Photo Reports

On September 3, 2024, the Liederhalle in Stuttgart transformed into a mystical place as the Danish-Norwegian-German band HEILUNG continued their current tour. The band, known for their unique blend of archaic sounds and modern elements, captivated the audience and delivered a performance that will be remembered for sure.

An Evening Full of Magic and Mysticism.

There was a special atmosphere within the venue and the audience that was already palpable before the show started. The stage was bathed in soft light, perfectly showcasing the elaborate costumes and props of the band members. HEILUNG knows how to take their listeners on a journey to times long past. The show starts with a first ritual, beginning with a kind of blessing of the stage before all members come out and complete the ritual in a big circle. With drums, bone flutes, and throat singing, they created a soundscape reminiscent of ancient rituals and ceremonies.

The band was supported by the Swiss metal band Zeal & Ardor, who opened the evening and set the right mood for the audience.

HEILUNG is known for not only captivating musically but also visually. The elaborate costumes, reminiscent of historical warriors and shamans, and the carefully choreographed movements of the band members contributed to the magical atmosphere. The audience, consisting of all age groups and styles, there were a lot of Vikings present, was visibly fascinated and willingly immersed themselves in the show.

At the end, the whole ensemble closes the show with another ritual before leaving the stage.

The concert was an impressive experience that blurred the lines between past and present. The band once again proved that they are capable of creating a unique connection with their audience through their music and performance. An evening that will surely resonate in the minds and hearts of the spectators for a long time.

No Name Collective set up a banger of a show, an exclusive fly-in Belgian premier show of Together to the stars. After the setbacks of the pandemic, they were live on stage abroad for the first time! Soul Dissolution was booked as support.

Belgian atmospheric black metal duo Soul Dissolution brought their emotionally charged and immersive music to life in a mesmerizing live performance that felt both intimate and expansive. Known for their ability to blend melancholic melodies with the raw energy of black metal, the band delivered a set that left the audience entranced. The layered guitar work created a soundscape that seemed to stretch beyond the confines of the room. The live sound was meticulously balanced, ensuring that the soaring melodies didn’t get lost in the harsher, more abrasive black metal sections. This gig reaffirmed Soul Dissolution’s place as a rising force in the atmospheric black metal scene. If you have the chance to catch them live, don’t miss it—they’ll take you on a journey you won’t soon forget. And the future is assured. There was a nice moment when the vocalist’s daughter played a few songs on bass guitar.

The Swedish post-black metal band Together to the Stars brought a mesmerizing and emotionally charged live performance that perfectly conveyed their unique blend of atmospheric sounds and raw intensity. The performance was a journey through melancholy and hope, with the band leaving a deep impression on the fans present. Their music, characterized by dreamy guitars, introspective melodies and harrowing vocals, came across as even more powerful live than on their studio albums. The dynamic between the subdued moments and the explosive eruptions was nothing short of breathtaking. What stood out was how Together to the Stars adds an extra layer to their music live. The emotion and energy they put into their performance make the experience intensely personal. The sound was excellently balanced, with the atmospheric elements and the more raw black metal elements being in perfect harmony. The audience was swept up in a whirlwind of feelings, from melancholy to catharsis.

Here we are again, one of Belgium’s or possibly even Europe’s best metal and rock festivals of every summer. Alcatraz festival in Kortrijk, Belgium is one of those place you want to go back to every year if you’ve gotten a taste of it once. The combination of an amazing atmosphere, solid line-up that has something for everyone who is into the heavier side of music and smooth organization has made it quickly to be the favorite destination of many. On day 1 we got a killer start on the mainstage, better known as the “Prison Stage” with hard rockers Audrey Horne, US metal institution Soil, the popular modern metallers Jinjer, another Finnish folk metal legend with Korpiklaani, a bit of hard rock jukebox with Gene Simmons Band and djent legends Architects!

Here we are again, one of Belgium’s or possibly even Europe’s best metal and rock festivals of every summer. Alcatraz festival in Kortrijk, Belgium is one of those place you want to go back to every year if you’ve gotten a taste of it once. The combination of an amazing atmosphere, solid line-up that has something for everyone who is into the heavier side of music and smooth organization has made it quickly to be the favorite destination of many. For the lover of the more extreme and dark side of metal, on day 3 we found on the “Swamp Stage” Mordkaul, Aborted, Dark Tranquillity and Opeth in front of our cameras!

Here we are again, one of Belgium’s or possibly even Europe’s best metal and rock festivals of every summer. Alcatraz festival in Kortrijk, Belgium is one of those place you want to go back to every year if you’ve gotten a taste of it once. The combination of an amazing atmosphere, solid line-up that has something for everyone who is into the heavier side of music and smooth organization has made it quickly to be the favorite destination of many. On day 3, the “Helldorado Stage” was the place to be for some proper rockin’, sludge and stoner with Eternal Champion, Green Lung, Orange Goblin, Baroness, Danko Jones and Clutch!

Here we are again, one of Belgium’s or possibly even Europe’s best metal and rock festivals of every summer. Alcatraz festival in Kortrijk, Belgium is one of those place you want to go back to every year if you’ve gotten a taste of it once. The combination of an amazing atmosphere, solid line-up that has something for everyone who is into the heavier side of music and smooth organization has made it quickly to be the favorite destination of many. For the lover of the more extreme and dark side of metal, on day 1 we found on the “Swamp Stage” Fleshgod Apocalypse, Benediction, Lord Of The Lost, and Watain in front of our cameras!

On one of the hottest days this summer in Germany, there was a truly scorching concert as part of their ‘New World Samurai Tour 2024’. Shortly before the start, a massive summer thunderstorm with a powerful storm raged outside the venue.

Both bands, CLUTCH and GREEN LUNG, carried this storm into a hall heated by the weather and the audience, transforming the venue into a kind of sauna where sweat and moisture dripped from the ceiling.

GREEN LUNG kicked off the show, presenting a musical blend of NWOBHM, classic heavy metal, and a few doom and death metal influences. They strongly evoke memories of Ozzy, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and other UK rock giants. Nevertheless, GREEN LUNG somehow maintain their uniqueness as a doom-stoner combo. Thematically rooted in paganism, the occult, and British history, they offer a wide spectrum and an intriguing stage setup. “Hail Satan!” chants lead singer Tom Templar, and the crowd responds. A successful start indeed.

Afterward, CLUTCH proves that it doesn’t need bling-bling, stage pyrotechnics, BBQ, or other gimmicks and special effects to deliver a fantastic rock concert. Amid their performances on European festival stages, they’ve incorporated a few club shows like this one, creating a summer tour. Bassist Dan Maines, drummer Jean-Paul Gaster, and guitarist Tim Sult position themselves in the back part of the stage, in front of the CLUTCH logo backdrop, leaving the stage space for singer Neil Fallon. Neil’s presence and movement fill the entire room, immediately connecting with the audience. From left to right, he maintains direct eye contact, and somehow, everyone feels like he’s looking right at them. He gives everything from the first note. Musically and vocally, it’s madness. With their blues-rock songs, almost all played at an up-tempo pace, they deliver immense energy. CLUTCH shows no weaknesses, leaving no room for criticism. The sound is fantastic. Despite the heat in the hall, there are no breaks, and the audience stays fully engaged until the end

Here we are again, one of Belgium’s or possibly even Europe’s best metal and rock festivals of every summer. Alcatraz festival in Kortrijk, Belgium is one of those place you want to go back to every year if you’ve gotten a taste of it once. The combination of an amazing atmosphere, solid line-up that has something for everyone who is into the heavier side of music and smooth organization has made it quickly to be the favorite destination of many. Besides the usual festival setup at the 3 bigger stages, Alcatraz every year also brings a bit of club show feel to the event through their 4th stage. La Morgue is a no barrier stage in what looks like a circus tent, where some of the most intense shows are to be experienced every day. Usually it’s a mix with promising local talent that gets to play a legendary set, and legendary acts that get to play a festival set to remember. And the success of this stage was proven even more this year because with almost every show the tent was packed to the brim with a high energy crowd. We still managed to quickly snap some pictures of the very first band hitting that stage, and winners of a sort of “battle of the bands” competition to win a spot on the Alcatraz line-up: X-pozed. And also one of the bands that has been much hyped this year, and plays the central role in a new digital project that was being showed off at the festival: Secondhandsaints!

Here we are again, one of Belgium’s or possibly even Europe’s best metal and rock festivals of every summer. Alcatraz festival in Kortrijk, Belgium is one of those place you want to go back to every year if you’ve gotten a taste of it once. The combination of an amazing atmosphere, solid line-up that has something for everyone who is into the heavier side of music and smooth organization has made it quickly to be the favorite destination of many. On day 1 we got a killer start on the mainstage, better known as the “Prison Stage” with Finnish folk metal legends Finntroll, modern metallers Spiritbox, a dedication to heavy metal icon Dio with Dio Disciples, a proper thrashing with Testament, Dutch symphonic metal giants Epica and hard rock mastodons Europe!

Here we are again, one of Belgium’s or possibly even Europe’s best metal and rock festivals of every summer. Alcatraz festival in Kortrijk, Belgium is one of those place you want to go back to every year if you’ve gotten a taste of it once. The combination of an amazing atmosphere, solid line-up that has something for everyone who is into the heavier side of music and smooth organization has made it quickly to be the favorite destination of many. On day 2, the “Helldorado Stage” was the place to be for modern metal with Ankor opening, the best nu metal jukebox around with Bizkit Park, some decent stoner with Red Fang, Benelux punk rock legends Heideroosjes and as cherry on top, the hardcore institution that is Hatebreed!