So, what do I think of it? Well, it effectively ended my brief infatuation with Ghost Brigade, that’s what it did. I was building up a crush on Ghost Brigade, but ever since I’ve been playing Soilwork again it feels terribly slow and sluggish. I’m sure that it’ll return at some point, but at the moment I’m too busy marvelling at Dirk Verbeuren’s drumming, Bjorn Strid’s screaming, and oh, the wall of sounds that the guitars make.

I’m very comfortable with the fact that I came late to the metal scene. I’ve never gone through a snobby phase where it comes to the different subgenres and while I like to poke fun at My Chemical Romance (for example) I’m the first to admit that what they do, they do really well. The general opinion on Soilwork on the internet seems to be that their older work is made of awesome, and after Natural Born Chaos it all went downhill - Sworn To A Great Divide is said to be the low point.

I am not too proud to admit that Sworn To A Great Divide, in my book, is made of awesome. An album that carries songs like “As The Sleeper Awakes” and “The Pittsburgh Syndrome” is impossible not to be extremely appreciated. I have a hooded sweater and a t-shirt that carry the title of this album for a reason – I loved the melodies and I didn’t mind that it was a bit slower at times. Soilwork does the slower work really well, too. (Take slow with a grain of salt here, btw. What is slow for Soilwork will still shock the hell out of the casual non-metal listener.)

Because you know what Soilwork is really good at? MELODY. They’re a melodic death metal band. (They’ve flirted with metalcore, and I’m fine with metalcore. More than fine, actually. I kind of totally dig it.) Their melodies are top notch, and I love to let myself get carried away on them. What they also do very well is the refrains and the singalongs – they’re very good to yell along on top of your lungs. Bjorn’s clean vocals are really pretty – and his choruses are going to play in your head all day. Add to this the best drumming I’ve heard EVER (I should have let Dirk sign my boobs as well, in November 2008. Not just Bjorn. Dammit!), and an energy that’s completely invigorating, and then you have my love for Soilwork. (I added this picture of their gig at Graspop 2008 just so I could say things like: lights as bright as my love for Soilwork, yes)

But, you may ask (or not, probably), what do I think of The Panic Broadcast? Well, dear reader who’s probably snoring with disinterest at this point, it is made of WIN. I love this album. It’s full of great tracks, and while at times it feels a bit like hitting a brick wall of music headfirst, once you dive through, the water’s great. Songs like “Late for the kill” make me grin like an idiot, “Two Lives Worth Of Reckoning” is brilliant, “Deliverance Is Mine,” “Night Comes Clean”, the ballad “Let This River Flow”… shit, should I list every single track?

I don’t think so. Bottomline is, Soilwork still rocks my world. I am so terribly glad they didn’t disappoint me.
I can’t WAIT to see them live again. They’re the only band next to System of a Down who’ve ever blown my mind with a revolutionary gig, and while I know that next time can’t possibly be as good, I just want to see them live again. I need to hear these new songs (and while we’re asking anyway, please, “Soilworker’s Song Of The Damned” as well, now we’re at it) live. And this time I will get the drummer to sign my boobs, I think.

Thursday
Unlike the past few years, we already set out to Dessel in the afternoon. We left at 2.30pm and were aiming to arrive between 4 and 5, because the camping was rumoured to open already around that time. Despite the fact that Lucie took us over the scenic route (showing us quaint villages like Baerle-Nassau and Chaam) we arrived around 5-ish with no problems. We could park our car easily and there were hardly any lines. In fact, we nearly got lost because we were confused by the lack of traffic jam, heh. The walk to the camping was a bit different this time; it was longer. In the oppressive, dizzying heat that wasn’t very comfortable, but when we got to the entrance we could easily obtain our bracelets and go to the camping where we could set up our tents. We were really in the front, close to the 24 hours area and the festival terrain, so we made good use of that. Around 6pm our camp was standing and we went in search for food. So far everything had been completely painless and smooth, and we were very impressed by Graspop’s logistic management once again. Take that, Lowlands! We were in good spirits because of it; all excited for the musical goodness that was about to come. We bought t-shirt merchandise, hung out, went to the parking lot where we used our car radio to listen to the match between the Netherlands and Cameroen, had beer and were up until 3am or something; the night was positively balmy after a hot day. Because of illness (Derek) and school obligations (Kat) we were not with the whole group yet, but we made up for it by drinking the beer that was designated for them. It was a great first evening.

Friday
We woke up around 7.30am in a tent that was already way too hot for comfort. I took a shower (no lines, I could walk right on through – something i was able to do all weekend <3) and one by one we all woke up and gravitated towards the 24 hour zone, where they sold breakfast and had a breakfast tent that offered some shade. It was in the morning warm but still doable; but already it was heating up intensely. When the Festival terrain opened we immediately went for our old hangout spot at the fields: the shade of that one solitary tree that was on the festival area. We were glad to see that our little tree was still there, even though the layout of the festival area had changed around quite a bit. (they seem to do that every year so far). Revamp, the new band of After Forever’s Floor Jansen kicked off the festival, and we watched it with some mild interest. We weren’t very impressed by it, though, we mostly had lunch and chilled out. What came after was Ghost Brigade, and that was one of the big surprises of the Festival for me. They were atmospheric and melodic, and they reminded me very much of the Gathering in their older days; or perhaps Explosions in the Sky, with a more metal edge. Completely in my street, so to say. I’ll definitely have to check out their stuff, I was very impressed by them. Anvil, which we checked out afterwards, was as sympathetic as we knew they would be from their documentary. Their music isn’t really my thing, but I still cheered them on as loud as I could; they deserve it. By then the temperature had skyrocketed, and within the tents it was scorching hot. Most of us left after Anvil in search of some shade, shower and chillage. Tijs and I checked out Billy Talent, but they didn’t really enchant me so I went back to the camping where Derek was just arriving. We’d already set up his tent, so all he had to do was inflate his air mattress (or rather, buy a new one because the one he had couldn’t be closed) and he was all set. We were back on time for the last bit of Anathema (which was pretty amazing – I dozed in the grass next to the tent while they were playing and they were excellent to dream away to), and the people in the tent simply adored it. Then there was another split; some people wanted to see Slayer, and I was among the people who wanted to see Devin Townsend, but we returned to the rest of the group soon enough when Devin couldn’t quite warm our hearts. So I still saw Slayer. At least now I can say I saw them live, and rocked out to “Reign in Blood”.
I half-listened to Therion going on in the tent next to us while part of the group was rocking out with them, and we lazed around for quite a while after that; going back to the camping at some point to booze up some more and put a bit of clothing on, since evening had fallen and the temperature was dropping. There was an orange hunter’s moon hanging over us, quite beautiful and quite present too. Kat arrived just in time to join us to see Aerosmith, the closer of the day. And damn, they did deliver! Steven Tyler’s an ass, btw; but he’s a very charismatic lead singer and the band played well and made good use of their stage equipment. We sang along with all their hits to our heart’s delight.
And then it was time for more beer at the camping, until we were too tired to see straight and went to bed.

Saturday
After another way too short night I woke up at 7am because of hot tent, had my morning shower, and went to search for Olli who’d already gone on to the 24 hour area. He and I hung out sitting in the shade, eating our breakfast and smoking cigarettes until the others joined us. When at 10am the Festival terrain opened, we shopped around a bit on the metal market, where Brenda bought a sarong and Olli bought the most hideous pimp hat (that turned out to be a fine protection from the sun, but it was hideous anyway). We watched Sylosis for a bit, but most of all we did our best to avoid the oppressing heat by staying in the shade as much as possible. We had to save our energy for Sabaton of course! Sabaton was, as always, made of awesome. They had some upgrades in their stage equipment and were obviously still madly in love with the Graspop party people, and the symbiosis that we had going on there was nothing short of brilliant. Great show! Tijs and I even ended up with our mugs on the big screen, as the camera filmed us while we were singing along with “Prima Victoria” on top of our lungs. I haven’t  found the video of it on the internet yet, but I’ll be sure to link it when I do
We spent a lot of time chilling out at the breakfast tent in the 24 hour area, since our little tree spot had been occupied by other people, and this was one of the only other places on the Festival terrain that offered both shade and a breeze. Thankfully the Leffe stand was closeby, so we had enough booze and water to keep us going. At dinnertime Slash performed, and he did so very well! I was very impressed by his performance (at least, the parts that I didn’t snooze through). The tail end of it, at least, was very strong. He ended with a couple of Guns n Roses songs, and his lead singer made us forget all about Axl Rose. Well done! After checking out Sick of it All it was time for what I thought was one of the highlights of the festival: Eluveitie! The temperature in the tent wasn’t funny anymore, it was positively sauna-like. A lot of us couldn’t take it and went outside, only Marco, Derek and I stayed. And at some point I reached a decision point: either I’d be miserable with the heat, or I’d be miserable with the heat while PARTYING MY ASS OFF. You can probably guess which one I chose. Some guys behind us started a cheerful dance/mosh pit to the equally cheerful folk metal tunes, and the boys and I danced, jumped and partied with them. It was a great time and I had so much fun during the gig; despite the rivers of sweat that soaked me completely. I really want to see them in the Melkweg, with better sound and lighting (and a lower temperature), I bet they’d be magical then. And I invite you all to come along when they do play here, because they are made of win.

Sunday
…was the sunniest day of them all. While the Friday and Saturday had occasional white puffy clouds or misty hazes obscuring the sun, on Sunday none of this was the case. The heat was merciless and killing. We literally had to cop out of several shows that we otherwise might have checked out because it’d be simply too hot in the tents. Instead, on Sunday Olli, Bren and I checked out Atreyu (good show) while the rest was at Between The Buried And Me (which was apparently also great) and then we just… fled. We fled for shadow and stayed there for the next couple of hours. Some of us even took showers in that time.  The only thing that was able to entice me to come out of that cool shade was As I Lay Dying – one of the very reasons why I had wanted to go to Graspop; topping my goddammit-i-haven’t-seen-you-yet list for the better part of three years by now. Now imagine this: a tent with a band that rocks relentlessly, temperatures skyrocketing and sweat dripping from every body that’s packed into the place. Around you, most of the men are bare-chested, and a surprising amount of the ladies have taken their tops off, walking around in bikini or bra above a skirt or shorts. And I decided fuckit. I took my top off as well and enjoyed the concert in my capri shorts and my purple bra. It helped with the heat, and damn, the concert rocked my socks off. It was a great setlist, a great concert, and it was completely utterly worth it. Now I just have to see them in the Melkweg with a longer set, and a dedicated audience… but as it was, it was all I hoped for and more.
After that we went back to our shade spot for more showers and some very needed drying up and hydration (both drinking and putting my head under the tap at the toilets). We smoked and drank a bit, and spaced out a little before we went to check out Killswitch Engage. By then the temperature had gone down somewhat and was only somewhat above the comfort zone now. They played at the main stage and they were obviously terribly drunk. The show wasn’t too great, either, but they had a lot of fun on stage. I admire Adam greatly as a guitarist and a producer, but man that guy is whack I especially appreciated it when he said: “And this song I dedicate to all you girls tits. This song is called My Curse.” *giggles* He then proceeded to fuck up the intro to the song. But at least we had a very fun time
Although I’d really have liked to see Unearth, this was one of the bands that I had to skip because of the heat. We went back to the camping terrain for some needed chillage, although some of us hung around to check out Amon Amarth (who was allegedly really good) before we would watch Kiss, the closer of the Festival. Two years ago Kiss was a total cock up in my eyes. We had a great time at the gig, but not because of the performance but the beer we’d consumed. This time, however, they gave a great show. They played well, had a lot of audience interaction, pyrotechnics and lightshows, and they ended with confetti, fireworks and a screen that said “Kiss loves you, Graspop!”. The fireworks blended in with the ending fireworks of Graspop itself and I had lost the rest for that moment and watched the fireworks with a heart full of emotion and a huge grin on my face. I always get stupidly emo over fireworks, I don’t know why. Anyway, I rejoined the others soon enough and we hung out at the tent camp for a while, completely knackered but unwilling to go to sleep, because then the festival would be over. Eventually exhaustion won out though

The next day we woke up at 8am, the sun had given us an additional hour of sleep in which we didn’t suffocate in our tents, a rare gift this weekend that we sorely needed on Monday morning. We’d quickly packed up and walked to the car, from where we pretty much effortlessly were able to leave the parking lot and went home (learn from this, Lowlands!). Olli and I were home around noon, where we lazed around for a while and went to pick up Bodhi from the pension.

And then life resumed. Back to the real world!

You know that feeling: having built a playlist, you’re listening to the songs and a song is ending, and you fucking LOVE that song so you want to play it again; but the way it bleeds in the next song is so awesome, and you love the next song as well, and you never got around to starting over the former song because the second song is just as awesome?

(wow, that was all in one sentence. I may be a bit hyper tonight. Perhaps. Slightly. A little. *grins*)

I’m not quite sure what I like so much about them. I’m all about metalcore – metal purists will now think less of me – when it’s awesome. And AILD is very good at what they do, so it’s perhaps not so strange that I’ve awaited their new album and a chance to see them live so eagerly.

I’ll see As I Lay Dying at Graspop Metal Meeting this year, and I’m terribly stoked for it. And to top off my fun, they have a new album out come May 11. The downside of it though is that I’ll be on vacation in Italy at the time and not able to listen to it yet.
But! We live in a glorious digital age, full of downloads, torrents, and leaked albums. And thus I’m listening to The Powerless Rise at this very moment, and it rocks. I’ll definitely buy it when it’s out, but for now I’ll bask a little more in the awesomeness that is this digital age. <3

Anyway, I stumbled over one of their older songs the other day (ironically enough because of Popmundo), and this one tugs all of the heartstrings. “Fake Plastic Trees” is a gorgeous, gorgeous song. I just wanted to share it with you guys.

But I can’t help the feeling
I could blow through the ceiling
If I just turn and run.
And it wears me out, it wears me out.
It wears me out, it wears me out.

And if I could be who you wanted
If I could be who you wanted
All the time, all the time.
Oh, oh…

So far I love their sound; they sound rather similar to Still Remains at times – one of those bands whose disbanding I’ll mourn forever.  Yes, it’s a style that might be done to death by now. Yes, it might be nothing new. But it’s still a lot of fun! They’ve been touring with Trivium, which is something I definitely understand, and they say they’re inspired by bands like Unearth and Killswitch Engage (who will ALSO play at Graspop). Sounds good eh! (Well, maybe only if you’re a Lannie and totally into metalcore…)

Anyway!

Rise To Remain – Graspop – I’ll be there!

Wendy and I tried to purchase tickets for the Snow Patrol concert(s) today, but lucked out. The website just maxed out and when I finally got somewhere, the tickets were already sold out. I’m incredibly bummed about it. Not because I feel sorry for missing out on Snow Patrol, not particularly. I’ve seen them three times by now, I think? Yeah, three times. And while it was excellent every single time, there’s not that burning need anymore. I just wanted to do it for my mom. My mom is this huge Snow Patrol fangirl and I thought it would be brilliant to take her with me. I was all ready to pay for the ridiculously expensive tickets of E47,50 for her. And then we lucked out

To cheer myself up, I got me a ticket for the Gaslight Anthem in July instead. Not for my mom, because I don’t think she even knows they exist (come to think of it, she might even kind of like them), but because I like them. Sometimes they remind me of the Killers, when they were still awesome.
“The Backseat” is one of the prettiest songs I heard last year.

In other news, I’m learning how to play “Resolve” by the Foo Fighters, and “Not An Addict” by K’s Choice on my bass guitar and I’m terribly excited about it. I’ll keep you updated on how it goes!