Fleddy Melcully opened this day. This band always brings their humor and fun songs sung in Flemish. Lead singer Jeroen Camerlynck stated that they moved to a different stage every edition they’ve played, and this year was the first year that they could open this festival day on the main stage. The band thanked the organization and jokingly said that they hoped they wouldn’t be moved to the parking lot next year. We heard some hits like Apu van de Nightshop and T-shirt van Metallica.

I have to be honest; Steel Panther started to bore me after I’ve seen them a couple of times. They are always very sexual, which can be fun, but it is dreading after a while. Girls show their boobs in the crowd, they get invited on the stage. If you’re skinny everybody screams, if you’re not so skinny people start booing. It’s just not funny anymore after a while. They are still great musicians, but I rather listen to it when I don’t have to watch it.

While She Sleeps has a high spot in my list of bands I love to listen to. Their melodic metalcore is very emotional, very real. They get their sound perfect on stage. I would say it sounds even better than on CD. Lead singer Lawrence Taylor has great energy and takes you with him into the show. We heard some new songs from the new album Self Hell like the title track Self Hell and Rainbows. I loved it when they played Silence Speaks, where there is a part that Oli Sykes from Bring Me the Horizon sings, and Oli actually came on stage to sing it with them. Later that night Bring Me the Horizon would close the day. I missed the performance from up close, but heard it in the back and even then, it sounded like an absolute blast.

Blind Guardian always has lovely shows. I’ve seen them at Wacken, the biggest metal festival in Germany, where this band headlines in front of about 80.000 people. This time, they were on the Jupiler stage which was filled, but was not 80.000 people. A bit weird to see them on such a small stage. But they made it work. Blind Guardian only had time for 8 songs. Of course The Bard’s Song and Valhalla, two of their most famous songs, have to be part of that. You hear it every time you see the band, and every time they create memories with you. Once again an amazing show.

There was some doubt with me if I would watch Avenged Sevenfold play on the main stage, or watch Kamelot on the Jupiler stage. I got convinced to watch Kamelot, and I wasn’t disappointed. Of course, I can’t compare the shows since I’ve only seen one of the two, but damn, lead singer Tommy Karevik of Kamelot can sing. He hits every note just right and it sounds amazing. Together, the whole band creates this dreamy vibe while watching them. When I saw Avenged Sevenfold in 2022 when they played Graspop, I was a bit disappointed by their live sound. Could be just a one time thing, of course. I would love to hear how their show was. Let me know!