On the second day of Hellfest 2024, sets started at 10:30am and wrapped up at 2am, with much anticipation surrounding certain performances such as Shaka Ponk, Polyphia, and Machine Head.
Saint Agnes kicked off the day bright and early, as effective as a triple shot of espresso. They had the tough job of getting the festival-goers ready for the long day ahead.
Starting the day with Bloodsuckers was like setting off a bomb. There was no time for stretching or warming up before the first wall of death of the day was already in place. Just 25 minutes in, the concert concluded with Middle Finger. You can guess what replaced the traditional sign of the horns.
The band will surely gain prominence over the years, and we can definitely say their mission was accomplished.
Lovebites could be considered the most refreshing band of the day and the current power metal scene. Unlike Babymetal the day before, the Japanese ladies play their own instruments—and they do it quite well.
The Hammer of Wrath to kick off the concert showcased their techniques and virtuosity, impressing even festival-goers who might not typically be fans of the genre. Catchy chorus on Stand and Deliver (Shoot ’em Down), ultra-fast solos, and perfect synergy between the guitarists on Judgement Day were on the agenda, delighting an enthralled audience.
Sure, we’re not used to seeing female musicians in wedding dresses and high heels, but when you witness a show like this, you don’t mind, and you can only regret that it was over so soon.
The power metal continued, this time with German band Orden Ogan.
After a chaotic first song due to a missing singer and a part without drums in Deaf Among the Blind, everything was resolved, and the rest of the set went wonderfully. The melodic F.E.V.E.R. took over, the essential Gunman sparked circle pits, The Things Believe In created a wall of death, and even a rowing mosh pit erupted during Let the Fire Rain. Seven songs confirmed once again that 40 minutes really fly by.
Savage Lands is an NGO that contributes to reforestation in Costa Rica. Okay, but what does this have to do with the festival? Simply put, this NGO is founded by Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren and Sylvain Demercastel (former Artsonic). To promote their work, raise funds, and bring attention to the NGO, they created a band of the same name (their first album will be released at the end of the year).
The big day arrived for their first concert ever. The band featured Sylvain on guitar, Poun on vocals, and Etienne on bass (both members of Black Bomb A), joined throughout the set by various French and international musicians like Chloé Trujillo, Shane Embury (Napalm Death), and Andreas Kisser (Sepultura), among others. The variety of artists with different styles made this concert lively, with hints of thrash, death, and groove metal.
The set concluded in an epic way with Roots Bloody Roots. We can only commend Hellfest for donating 1 million euros to them.
You can also participate by donating to this NGO and becoming a member of the “Army of Trees,” as they call themselves.
As for the Polyphia concert, imagine a Guitar Hero solo lasting 60 minutes, and you’ll have a good idea of their set on Main Stage 1. While the performance is incredible at first glance, stretching it over 60 minutes felt long for many, who opted to wander to other stages.
Sure, Scott LePage and Tim Henson are genius musicians, but their purely instrumental music isn’t necessarily accessible to everyone and may not be as captivating over time compared to bands with vocalists (depending on the group).
Steel Panther returned to France after just two years, quipping that “women are easier to fuck” according to them. With their unique cheeky humor, it would be a shame to limit them to that; they are also very good musicians.
With hits, cringe-worthy antics aimed at feminists, impressions of Def Leppard‘s Rick Allen, and questionable stage antics, Steel Panther once again had the audience eating out of their hands.
The concert ended spectacularly with hits Gloryhole and 17 Girls in a Row, and a hundred girls stormed the stage to create the largest Wall of Boobs in the world (in reference to Slaughter to Prevail‘s challenge the day before). A fun band for a fun concert!
We expected Rage Against The Machine, but we got Tom Morello. They haven’t played together in two years, so Tom came to deliver his show without Zack de la Rocha. However, he brought a setlist of 14 tracks spanning RATM, Audioslave, his own compositions, and covers of John Lennon, MC5, Bruce Springsteen, and more.
Unfortunately, the concert was not unforgettable despite Tom’s talent. It was difficult for festival-goers to hear RATM songs only in instrumental versions, which diminished the intensity of the tracks. Killing in the Name stood out as a highlight of the concert. What a title!
Shaka Ponk is a French band typically categorized as electro-funk-rock rather than metal. It’s safe to say their presence at Hellfest raised some eyebrows, especially in a pre-headlining slot. They were eager to show that their place at the festival was well-deserved.
And the result was quite convincing. With dynamic tracks like I’m Picky and Dad’Algorhythm, solid production, a giant circle pit, plenty of slams, and a cover of Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit, the audience had a fantastic time. Ultimately, it turned out to be one of the weekend’s highlights, despite initial skepticism.
Emperor, the emperors of black metal, are still very much present despite not having released a new album in 23 years. This lack of recent activity may explain why the tent was much less crowded compared to the Satyricon concert just an hour earlier.
However, those who chose to be here tonight instead of attending the Machine Head or Biohazard shows did not regret it. Ihsahn and company played with genuine joy, presenting a setlist primarily based on Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk and In the Nightside Eclipse. There was no downtime or sense of boredom! The years go by, but they still deliver. Congratulations!
Machine Head, the American groove metal juggernaut, came in and crushed everything in their path. As the headliner of the day, after more than 12 years of anticipation at Hellfest, we didn’t really know what to expect… and we were not disappointed.
Right from the first song, Robb Flynn set the place ablaze (both literally and figuratively) with Imperium. Circle pits and a wall of death right off the bat set the tone!
KO from the first track, it was tough to recover, and they kept delivering blow after blow with Ten Ton Hammer and Choke on the Ashes of Your Hate.
The show was grandiose, filled with power and brutality, columns of smoke, confetti, and an abundance of pyrotechnics that warmed the atmosphere, along with the heartfelt ballad Darkness Within, dedicated to his late mother (who would have turned 84 on June 28, 2024).
The concert concluded in the most beautiful way with Halo (and fireworks), solidifying this performance as one of the greatest of the year (if not the top one).
It was a bold gamble to entrust the closing set to The Prodigy. Who would have believed a few years ago that a “non-metal” band could perform at Hellfest, especially as the closing act? This openness from the organizers sparked reactions from many, but it’s clear that it concerned a minority given the crowd in front of the stage.
No fewer than 16 tracks had festival-goers jumping and dancing, even those not typically accustomed to this musical style. It must be said that there are connections between The Prodigy and metal; we’re not talking about pop or rap here, and the audience clearly needed to let loose and move on after being pummeled by Machine Head for an hour and a half just before.
The gamble paid off, as The Prodigy received a more enthusiastic send-off than some bands (even those very well known).
This Friday also saw Houle, the French black metal band with high potential, the Hungarians The Devil’s Trade with their dark folk, Einar Solberg, the singer of Leprous, who delivered an emotional set on the ALTAR stage—usually home to death metal or grindcore. Also performing were the Germans Kanonenfieber, specialists in music recounting the atrocities of World War I, as well as the melodic death metal of Finnish band Amorphis.
Check out the live photo gallery below to see more photos from Friday at Hellfest 2024.
