The final countdown to GMM 2015: part 5

Ten days left until Graspop Metal Meeting 2015! Over more than 100 bands are taking the stage this edition, so it couldn’t hurt to check out those bands.

The Haunted

Melodic death metal fans are being spoiled this year at Graspop Metal Meeting and with the addition of The Haunted it looks as though a few guys from At the Gates will be working overtime in Dessel. Considering the history of both bands that’s obviously no great surprise. The Haunted are a prime example of top-notch Swedish death metal with a shot of groove and thrash thrown in there as well. In 2012 the band’s future hung in the balance with the departure of three members but the return of former vocalist Marco Aro and ex-drummer Adrian Erlandsson the following year reinvigorated the band and laid to rest any rumours of an impending split. The Haunted is a must-see for old school death metal fans! (Text: Steven Verhoeven)

Saturday 20 June - Metal Dome - 12:20 to 13:00

 

Upon A Burning Body

Upon a Burning Body is without a doubt one of the most popular deathcore/metalcore bands in the US right now. Oozing more aggression than a seasoned soccer hooligan, their music is characterised by fast solos, chugging riffs and huge breakdowns, and contrary to many bands in the genre, the vocals are actually quite intelligible. Upon a Burning Body feels most at home in a live setting and their growing popularity is fuelled by the quality of their live performances. UABB gigs are always a high-energy affair and singer Danny Leal really knows how to get the crowd involved. Another exciting new band to check out! (Text: Nick Tronckoe)

Saturday 20 June - Jupiler Stage - 13:10 to 13:50

 

Hollywood Undead

As the band name indicates, Hollywood Undead hails from the City of Angels. Like Slipknot and Ghost, the band is known for wearing facial masks on stage. Hollywood Undead blends various musical styles ranging from hip hop to hard rock, alternative rock and metal. Back in the States they’re already a household name. While they do have a solid and loyal fan base on this side of the Atlantic, their upcoming new album may see them break into the big leagues. The leaked title track ‘Day of the Dead’ is an archetypical Hollywood Undead song: melancholic clean vocals & brutal rhymes, heavy guitars and an all-round raw energy. We’re especially glad to have them since this will be their first ever concert on Belgian soil. (Text: Nick Tronckoe)

Saturday 20 June - Mainstage 1 - 13:10 to 13:50

 

Morgoth

Young death metal fans may be unfamiliar with the name Morgoth but if you were into death metal in the early 90s this German band undoubtedly rings a bell. The band released two albums, ‘Cursed’ and ‘Odium’, both of which were very well received. They continued the tradition of Death and Massacre on this side of the Atlantic with the archetypical death metal sound of the era. Morgoth embarked on several successful tours and the future looked bright but when the band members gradually started to lose interest in the music business, they turned their attention to other endeavours… until 2010 when the old fire was rekindled. Once again, Morgoth stands for good old-fashioned, no-nonsense death metal. (Text: Morbid Geert)

Saturday 20 June – Marquee - 13:15 to 14:05

 

Danko Jones

Come rain or shine, Danko Jones is always ready to deliver the goods. This Canadian rocker knows his way around the ABC of rock ‘n’ roll. His music is pure and sincere and his love of (hard) rock is apparent in everything he does. Both on and off stage, Danko Jones is an opinionated character with his own vision. In his spare time he likes to give lectures and write columns. In short, he’s not your stereotypical musician and there’s no denying this Canadian band is on a mission. If you’re looking to experience genuine rock ‘n’ roll then Danko Jones is just the ticket. (Text: Robby Embrechts)

Saturday 20 June - Mainstage 2 - 14:00 to 14:45

 

Shining

Extreme metal and free jazz under the same banner? Is that even possible? The masters of this challenging combination are the Norwegian band Shining (and not the eponymous Swedish suicidal black metal band). This band around frontman/saxophonist Jørgen Munkeby doesn’t care about genre conventions and steers its own course. Shining creates polarizing opinions: you either love them or hate them and there doesn’t appear to be anything in between. Their music is a highly unpredictable and volatile brand of jazz-fuelled metal full of tempo changes and occasional saxophone interludes that would have had the late John Coltrane nod approvingly. This is undeniably one of the more unique bands on this year’s bill ... (Text: Morbid Geert)

Saturday 20 June - Metal Dome - 14:00 to 14:45

 

Kataklysm

Kataklysm’s 1993 EP ‘The Mystical Gate of Recreation’ marked the birth of a new style in metal. By analogy with Fear Factory they called their music ‘northern hyperblast’. They obstinately followed their own course and their scorching brand of death metal quickly attracted scores of extreme metal fans. Eleven years and as many studio albums later, their sound continues to evolve. Judging by their most recent record ‘Waiting for the End to Come’ Kataklysm is far from done. In a throwback to their thrash-infused roots, their interpretation of the Sacred Reich song ‘The American Way’ surprised friend and foe. In 2009 Kataklysm made their Graspop debut. Those of you who were fortunate enough to catch their show will confirm this is a must-see! (Text: Steven Verhoeven)

Saturday 20 June – Marquee - 14:45 to 15:35

 

A Day To Remember

Hailing from Florida, A Day to Remember (ADTR) are known for their unusual but infectious combination of pop punk and metalcore as well as for their extremely energetic live performances. For over a decade, they’ve been told this particular combination doesn’t work but ADTR’s loyal fan base would certainly beg to differ. Undeterred by most music listeners’ need to label bands, they’ve gone on to carve out their own little niche. Since their maiden GMM show in 2010 they’ve released one new album: ‘Common Courtesy’ (2013). The album’s release was postponed due to legal complications and at one point the band feared the release would be put off indefinitely. Lyrically, ‘Common Courtesy’ is their most personal album to date and the metalcore/pop punk marriage is becoming more and more harmonious with every new record. (Text: Steven Verhoeven)

Saturday 20 June - Mainstage 1 - 14:55 to 15:40

Chelsea Grin

Salt Lake City, Utah, is the Mormon capital of the world so we can only imagine how tough it must have been for the young guns in Chelsea Grin to get a deathcore band off the ground in one of the most religious cities known to man. Still, they managed to break out of that holy shell to concentrate on their career in earnest. In 2013 they played a much anticipated set at Groezrock and they certainly didn’t disappoint. Their new album ‘Ashes to Ashes’ (2014) was well received stateside so get ready to be blown away this summer by this new American deathcore sensation! (Text: Nick Tronckoe)

Saturday 20 June - Jupiler Stage - 14:55 to 15:35

 

The Ocean

On their Facebook page the guys from The Ocean describe their work as ‘music with guitars in it’. Based in Berlin, The Ocean churns out post-hardcore and atmospheric sludge and, true enough, they create a wall of guitar sound. The band is also known as The Ocean Collective since the band is complemented with additional musicians whenever necessary. For instance, ‘Collective Oblivion’, the DVD box that documents their ‘Pelagial’ tour, contains footage of the band performing the ‘Heliocentric’ album with an 11-man line-up. Regardless of how many bodies are on stage, The Ocean steamrolls the audience from start to finish! (Text: Steven Verhoeven / Translation: Nick Devos)

Saturday 20 June - Metal Dome - 15:45 to 16:30

 

Exodus

Exodus is viewed as one of the pioneering bands of the Bay Area thrash scene. Formed in 1980, the band not only boasts an impressive thrash catalogue; Gary Holt (Exodus/Slayer) and Kirk Hammett (Metallica) also learned their chops in the band. Throughout Exodus’ 35-year history there have been many lineup changes, the latest one in June 2014 when singer Rob Dukes left after nine years to be replaced with former vocalist Steve Souza. Shortly thereafter, they started work on the ‘Blood in, Blood out’ album that was released in October of 2014 to mostly positive reviews. The return of Steve Souza, who last appeared on 2004’s ‘Tempo of the Damned’, has brought out a sense of nostalgia and vibrancy on the new CD that will appeal to pre-Dukes fans in particular. (Text: Niels Desmedt)

Saturday 20 June - Mainstage 2 - 15:50 to 16:35