This years newcomer competition the Belgian band Skeptical Minds won. Against the habit of the previous years the winner did not have to start this years edition but was allowed as fifth band of the day to play even some more as the previous ones.
With 69 Chambers for me one of the first climax of the day was reached. The Swiss combo around front woman / guitarist Nina Treml presented songs of their debut album "War On The Inside". Supported she was by the bassist Maddy Madarasz who took additionally over the backing vocals during many songs and by drummer Diego Rapacchietti.
Out of unknown reasons the band Bare Infinity had canceled their gig on Metal Female Voices Fest VIII. Shorthanded Unsun stepped in as they were anyhow currently touring with the later that evening playing band Tristania. The Polish band around front woman Aya and guitarist Mauser were already part of last year's edition.
Godyva is an Italian band that played songs of their current album "Planetarium". Nevertheless the show was rather underwhelming. Lady Godyva was very keen on communicating with the audience so that there were much more talks of her rather than it was sung. That lead to the point that Godyva due to the tight and strict schedule were not able to play their complete set and had to leave stage ahead of schedule.
The Saturday was opened by the British band Pythia. Compared to the year before it was starting a little bit later (only at 11:20) which did not increase significantly the number of visitors. For a band it is always hard to play as first one and then additionally in front of so few people but front woman Emily Alice Ovenden really knew to thrill the audience vocally and from show point of view.
Headliner of the evening was having nearly a home game. The guys around Hansi Kürsch were really keen on playing and also the audience was following them really good. The songs were covering a majority of the musical history of the band, so there were not only songs from the new album "At The Edge Of Time" being played.
The third time that I was able to watch Van Canto live and in my point of view the best gig up to now. It seemed that the six were obviously having fun and so it was to the audience. As quite as it was during Steelwing, so lively it got whilst the really great performed tracks like "Wishmaster" or "Rebellion".
As opener of the evening the Swedish heavy metal band Steelwing was there. The five newcomer performed old school heavy meatal in style of Manowar, Judas Priest or Savatage. Their appearance in leggins and tennis socks was appearing quite funny. Musically there were six songs of their debut album "Lord Of The Wasteland".
As I had until Tiamat and the closure with U.D.O. still some time left I chose Soulfly to be so to say the "fill-in". Originally not completely the style of music I like but I have to admit that the show was quite good (especially the prohibition of circle-pit was not taken much care about by singer Max Cavalera what the security immediately hectical tried to riposte by video flashs to stop doing this).
It was already dark and the stage put into an eerily beautiful blood red light when Candlemass began with an absolutely impressive performance.