6th edition of Vagos Open Air (VOA), 4th I attend and 3rd year covering the event… have seen some good bands in past editions, others not that good but in the end the feeling is always the same: a hell of a good time spent with friends, eating and drinking while listening to good music! But let’s get down to business and start talking about what really matters: the bands.
VOA Day One, August 8th
First band opening the event was Gates of Hell.
I must confess I wasn’t there due to work related schedules but that doesn’t
mean I won’t talk about them. Others were there and filled me up as I arrived.
Great performance with lots of energy drove the crowd into a series of circle
pits, happy as they were at the sound of deathcore. Saw the band once so I
truly believe how great it was. Side fact: there were lots of people there for
the opening band. It was most certainly the highest number of people in all six
editions. Awesome!
2nd band on stage: Kandia. As the
previous one I wasn’t already there, this time regarding a complication with my
credentials. For the first time I wasn’t allowed to access the photos pit to
take photos due to a misunderstanding with the promoter. Although I’m just an
amateur in photography that’s one of the things that pleases me most at a
concert… so no shots this time but I’ll have some to show you (as you can see),
thanks to my friend Helena Granjo who kindly send me some to use here. Now back
to the band; only saw the last 2 songs and frankly I was a little disappointed.
Can’t say it was a bad performance, no, just was expecting more, I guess. Was
it just me or someone else noticed the band was kind of “uncomfortable”? Well,
hope to see them again so I can take better conclusions.
Next one (1st international) British
band Sylosis. Finally managed to see them after they cancelled the gig at Hard
Club (with Devin Townsed and Fear Factory). And quite a show they gave us; with
a set list covering all 3 albums, playing songs like “The Blackest Skyline” or
“All is Not Well”, easily contaminated the crowd with thrash essence receiving
well deserved circle pits in return. Josh (Middleton, guitar/vocals) even had
time to joke with Rob (Callard, drummer), stating he was leaving the band to
start a solo project as a singer, covering Mariah Carey’s songs. They also made
the crowd headbang at the sound… of silence; unbelievable.
As some rain drops started falling from the sky
so did Soilwork started entertaining the crowd. And by entertainment I mean
good Swedish melodeath. Was curious to see them live; first time for me and
their music style is one that I’m most fond of. Even with some (few) leaving
the area for dinning or just to keep safe from the (barely) rain the band gave
a great show with a set list that could be confined to two of their releases:
“The Sledgehammer Files” and “The Living Infinite”.
Time
for the 2nd headliner of the day/night: Dutch symphonic metal band
Epica. It’s always a pleasure for me to see them with this being my 3rd
concert. After the first couple of songs (were the sound was somewhat muffled)
we could finally ear the Simone’s voice perfectly. Here and there with a faulty
tune (maybe she wasn’t at 100%, she didn’t appeared very joyful that night);
apart from that the band gave a great concert and said they would return late
this year with the tour for “The Quantum Enigma”. The show was visually very
beautiful and well coordinated between all members. The set list was mainly
focused on “The Quantum Enigma” and “Design Your Universe” but also included
tracks from “Requiem for the Indifferent” and “The Divine Conspiracy”.
Finally, time for the thrash lords Kreator! These
guys really know how to throw the crowd deep into hell, rumbling and screaming
while wrapped in constant circle pits and walls of death. With a career almost
reaching 3 decades and lots of albums, they still manage to assemble a set list
full of hatred and mayhem, combining classics like “Pleasure to Kill” with
newer ones as “Enemy of God”, all accompanied by some fire/smoke and confetti.
During the all concert Mille Petrozza was constantly thanking what he called
“Portuguese circle pit”, the warmth and the welcoming the band always feels
when visiting Portugal. Although only 2 years have passed since their latest
appearance here, it seemed too long for them (and us).Videos: Sylosis: All Is Not Well | The Blackest Skyline - Soilwork: Spectrum of Eternity | Song2 - Epica: Victims of Contingency | Chemical Insomnia | Unchain Utopia - Kreator: From Flood Into Fire | People of the Lie + Dead to the World | Enemy of God + Phobia
VOA Day Two, August 9th
Again I must apologize to the band, RequiemLaus, for not being able to get there on time to see the whole concert. Still
manage to record a video, though; won’t be saying much about the show because I
got some mixed feedback from the audience. Some liked others not so much (also
because of the sound, technical issues again). Apart from that is always good
to see a Portuguese band with such a long career (even if not that prolific)
among great names on the scene. A just prize for their perseverance in the
underground scene...
First Spanish band acting started with a blast,
“Violent Dawn”. Angelus Apatrida can’t be considered a top band, the kind of
bands that excels among their partners; but they are a great band for parties
and festivals! Saw them once at Hard Club so I knew what to expect: constant
circle pits, wall of death and furious speed/thrash metal capable of making
everyone have a hell of a good time. That’s what they did. First explosion of
happiness among the crowd.
One of the most energetic shows was given by
Swedish melodeath band The Haunted. That was easily noticed mainly because of
the tremendous dust cloud created by the constant circle pits. The crowd as
furious and ravaging (in a good way) probably because of what Marco Aro did;
since the beginning we was repeatedly bashing his forehead with the microphone
and only stopped until he saw blood coming out of it. With intense passion and
groove the band gave one of the best shows so far.
Behemoth are one of those bands there are only
for fans of black metal, the others just enjoy the show peacefully. But even
they can’t deny the spectacle the band put on stage. All painted in black with
horny masks and hoods, flaming torch lights and with “Blow Your Trumpets
Gabriel” for opening song the stage was set to deliver flaming darts of blasphemy
into the crowd, imbuing them with a darkness soul that made them create an
enormous circle pit, probably making this one of the best concerts in all 3
days.
Now time to talk about the best concert on the
night (at least for me), brought by Annihilator. Thrash old school played by
one of the best guitarist in the world, Jeff Waters, who also showed great
skills in entertainment and comedy. Old school display of elements with all
those amps staring at us, fantastic performers on stage and a crowd enjoying
every bit of bit, now that’s true f****g metal! They played classics like
“Alison Hell” or “W.T.Y.D” and newer ones from “Feast”, not forgetting “King of
the Kill” and “Never Neverland”; also a time for fun with the song “Chicken and
Corn”. That was fun that was metal, that what feast and joy… that is the true
spirit \m/
Last band acting were the Swedish Opeth. Not
that I didn’t like yet was expecting more; somewhat confusing set list with the
songs not properly arranged, Mike Akerfeldt was too much of a talker, creating
enormous gaps between songs with led to a general uneasiness of the crowd.
Probably if they had played prior to Annihilator it would somehow minimize the
damage… and not even one single encore. Not the best way to end the night; if
it weren’t the DJs cheering up the crowd when the concerts finished they
wouldn’t go to bed very pleased that night…Videos: Requiem Laus: Song1 - Angelus Apatrida: Of Men and Tyrants | Give'em War - The Haunted: Undead | Eye of the Storm - Behemoth: Ov Fire and the Void | Chant for Eschaton 2000 - Annihilator: King of the Kill | Deadlock | Allison Hell + W.T.Y.D. | Chiken and Corn + Braindance - Opeth: Heir Apparent | Hope Leaves
VOA Day Three, August 10th
This final day had a last minute band added to
the line-up, the symphonic metal band Opus Diabolicum. For those who never
heard of them they’re a trio of cellos that pays tribute to another Portuguese
band, Moonspell. Great performance for a quite generous crowd; even when many
where preparing things to leave, packing their stuff many where there listening,
clapping and even singing the songs with the band. I can say it was the most
patriot moment of the festival and they deserved it.
The Quartet of Whoa was the last national band
on stage. Must confess I was a little surprised for seeing them on the line-up,
mainly because they’re an alternative rock band. Man was I wrong… one of the
best performances of all 3 days! With a vintage rock sound resembling Black
Sabbath and a psychedelic/progressive twist in the line of Deep Purple, all
served with an inebriating energy totally captured the heart of the crowd.
Another Spanish band, Vita Imana, this one
playing Thrash with a groove, a “Pantera like” band with an extremely energetic
Javier Cardoso always jumping and moving around. Apart from the drums the band
uses a well placed percussion which gives a tribal touch to their sound, making
it more lively and aggressive. With all that energy emanating from the stage no
way the crowd could stand still; continuous circle pits and party mood during
all set. Brilliant performance, great band, one of the best shows and if there
was one, candidate for a prize.
Now one of the most expected bands, British
Paradise Lost. You’ll never know what to expect from them, either it will be a
bad experience, a normal concert or something memorable. Fortunately was
something between the last two. Nick Holmes was quite affable and amused, here
and there with a funny appointment. The set list covered several albums with
tracks like “Tragic Idol”, “As I Die”, “Faith Divides Us – Dead Unites Us” and
“Gothic”, maintaining the rhythm in a rock/gothic tune, very well chosen and in
fact quite appropriate to the rainy day. Certainly one of the best concerts in
all 3 days.
Finally, closing the day and the festival were
the French Gojira. Eighteen years since they’re appearance and finally they’re
first show in Portugal (and hopefully not the last). Without a doubt the mostly
anticipated act of the entire festival (by the crown and also by the band, also
because Duplantier brothers descend from Portuguese) and they didn’t do it for
less. Tremendous entry with “Explosia” followed by “The Axe”, the crowd was
frenzied even though it started to rain, constants circles pits and crowd
surfing, more great songs including “Flying Whales” and “Oroborus”, an encore
with a drum solo… all of this my friends, and much more, made it a concert to
remember. We thank you Gojira for the incredible metal night.Videos: Opus Diabolicum: Scorpion Flower | Alma Mater - Murk: Footprint of God - The Quartet of Whoa: Balance | U Turn - Vita Imana: Gondwana | Song2 - Paradise Lost: Remembrance | Erased | As I Die | One Second - Gojira: Backbone | Wisdom Comes | Oroborus
All is well when it ends well but that doesn’t
mean there aren’t certain aspects that need to be changed by the organization.
The festival is growing more each year; saw some good changes regarding
infrastructures for the bands, the stage seemed better that the one last year…
but don’t neglect the common people, they’re the ones paying all of that. They
need better places for camping, much more WCs than the ones provided, more
bathing zones. The festival must rise as an all, well balanced.
I would like to thank the organization,
RocknRadio, Som do Rock for their support and Helena Granjo for the photos. VOA
’15, we’ll meet you there.
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