The final countdown to GMM2014: part 7

It is getting closer and closer. In five days we are officialy opening the doors of Graspop Metal Meeting 2014. Time to take a closer look at the bands performing at the festival!

Dark Tranquillity

The name of their city or origin alone sounds extremely heavy metal. The Swedish city of Gothenburg has always been a hotbed for heavy music and even spawned its own metal subgenre. Over the years, the Gothenburg scene has produced countless bands, many of whom are still influential today. One of those bands is Dark Tranquillity. Since 1989 they’ve been putting out album after album of top-notch melodious death metal in a virtually unchanged line-up. Last year’s ‘Construct’ was their tenth full-length studio album and the subsequent club tour all but sold out. Dark Tranquillity were responsible for a memorable set in the Marquee back in 2005 so it's high time to renew the acquaintance. (Text: Stef Maes)

Saturday June 28 - Metal Dome - 22:10 to 23:10

Carcass

In the late eighties, Carcass emerged as the pioneers of the grindcore scene. The ensuing feast of blood, guts and gore was backed by intelligent lyrics that seemed to come straight out of a medical handbook. Interestingly enough, all the members were vegetarians... On subsequent albums, the integration of more melodic elements was considered a departure from their previous releases. This is especially true of 1993’s ‘Heartwork’, an album credited with carrying the seed for what would later become known as melodic death metal. Personnel issues and a changing music industry heralded the demise of the band in 1995. Reforming in 2007 to play a number of festival shows, they continued to play live until finally recording the acclaimed ‘Surgical Steel’ album in September 2013. GMM addicts will certainly remember the band’s previous appearance in Dessel in 2010 when they filled in for Mastodon. A must-see if ever there was one! (Text: Geert Struyven)

Saturday June 28 – Marquee - 23:00 to 00:00

Volbeat

Five years ago VOLBEAT played in the Marquee, two years later they rocked the main stage and this year they’re coming back as (one of) the biggest European heavy metal band(s) as one of the headliners of our 19th edition. Their Johnny Cash-inspired music has brought them to the world’s biggest stages and their music even appeals to a mainstream audience. Just five albums into their stellar career Volbeat are on top of the world. Perhaps things are going a bit too fast? Well, hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide can tell you the answer to that one. So roll up your sleeves and warm up those vocal chords because the guitar gangsters are coming home to Graspop Metal Meeting! (Text: Nick Tronckoe)

Saturday June 28 - Mainstage 1 - 23:50 to 01:20

Stahlzeit

Life’s not easy for a tribute band in this age of larger-than-life shows full of special effects. If they want to do a believable job they have to go all-out, especially if you’re in a Rammstein tribute band. Stahlzeit picked up the gauntlet and they do a bang-up job. This German combo puts up the biggest Rammstein tribute show in Europe and their reputation is well-earned. The set list is a great mix of classic Rammstein tunes and more recent tracks. Add in the exhilarating fireworks and you just know that Stahlzeit that will set the GMM arena ablaze. (Text: Niels Desmedt)

Saturday June 28 - Metal Dome - 01:30 to 02:45

Collibus

Prog-metallers Collibus are a product of the Manchester underground scene whose debut ‘The False Awakening’ caused quite a splash across the Channel. The album is more than just a mix of the usual prog metal ingredients. The symphonic string arrangements blend perfectly with singer Gemma Fox’s powerful vocals. Collibus is synonymous with raging riffs, masterful playing and sections that are both challenging and melodious. Queen’s Brian May calls Collibus a phenomenon whose scary musicianship is situated at the most furious end of the metal spectrum. Who are we to contradict the man? Having won the 2013 Rock the House award, Collibus became the first metal band in history to play the House of Commons! (Text: Steven Verhoeven)

Sunday June 29 - Metal Dome - 11:30 to 12:10

Powerman 5000

Rob Zombie is a household name in metal but he’s not the only musician in the family. His brother David Cummings, aka Spider One, is the frontman, lead singer and only consistent member of his own band Powerman 5000, often abbreviated to PM5K. PM5K first came to the fore in the late nineties with the release of their second album ‘Tonight the Stars Revolt!’. Throughout the new millennium, PM5K has continued to put out new material and work on the follow-up to 2011’s ‘Copies, Clones & Replicants’ has recently been completed. The new disc is set to be released later this year so check them out this summer for an exclusive preview. (Text: Wim Vander Haegen)

Sunday June 29 - Mainstage 2 - 11:35 to 12:15

Glorior Belli

Those who claim that creating an original sound is next to impossible nowadays have clearly never heard of Glorior Belli. This French outfit around Billy Bayou is responsible for an outrageous combination of black metal and blues. The result is strangely catchy while still sounding as dirty and depressed as black metal is supposed to. Add the wonderfully ironic lyrics and an unstoppable live drive to the mix and you just know you’ve got a winning combination on your hands. (Text: Geert Struyven)

Sunday June 29 – Marquee - 12:00 to 12:40

The Black Dahlia Murder

This band is only fit for well-trained neck muscles. Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, The Black Dahlia Murder favours aggressive blast beats and high-speed riffing with a melodic edge. They are known for their extremely energetic live shows and cite the likes of Carcass, At the Gates, Morbid Angel, and Megadeth among their influences. Their looks have led some to categorise them as metalcore; a misnomer since their brilliant new CD ‘Everblack’ and its high shrieks, low snarls, obliterating riffs and tempo changes can only belong to one of the most memorable melodic death metal bands in the scene today. You can take our word for it or check them out yourselves – or both! (Text: Niels Desmedt)

Sunday June 29 - Mainstage 1 - 12:25 to 13:05

Scorpion Child

Texas is definitely one of the hardest rocking states in the old US of A. Founded in 2006 in the state capital of Austin, Scorpion Child had been struggling to outgrow their status of local heroes until last year when they signed an international record deal with Nuclear Blast, a label that’s been specifically targeting retro rock bands for a few years now. Their single ‘Polygon Eyes’ went viral in no time, fuelling the band’s popularity. Meanwhile Scorpion Child has toured the old continent twice and their two Belgian shows in the Ancienne Belgique and Biebob certainly convinced the doubters. Playing bigger stages is the logical next step in their career and Graspop Metal Meeting is one of the biggest of them all. (Text: Stef Maes)

Sunday June 29 - Metal Dome - 12:35 to 13:15

Comeback Kid

What could be more beautiful than making music with your best friends? Nothing, as the members of Canadian hardcore band Comeback Kid will undoubtedly tell you. Their GMM set will centre around the tenth anniversary of their rookie full-length release ‘Turn It Around‘ but they also have a wonderful surprise for our GMM fans: Comeback Kid have enlisted the help of original singer Scott Wade for this tour. As one of the founding members of this melodious hardcore band, his added vocals make the songs even more powerful. Comeback Kid is a must-see for any hardcore fan and there’s no excuse for standing on the sidelines so jump into the fray! By the way, work on their next album started last September… (Text: Robby Embrechts)

Sunday June 29 - Mainstage 2 - 13:15 to 13:55

Cynic

No one will deny that the Americans from Cynic are experimental innovators. Their progressive rock is generously sprinkled with experimental and alternative metal and even incorporates jazzy elements. Their 1993 debut leaves no doubt they are rooted in the extreme metal scene. Cynic disbanded the following year and when they resurfaced in 2006, it was immediately obvious that the extremely technical and progressive influences had won out. In the meantime, Cynic has blossomed into a band that serves the perfect cocktail of the musical aggression of metal and the razor-sharp precision of jazz and with the inclusion of rock and pop ingredients. Just listen to this year’s ‘Kindly Bent to Free Us’ and you’ll see what we mean. (Text: Steven Verhoeven)

Sunday June 29 – Marquee - 13:20 to 14:05

Crossfaith

Crossfaith hails from Osaka, Japan. Founded in 2006, Crossfaith recently made their European debut. Few bands have the courage to combine brutal metalcore with electronica but Crossfaith have been doing it for three albums. Last year’s ‘Apocalyze’ opened new doors for the electronicore quintet. The electronica influence is still very much present but is expertly interwoven with ultrabrutal breakdowns, blast beats and expert solos. (Text: Robby Embrechts)

Sunday June 29 - Jupiler Stage - 13:20 to 14:00