HARD ROCK HELL V
Pontins Holiday Park, Prestatyn, North Wales.
Aside from Christmas, Hard Rock Hell is an event that most people can look forward to in December. Each year, rockers from all over the UK come to one of North Wales’
most popular Holiday Parks to see bands that are up and coming and bands that have been around for many years.
One of the up and coming bands playing this weekend are Canadian Power Metallers KOBRA AND THE LOTUS who put on an impressive performance, they make the most of their 40
minute set-time, its almost like Iron Maiden performing with a female singer, who doesn’t put a note out of place.
Opening up the Main Stage are veteran Classic Rockers AIRRACE, from the off they remind everyone why they’re so respected in the Classic Rock community. Playing mainly their newer material as well as their older classics to keep the die-hards happy, as well as being musically tight throughout.
If you look up ‘Showmanship’ in the dictionary, you will find a picture of Lancashire rockers EXIT STATE next to it. For the first half of their set they were plagued by sound problems, particularly from Matt Harris’ guitar equipment and for 10 long minutes, the show is brought to a halt and Phil Ireland shows everyone why he is one of the best bassists
in the UK. He takes command of the stage and he keeps everyone entertained whilst the band sort out the ongoing guitar problems. The band burst back to life with only one guitarist as frontman Roy Bright continues without his guitar and instead showcases his fantastic vocal display. Songs such as ‘Black Veins’, ‘Check Out The Crazy’ and ‘Bad Days’ never
sounded more amazing. Against all odds, Exit State have triumphed over adversity, there should be more bands who should follow their lead and even in the face of adversity, continue to kick ass and maintain their professionalism.
EXIT STATE GALLERY
Northern Irish rockers THERAPY? come onstage in front of a packed arena and immediately tear into opener ‘Trigger Inside’, from start to finish they have nailed everything that any band should be doing: full of energy, plenty of crowd interactions/participations and performing as if their lives depended on it. Every song is greeted with rapturous applauses, even the inclusion of 2 new songs seem to be doing down a treat, but the best moment comes when the band dedicate ‘Die Like A Motherfucker’ to David Cameron, as soon as the first note is played, everyone including the band go into an absolute frenzy. The band return to the stage playing ‘Nowhere’ from their awesome Troublegum album which proves to be the perfect end to their set, everyone walks away with huge smiles and Therapy? have proved that they are nowhere near finished and have many years left in them.
THERAPY? GALLERY
On the Second Stage there are 4 Finnish Glam-Rockers who walk on to the stage who play some 80′s inspired Glam Rock, you’d be forgiven for thinking that they’re Steel
Panther, but it’s actually RECKLESS LOVE who, judging by tonights performance, seem to be SP but with better songs and without the silly comedic lyrics. Musically tight and playing great songs throughout, Reckless Love seem to be succeeding at reviving the classic 80′s Glam, and every person who has witnessed them seem to be catching on at what they do. Great performance all round.
RECKLESS LOVE GALLERY
Fresh from their tour supporting Alter Bridge, it’s all down to American Southern Rockers BLACK STONE CHERRY to close the festival in style, and close it in style they do, from the off they prove to everyone why they’re so popular here in the UK, impeccable musicianship, awesome songs and looking like they’re having the time of their lives onstage. Songs like ‘The Blind Man’ and ‘Yeah Man’ work the crowd up like nobody’s business, and even lesser known songs like ‘In My Blood’ gets the warmest reception, but it’s the finale that raises the roof, their most well-known and their heaviest song ‘Lonely Train’ sends everyone berserk. Great set, great songs and a great end the festival.
BLACK STONE CHERRY GALLERY
Another successful Hard Rock Hell all round, next years festival will be tough to beat this one.
GINGER (WILDHEARTS)
DEAR SUPERSTAR
MICHAEL MONROE
Words by Graeme Williams and images by ‘The Don’
