le Jeudi 09 Juillet 2009, Vizovice

In Extremo

The beginning of the biggest rock venue in the Czech republic was in token of nice surprises. The promoters made a lot of improvements since the last year. It was the first time when the road leading to Vizovice wasn’t plugged with cars because a parcel nearby was landed as a car park, the area didn’t stink like rubbish dump and the crowd was more bearable thanks to a new screen. And for moments of boredom there was a new Coca cola stage for smaller Czech bands. Anyway, the beer was disgusting as always and a girl moderating the festival desperate as well.

Nightwish

As every year, the first band playing at MoR was a winner of a radio rock contest. It is hard to tell if they played good or not, but the one thing is for sure – the sound was awful. Unfortunately the next band, Nil, could please only their big fans. Everyone who had been to Masters before knew what was following - Fleret from Vizovice, headed by a great singer Jarmilka celebrating her 80th birthday. Well, nothing worth standing in a rain that continued also while czech grunge band Vypsaná Fixa was playing. Afterwards came In Extremo with their pyro show. It must have been difficult to make a good sound for such band and it was hearable. And it was pity that they played in a light. I gladly missed Rage and because of a curiosity went to see Nightwish. I don’t want to judge which singer is better (many people have already done it) but one thing is for sure – Anette sang horribly. After a few songs there was no reason not to join disgusted crowds leaving as well as to stay during Shaman from Brazil. As a girl who likes her comfort I went home (I could choose, twenty minutes walking to a wet tent or twenty minutes by car right home... well...).

Death Angel

My day was planned to start with a signing session of Death Angel which was postponed. Unfortunately, to the time when Keep of Kalessin were playing. Because the bands are having a tour together right now the concert was delayed as well. Keep of Kalessin played four songs including the title song of their newest album Kolossus and au revoir. Following Kreyson were something I definitely didn’t want to see whereas Death Angel is something I would like to see anytime, especially after this concert. The next were Kataklysm. Good sound. Nice show. Nothing to add. I still remember the times when Korpiklaani were just a band that played for a few fans in clubs and I must admit that I miss them. The attendance could be as big as of Nightwish and they made dance almost everyone listening. Even in the rain. I had never seen so many metalheads in mackintoshes in one place before. For me personally was a really big surprise Dragonforce. I’m not any big fan of power metal but they were really good unlike Edguy that played after them which in my opinion are worse and worse every year. The last band of the night was Deathstars. First I went there just for fun but at the close it was a great show including good music, funny perverted talking and a good atmosphere.

Audrey Horne (NOR)

Personally I hardly imagine someone standing at 9.30 and waiting for Innocens but next Interitus allured a really big crowd probably thanks to the fact that they play almost everywhere and everyone knows them. But for me it was the next band which I would be able to wake up for even at 9.30. Norwegian hard rock Audrey Horne probably knew the disadvantage of playing in the morning so you could see flyers promising a free t-shirt if you come to their show everywhere, therefore before beginning the crowd consisted of a few fans, people waiting for following Eluveitie and a few people who read before throwing and understand English. But as proved Kissin‘Dynamite, if the band plays good, the people come. For me the rest of the bands playing was not so attractive. Tleckač pleased the fans of ska, Schandmaul sounded like a worse In Extremo even from the big distance, Heaven Shall Burn were a nice change in a parade of overrated bands as well as the almost legendary Voivod. Much unlike the Czech-German Die Happy which no one wants to see again but they come every year. The time while Arch Enemy were playing I spent quite far from the stage as well as Europe because standing two hours just to hear The Final Countdown that is probably the only song by them I know is not for me. And I hate the song anyway. But as I know, the people who like the band were delighted.

And this was the end of the festival and there’s nothing more to do but to wait what Pragokoncert is going to think out for the next year.

The Sorrow

As someone who doesn’t want to wake up early just to see something I don’t like I missed two Czech bands and came to see German teenagers Kissin‘Dynamite. Despite their age they played really well and the crowd was really big regarding it was before midday. But who I was really looking forward to were The Sorrow. Austrian metalcorers made the crowds crazy on their first visit on last year’s Masters and on their tour with Sepultura in winter so it is no surprise that there were a lot of people waiting for a moshpit. The show was great and no one could be disappointed. After them there were bands that were for me too boring to see (Axxis, Crucified Barbara) or that I had seen before (Stratovarius). Evergrey were not bad, but still not my cup of tea as well as Blind Guardian. Tiamat enclosing the evening were quite good but in my opinion they are more a band to see at a club, sitting, sipping a drink, listening... and being sad.