First time covering a festival and Metalhead Meeting made it to the 7th edition, taking place in Bucharest, to one of my favorite concert places, Arenele Romane (the Roman Arena).
1st day of the festival started on a hot day of Friday but due to the traffic issues, I have missed the two opening bands, Siska (Italy) and Phenomy (Lebanon), but instead I arrived in time to see the third band, The Colony (Scotland), a band I’ve kinda `seen` 2 years ago to the same festival where the Scots played at 2 or 3 am in the morning, but back then I have met them and was nice to see them this time fully on stage. They did an energetic show despite the heat and the public was slowly gathering, one of the guitar players got off the stage and got in the public for the show and why not, people getting some selfies. After their show, I met them and had some drinks (they remembered me and ‚till late evening, we had drinks and had fun).
Was nice to see the Scots again, actually I was looking forward the most to see one of day 1 headliners, Children of Bodom, but till then, the show continued with the Swedes from In Sammer, a female fronted metal band, with dark elements which kinda caught the public attention, but while they were installing, they begun the show in a direct way, without a `Heya` and so on, but not a bad act, I liked them since they had a lot of elements in their music. The Swedes ended their performance with Pantera’s `I’m Broken` opening, everyone screaming recognizing the song and as all expected the band to cover the entire song, but it was just the song opening everyone knows!
The next band to hit the stage is well known in the Romanian metal scene, not only for their style, but this band always has that public success and keep it alive no matter what: Dirty Shirt. I’ve seen them live several times and for this fest edition, they had like a `surprise` show, playing along the orchestra and indeed, they had a big crowd already!
Probably most were waiting to see Sonata Arctica as well, but to be honest, I didn’t recognize any of their songs I used to know from the metal compilation I have at home like Monster of Metal the band is featured in some volumes, but all in all, matters that the public enjoyed them and a warm up for the next band…
Then, the most awaited headliner of day 1, Children of Bodom, which as mentioned above, they were the band I was looking forward to see again since I saw them for the first time in 2013, and of course, a band that use to play the good songs every fan knows and enjoys at max, even cooler when the band you like, plays your favorite songs, so did COB: `In Your Face`, `Hate Me`, Everytime I Die`, `Downfall“, few of my favorite songs to mention that were played by the Finns.
Was even funny when the crowd which was support to shout for more, they shout and sweared the actual political party leader, which amused me and others as well, as Alexi Laiho to a point said: ’I have no idea what are you saying there, but…` Anytime I’d see COB, first time I saw them and even the second time, did a great show.
That is how day 1 of the fest ended for me, being more excited for day 2, which had 2 interviews scheduled and also because the line-up was more interesting. Let’s see how day 2 had been!