leaders I had high expectations before they even begun, I also expected the crowd to be made up entirely of musicians analysing every note as often happens with prog/djent style, but upon seeing the crowd start spewing in from the sunshine outside to hear these guys (which is impressive in itself considering it was a stunner day) I knew I was at least half wrong. Lots of high vocals from a 6ft tatted vocalist who jumped all over the stage the entire time and left the stage drenched in sweat! It was good to see a front man putting his all into a performance which can’t have been easy considering how hot it was, and believe me it was hot!

Gunt

As I was watching them get set up and ready to play somebody hit the smoke machine on super and smoked out the entire stage sending smoke pouring out the entrances, I can only imagine what trying to set up blind and choking is like but couldn’t help but have a bit of a laugh. So many pig squeals and you never really see that anymore so it’s good to see someone bringing it back, and all the while wearing a balaclava which is a feat in itself considering how hot it was. These boys managed to get a pit going from the very first song with lots of breakdown riffs for the moshers who gave it up for the gunt, cd giveaways and all sorts of GC behaviour got the crowd wound up and started filling up the main stage room, stealing from the slightly larger crowd that had amassed for the outside stage.

DIC

Coming onstage in “Blood Suits” which looked a lot like the old plastic meat workers overalls, covered in blood. Vocals were a mix of highs / mids, crowd interaction revolved around a lot of binge drinking advice along the lines of “skull up you pussies”, with a name like DIC who would have guessed they enjoyed heavy drinking? Smoke machine went crazy again as it did a lot throughout the night filling the room with smoke, but the highlight for me was the song about I am giant managing to get a song in THE ROCK countdowns best songs of all time (I’m confused on that one too!)

Vixen Execution

Brutal from the very start these guys just came out and gave it hell! Energetic performances even had the whole band moshing in unison, and that death growl completely blew me away! (Not to mention the insane bass playing). This was their 1^st gig in 1 ½ years but you couldn’t really tell that they hadn’t been onstage in a while, the rest of the crowd definitely couldn’t cos that was probably the most intense pit of the night!

Deaths Door

We missed most of their set due to the wet t-shirt competition outside (as did just about everyone else) but the palmy lad’s breakdown heavy songs got the pit going again when everyone returned. They even got kept on to play an extra song which took us to the midnight countdown.

General-

MC Rocka took on MC duties towards the end of the night getting the crowd worked up into a frenzy, especially during the stripper (the best part of her performance was when she lit herself on fire) The wet T comp happened straight afterwards and basically just ended up in a group of wet girls standing around with no tops on (then covering up when they walked off to go get changed, go figure right?). There were a few sound problems on the mainstage (like barely being able to hear guitar unless you stood right in front of the amp) but otherwise everything seemed to run smoothly for the entire night!

All in all we had an amazing night and we couldn’t have asked for a better NYE, everyone was happily inebriated (despite the stale beer) moshing out to the brutal sounds of 2012 and into the new year, no dramas just an amazing night had by all and we can’t wait to return next year!

Article by Aaron Smith and Ricky Smith

• 1
  Head Like A Hole
• 2
  Horror Story
• 3
  Fraser Ross
• 4
  Fur Patrol
• 5
  Michelle Rounds
• 6
  L.A.B.
• 7
  Devilskin
• 8
  Coridian
• 9
  The Boondocks
• 10
  Late to Chelsea

• 
  LOST BiRD @ Space Academy, Christchurch - 15/12/2024
• 
  Just Janie @ Space Academy, Christchurch - 15/12/2024
• 
  Dream Chambers @ Meow Nui, Wellington - 14/12/2024
• 
  The Phoenix Foundation @ Meow Nui, Wellington - 14/12/2024

• 1
  APT.
  ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
• 2
  DIE WITH A SMILE
  Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
• 3
  BIRDS OF A FEATHER
  Billie Eilish
• 4
  TASTE
  Sabrina Carpenter
• 5
  I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
  Gracie Abrams
• 6
  ESPRESSO
  Sabrina Carpenter
• 7
  SAILOR SONG
  Gigi Perez
• 8
  LOSE CONTROL
  Teddy Swims
• 9
  A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
  Shaboozey
• 10
  GOOD LUCK, BABE!
  Chappell Roan

• Privacy Policy
• Disclaimer
• Copyright Statement

• Contact
• Advertising
• About Us