Length Of Time
What does an almost pure metalband like Length Of Time do on a festival where pure hardcore is the keyword? The response of the audience is low. Personally, I like Length Of time a lot and How Good The World Could Be….Again is regurarly spinning in my cd-player.They open with the best song from that cd “Losing My Heaven”. After that they play a mix of Antiworld and How Good The World… But mostly songs from their latest effort. I didn’t expect such a metal performanc from these guys, but it was a good show. A lot of people will disagree with me, looking back at low attendance upfront during their show.

Sworn Enemy
Next was Sworn Enemy, switching places with Backfire. They’ve just released a superb cd called As Real As It Gets on Jamey Hatebreed’s label. The music has some comparisons with Hatebreed as well: aggressive metalcore with superb breakdowns that really fuck things up live. An enthousiastic performance, like vocalist Sal said ‘it’s an honor to play here’. The crowd is finally getting loose! Windmills were flying around like they were Stroopwafels. Great!

Backfire
Ah! I’ve been waiting for this. Backfire in Maastricht. Their show starts with an intro of Andre Hazes (Dutch traditional singer) and directly kicked in with “Don’t Wanna Die Young”. Pat tries to level up the agression in the audience and tries to motivate all the people in the back and the side to move. “Let’s show those Americans what we can do!”: shouts Pat. Well, a lot. Backfire proves to be still one of the best hardcore bands in Europe. What a performance and what a throat singer Pat has live. Most of the songs are from Change The Game. “Can’t Hold Me Down”, “Where It Ends” are some of the songs I can think back of. They ended the show with “Still Dedicated” where Pat invites the audience to enter the stage and sing with him. In no-time the stage is crowded. Magnificient show.

Oh: sidenote: Pat said that backfire will quit and return in 10 years, that’s just a joke from the band.

Death By Stereo
Due to interview obligations with Backfire! I missed the first Death By Stereo songs. As I returned from the backstage area I saw everyone from Death By Stereo running all over stage, showing us what they’ve got. Now that’s how a band should promote itselve! Earlier I heard that DBS didn’t even get paid for this tour, my respect for the band only grew. They had to prove themselves, and they succeeded! I only have the first two records, and lucky for me, they played a lot of songs from those cd’s, with “Desperation Train” and “You Mess With The Bean…” as highlights. Sounded exactly like on the record! Definitely a band to check out again in venues like Melkweg or Goudvishal!

Madball
MADBALL! MADBALL! Sorry. But that’s what I was thinking 3 minutes before the concert. I was dying to see them live, and when they got onstage and played “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” I got shivers all over my body. Brilliant! After that we witnessed a greatest hits show of Madball. “Set It Off”, “Never Look Back”, “Down By Law”, “Friend Or Foe”, “Hardcore Still Lives”, “Demonstrating My Style” etc. Madball is back, and they enjoy playing live again, you can almost see the enthousiasm coming from the members.

Ignite
Another legendary band: Ignite. I consider A Place Called Home still as one of the best hardcore cd’s I’ve ever heard. Zoli, has one of the best voices in hardcore, and withouth that voice, I wonder where Ignite would have been today. Well, Zoli was in good shape this evening. The same goes for Brett , the bass player. They played almost everything from A Place Called Home, except for “Pieter”, “Bored” and I believe “By My Side”. Surprisingly, they didn’t played “In My time” (one of Ignite’s best songs ever). A dissapointment. But the crowd didn’t give a fuck about that, they sang every word with Zoli. Good show, but I saw Ignite before and better. It’s time for some new songs from the band.

Suicidal Tendencies
A truly worthy headliner for tonights package: Suicidal Tendencies. A source of inspiration for many hardcore and crossover bands, today’s Suicidal knows it and proves it. Do better than Madball, Ignite and Backfire. A task I do not envy. Too bad a lot of fans had to catch the last train home, they sure missed a vibrant and energetic Mike Muir, taking the mic and doing the Cyco like never before with “I Saw Your Mommy”, “Possessed To Skate”, ‘You Can’t Bring Me Down”, “Send Me Your Money”, “Lovely”, “Pledge You Allegiance”….a greatest hits parade. Musicianship like this is rare with drummer Ron Brunner playing the sticks in a way unheard of. This guy is a showcase on his own. Pure entertainment tonight. A raging full hour with a loud singing crowd, raised fists and numerous classics. L-L-L-Lovely.

(Review: Friso Veltkamp)