Stichting Huaaaargh was founded by Marcel, Alex and Jonathan. Their intention is to organize shows of the progmetallic kind. This evening was their debut, but also Jonathan's Birthday midlife crises party. Confused? well any excuse to organize an evening of diverse progmetal works for me. This first show of the year for me turned out to be a Progpower reunion of sorts with a large majority in being known faces or names (sorry Chantal not Crystel). So the mood was good and the hugging part was near the limit of acceptable for a metal party. The place for this was dB's in Utrecht and also a first for me. I had been a few times to the old dB's which burned down. Now in a new location the hall was slightly better visible and the bar had a huge amount of draft beers, so approved it is.
Opening band of the day were the onluy Dutch band Schizoid Lloyd. They were on a hiatus and this was their first show in eight years. Well we got new songs and the promise they would do more shows again, so welcome back it is. I saw Schizoid Lloyd before at ProgPower many years agao. Their music ain't easy and goes all over the place. Luckily their quirckiness is packed in enough metal to not irritate me, but keeping matters rather interesting. Almost all ended after one song, when energy said too weird, but that was corrected and we got a fine set by them.
Next band were Pravitas from Leeds. They play technical Death Metal a style not allowed at PPE, while tonight showed enough response for reconsideration. If the vocalist was representative for Leeds it is understandable why Elland Road is considered a loud Stadium. Even more impressive might have been the instrumental basis with at times a calmer break for guitars to shine and a monster behind the drums. This set flew by and I loved the energy coming of the stage. Their first ever Dutch show can be considered a success.
Exist Immortal followed and they were the best band of the day at a Complexity Fest before Covid. I missed their returns, so happy to see them again now. Unfortunately bad luck struck and their drummer got injured. Instead of cancelling the show they taped the drum parts and played along with it while drums stayed covered in black. To my surprise it worked much better than feared and again Exim were a highlight for me. I was glad to pick up their last CD after the set, when I also took the opportunity to tell the guitarist what would make their show even more awesome. Stop the waiing at us and making hearts from the stage to the crowd or vice versa should be banned. After all we are not at bloody eurovision. But maybe it is that since I am 3 days and 15 years older than Jonno I am too old for that shit. Great return of the band, hope next time is in Baarlo.
Final band were Playgrounded from Greece, former Rotterdam. Unlike the three uplifting and energetic sets before them they play on the more depressive side of metal. I actually have their first EP, but never saw them before (also as they pulled out of one recent PPE edition I recall). They are a good band, but I was more needing to be lifted up, than pulled down this evening. So I decided to catch the 23:44 train towards my final train home. Next time they get a fair chance. So thanks go out to Jonno and Stichting Huaaaargh for a very nice opening of gig year 2026. Hope many shall follow and tip to the Stichting: next time put a bin in with a sticker support Stichting Huaaaargh. I am sure I would not be the only one who loved the idea and likes to support such initiatives.
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