Blast from the past

Titel van Album: Blast From The Past

Blast From The Past  9 April 2022 in Kuurne, Belgium

After the postponing of this festival because pf Covid-19 we finally got the green light. BLAST FROM THE PAST was going ahead. Thankfully me and my mate Sjaak got ourselves in our car and drove the distance in a little over three hours. When we got there the place was packed. Good to see that such a festival gets the turnout it deserves.

BLAST FROM THE PAST is one of those festivals where knowing your past, but also keeping up with the present is key to understanding the bands that are playing. And I will tell you upfront, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the music on offer.

The first band of the day was BLIZZEN. And to put it mildly; they came, they saw and they conquered. What an amazing way to start a festival like BLAST FROM THE PAST. I had never heard any of their music or even seen them live before, but they are a real breath of fresh air. Their music is good old fashioned Heavy Metal, but it’s also very eclectic, very ADHD. If you wish to compare their live energy, I guess you’d be saying they have a bit of the RAVEN feel to them. I was so impressed that I immediately bought both their albums at their merchandise stand.

After that it was being happy watching KEV RIDDLES BAPHOMET, as they worked themselves through the debut album of ANGELWITCH, of which Kev Riddles was an integral part. The band was on fire, and with the superb voice of singer Tony Coldham they really can’t go wrong. The reason they were playing so early is that they needed to get back to the UK the same day. That was a pity, because they thoroughly deserved a spot higher up the ranking.

The third band of the day was the first Thrash Metal band of the day, VULTURE. Boy, do they know how to make waves. And they did this with so much gusto that it was a real joy to watch. Unfortunately, the sound in the venue was letting them down. When you were standing up front, it was quite good. But once you moved to the back, it all just got messier and even jumbled, making it sound almost unintelligible. And that was a real pity, as VULTURE really is quite a good band.

BÜTCHER was the next band on the list, and their brand of Speed and Thrash Metal is bloody impressive live. Musically they are a real class act, as the songs are strong and very decisive. That being so, there is a but; it does take some getting used to how deranged and demented their singer sounds. Once you do, they are a sight and sound to behold. I haven’t heard their records, but I have been reliably informed that their recording quality is way below par. Well, BÜTCHER, when you decide to record again, just get yourself a good sound and I’ll be first in line to acquire your next album.

Then came the biggest surprise of the day. It was easily most impressive show of the day, brought to us in a very upbeat and positive brimming manner by the Dutch Heavy Metal mastodons named PICTURE. With their current singer Peter Strykes, they have someone that can cover all the other vocalists that were wit PICTURE with ease. And he knows how to play the crowds. That, in conjunction with the great set list, made for an unforgettable show.

A very close second on the day were the NWOBHM greats PRAYING MANTIS. Ever since they have added the Dutch contingency of singer John JayCee Cuijpers and drummer Hans In ‘T Zandt they have only gotten better. It seems that the enthusiasm of those two is so contagious it has rubbed off on the rest of the band. So, it’s not only their studio recordings that have thrived, their live performances have also kept on exceeding themselves. Today was another brilliant testament that there still is a whole lotta life in the old PRAYING MANTIS.

The bill originally housed OSTROGOTH as the next band, but we were informed before the festival began that they had to decline due to Covid-19 having an effect within the band. As a result, the organisation was able to attract KILLER as a replacement. And these old guys did exactly what you expect of them, they gave us a very solid Heavy Metal performance, and soon had everyone in the audience eating out of their hands.

The penultimate band of the day was the Belgian Thrash revelation of CYCLONE. Having reformed after a number of years you could say they were back with a vengeance. They were fast, loud and very precise. They didn’t miss a beat, and their brand of Thrash, with some definite EXODUS and DEATH ANGEL influences, made them the heaviest band of the day. Their set list was well chosen, because those who already knew the band had all the insights as how and when to really get going. Plus, they made sure the most impressive mosh pits of the day were formed.

Headlining this day were the French oldies of SORTILÈGE. They did their slot proud, to say the least. They played like they’ve always done, but were lacking in the showmanship department. But hey, as most of the audience were singing, shouting, screaming and headbanging along I really don’t think anyone gave a damn about that aspect. They finished off a great day.

All put together this was a beautiful festival day, so next time it is held you might want to get in on the action and acquire a ticket for yourself. If you were there, you will have had a good time, even though the merchandise stands were a little disappointing. This was due to many band arriving late and leaving early. I do hope that this will improve next time. On a positive note, the BLAST FROM THE PAST merchandise itself was very reasonably priced, and you could even buy some from past issues. So, until next time, BLAST FROM THE PAST.  You’re definitely worth it.

MetalWim van Grunsven