Hellfest 2024 | Day 2

Greeted by While She Sleeps with a most excellent set of hard hitting metal, the Sheffield boys deliver great tunes, top notch stage presence and banging riffs. Surely they’ll be up the bill in no time.

Next up was Karnivool, the Aussie prog rockers seem a little uncomfortable as their complex harmonies and riffs feel a little out of place today. They do deliver a solid set though and by the end of it most of the arena is partaking in the exchange, total pros.

After a quick break we are back with wizz kids Polyphia and while their brand of metal is not as hard and heavy they somehow manage to win the crowd with the exquisite technique of the guitar players. We are left in awe of the proficiency so look forward to more from them.

Party on! That’s what the US hair metal boys of Steel Panther bring to the day. Colourful and catchy riffs, as well as lyrics are the main thing, that and a little comedy bring the fun. Sex sells and they know how to somehow extract nudity and questionable behaviour from the audience, although all tongue in cheek. It is what it is… just a bit of fun.

Next up is the legend that Tom Morello is, the guitarist of RATM and Audioslave is in the house and he has the chops to blow us all away. Ever the rebel he brings protest to the next level and his way of fighting for change is one song after another, and if he manages to change one persons mind about the state of the world is a win for him. Good for him and good for us as the RATM medley and the Audioslave tribute to Chris Cornell bring hope, joy and sadness in one swoop. Brilliant.

Headliners Machine Head as the main course deliver heavy riffs for the adoring crowd, a little smoke and mirrors go a long way sending them higher and higher in the eyes of the crowd. Job done.

The deadliners as commonly known on these shores are The Prodigy tonight, the slot after the headliners is in the small hours so very few people left with energy in the tank. So how was it? Well they do what they do and ravers love it, some rockers pretend to love it and some of us simply don’t get it. And that’s ok, you do you and enjoy the music that moves you. Looking forward to a proper headliner tomorrow.