Metal Experience Fest, what started as a triple birthday party now already reached edition 6. This time only the big hall of Nobel and all bands somehow linked to thrash metal. Even so a varied line-up and two international headliners of name and fame. So going there was no issue, getting there was. No trains between The Hague and Leiden today due to maintenance. Taking a bus instead was longer but OK. Unfortunately trains heading for Leiden from both Haarlem and Hoofddorp were suffering unscheduled obstructions too, so I guess some people arrived late by public transport reasons.
First band on stage were Silenxce from the bollenstreek. Even being from not that far from my home I had never heard of them before being announced for MEF. They play thrash metal, but not of the most aggressive kind. Actually I thought at times they would fit at ProgPower too with their technical parts woven in. They even stated leaving the calmer songs out, so maybe even more variation comes with a longer set. They looked like an old band reforming every now and than. But their rather static presentation was compensated by good musicianship and nice songs. A good opener they were.
Next band were Grindpad from Utrecht. I've seen them before this year and Grindpad is good at making a party. Now on the large stage gave them more space to run around and yes sharks would fly. Their image is build around a shark and a bitten surfboard (two on stage). Their banner is impressive and I had to laugh at how the design showed four sixpacks, while on the stage I spotted more beer bellies. While they were here to give us a party, their music is good too. So I stayed inbetween banging my head and havng a laugh throughout their set.
As if one party was not enough, Insanity Alert came on next. These Austrian thrashers with dutch vocalist Heavy Kevy also guarantee a party. Performance being hectic and fast lots of jokes to keep that Grindpad smile on my face still. Some might say that songs like Run to the Pit and Beer in the Park are hard to take serious, but I loved seeing them again after a few years break. Highlight of the cover parts was to me Moshemian Thrashody, Caught in the first row, no escape from the circle pit. Recovering forces at the lobby, where lots of people I know were walking around.
So I missed the opening track of Hellripper. Possibly the band I looked out for most, as I saw them two year ago twice and bought most of their albums hereafter. Hellripper plays speedmetal with old skool black influences. On album a soloproject by James McBain, live he gathered a strong band around him. So when I found my spot at the floor to fully get into their show desaster struck quick. The band noticed first that a woman or girl was not well and collapsed. Now I do not know what happened so no point in speculating. But when we were all asked to leave the hall the mood was down and worried. After a while the hall reopened and Hellripper could continue. For me the night would not go back to the high from before. This also as I now watched from the end of the hall, getting less into the show.
Headliners Angelus Apatrida now also started a bit later and I already decided to stick with my bus home as scheduled. So a reduced show I got from the Spaniards. Yesterday was not the first time I heard them being called the best European thrash metal band of the moment. I could see where that is coming from as AA are a powerfull machine leaving no prisoners behind. Well prisoners or not left behind I decided to go, just like more people depending on public transport. The evening was a succes and I hope that next year MEF and I are back in Nobel for this gathering of metalheads.
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