DER DETZE ROCKT, A GREAT LITTLE FESTIVAL : Metal

Oct 07, 2023

June 7, 2023J PFestival/Tour News, Heavy Metal, Metal News, Release Dates0

It is a known fact that no other country can compete with Germany for quantity, and often quality, of metal festivals. During the period of good weather from mid-May to mid-September (although it is still continental weather, so always have a raincoat handy), the problem for the German metalheads is that they are spoiled for choice, having to decide which festival to look forward to during each weekend, out of the three to four organized. Obviously, this ranges from one day events with five, more or less, local bands to the bedlam of the infamous Wacken Open Air, but this only adds to the variety and satisfaction for those who have metal in their blood.

However, between very internationally renowned festivals like the underground gem Keep It True and gigantic ones such as the aforementioned Wacken or Summer Breeze with dozens and dozens of bands, stand some not so widely-known events, successful in Germany, but almost undiscovered as far as foreign fans are concerned.

A GREAT DISCOVERY

Der Detze Rockt is a festival held in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, in the western part of Germany, bordering with France, Luxembourg and Belgium, in the Rengen district of the town of Daun (Sportplatz am Detzenberg, Rengen, 54550 Daun). It's located on a hill offering nice views all around, though no shelter from the sun as there are no trees at all, which can be tough with brutal, scorching heat like last year, with temperatures reaching over 40°C. However, the organizers are thoughtful and pro-active: they offered free potable water from a tap close to the entrance, while on the grounds they put two silos with water providing much needed refreshment in the form of sprinkling, and even added a big inflatable pool which was eagerly used by more adventurous visitors. The grass-covered ground, as opposed to concrete, asphalt or just soil/dirt like at some other open air events, also helps in case of extreme heat.

On the premises, there are merch stands by Dying Victims Productions and Metaleros, a few food stands, and, what is especially appreciated, you can get beer for a very fair price of 2,50 Euro per 0,4 l glass, while in the nearby sports facility you can also have coffee, tee and sandwiches, as well as take a shower and use regular water toilets (if you prefer to avoid portaloos).

The camping located right next to the infield is free for ticket holders and you can park your car near the tent. Overall, the atmosphere is really relaxing and friendly and it reminds me of one of my favourite old school metal festivals, Headbangers Open Air, though Der Detze Rockt is smaller, with about 1000 visitors.

First held in August 2011 for a single day, it became a two-day event in its fourth edition, and moved from late August (perhaps too "hot" and crowded time for concerts) to a milder June in 2015. The next edition, which is scheduled for June 16-17, 2023, is the eleventh, since, like many other events, it was suspended during 2020-2021 due to the pandemic restrictions.

NUMBERS AND GENRES

In the previous ten editions, on the stage built on the sports field with a view of the highway bridge (it's kind of strange to see a campsite full of metalheads when arriving from the highway), artists from all over the world, but mostly Europe, performed: 107 different bands for a total of 120 concerts. As far as genres are concerned, classic heavy metal and NWOBHM prevailed, with a good representation of speed/thrash, followed by hard rock and death/black.

For those who are as curious as I am and want to delve deeper, I have researched the running orders from 2011 to 2022 (see below DER DETZE ROCKT BILLINGS: 2011-2019) and the countries of origin of all the bands. In short: 1 band from Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Italy, Czech Republic and the USA, 2 bands from Canada, Japan and Spain, 3 from Belgium, 5 from the Netherlands, 9 from Sweden, 12 from the UK. The country that takes the lead is obviously Germany with 65 bands, but the interesting fact, the one I was on the hunt for and went to the trouble of collecting all this information, is that as many as 45 bands come from the same or two neighboring German states, with Koblenz as the leading city: among others, we are talking about artists such as Metal Inquisitor, Desaster, Pyracanda, Steelpreacher… The conclusion, however obvious, is that in Germany they are able to organize interesting festivals, even with an international appeal, relying mainly on "local" bands, a situation as enviable as it is almost unthinkable in any other country, except perhaps in Sweden.

THE NEXT EDITION

As already mentioned, Der Detze Rockt 11 will be held on June 16-17. Two notes: Uli Jon Roth has replaced Flotsam and Jetsam who had to cancel the tour. And I will finally be able to attend the Brazilian Violator show, previously scheduled for 2022 and canceled due to one of them catching COVID, as well as Razor (whom I’ve seen twice before) who were also originally on the 2022 bill, but had to cancel their tour because of Dave Carlo's wife's terminal illness. Here is the billing as of today:

Uli Jon Roth (Heavy Metal – Germany)Razor (Speed/Thrash Metal – Canada)Mortuary Drape (Black/Death Metal – Italy)Violator (Thrash Metal – Brasíl)Hellripper (Black/Speed Metal – United Kingdom)Enforcer (Heavy/Speed Metal – Sweden)Kev Riddles’ Baphomet (NWOBHM, Heavy Metal – United Kingdom)Midnight Rider (Heavy Metal – Germany)Bunker 66 (Blackened Thrash Metal – Italy)Aggressive Perfector (Speed/Thrash/Heavy Metal – United Kingdom)Venator (Heavy Metal – Austria)Coltre (Heavy Metal – United Kingdom)Karloff (Black Metal/Punk – Germany)Firmament (Heavy Metal/Hard Rock – Germany)Mechanic Tyrants (Speed Metal – Germany)

DDR10 – 17–18.06.2022 REPORTThe following is a brief report, band by band, of last year's edition, the first one I had the pleasure of participating in.

17.06.2022Exciter (Speed Metal – Canada)Desaster (Black/Thrash Metal – Germany) (previously also at DDR5 2015)Attic (Heavy Metal – Germany)Blizzen (Heavy/Speed Metal – Germany) (previously also at DDR4 2014)Old Moon Madness (Hard Rock – Germany)Cherokee (Hard Rock – Germany)18.06.2022Sodom (Black/Speed/Thrash Metal – Germany)Blaze Bayley (Heavy Metal – United Kingdom)Pyracanda (Thrash Metal – Germany)Iron Curtain (Speed/Thrash/Heavy – Spain) (previously also at DDR4 2014)The Night Eternal (Heavy Metal – Germany)Knife (Blackened Speed Metal/Punk – Germany)Diabolic Night (Black/Speed Metal – Germany)Lynx (Heavy Metal/Hard Rock – Germany)Blitz (Heavy/Speed/Thrash Metal – Germany)

Day One

CHEROKEE (16:56-17:41)

These days it seems almost a must for every festival to have at least one band with 70s sound. Singer Laura Vesprini, with sometimes Doro-like tones, demonstrates a bluesy soul while performing a Janis Joplin-esque tune with a boogie twist. The band captures my attention particularly because of the lead guitar parts. Despite the blazing sun, the audience is already there and responds well to this first band. The sound coming from the stage, not too big but perfect for the event, is of good quality, even if you stand on the side. They are easy to listen to and offer a relaxing start.

OLD MOON MADNESS (18:06-18:51)

Old Moon Madness play faster and harder rock than the previous band, with Hammond and a less obvious blues influence. The band showcases their style with "Queen of the World", a hard rock track reminiscent of Joe-Lynn-Turner-era Rainbow. The guitar playing is like that of Deep Purple, though not particularly skillful. Some of the songs might remind you of Night Demon, but they aren't on the same level. The singer has just the right rough voice and the band sounds tight, convincing as a whole. The bass and drums are energetic, and the crowd seems to be into "20000 Feet". Despite the songs having a similar structure to each other, and the melodies being sometimes a bit predictable, they are enjoyable.

BLIZZEN (19:09-19:45).

Blizzen performs shortly after 7 o’clock, and although I have seen them four times already, each time I find them better. The band gets off to a good start right away, both musically and in terms of how they move around the stage. The fans react well to their "German Heavy Metal" (as written on their stickers) with Accept-like guitar parts and a very Judas Priest style leather and studs look. The vocal melodies, however, are more typical of U.S. bands. During "Time Machine" they receive an ovation from the crowd. The band plays well and has a good rapport with the fans, but it still lacks that "something" for them to become a major player.

ATTIC (20:21-21:23).

Attic starts 20 minutes late, perhaps due to setting up the stage decoration: backdrop, side banners, two pieces of Gothic church balustrade, two tall candelabras, all in black and white, and inverted crosses on Gothic windows. The vocalist has face painting and a King Diamond style coat, while the others have only eye makeup. During their performance there are frequent jets of smoke and whiffs of incense (or sulfur?). I like the band, but the singer is not always up to standard live because of a somewhat thin voice, although he seems in a good shape his time. The sound is a bit muddy, sometimes distorted. Maybe they are playing too loud or there is some adjustment problem, because they don't seem to find a balanced sound. The performance improves toward the end, perhaps due to the songs played. The penultimate track is the great "The Headless Horseman", but they close with a Judas Priest cover, "Between the Hammer and the Anvil", which sounds a bit forced. Nevertheless, the audience seems to really like the band and there is a lot of cheering. Personally, I find them just OK live (while I love their albums), but critics like myself don't matter: the important thing is the fans’ approval.

DESASTER (21:50-22:53).

Desaster start with an intro similar to that of Venom. This is the first time I’ve seen them without longtime drummer Tormentor, but after the first song his replacement seems to be up to the task. The band delivers their "medieval" black/thrash emanating the atmosphere of a torture chamber with raw, savage energy. Although it is 10 o’clock and there is still some sunlight, the light show finally becomes noteworthy and the audience cheers. The incitements of the powerful frontman Sataniac are irresistible. They perform "Satan's Soldiers Syndicate" and "Sacrilege", like a sonic bulldozer crashing into a brick wall. Then they slow down the pace, playing the mid-tempo crusher "Churches Without Saints", after which they take off again at full speed with "The Art of Destruction" and a medievalistic "Teutonic Steel" and close with "Divine Blasphemies" and "Metalized Blood". At one point, a kid of about seven years old got on the stage and started and kept tirelessly waving a huge flag of Stormbringers, the official Desaster fan-club. Overall, Desaster's performance is very intense and powerful, as usual, with a sound that overwhelms the fans.

EXCITER (23:21-24:20).

Unfortunately, I am not at all "excited" for Exciter, as I should be, given the rather poor performance I witnessed at Storm Crusher in 2017 and Headbangers Open Air in 2019, due to Beehler's insufficient vocals. The band performs "Violence & Force" and "Stand Up and Fight". Daniel Dekay, on guitar in place of John Ricci, does not have a similar sound to Ricci's sharp style. "Iron Dogs", "Raising of the Dead" and "Heavy Metal Maniac" arrive. The vocals are very high in the mix (unfortunately), while the guitar is too low. Beehler is now an imitation of himself: his voice is raspy, with no hysterical high notes or high tones. There seem to be fewer people than for Desaster. It gets better with slower songs like "Blackwitch" and "Pounding Metal", but still the crowd didn't look so convinced. It comes to an end with "Beyond the Gate of Doom" and "Long Live the Loud". In general, they seem to lack energy and conviction, so the performance was again a bit disappointing, as well as 10 minutes shorter than scheduled.

Day Two

BLITZ (13:31-14:00).

During Blitz's sound check, I notice that at times they are reminiscent of Raven's athletic rock. The band still looks inexperienced and immature in live performance, but the compositions work, so it's just a matter of time and opportunity. During the performance, they gain confidence. Their cover of Warlord's "Child of the Damned" is a bit rough, but the choice itself shows their good taste. The band is more comfortable playing fast-paced tracks, which is evident in their performance. Overall, Blitz seems to be a perfect opening band for a festival.

LYNX (14:28-14:57).

The work of Lynx's two guitarists is decent, but the vocals sound a bit strained and sometimes off-key. The band also has a false start, which should have been handled more gracefully. Their style has strong 70s rock vibes, but overall there is nothing particularly remarkable. Halfway through the set, I lose attention and prefer to take a look at the records for sale. In summary, Lynx's performance does not particularly impress me.

KNIFE (15:17-15:58).

Knife start with great attitude and aggression, giving their best from the very first moment. Their stage presence is good and, despite the oppressive heat, they make you want to face the scorching sun to get under the stage. Their music is a mix of relentless blackened speed metal with some punk. The band also performs a cover of Venom's "Sacrifice". What more could you ask for? The frontman is very pumped-up on stage and wears a Manilla Road T-shirt (respect!). The band is super-energetic and the relatively large crowd participates, singing choruses and starting mosh-pits. They deliver the final double punch with "Behold the Horse of War" and "White Witch Black Death". One of the highlights of the festival for me.

DIABOLIC NIGHT (16:24-16:53).

Diabolic Night are very fast and precise, giving the impression of being extremely focused on their instruments. They do not move much on stage, but their performance is of high quality. The vocalist's singing is not very varied, but he has found a formula that works, with the voice combining with the instruments to create a unique sound. In some ways they remind me of Vektor. Their music is a daring mix of black/thrash and progressive, suited more for the mind than for headbanging. There is no compromise regarding speed, which is always sustained, and you may lose attention and get tired if you’re not focused enough on their music.

THE ETERNAL NIGHT (17:28-18:05).The Eternal Night plays metal with goth overtones, well executed, with a nice overall sound and pleasant vocals. Their performance was very emotional, maybe even too much for my taste, but I have to admit it was still a good gig. Overall, an enjoyable show that left a positive impression on me.

IRON CURTAIN (18:30-19:10).

Spain's Iron Curtain are similar to bands like Tank, Jaguar, but also Running Wild, very catchy and fun. Unfortunately, after performing a still unreleased song called "Tyger Speed", the guitarist disappears for 20 minutes (out of a show of 40), probably either due to his instrument breaking down or due to excessive partying (turns out it was his birthday). During his absence, the band plays a song with only one guitar, and the show closes with the good "Scream & Shout" tune. Sadly, the gig turns out to be too chaotic and fragmented in the end: I suspend my judgment.

PYRACANDA (19:53-20:49).

This cult band from Koblenz, reformed in 2019, generates a lot of curiosity among the fans, which translates into a good attendance on the lawn, also helped by the subsiding heat. The band currently consists of three original members and two from Caliban. Their thrash metal is very dynamic, with clean and powerful vocals, and their performance is very solid and tight: foot on the monitor and the right attitude. You don't need much more than this for good thrash. With "Dreamworld (Goodbye Mary Ann)" they move into more classic German metal territories a la Accept, while "Montezumas Revenge" is a classic example of American thrash a la Flotsam and Jetsam. The band closes their show with "Top Gun", the opening track from their debut album. I hope to see them in action again soon.

BLAZE BAYLEY (21:27-22:30).

There is a reason Iron Maiden had chosen him: in a hypothetical university where you learn to be a perfect frontman, Blaze Bayley should be the dean! His voice is OK, but it is mostly the attitude and stage presence that makes him so engaging. The band performs "Saints & Sinners", "Sign of the Cross", Iron Maiden's single "Virus", "The Clansman" and "Man on the Edge". It is strange to hear Iron Maiden songs played by only one guitarist (the other one was ill), but they still manage to do a good job. Then "Futureal" and "The Angel and the Gambler", which includes guitar and bass solos. Their concert is very well received, and Blaze thanks all fans at the merch booth, staying there for signing stuff and taking pictures for more than an hour after the end of the show.

SODOM (23:25-1:01).

It's pretty pointless to review a Sodom gig: these days, the German combo always borders on perfection in live performances, but this one turns out to be even better than their already high average. The volume is frightening, but the sound is very clear: I was standing in front of the soundboard, quite far from the stage, and still had to use earplugs. They start the show with "Sodom & Gomorrah", and immediately the power goes out (too much power?). After this minor hiccup, the band resumes with "Sodomized" and "Agent Orange". Then "Better Off Dead", "Sodomy and Lust" and "Iron Fist" (perhaps even faster than the original). It continues with "Outbreak of Evil", "Gone to Glory", "The Saw Is the Law", "Nuclear Winter" and "Caligula". They close with "Blasphemer", with a Venom quote at the end ("Lay down your soul to the gods rock ‘n’ roll") and one of their biggest "hits" "Ausgebombt".

Hopefully the highway bridge did not suffer structural damage from Sodom's excessive sound vibrations. I would hate to have trouble getting there for this 2023 edition…

DER DETZE ROCKT BILLINGS: 2011-2019

DDR1 – 27.08.2011Metal Inquisitor (Heavy Metal – Germany)Steelpreacher (Heavy Metal – Germany)Encypher (Modern Metal – Germany)Edge of Thorns (Melodic Power/Speed Metal – Germany)Ra's Dawn (Progressive Metal – Germany)Carpet Room (Heavy/Thrash Metal – Germany)Wheel of Metal (Germany)

DDR2 – 18.08.2012Warrant (Power/Speed Metal – Germany)Vanderbuyst (Heavy Metal/Hard Rock – Netherlands)Alpha Tiger (Power Metal – Germany)ValSans (Power Metal – Austria)Spectral (Black/Thrash/Viking/Power Metal – Germany)Iron Kobra (Heavy Metal – Germany)Razorscotch (Heavy Metal/Hard Rock – Germany)Hack (Late night metal cover band, Germany)

DDR3 – 24.08.2013Blitzkrieg (Heavy Metal, NWOBHM – United Kingdom)Sacred Steel (Epic Power Metal – Germany)Screamer (Heavy Metal – Sweden)Witchburner (Thrash Metal – Germany)Torment of Souls (Death Metal – Germany)SquirrelFries (Punk Rock – Germany)Burning Maja (Heavy Hard Rock ’n’ Roll – Germany)

DDR4 – 22–23.08.2014 22.08.2014Vortex (Heavy Metal – Netherlands)Secutor (Thrash Metal – Germany)Blizzen (Heavy/Speed Metal – Germany)The Great Cold (Post–Metal/Rock – Germany)23.08.2014Dead Lord (Hard Rock – Sweden)Battleaxe (NWOBHM/Heavy Metal – United Kingdom)Nocturnal (Black/Thrash Metal – Germany)Rezet (Thrash Metal – Germany) + Violent Force and friends (Thrash Metal – Germany)Iron Curtain (Speed/Thrash/Heavy – Spain)Noctum (Heavy/Doom – Sweden)Deathfist (Thrash Metal – Germany)Speedbreaker (Heavy/Speed Metal – Germany)Bloodspot (Thrash/Death Metal – Germany)

DDR5 – 19–20.06.2015 19.06.2015Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper (Heavy Metal – United Kingdom)Steelpreacher (Heavy Metal – Germany) (DDR1 2011)Delirium Tremens (Thrash Metal – Germany)Overruled (Heavy/Speed/Thrash Metal – Netherlands)Profet (Death/Thrash Metal – Germany)20.06.2015Desaster (Black/Thrash Metal – Germany)Skull Fist (Heavy/Speed Metal – Canada)Hitten (Heavy Metal – Spain)Space Chaser (Thrash/Speed Metal – Germany)Axecutor (Speed/Thrash Metal – Bulgaria)Spectral (Black/Thrash/Viking/Power Metal – Germany) (DDR2 2012)Manic Adrift (Death Metal – Germany)Burning Maja (Heavy Hard Rock ’n’ Roll – Germany) (DDR3 2013)

DDR6 – 17–18.06.2016 17.06.2016S.D.I. (Speed/Thrash Metal – Germany)Night Demon (Heavy Metal – United States)Baphomet's Blood (Speed Metal – Italy)Iron Bastards (Fast Rock’n’roll – France)Infernal Assault (Black/Speed Metal – Germany)18.06.2016Diamond Head (NWOBHM, Heavy Metal/Hard Rock – United Kingdom)Mythra (NWOBHM/Heavy Metal – United Kingdom)Metal Inquisitor (Heavy Metal – Germany) (DDR1 2011)Distillator (Thrash Metal – Netherlands)Messerschmitt (Speed Metal – Germany)Axewielder (Heavy Metal – Germany)Hack (Late night metal cover band, Germany)Thrashing Pumpguns (Thrash Metal/Punk – Germany)The Great Cold (Post–Metal/Rock – Germany) (DDR4 2014)

DDR7 – 23–24.06.2017 23.06.2017Tokyo Blade (NWOBHM, Heavy Metal – United Kingdom)Sabbat (Black/Thrash Metal – Japan)Midnight Rider (Heavy Metal – Germany)Burning Maja (Heavy Hard Rock ’n’ Roll – Germany) (DDR3 2013, DDR5 2015)Depredation (Thrash Metal – Germany)24.06.2017Metalucifer (Heavy/Speed Metal – Japan)Master (Death/Thrash Metal – Czechia)Picture (Heavy Metal/Hard Rock – Netherlands)Eurynomos (Black/Thrash Metal – Germany)Vulture (Speed/Thrash Metal – Germany)Blackslash (Heavy Metal – Germany)Manic Adrift (Death Metal – Germany) (DDR5 2015)Hornado (Heavy Metal – Germany)

DDR8 – 15–16.06.2018 15.06.2018Oliver Dawson Saxon (Heavy Metal – United Kingdom)Ambush (Heavy Metal – Sweden)Ranger (Speed Metal – Finland)Slaughter Messiah (Black/Death/Thrash Metal – Belgium)Final Fortune (Heavy Metal – Germany)Ruynor (Metal Punk/Rock’n’roll – Germany)16.06.2018Dead Lord (Hard Rock – Sweden) (DDR4 2014)Tytan (NWOBHM, Heavy Metal – United Kingdom)Hällas (Hard Rock – Sweden)Dealer (NWOBHM, Heavy Metal – United Kingdom)Night (Heavy Metal, Hard Rock – Sweden)Incarceration (Death Metal – Germany)Amulet (Heavy Metal – United Kingdom)Witchtower (Death/Thrash Metal – Germany)Old Mother Hell (Epic Doom/Heavy Metal – Germany)

DDR9 – 14–15.06.2019 14.06.2019Iron Angel (Power/Speed/Thrash Metal– Germany)Antichrist (Thrash Metal – Sweden)Indian Nightmare (Heavy/Speed Metal/Punk – Germany)Moontowers (Heavy Metal – Germany)Goatking (Thrash Metal/Crossover – Germany)15.06.2019Satan (NWOBHM, Heavy Metal – United Kingdom)Horisont (Hard Rock – Sweden)Mindless Sinner (Heavy Metal – Sweden)Vulture (Speed/Thrash Metal – Germany) (DDR7 2017)Ambush (Heavy Metal – Sweden) (DDR8 2018)Hellish Crossfire (Thrash Metal – Germany)Bütcher (Black/Speed Metal – Belgium)Booze Control (Heavy Metal – Germany)Speed Queen (Speed Metal – Belgium)Fabulous Desaster (Thrash Metal – Germany)

www.facebook.com/DerDetzeRockt

Text by Simone Peruzzi. (Metal on Metal Records) Photos by Jowita Kaminska-Peruzzi (Metal on Metal Records).