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John Lambgoat traveled to Syracuse, NY in mid-July 2002 to cover the world's largest hardcore festival. Read on or look at some photos.
Hellfest 2002 had it all--good music, moshing, fighting, altercations with security, severe injuries (a light fixture in the merch tent fell on a girls head and cut her eyelid in multiple places), and romance, among other things. It was like a great movie that covered everything. We here at Lambgoat tried to cover as much of the fest for you, the reader. Because of our limited manpower, however, there will be gaps in the report.
Held at the New York State Fairgrounds, the venue was more than adequate to host thousands of hardcore kids. There were three stages set up under what could best be described as huge metal roof supported by metal pillars. Stage A was dubbed the main stage, and hosted the larger acts of the fest. This stage faced one direction. Stages B and C were secondary stages, and had their backs to A. But the whole stage B and C area was actually one stage area (like stage A), but composed of two smaller stages. In between the stages housed most of the band gear, as well as band members, roadies, and the Hellfest crew setting up, observing bands and what not.
Parking was convenient, as it was right next to the venue. Security would quickly pat down each attendee, as well as check bags for security measures. This was the main reason for the slow lines, in addition to kids checking in with the fest and receiving their wristbands for the day or weekend. Regular attendees sported greenish wristbands. Media and ‘Zines had yellow bands, and bands or roadies had blue bands, as well as ID stickers. One to two reasonable sized bottles of water were allowed in, as well as a small meal. No video cameras or filming was allowed.
Hellfest had quite a number of extras to please the crowd. In terms of food, there were stands for French-fries, Boca burgers, drinks, sushi, pizza, and burritos for vegetarians, vegans, and omnivores. Although the food was relatively cheaper than the prices of other major music fests or fairs, it was still slightly more expensive than normal (soda = $2, water = $3, veggie sushi roll = $4, burrito = $5). Past the eats were a few tents set up for skating gear, including a mini half-pipe. A huge tent was set up for merch, and housed numerous distros, labels, and bands depending on what night it was. You probably could find whatever you needed there in terms of shirts, CDs, vinyl, etc… T-shirts were slightly more expensive than usual ($11 versus the normal $10), probably because of the fairgrounds wanting the extra cash. Porta-potties were in the back area for the crowd, while bands and crew used nicer accommodations near the stage area (kids did use this bathroom on Friday, but it would be off limits for the rest of the weekend because of vandalism and/or cleanliness issues). There was a dunk tank set up, but it seemed inactive. If you decided to leave the fest early, you could get your picture taken with Samson, the Hellfest mascot, as long as you brought a camera.
Onto the bands. Please note that some of the time slots listed for band performances may be inaccurate, considering several acts pulled out and schedules were rearranged to avoid various conflicts. We also have a ton of pictures for your viewing pleasure. We apologize to all the bands that we were unable to catch or shoot for. Even the power of the Goat (haha) was unable to obtain a photo pass, which made our job even more difficult (taking pictures in the crowd sucks). Nevertheless, we hope you enjoy what we have to offer, and hope that you can get a taste of Hellfest if you were unable to make it. That is until the official Hellfest DVD comes out.
11:30-12:00
On The Might Of Princes
The melodic-sreamo upstarts of Revelation Records kicked off things on the main stage for the day. They’ve definitely matured since I last saw them at CBGBs, and I’d imagine touring in support of their album on Traffic Violation Records has been a large factor in their growth. Very energetic with a great stage presence, OTMOP attracted a decent crowd, which seemed to include some hometown supporters from Long Island.
12:20-12:50
Atreyu
Victory Records’ latest acquisition from Orange County, Atreyu attracted a very large crowd, which makes sense since the band churns out pretty catchy Swedish-influenced metalcore. Since their EP on Tribunal Records, the unit has definitely focused its music on the metal side of things, while retaining elements of melody and singing. The kids seemed really into the set, with many at the front of the stage singing along.
1:10-1:40
Norma Jean (formerly Luti-kriss)
This band shattered all my preconceptions of them. Honestly, when I initially heard their material on Solid State Records, I was turned off by their almost “Nü-metal” tilt. But they’ve changed my mind, as their stage presence was incredible. Members of the band were flailing left and right, or head banging during their performance. Brandan of Bleeding Through contributed vocals during one song, which drew a lot of cheers from the crowd. Definitely a band to check out if you have not already. I believe Norma Jean mentioned that their new, forthcoming album is slated for an August release.
2:00-2:30
Hopesfall
Close to releasing their debut album for Trustkill Records, Hopesfall delivered an energetic performance as they usually do, playing favorites from “No Wings To Speak Of,” as well as new songs off their forthcoming LP. Vocalist Jay Forrest was particularly entertaining, as he convulsed on stage, fell into the crowd and let the audience carry him, as well as just pouring himself out during the music. The kids were definitely singing along whenever they could.
2:50-3:20
Bloodlet
I haven’t gotten around to hearing the new Bloodlet album, but from the sounds of it, the band was definitely playing some new material as indicated by segments of singing. Nevertheless, the band remains a force of heaviness, and fans of the unit were pleased to watch them perform at Hellfest.
4:30-5:00
Every Time I Die
Every Time I Die’s set could have been a hometown show given their proximity to Buffalo (sort of). As usual, the band drew a huge crowd and a lot of chaos. Although I wasn’t there in person to witness them, they definitely were a crowd pleaser. From what I heard, there was some sort of Pantera action going on as well. Odd.
5:20-5:50
Nemesis
Former Earth Crisis front man Karl Buechner returns with Nemesis, a band that is supposed to pick up where his former unit ended musically. The vocals did not seem to have the rap delivery per se, but there was definitely a lot more singing, as the guitarist and Karl traded or integrated phrases. I think the bassist is the same as the one in the last incarnation of Earth Crisis, but I’m not 100% sure. Nevertheless, the fact that Nemesis is Karl’s new band did attract a large crowd. Fans were dancing in a small circle pit, and there were groups of people even singing along.
6:10-6:40
Diecast
Watching from afar, Diecast attracted a pretty big crowd during their performance. There was plenty of moshing and singing along, and eventually spectators spilled onto the main stage and sang as the unit played. Diecast would also plug the UFC: Throwdown, the videogame on Playstation 2 and X-Box that features one of their tracks.
7:00-7:40
God Forbid
God Forbid brought the metal as usual, and the crowd aptly responded with a seething pit and plenty of horns thrown in the air. Some new songs, such as “Forced Fed,” were also played for the listening pleasure of Hellfest goers. God Forbid never seems to disappoint.
8:00-8:40
Bane
Hoping to recreate the chaos of Bane’s set in 2000, Hellfest decided to hold a little competition where the best stage dive during Bane would win two free passes to next year’s fest. Bane opened up with “Can We Start Again,” with Aaron repeating the opening line and asking if everyone truly believes in the words that they’re saying. As soon as the music started, a non-stop shower of stage divers begins. Kids had their arms up in the air, singing along, and rushing the stage. Meanwhile, Bane gave everything they had both musically and emotionally. This was probably one of the best sets of the night.
9:00-10:00
The Dillinger Escape Plan
In typical Dillinger Escape Plan form, strobe and standard lights were used during the unit’s pitch-black set. The fog machine was there as well. If you’ve seen DEP live, you know what a spectacle it is. The fact that they can play such technical music while flailing around like madmen is quite impressive. The intensity was amazing, and members of the crowd were diving and churning around with the music. Greg was wearing a Britney shirt, and during the performance he pulled a monitor amp and threw it into the center of the stage. Meanwhile, Ben thoroughly smashed one of his guitars. At one point, Greg was standing on the monitor while holding the guitar like a carcass, and some random kid decided he wanted it. At this point, the singer said something like “What the fuck do you want?” and pushed him away. The other half of the guitar was thrown into the crowd I think. “Rebel Yell” was the cover song of the night. Towards the end of the set, Greg would do a little fire breathing, and then set the drum set ablaze with the assistance of drummer Chris. Elsewhere, the rest of the members smashed all their guitars. Excellent stuff.
1:00-1:20
Love Is Red
Although I briefly observed their set, I’m pretty sure the singer for Love Is Red said something like, “Thanks for watching us instead of Norma Jean.” I could be wrong, but there seemed to be a hint of hostility in the comment. It was quite strange.
2:20-2:40
A Life Once Lost
The circle pit opened up even before the band started. A Life Once Lost then proceeded to deliver its technical metalcore, which particularly pleased the mosh kids. The singer was all over the place, moving frantically across the stage and climbing the speakers, and then into the crowd. Spilled water on the stage added some comedy to the set, as members of the band would occasionally slip and slide. A very intense performance, with kids going off.
3:00-3:20
Season Of Fire
I didn’t stay for the whole set, but there was a decent amount of people watching overall, and a number of kids singing along and moshing to Season Of Fire’s aggressive brand of metalcore. Good stuff.
3:40-4:00
Between The Buried And Me
Definitely a crowd favorite, BTBAM attracted a lot of kids. There was plenty of pitting and stage diving. It was great to finally see them live and execute their very guitar-driven music, as well as hear the guttural vocals. Unfortunately, overlapping sets kind of took away from the music, especially during “More Of Myself To Kill,” as the performance from the main stage, which was quite loud, served as a distraction. A very impressive showing nonetheless.
5:40-6:05
In Pieces
The latest Connecticut export, In Pieces drew a decent crowd. It was difficult to judge how the new singer sounded with the band, but from what I could gather, it seemed fine. There was some singing along by the crowd, but one wouldn’t expect that much moshing or stage diving with this band.
7:30-8:00
Killswitch Engage
You could feel some degree of anticipation from the crowd for Killswitch, as Blood Has Been Shed’s Howard Jones was recently named the new front man for the band. Before they began, he publicly thanked all of his friends for their supporting of him in joining Killswitch. Honestly, Jones is an excellent fit for the unit, and it showed, as Killswitch didn’t miss a beat. He has the vocal range to hit all the necessary growls and screams, as well as the singing. The majority of the songs were off of “Alive or Just Breathing,” and you could tell Killswitch was into it as much as the crowd was. There was plenty of singing along, dancing, and great support from everyone watching.
12:00-12:30
American Tragedy
American Tragedy plays discordant metallic hardcore with a hint of technical flair. They’re no Dillinger Escape Plan or Eyes Upon Separation, but I guess they incorporate enough complexity in their music to keep things interesting. I have a feeling that people weren’t too familiar with the band, but kids were checking them out. They recently released a split CD with As I Lay Dying on Pluto Records, so if you’re a fan of AILD, and you want to check out AT, perhaps the new split CD is a good place to start.
12:40-1:00
As Hope Dies
Be on the lookout for As Hope Dies. The unit plays driving European influenced metalcore. Yeah, a lot of bands are doing it these days, but they do it pretty well. Imagine if you put Darkest Hour and End This Day in a blender. Combine that with scathing black metal vocals, and you’ll get an idea of what As Hope Dies sounds like. They had limited tour edition CD, “Birth Place and Burial Site,” available on Undecided Records, and they’ll be releasing the CD with complete packaging some time in the near future. Fans of the aforementioned bands, as well as European metal, should definitely check these guys out.
1:20-2:40
Dead To Fall
The latest addition to the Victory Records roster, Dead To Fall was very energetic, and attracted a good-sized crowd. There were a number of kids dancing along and even singing. For those unfamiliar with the band, they’re definitely metalcore with a lot of single-note riffing. And yes, the European influence is here too. The music, which is heavily guitar-driven, has an abundant amount of harmonization, as well as the occasional breakdown. From some earlier songs I heard, I don’t recall the Euro-core edge, but perhaps they’ve developed this sound since then. Dead To Fall was also selling a five-song demo, so fans of contemporary metalcore with a European tilt will want to check them out, as well as their forthcoming release on Victory.
2:00-2:20
Moneen
I really wasn’t paying attention to this band because I was waiting at the other stage, but the guitarist for Moneen decided to climb one of the amp stacks (photo) and jump off. It was actually pretty high. Musically, they played some melodic stuff, but I can’t really think of any band that’s comparable to the unit.
2:40-3:00
Bury Your Dead
I’ve seen this name thrown around on the Lambgoat message board, and after witnessing part of their set, I have to say that these guys are pretty brutal. In your face metal/moshcore with vocals ranging from gruff yells to metal screams. Musically, they’re along the lines of Throwdown and some Hatebreed. They’re definitely not lacking in the breakdown department, as indicated by the huge pit during their performance. Bury Your Dead was selling a Summer Tour 2002 demo on Car Crash Audio, and from the looks of it, they’ll be doing some work with Eulogy Recordings/Alveran Records in the future. Fans of punishing metalcore with breakdowns should check out Bury Your Dead.
3:20-3:40
7 Angels 7 Plagues
As you all probably know, despite vocalist Matt Mixon’s departure with 7A7P, he did fill in for Hellfest, and will be appearing during other summer blockbuster hardcore events. Before they began, ashes were scattered on the stage, and Mixon addressed the crowd, explaining that two very good friends of theirs in the band Compromise passed away in a fatal accident. The ashes of one (I think) of their cremated friends were spread across the stage, and they dedicated their Hellfest performance to both of them. With that out of the way, the music began and the crowd went nuts with dancing, singing, pitting, and everything else you can think of. At some points, the pit took on a “L” or “T” formation, which was very odd. Nevertheless, a huge cloud of dust rose up, and it seemed as if everyone was singing along during “Arcadia Fades.” An excellent showing.
4:40-5:00
Codeseven
Due to time constraints, Codeseven was forced to play a short set. Despite the crowd, as well as the band, pleading for more minutes, the unit was informed that the plug would be pulled on them if they continued. They began with an old song, and the rest of the set consisted of songs off of “The Rescue.” As usual, front man Jeff Jenkins was quite animated, making funny hand gestures, leaping in the air, dancing with the mic stand, and going into the crowd. The band was very appreciative of the support when they finished. Codeseven played a really great set, with only the time issue being the biggest detractor.
Day two of Hellfest was upon everyone, and kids seemed to catch on to the fact that the dust being kicked up was unhealthy, filthy, and a nuisance. As a result, many brought in dust masks or wore bandanas to avoid inhaling anymore of the feces-laden sand particles.
11:30-12:00
All Else Failed
The All Else Failed set was actually delayed a slot for some reason. When they did start, they were very energetic and had an awesome stage presence. From the looks of it, they have a relatively new guitarist in the band. At one point, the singer hit himself in the head with the mic so hard that he was bleeding. The crowd was singing along, and “Route 1” was definitely the highlight of their performance.
12:20-12:50
Caliban
I knew Caliban was big, but I didn’t know they were this popular. The crowd was going crazy, singing along, diving, and dancing as the German metalcore outfit played. Caliban was definitely into it, with the singer shrieking bloody murder all over the stage. It was great witnessing them live at Hellfest. I’d imagine after their tour of the United States, it may be a while before they come back again.
1:10-1:40
Skycamefalling
Although I was viewing from afar, they were an obvious crowd favorite. There were a lot of people at the main stage to see them.
2:00-2:30
The Hope Conspiracy
With some new blood in the line up, THC delivered an energetic set. The crowd obviously reacted positively with endless pitting, sing-alongs, and dives, and it foreshadowed things to come with Reach The Sky and American Nightmare coming up.
2:50-3:20
Reach The Sky
Playing a bulk of their songs off of “So Far From Home,” Boston’s Reach The Sky continued the energy from THC’s set, and then some. Ian made a nice speech about hardcore and what it represents, so that probably stoked the inner hardcore flame of the crowd. Singing, moshing, and stage diving were all a prerequisite for the RTS set.
3:40-4:10
Unearth
Unearth played some new songs from their forthcoming “Endless” EP on Eulogy Recordings. The new stuff is even more metal, if you can even imagine it, with a lot of guitar leads and such. One of the guitarists dove into the crowd on several occasions. The crowd was going off, and continued to raise the intensity bar with stage dives and singing.
4:30-5:00
From Autumn To Ashes
It’s almost a given that the crowd will go nuts during a FATA show or set. It’s almost comical (not in a bad way, but an entertaining way) as kids look like they’re on the brink of tears. The unit opened up with “Reflections.” Francis the drummer came out from behind the drum set to sing “Cloroform Perfume.” Someone filled in on drums, while the kids sang along and were reaching out to touch the vocalist. FATA closed with “Short Stories With Tragic Endings,” with Francis singing the Melanie Wills lines. Towards the end of the set, kids were storming and standing on stage singing along.
5:20-5:50
American Nightmare
Prior to American Nightmare taking the stage, a group of fairgrounds security guards in yellow t-shirts lined up in front of the main stage. Obviously, they were greeted with groans and questions as to why they were there. A Hellfest crew member (I believe it was Matt) addressed the situation. At this point of the fest, there have been over 20 people hauled away by ambulances because of injures stemming from stage diving and moshing. As a result, Matt tells the crowd that the fest is not in jeopardy, and that the audience should continue to have fun, but just take the intensity down a notch. The crowd, as well as AN, think that the guards are ridiculous, but the fairgrounds insists on security to avoid any further incidents. AN opens up with “Hearts.” In typical fashion, Wes runs frantically back and forth on the stage, and then jumps into the crowd. As he makes his way back onto the stage, a security guard physically assaults him. Hardcore guys, such as Rich Hall, quickly respond to the situation and jump in to retaliate. The scuffle ensues (photo), but eventually settles down with members from each side yelling at each other. In the end, the security guards are asked to leave amid clapping from both the staff and the crowd. Eventually, another staff member takes the stage and explains that the guards don’t understand this thing that belongs to us; this scene and the music. Therefore, rather than using the fairground guards who are inexperienced in hardcore and its ways, stage security will be handled by those in the scene. The crowd then applauses in agreement. Rather than standing in front of the stage, the new “guards” make sure that kids working their way to the front or crowd surfing are O.K., and that stage divers don’t stay on the stage for too long. AN begins its set again, playing frantically through their set list, while the audience sang along and stage-dove all over.
6:10-6:40
Stretch Arm Strong
Stretch satisfied the audience with its positive, uplifting melodic hardcore. Vocalist Chris McLane spoke briefly about hardcore issues, and urged the crowd to have a good time without any violence or injuries. Stretch also dedicated their set to the missing Utah girl and her family, saying that their thoughts and prayers go out to them. “For The Record” got a great response with a lot of the crowd clapping their hands together in the air. Plenty of people singing along, as Stretch played a mix of songs from “Rituals of Life” and “A Revolution Transmission.”
7:00-7:40
Shai Hulud
Always a crowd favorite, if you have ever watched the Hellfest 2000 DVD/VHS or seen Shai Hulud live, you know how commanding the band is on stage, and how the crowds react. The Hulud seems to have solved the drummer situation (no more “Clark Griswolds” or drum machine threats). The recent departure of Jared Allen on bass has also been dealt with. Guitarist Matt Fletcher was handling bass duties, while a new member played guitar. Apprarently, Shai Hulud ran into some van troubles while trying to get to Hellfest, and Love Is Red was kind enough to leave the fairgrounds to go pick them up.
8:00-8:40
Camp Kill Yourself
For those unfamiliar with Camp Kill Yourself, they play rock with some stoner influences. There seemed to be some pretty excited fans up front. Although I didn’t witness it, apparently somebody from Jackass made an appearance and had a slap contest with someone on stage.
9:00-10:00
The Misfits
I decided to pass on the Misfits, call it a night, and get a picture taken with Samson.
12:20-12:40
The Red Chord
These guys were incredible live. I almost missed them because the times were mixed up, and they started to play while I was waiting at the main stage, so I quickly ran to Stage B. Seeing the unit play live, particularly the drummer, was excellent. The band was pretty tight overall. The vocalist’s growls sounded inhuman, and eventually the crowd exploded as The Red Chord played “Dreaming In Dog Years.” I can’t remember which track it is, but at the end of a particular song, one of the guitarists held his death metal growl for a good 10 to 15 seconds, which was entertaining. I think some kids were making fun of him because he was the most “metal looking” person in the band with his long hair and Nasum shirt. The pit was pretty rough during this set.
5:40-6:05
Terror
Ex-Slugfest, -Despair, and -Buried Alive vocalist Scott Vogel returns to the East Coast with his latest band, Terror. The unit also features ex-members of Carry On and Shark Attack. There were obviously a lot of people on hand to support and watch the band. Musically, Terror is a punishing mix of old- and new-school hardcore. It has the drive and mentality of traditional hardcore bands, as well as some pretty gruff vocals and a slight hint of metal. I’d say it leans more to the old-school, so fans of Bridge 9 (with whom their supposed to be releasing an EP), Deathwish, and even Indecision Records bands would like this a lot. They’re a great band and definitely warrant a listen.
7:30-8:00
Burnt By The Sun
Mike addressed the crowd about the guitarist situation, saying that Burnt will now be a four-piece. Extra guitar amps were used to fill in the sound, as John would use an A-B switch during various parts songs. Nevertheless, the unit had no problems musically from what I heard. Kids were singing along and dancing, and of course, “You Will Move” got a huge reaction from everyone.
Security tightened up for the last day of the fest. Bands received new colored wristbands, and the back area was limited to bands only. Perhaps there was a problem with too many kids or acquaintances of the bands in the area.
11:30-12:00
Asherah
I think this band is based in upstate New York, so there was a bit of a hometown crowd for them. I’ve never really heard any of their material and, therefore, it was difficult to make out what they really sounded like. The unit is definitely metalcore, with some melodic overtones. They’re currently on tour and will have material available on Seventh Dagger Records in the future.
12:20-12:50
Curl Up And Die
Curl Up And Die attracted a decent crowd during their set, but I was definitely expecting to see more people. Perhaps the set was too early, and people were still waiting in line to get in. The singer was the most active of the band, moving all across the stage. I have to say that there are some Converge parallels with CUAD. They put on a good show, but it would’ve been nice to see more people there.
1:10-1:40
The Promise
Featuring ex-members of (get ready) Another Victim, Santa Sangre, One King Down, Turmoil, Earth Crisis, Starkweather, and Conviction, The Promise has a pretty impressive background. Musically, there are some similarities to Another Victim and Santa Sangre, as the band plays driving, no-frills metalcore that’s easy to dance and mosh to. During the set, the singer talked about how hardcore isn’t about your hair or fashion, but about the music and the heart. They’re obvious proponents of the straightedge lifestyle, so straightedge kids were X-ed up for the set. There was plenty of finger pointing, singing along, and stage diving. The Promise also encouraged the crowd to greet others at the fest, in case this was their first hardcore experience. The unit has a CD single/7” on Deathwish, and should have more material available on Indecision Records in the near-term.
2:00-2:30
xDisciplex A.D.
Although I only witnessed their set from one of the second stages, xDisciplex attracted a large crowd.
2:50-3:20
Ensign
Again, I only viewed Ensign’s performance from a distance, but there was a very large audience there to support the band. Everyone seemed to enjoy the set.
3:40-4:10
Most Precious Blood
Most Precious Blood got a huge crowd response, and returned the favor with an intense set. By the end (during the end of “No Place Like Home”), Sean the drummer broke his sticks and flipped over his set, while Justin manhandled his guitar by tearing off the strings. And for you young’ens, that was a cover of “Final Expression,” off of Unbroken’s “Life. Love. Regret” during MPB. Go out and buy this record. Unbroken was doing emotional metalcore before it was cool. There were also several New Yorkers dressed up like the Ex-Presidents from the movie Point Break (tuxedos and Presidents masks), which was pretty funny.
4:30-5:00
Merauder
Merauder attracted both tough guys and girls. It was really a sight seeing how big and furious the pit was. The band played favorites off of all their albums, told some tasteless jokes, and represented Puerto Rico as a random fan gave the singer a mini Puerto Rico flag. They thanked MPB for letting them borrow their equipment, and one of the guitarists dedicated a song to Karl of Nemesis.
5:20-5:50
Eighteen Visions
Although I don’t listen to 18 Visions, I do have to say that they’ve got a great stage presence, especially James Hart. He started off wearing a bright red shirt and flower-pattern scarf around his neck, and it eventually all came off. He also did some stage diving himself. Brandan was there to play guitar, and it was reported that he would play the next few 18V shows, and then the unit would become a four-piece. They played a mix of old and new material, and attracted a large crowd, which seemed to thoroughly enjoy them.
6:10-6:40
Throwdown
As reported, Keith Barney has switched roles with the guitarist. Nonetheless, Throwdown riled up the crowd with songs like “Unite” and “Trust.” Fists were raised in the air, and there was an endless flow of divers, as well as people yelling along with the songs. The set was quite a fun spectacle to watch.
7:00-7:40
Lamb of God
I opted to see Blood Has Been Shed during LoG’s set, but from what I heard, Brandan from Bleeding Through did some guest vocals during a song. The band obviously drew a huge crowd, and I can only imagine the intensity of the circle pit.
8:00-8:40
Cro-Mags
Hardcore legends, the Cro-Mags took the stage. Bassist Harley Flanagan made a joke that because of the heightened security, he was straightedge for the evening. Throughout the set, he’d yell at the crowd to move around more, and made fun of straightedge kids. He also called some people “faggots,” and made fun of one individual. It was pretty entertaining. Old-school fans were dancing up a storm and singing.
er the Cro-Mags set, there was a slight altercation at the back of the venue. From what I heard, the individual that was made fun of by Harley apparently confronted him. As a result, all security personnel and policeman on hand ran toward the back, but nothing really happened. Of course, this is all hearsay since I couldn’t seen anything, but it was drama.
With the festival coming to a close, and Hatebreed scheduled to take the stage, the Hellfest crew, led by Keith in Hell, took the stage with several large boxes. The giveaway then begins, with the crew throwing free items, ranging from Hellfest 2002 t-shirts, to CDs, to Samson skateboard decks. There were also free bottles of water for the crowd to drink, as long as they didn’t throw them during Hatebreed’s set. Following the shower of free items, Keith held up Samson, the official mascot of Hellfest, Lion King/Simba-style. The crowd cheered and threw up horns for Samson. After a few more minutes of waiting, Keith introduced the final act, and Hatebreed took the stage.
9:00-10:00
Hatebreed
Two full bass cabinets and two Marshall stacks. Now that’s a lot of gear. Hatebreed took the stage played a solid set. Jamey thanked the crowd for all their support over the years, and helping the band get to where they currently are. At one point, he requested a circle pit and a huge cloud of dust rose upward. Although the band itself was pretty stationary, Jamey was running back and forth and jumping in the air. I remember reading that he lost a lot of weight to be in better shape and have a better stage presence, and it showed. There was an exorbitant amount of stage diving, and everyone was singing along and finger pointing in the air. Surprisingly, Hatebreed didn’t play the full hour, but no one seemed that disappointed.
11:00-11:20
Kalibas
Recently signed to Relapse Records, Kalibas plays grindcore. They had some pretty humorous song titles. It sounded good, but being unfamiliar with the band’s music, coupled with the muddy sound, it was hard to decipher what their influences are and their style.
12:20-12:40
The Wage of Sin
From my main stage position, The Wage of Sin had a large crowd watching them. If you didn’t know, the band features Rachel from MPB on guitar. It sounded like pretty good stuff from where I was standing.
2:20-2:40
Black Dahlia Murder
Prior to their start, the vocalist thanked all of the Hellfest promoters for giving BDM a chance to play. They were probably added late to the roster, and I recall the band aggressively promoting posters on the Lambgoat message board to vote for them to be on Hellfest. The singer had some pretty European metal mannerisms, like holding up his hand in a shape of a claw in the air while he was singing. It makes sense, given that the band plays frantic, driving, European-influenced metalcore, with vocals ranging from black metal to deep growls. Fans of Darkest Hour, End This Day, As Hope Dies, and Dead Blue Sky should like this. For more, read the Lambgoat review of their CDEP.
3:00-3:20
Suicide Note
Suicide Note, unfortunately, had to cancel because of an illness their guitarist came down with earlier that week.
5:00-5:20
One Nation Under
Although I wasn’t at the second stage to see ONU, I heard that the bassist proposed to his girlfriend on stage. So there is your Hellfest romance. But ONU definitely brought the mosh. And congratulations to the newly engaged couple (assuming she accepted).
6:30-7:00
Time In Malta
With a new album recently released via Equalvision Records, Time In Malta put on an excellent performance. Usually a trio, the band had a new bass player so Todd Gullion could focus on singing. The unit was very energetic, jumping up and down and interacting very well with the crowd. In fact, Gullion almost looked like a goofy rap artist, as he hopped up and down, made funny hand gestures, and wore his red mesh hat sideways. But it was all in good fun. I would advise all of you to pick up “A Second Engine,” because it’s a great album, and probably one of the years’ best so far.
7:30-8:00
Undying
I only watched Undying briefly, but a large crowd surrounded Stage B when they performed. The new female singer, Logan, was formidable, and the kids were piling up at the front singing along.
12:00-12:20
Light Is The Language
The technical metal-noise outfit was impressive during their set. I don’t recall them having a samples guy during the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, but they had one here, setting up all the samples before each song. The band attracted a pretty good crowd, with people singing along and dancing.
2:00-2:20
Lickgoldensky
With a new vocalist and an interim (?) drummer, Lickgoldensky mocked the crowd by saying they weren’t brutal enough, and then mocked the encouraging hardcore speeches made by other bands. The singer had excellent showmanship, as he would strangle the guitarist, swallow the mic, hump the amps (photo), hide under the stage, and just act like an overall lunatic. At one point, he irritated one of the guitarists, who then retaliated by throwing something at the singer, as well as kicking him. The same guitarist traded his guitar with a cameraman on stage and started filming the crowd. Honestly, this was a really entertaining set. Catch these guys on tour if you can. You won’t be disappointed.
2:40-3:00
Circle of Dead Children
Watching from afar, Circle of Dead Children drew out all the grindcore fans. The drummer was insanely fast, and the vocalist had some very impressive chops.
7:00-7:30
Blood Has Been Shed
A decent turnout by the crowd, considering Blood Has Been Shed’s set overlapped with Lamb of God. There was only one guitarist, but it didn’t seem to affect the sound from what I heard. During the performance, Jones made a joke about the Lamb of God hair patch.
8:00-8:30
Martyr A.D.
Their first show in about a year, Martyr had a new drummer behind the set, but the old one was there observing. At this point, the bulk of the Hellfest crowd was on hand, as they later-day sets were shifted so the Stage A and Stage B/C acts wouldn’t overlap. The band played several new songs that are expected to be on their Victory Records full-length (in January 2003?). There was a big pit going too.
Well, that's it. By the way, if anyone knows the band that covered Quicksand, let me know via e-mail (john@lambgoat.com).
Fest photo gallery
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