The vocalist was not really convincing and he didn’t succeed in getting the audience in the mood. Maybe not the best band to start the festival with, but someone has to be the first.

Immolation
After a few songs most people made their way to the main stage. I agreed with them and hurried to Immolation.

After a stunning intro all hell broke loose when these death metal pioneers started their show. The energy dripped from the stage, but the crowd didn’t react properly, maybe it was still too early.

Immolation played their music very precise and thanks to an excellent mix (although sometimes a bit noisy) this band did exactly what they had to do. I can only be positive about them, because the vocals were very good, the solos great and the bass and drums really convincing.

Antaeus
The Christmas-feeling was in the air and I felt really optimistic. Until Antaeus (as replacement for Dying Fetus) started playing their dark and evil music, ‘cause that left no room for positive thoughts. The reactions from the audience were good and the first pit of the day started here.

The music of our corps-painted friends was really fast and aggressive. A definition of this show would certainly contain the words: noise, screams and furious blast beats. After a few songs though, it started to get a bit monotonous and I went to the main stage to have a good view of the next band.

Kataklysm
When I arrived there, Kataklysm had already started. But early on it became clear that this was not becoming such a highlight as the previous band on this stage.

The vocals of Maurixio Lacono varied between low grunts and screams, but were not really convincing. There were hardly any solos either, which are essential for death metal.

The lighting was not too good; too many colours and not simultaneous with the music. More bands on the main stage had this problem, especially in the beginning of the festival. But, in spite of some technical problems, the Christmas spirit came back to me.

Mystic Circle
But not for long, because again a black metal band appeared on the small stage. Mystic Circle was never one of my favourites and today they affirmed that.

It struck me that the keyboards and one time even the vocals were not live, but played from track. I really dislike this; not to mention that there are only a few bands, like Therion, who do it right.

Although the music was quite nice every now and then, it couldn’t persuade me to stay and listen any longer.

Hate Eternal
Because of my premature departure at Mystic Circle I was on time to see Hate Eternal coming on stage. I saw only three men on stage and yet, they really knew how to be brutal and convincing.

I really liked the guitar-parts of Erik Rutan (ex-Morbid Angel, Alas, etc.); he played great and his solos were the best. His fingers raved across the neck of his guitar while he played solo after solo.

But also the sounds coming out of his throat were nice to hear. The only criticism I can give is about the pauses between the songs; sometimes they were a bit too long.

Ragnarok
I found it very hard to leave, but as only reviewer of Rockezine I had to see as many bands as possible. So I went to the small stage to take a look at Ragnarok (Norway). This band started their furious attack after a mystic intro.

The vocalist was injured and he had to sit on a chair on stage. Many people I talked to later this evening found the vocalist’s conceit a bit too much and I must agree with them. Besides this I quite liked this band, though there still is a lot to be done before they can enter the main stage. For me this was the best band I saw on the small stage.

Exodus
On the main stage Exodus began with an awful and long-winded rap-like intro. They were the only thrash-metal band on X-mass and the crowd really liked them. Although I found the vocalist really bad and the music not convincing, the mass felt really different about them.

An aspect which I really liked though, was the variety of solos. Two separate guitarists played them one after another. Then I decided to go to the bat-cave to eat something, because I was becoming light-headed.

Impaled Nazarene
I missed the first couple of songs of Impaled Nazarene, because my hunger was bigger than foreseen. It is hard to review all bands on a festival like this; I felt like a real athlete.

On CD I don’t really like Impaled Nazarene, but live they where a lot better. This cheerful and energetic metal really got the audience enthusiastic (later on the evening I heard that there had been fights during this band). Regardless of the few musical missteps, I enjoyed myself during their show.

Marduk
In the meanwhile there had come a real festival-atmosphere in 013. People walked to and fro and I tried to go to the band I was waiting for: Marduk. This band was the climax of the day, because they were just great.

Beside the energetic and active presentation of Legion and the good songs, they also had a really good sound. The mix was just perfect and Marduk with a good mix is exceptional. Apparently the mob agreed with me, because they really went wild.

Marduk played a varied set, including songs from almost all albums. Old ones like ‘Burn My Coffin’, ‘Within The Abyss’ or ‘Nightwing’, but also the new work, like ‘Jesus Christ Sodomized’ was presented to us. Also exceptional was that Morgan switched guitar while playing. Two extra songs were played, including ‘Baptism By Fire’.

I really wanted to see the whole show of Marduk and when it was over I hurried to the small stage to see Macabre. But it was so crowded that they didn’t let me in. My intention to review all bands fell to pieces. I heard afterwards that it had been a really good show and that everybody was packed together.

Six Feet Under
The last band on the main stage on X-mass Metalfest was Six Feet Under. They opened their show with the brutal song ‘War Is Coming’, followed by ‘No Warning Shot’, ‘Victim Of The Paranoid’, ‘Silent Violence’, ‘The Enemy Inside’, ‘Impulse To Disembowel’, ‘The Day The Dead Walked’, ‘The Murderers’, ‘Snakes’, ‘TNT’, a very ‘explosive’ song, for they blew up one of their speakers while playing this; and ‘Torture Killer’.

Unfortunately I had to catch my train after this song, so I can’t finish the set list. The brute mid-tempo songs were vast and solid. Only when a solo was played, the wall of sound fell down. Which is the price you have to pay for having only one guitarist. Six Feet Under was worthy of being the last band on this successful festival.

(Review: Pieke Schoonbrood
Pics: Marcia Gransbergen)