RTM didn’t have any idea
what cinematic metal was, but on the grounds that Benediction were on the main
stage at the same time, we thought we would go and check out purveyors of the
genre, Splintered Soul, in their early slot on the Sophie stage. On doing so we
found that the Dartford band were a type of epic power combo, with a female
singer and a violinist, but who still managed to be engagingly metal.
Next up were Savage Messiah
who we know all about. Frustratingly they are served up the festival’s first
poor sound, which rather takes away from what should have been a superb half an
hour. Happily things get fixed before “Insurrection Rising” closes things, and
you hope their time will come.
Poor sound is not something
Londoner’s Dripback need to worry about. Producer Russ Russell is on the sound
desk for their set and they get to showcase their peculiarly British brand of
groove, death and thrash metal without concern. They are a brutal option, but
show much better than they did when supporting Biohazard a few months ago.
Croatia’s Infernal Tenebra
are on their first visit to the UK and clearly enjoying themselves, they have
songs called “Bloodstained Chaos” and “Art Of Survival” and not the slightest
hint of originality, a fact they acknowledge themselves by covering Kreator by
the end of proceedings, but they were certainly entertaining.
Which is more than can be
said for female fronted Rising Dream. Pretty good on record, they lose momentum
when the drummer loses his pedal and never get it back.
Perhaps the least metal
band on in the tent today, Brighton hard rock heroes Furyon kick off with
“Disappear Again” which is not only the best song they have by miles, but also
perhaps the best song of the day so far. The band have plugging their
“Gravitas” album for a couple of years so it is relief that they air some new
material in their set – and even better when the song, called “Nothing On Me”
is a belter.
From here it is back to the
main stage to see the reformed Sanctuary’s NWOBHM influenced set. They aren’t
bad by any means and new song “The Mirror In Black” is an endearingly retro
affair, but it is hard to see what all the fuss is about, and by the time their
best known song “Battle Angels” is aired a lot of the buzz has gone.
Perhaps the crowd was
instead waiting for Hatebreed to play their only UK show of 2012. If they were
no-one was disappointed, as Jamey Jasta’s men delivered on a massive scale. The
biggest circle pit of the weekend is soon greeting them “Born To Bleed” and “As
Diehard As They Come” are hardcore/thrash masterpieces and it is such a
stunning set that it will tough to follow.
Unless, of course, the band
following are Testament. Perhaps the fifth of the big four thrash bands, if you
will, the Bay Area veterans walk off not only with the honour of being band of
the day, but perhaps of the entire weekend. Kicking off with “Rise Up” (one of
four tracks they play from stunning new album, “Dark Roots Of The Earth” ) they
show their skills in a frankly incredible way. Frontman Chuck Billy, air
guitars his mic stand throughout a set that included classics like “Into The
Pit,” “Practice What You Preach” as well as newer numbers like “More Than Meets
The Eye.” Simply stunning – they made us miss Orange Goblin and we still didn’t
care, they were that good.
