Wizzfest 2011

Submitted by Christophe Ochal on Fri, 25/03/2011 - 00:54

Festivals! I love them, big ones, small ones, summer or winter, it's all good. The second festival of 2011 was the Wizzfest festival. This festival, which takes place in Aalter, Belgium is organized by the Belgian band 'Wizzard', who were also on the line-up.

To kick of the day we had 'Mick "Kiss The Guns" Ball'. Mick was there to give a drum presentation. This Brit decided after several heart attacks that he'd do something to improve his physical condition so he decided to pick up drumming.

After a 10 minute drum demonstration came the first band of the day. Spooneye is a young Belgian band formed in 2007. I'm told their sound is a bit like Tool, but I'm not a Tool fan, so don't take my word for it. Frankly, I thought they were a bit bland.Still, they are very young, so there is potential for the future.

Next up was Lime Shark from the U.K.. Their sound is more traditional British Rock, and something more up my alley. They've opened for bands such as 'Wishbone Ash' and 'Waysted' and they played a convincing set.

Set list:

Burn
Not Quite Nashville
Future Games
Bad Angel
Volatile
Ways From Sunday
Blindside

Time for something more aggressive then. Visitor, from Manchester is a band with influences from bands such as 'Killswitch Engage' and Meshuggah, leaning towards the Metalcore genre. Metalcore isn't really my cup of tea, so i didn't feel the need to go rush and buy their CD, but i found them to be more enjoyable then Killswitch Engage. Your mileage may vary though.

Set List:

Relentless
Face Down
The Ouija
World In Flames
9 Circles Of Hell
The Wispering
Mindlock
Face Of Fear

After Visitor and a tasty burger (hey, a man's gotta eat!) Exit State was on. Having seen these guys the day before, i knew what to expect, a fast rocking show. And that's what they delivered. Songs such as 'Bad Days' and 'I Know Where You Are' came and went, and so did the gig. That's the problem with good live acts, time flies when your having fun.

Time for a beer and something new. Time for Cambion. Like most of the line-up i wasn't familiar with these guys. Cambion plays Screamo Metal; which, just like Metalcore isn't really my thing. Good guitar play though.

Ah... Crazy Wizzard! Like I said earlier, they're the ones organizing the Festival and they also had their spot on the stage. A spot that was more then deserved. Wizzard turned up the volume and brought back that typical sound of 80's Heavy Metal.

Set List:

Reflections From Hell
Out Of Control
Crazy Wizzard
Harleyse
Vampires In The Vally
Reunited
Desire
Motor Head Music

Nightvision came on the stage after Wizzard. And, like most of the bands on the stage, they hail from the U.K. This Hard Rock band with Metal influences has played Wizzfest before. There were some nice pieces in their set, but overall they didn't really convince me.

The only female fronted band of the day was the Dutch 'Lost Insanity'. These were a nice suprise, playing straight Hard Rock they came on rocking hard. Since they were filming for a DVD they went the extra mile, and it showed. I especially liked the cover of 'White Rabbit' from Jefferson Airplane.

Set List:

Mrs. Rock & Roll
Got You In My Pocket
White Rabbit
Changes
Feels Like Home
Blow Me Away
Money
Bad And Nasty

Fury UK Only two more bands remained at this moment, soon Blaze Bayley would play and finish of Wizzfest. But before that, Fury UK had to have their spot in the light. A spot that was well deserved. Having seem them the day before in the Grand Canyon, i knew what was waiting for me: An onslaught of pure Rock! They opened with 'I See Red', and went up from there, to end with the awesome 'Death By Lightning'.

Set List:

I See Red
Fall From Grace
Alien Skies
Athena
Nemesis
Manslaughter
Call To Arms
Death By Lightning

Finally it was time for Blaze Bayley. I had never had the pleasure of seeing Blaze live, something I regret now more then ever, because Blaze ROCKS! This Metal warrior knows how to work an audience, and work it well. Blaze Bayley wants his audience to participate, and he'll make sure they do. Even if he has to come down from the stage and drag you along screaming and kicking, you *WILL* participate!

But not only is he an impressive front man, his singing is excellent too, and it shows why Iron Maiden picked him when Bruce left them.

As for the set list, that was pure dynamite, they opened with the amazing 'The Man Who Would Not Die' and from the first song the mood was set.

Set List: