Hellfest 2024 | Day 3
The weather gods are today playing up and for some strange reason the site feels a little moody. We begin with Black Stone Cherry and they ease us with Me and Mary Jane as we soak the only decent bit of sun of the day, easy vibes from the US rockers. Great guitar tones always are a hit around here and the guitar pair deliver in spades, they most definitely need a later spot on the bill.
Stratovarius are next on MainStage 2 and the crowd here absolutely adores power metal and that’s what they do best, shready guitars and lots of keyboards with banging drums are the delight for the crowd. Veterans but they hand us a great slice of a well crafted metal pie.
Mammoth WVH is more than what a lot of people expect. The Van Halen DNA is all over their music but a very up to date product is what we get here. Wolfgang manned all the instruments in the studio, but here he brings a proper band full of honest talent and the play the songs like a band would. Great hooks, excellent songwriting and that Van Halen je ne sais quoi entertain us now, then and hopefully into the future.
Yngwie Malmsteem gets down and dirty with a full band on display, no tucked to the side musos, and somehow it still feels like he is the ring master and his obedient sidekicks are just too scared to put a wrong foot in. A shame as his talent and skill is still high on top of the guitar wizards of this world. But somehow unlike Polyphia his act feels a little stuck in the past and has not age gracefully. He could actually do with a refresh and in that way he could reclaim the throne.
Boston Funk/Metal/Rock Extreme land in Hellfest with aplomb, Nuno Bettencourt is the real heir to the throne vacated by Eddie Van Halen. His command of the guitar is on another level and the musicality and songwriting of this band allows him to shine in a very cloudy Clisson. Riffs from all eras and that trademark vocal blend of Nuno and frontman Gary Cherone give us the classics in More than Words, Get the Funk Out and future classics as the Rebel and Rise. What a treat for rockers, metallers and everything in between.
Accept do what they do best but bringing a third guitarist guest in Joel Hoeskstra add a certain edge to their set and as always, this old timers get us going. But as usual is Ball to the Wall that warms up the crowd. Classic band, perfect delivery.
Mass Hysteria is a French band that has a massive stage presence, but the language barrier for this reviewer makes it harder to get. Unlike Landmvrks the previous day they seem to lack a bit of musicality. They are definitely more hip hop than rock, hence more rapping and little to no singing. Most of the crowd absolutely loved it but for me they will stay local as they struggle to connect with an international audience, I’m not sure they care though. It’s a shame as band like Rammstein do care and they stay close to their roots but try a little harder to cross-over and deliver their message to a wider audience. Yes we are in France but by now Hellfest is an international phenomenon with loads of potential new listeners and they could have try harder. Wasted opportunity.
Bruce Dickinson comes this time around without Eddie and the band. This time as a solo artist and his storytelling feels a little strange without the theatrical antics of Maiden and therefore all of it falls a little flat on its face. The accompanying band is top notch but the solo act leave us with a weird taste in the mouth. Redundant comes to mind. The crowd love it on MainStage 2 but I guess the heavy rain at this point was a little much for the rest of the arena.
But now the main course, on a very wet and cold Hellfest comes the juggernaut from San Francisco. Metallica.
On this year tour they have a circled stage but for obvious reasons that cannot be replicated here, so a compromise is a semicircle with a mini pit for vips, celebs and a few lucky people. The crowd is tense as it is busier than the previous days and the odd summer weather plays up with moods. But as soon as the traditional two punch combo of AC/DC + Ecstasy of the Gold end we are greeted by Creeping Death, and it feels fresh, poignant and timeless. In no time the crowd changes and it is up and up from here. Even new comers like 72 Seasons are received well but is the deep cuts that make this evening special. The instrumental Orion dedicated to Cliff and Hit the Lights to name a couple. But Seek and Destroy, One and Puppets get people moving, horn raising and suddenly very very happy. Still on top, and hopefully for a long time. Best of the festival so far. Banging!