The First Full Day Of Mystic Competition Was Hearth!

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The First Full Day Of Mystic Competition Was Hearth! (Some Of It Courtesy Of Machine Head)

You couldn’t have requested for higher climate on the primary full day of this yr’s Mystic Competition. The forecast referred to as for zero likelihood of rain and the temperature was within the center 60’s Fahrenheit. There was a noticeable improve within the variety of attendees on the pageant right now and there was a motive for it. In the present day’s lineup was stacked from prime to backside. I had already penciled in eight bands to catch right now and there may have been extra. There have been different bands I wished to take a look at, however as a consequence of conflicts, the schedule made all of it however not possible to take action.

Mystic Competition’s Entrance

I’ve been eager to see Gutalax ever since I missed them at their notorious Brutal Assault set in 2019. Simply do a search on YouTube for that particular present and also you’ll be enlightened., Though there was no Toi Toi crowd browsing (the pageant organizers moved the moveable bathrooms farther away from the phases this yr, a sensible transfer on their half I have to say…), right now’s present at Mystic Competition didn’t disappoint. There have been loads of rolls of bathroom paper, inflatable pool toys and balloons flying in every single place all through their set.

Gutalax

Gutalax’s sound is probably not everybody’s jam, however the environment at their reveals may be likened to a circus on crack. I haven’t laughed a lot at a live performance in years. My spouse and I introduced some blow-up pool toys from house for the present, and at one level, our large pink donut with sprinkles ended up on stage with the band. That they had some enjoyable with it for a minute earlier than “singer” Martin Matoušek threw it again into the group. Gutalax took a crowd picture on the finish of their set and you’ll see our donut clearly throughout the elated crowd. That donut did us proud.

Can you discover the donut???

The subsequent band Nakkeknaekker is so younger that I’m fairly positive they’re nonetheless in highschool. There’s not loads of info out there on-line about this teenaged Loss of life Steel band, however I can let you know that they’re going to be a pressure to be reckoned with within the close to future. They play brutal, old style loss of life steel just like the early Earache Information roster (assume Entombed/Morbid Angel) of Loss of life Steel bands. Their vitality stage was off the charts they usually performed like they’d a chip on their shoulder. In the event that they stick collectively, they’ll be destined for exceptional issues. Verify them out.

NAKKEKNAEKKER

The subsequent band on my checklist was a final minute, fill within the hole kind band earlier than my precise subsequent penciled in band. Black Gold is a Nu Steel band that wasn’t as well-liked as their contemporaries throughout the top of the style’s recognition. I’ll be trustworthy right here. I can’t stand Nu Steel and Black Gold didn’t change something in that regard, however I believed the costuming and their stage look was cool. At the very least it made for some nice photographs.

Black Gold

Sodom was subsequent on the checklist and despite the fact that I’ve seen them thrice inside a yr’s span not together with right now’s set, I’m nonetheless not burned out on them. They performed a unique set-list for Mystic Competition from the final time I noticed them on 70,000 Tons Of Steel, a deeper dig into their forty years’ value of thrash classics.

What else can I say about Tom Angelripper and Frank “Blackfire” Gosdzik? These two have been protecting Sodom afloat for over forty years. Sodom are on the pinnacle of the German Large 4 and solely Destruction can rival them for my part. In case you’ve by no means seen them dwell, want I write extra to persuade you to catch them earlier than it’s too late they usually name it a day?

Tom Angelripper and Frank “Blackfire” Gosdzik of Sodom

The subsequent band, LIK, was slated to play on the smallest indoor venue on the pageant (Sabbath Stage) and by the point I arrived, I needed to shove my approach by way of the already packed venue in the direction of the picture pit. When this occurs, it’s often a superb signal that the band goes to be good. Like Nakkeknaekker, LIK play an old style Loss of life Steel model. LIK are a number of years older, so there was a sure “battle hardened” really feel to them.

This was my first time seeing LIK and I’ve to say I used to be impressed. They’ve a really Swedish Loss of life Steel sound to them and that ought to come as no shock because of the truth they’re really from there. I’ve been listening to Loss of life Steel since its inception, so the truth that I’m impressed by any “newish” band throughout the style, is a rarity. I instantly downloaded a few their albums after their set.

LIK

I didn’t have a lot hope that Bruce Dickinson would come with any Iron Maiden in his solo set at Mystic Competition, however you by no means know. Me writing that additionally reveals you I’m clueless in regard to any of his solo materials. This was my first time seeing him solo, and me being an enormous Iron Maiden fan, I’d say the expertise was simply…okay. Bruce is a formidable frontman and vocalist, however his solo materials seemed like generic and sterile heavy steel. His supporting band are all wonderful musicians, however they’re mainly employed weapons utilized for dwell reveals. It was a cool expertise, however I’ll simply stick with Iron Maiden from right here on out.

Bruce Dickinson

After taking a few hours to eat, try some merch and relaxation a bit, it was time to see Excessive on Hearth. This longstanding “psychedelic rock from California” (this description was fondly conveyed by a few Italian followers within the entrance row) band is led by the legendary Matt Pike. Having Excessive on Hearth play on the smallish outside Desert Stage at Mystic Competition was not the perfect transfer on the pageant’s organizers’ half. The quantity of individuals crammed into that space earlier than their present even started made if fairly a problem to discover a spot to observe them. It was my first time seeing Excessive on Hearth since Coady Willis of Large Enterprise fame had joined them on the skins, so I couldn’t wait to see him tear it up in his new gig.

When the band acquired on stage, I instantly seen that Matt Pike regarded more healthy and happier than he has for some time. His well being had been a priority all through the steel circles throughout the previous decade, however this newest model of him will put these considerations to mattress in the meanwhile. The band started their set with “Burning Down,” considered one of my favourite tracks on their newest album, Cometh The Storm. I can truthfully say that Excessive on Hearth seems reborn on this present model. They performed with a ton of spitfire and the group actually appreciated the trouble. After I left the picture pit, there was so many individuals crammed close to the stage space, it took me not less than 5 minutes to shove my approach by way of the group in the direction of tonight’s headliner, Machine Head.

Excessive on Hearth

I wasn’t thrilled with tonight’s headliner selection, however Machine Head are a giant attract Europe, so I perceive the pageant’s selection. I’ve by no means been a fan of Machine Head though each of the unique Vio-Lence guitarists based the band. Like Kreator, Machine Head brandished copious sums of pyro all through their set, however that couldn’t change the truth that I didn’t wish to stick round any longer at some point of their set after I had my pictures. Tomorrow was going to be one other full day of bands, so I most well-liked getting some respectable sleep over watching Machine Head. For these of you who wished to learn extra about their present, you’ll simply should see them for your self.

Rob Flynn of Machine Head

If you wish to see the complete picture gallery from Day One among Mystic Competition, click on right here!

Steel is not only a kind of music, it is a way of life for Nikos Mixas. Along with taking part in guitar for the Phoenix’s personal Mosara, he is a contributing author for V13 and The Sludgelord. And when he is taking a break from all of it and on trip, you’ll be able to nearly make sure he is banging his head at a steel pageant someplace attention-grabbing.