Three headliner in a row

On the second day of Graspop Metal Meeting 2023 in Dessel, things continued at a lively pace. My day began with Black Mirrors in the Metal Dome. Their rock‑infused blend was a pleasant surprise and immediately left me wanting more. That “more” came in the form of Thundermother. The ladies around frontwoman Filippa Nässil delivered a strong show with classic hard rock in the vein of AC/DC.
From hard rock, things shifted to heavier tones with Pro‑Pain. With their fantastic cross‑section of 30 years of band history, they had no trouble getting the crowd involved. The metalcore theme continued, now with Asking Alexandria, who unfortunately became the low point of the day. The Brits showed little motivation, and the crowd’s reaction remained equally subdued. A shame, because they clearly have far more potential. That potential was definitely fulfilled by the guys from Down Under: Airbourne. As always, they performed with routine confidence on the Main Stage, and the atmosphere was already boiling in the afternoon. Before the evening’s headliners, Orange Goblin offered a chance to catch one’s breath. With smooth stoner rock, things eased down in the tent before heading back out to the Main Stages.
There, the Norsemen of Amon Amarth were already preparing, delivering a headliner‑worthy show. Everything a fan could wish for was included: on‑stage battles, massive inflatable stage props, and of course plenty of fire, all paired with their signature driving rhythms. It was a guaranteed crowd‑pleaser. Now began the era of the three headliners of the day equal in billing on shirts and posters. First up was Disturbed. Having seen them already in 2019, this second time turned out to be an emotional and gripping performance. In contrast, Gojira followed with a show that pulled out every technical and visual stop as the sun set. Outstanding metal with progressive flair, musicians who truly shone technically, and incredibly impressive video sequences on the LED walls paired with perfectly tuned stage lighting. Incredible! But just as they left the stage and one might have thought nothing could top it, Machine Head proved the opposite. After many years away from European festivals, they showed that this absence had been entirely undeserved. Musically, it was pure demolition, and the stage show was perfectly choreographed. It felt as though every last reserve of pyrotechnics had to be used and the final fireworks display could easily have passed for the festival’s grand finale. All in all, another thoroughly successful festival day.

Article:

16.06.2023 Black Mirrors
16.06.2023 Thundermother
16.06.2023 Pro-Pain
16.06.2023 Asking Alexandria
16.06.2023 Airbourne
16.06.2023 Orange Goblin
16.06.2023 Amon Amarth
16.06.2023 Disturbed
16.06.2023 Gojira
16.06.2023 Machine Head