Given the festival location camping is included in the general admission ticket, the biggest area is called the Animal Park and usually lives up to its name. The sustainability work done in recent years paid off and it all looked a lot cleaner than it did ten years ago. The discount supermarket Lidl sponsored a huge temporary supermarket placed between the camping and stage area making it possible for campers to get affordable produce without having to bring it with them and leaving leftovers behind. A carnival-style fair was set up at the front offering rides for those who did not find the music exciting enough. The food selections felt pretty diverse with quite a few vegan/vegetarian options and local vendors comparatively priced.

The first band of the weekend, Against the Current, greeted a huge crowd early in the day. The band’s frontwoman Chrissy was the first woman at the festival to be followed by two others which felt like a direct response to the criticism for having too few female acts in the past years.

The Interrupters followed, Utopia, and The Last Internationale (TLI) had the honour to open the second stage. If this Portuguese quartet hasn‘t been on your radar before they definitely should. TLI play catchy indie rock with a lot of energy and expertly work the crowd.

If you didn‘t know that one of Hollywood’s most famous actors Keanu Reeves has a band, you do now – Reeves is the bassist of Dogstar. Sadly, the celebrity bassist seemed to be the most interesting thing they had to offer, both performance and sounds were rather disappointing. The bass was way louder than the rest of the instruments, no one was moving in the crowd and every song sounded pretty much like the one before.

The complete opposite happened in the arena, Pinkshift was a big surprise with a strong stage presence and a very unique sound somewhere between punk and rock with Indian-influenced metal elements. The Norwegian metal band Kvelertak followed right after and the crowd was very excited. Different than most other Scandinavian bands that tend to be more in the death or black metal realm, Kvelertak mixes classic metal with punk and rock elements, making their music much more accessible to the masses.

Up next was Pendulum, one of the most iconic electronic acts of our time. After some technical difficulties, they took off and did not disappoint. The band would have performed better with an evening slot though, their music doesn’t hit the same during daylight. More punk on the Orbit Stage with LS Dunes, the singer went into the crowd during the second song and just stayed there for a large portion of the show. The fans loved it, and for one of the faster songs, there was a circle around him. During the slower tracks, the circle just got bigger and everybody watched him in what felt like a very intimate setting.

Later that day, metalcore giants Underoath went all in with a very energetic show and a playlist that covered their whole discography. To end the day, Green Day played the main stage with a 3-hour set. It felt like your favourite dish, it’s always great and you know you’re gonna leave happy, but it’s also always the same and their show hasn’t changed much in the past 10 years.

The second day was packed with acts for metalcore lovers, and it started with one of the founders of the genre, Atreyu. They made full use of the pier built overnight to make the stage bigger for tonight’s headliner, every member came to the front and woke up even the ones still tired from day one.  Of Mice & Men topped up this opening vibe with an insane setlist. Sadly, however, most people were not able to see the band due to the elevation and the band members staying static at the back.

Female-fronted bands once again dominated the Orbit stage, starting off heavy with Heriot which seemed to gain a lot of new fans with their performance which was full of deep guitar riffs and screams. For all the babymetal fans, Hanabie was the choice for today and it was the first band that forced the organizers to limit access to the arena. It was full to the brim and the Japanese metal ensemble impressed all with a perfect balance between quirky J-Pop and full-on metal, all while dressed up very Kawaii and jumping around much more than their bigger counterpart.

For all the guitar nerds or the anime-loving TikTok girlies that had Tim Henson on their FYP recently, Polyphia was definitely a very unique act. Instrumental guitar riffs and a presentation of the musician’s skills which looked like every technical guitarist’s dream were a welcome change. Most who didn’t know the band seemed rather confused by the lack of vocals, but sometimes that’s not even necessary.

The metalcore inferno continued back in the arena with Counterparts, another band that never disappoints with their mix of screamo and hardcore metal. Two of the biggest names in the scene followed with While She Sleeps, maybe one of the best performances of the day as they played all of their well-known songs plus some of the recently released tracks from Self Hell. They seemed to enjoy the festival themselves, as they were spotted walking around during the day.

French super starters Landmvrks followed up with high energy, even years after their debut album release they still thrive off it but the second one is coming later this year. Rap mixed with fast hardcore elements, heavy breakdowns, and technical riffs gives them their very unique style that forces fans to run from one stage to the other mid-set to see Machine Head. The band played a solid show with a lot of pyro, nothing new, nothing out of the ordinary but also nothing to criticize.

Italian ESC winners Måneskin came back after a two-year break, and this time filled the main stage. Despite rumors of a possible breakup, there was no sign of it during their show. The fans went crazy worshipping the band and some got invited on stage, bowing down on their knees which seemed like a rather grotesque move. More people than expected ended up going to Hatebreed back in the arena again, who surprised with an energy-loaded and co2-infused mix between hardcore punk and metal. The highlight of the day though was as expected, Parkway Drive. Unfairly placed on the smaller of the two main stages, access had to be restricted once again. A lot of pyro and crowd interaction reminded us why they deserve their status as one of the biggest modern metal bands of our time.

The last day was a little bit cooler, which ended up being just the perfect temperature. The first concert of the day was Fit for a King from Texas, their slot was a little bit ungrateful, but soundwise it was flawless. Their bassist showed off his spinning skills which last year brought him some fame on social media after a video of the band’s show at Download went viral showing him throwing his bass around in multiple perfect spins.

A positive surprise was indie rock band James and the Cold Gun, every part of their performance, music, and style reminded you of the 1970s and 1990s. Transcore icons Enter Shikari, one of the best live bands you can currently see, started their set with the album opener “System/Meltdown” off their 2012 album A Flash Flood of Colour which they haven’t played live in years. Political, provocative, and genre-breaking this band is as important as ever.

Wargasm continued the electronic punk spell with their super energetic show around front woman Milky Way, a highlight for everyone who wanted to dance and celebrate the last few hours of Rock im Park. But the best performance of the festival was yet to come, and it was no one other than Scene Queen who invented her own genre she named ‘Bimbocore’. A feminist and a queer with a heavy metal breakdown sound she screamed “fuck the patriarchy” reaffirming her stance on the matter. Everything was pink, and when groups of men started to leave it was clear she reached her goal of sorting out her audience.

Alternative rock legends Queens of the Stone Age played the mainstage at sunset and not one person stood still for this set. Elsewhere in the park Welsh pop punk revivers Neck Deep one last time made everyone go crazy in the arena before Beartooth ended the day with a confetti rain and a colourful set that showed their transformation from depressed emo metalcore to a lyrically much lighter pop rock album based on frontman Caleb Shomos’ personal mental health journey.

This may have been one of the best editions of Rock im Park in recent years, and next year is already promised to raise the bar with 4 stages and headliner Slipknot already announced. The first price level is already sold out, so it’s a good idea to be fast!

The post Recap of one of the best editions of Rock im Park appeared first on Quip Magazine.

The grounds, first of all, are huge and countless stages with an enormous capacity, all inside tents, offer music of every genre imaginable. Castello and Broiler Room mainly hosted DJs and electronic music, Marquee all the calm pop acts, the Club stage was home for many indie and punk artists while the Backyard stage had some of rock and metal’s finest acts on a relatively small space.

All the big action, however, happened on the main stage, which was never too crowded to get to. Everything is sparkling clean at all times, the payment system is organized with coupons you have to buy at designated stalls which basically only has one purpose – to make people forget how much money they actually spent. A cute beer shack, record store, multiple cafes, secret venues, a stage where you can play with your own band, a carnival area, and a place in the forest that acts as a calm oasis if everything is a bit too loud (perfect for all the neurodivergent folks!) all add up to a festival experience that couldn’t be further away from other messy European events we have seen this year.

As with most festivals, a big sustainability campaign was set in place, and like most, it didn’t hold up its promises at the very basics here either. Drinks are still served in single-use cups and the reward system is so complicated it resulted in people walking around with a tower of cups for half of the day. The food offerings were repeated in every area, except the pretty cool hidden lounge between the Castello and Marquee tents that hosted multiple independent food trucks. The vegan options were pretty sparse once again, no surprise here.

The music lineup was absolutely packed with gems and offered a lot of something for everyone! 

On Friday, Belgium metalcore newcomers Moments opened the Backyard stage with a bang. Moshpits, circle pits, wall of death – you name it and the crowd was still full of energy going absolutely crazy. Due to several lineup changes, they got announced rather last minute but delivered a solid set that definitely gave them a few new fans.

The complete opposite was happening on the Club stage right after with the Australian Indie Surf giants Hollow Coves playing their biggest hits alongside new singles, creating a beautiful vibe that invited everyone to close their eyes and just enjoy.

It didn’t stay calm for long though, as one of the biggest sensations of this year, UK’s Wargasm, took over the Backyard stage. Regardless of if their music fits someone’s personal taste, they are an absolute must-see with an energy that is unmatched by any other rising talent. The duo played their latest EP release alongside the songs that made the popular to begin with, creating a perfect environment for the singer Milkie Way to crowd surf as one of the many interactive ways the band engaged with their audience.

Nothing but Thieves, who played the main stage, didn’t quite get the audience they deserved, which seemed to be a phenomenon on the main stage during day concerts all weekend. Nonetheless, they were absolutely worth popping by and seeing many fans sing along.

Carolesdaughter was one of a few fast risen social media musicians this weekend, sadly her very short songs all of which were broken up by a minute break created a patchy interrupted set. Carolesdaughter seemed shocked and excited to be on this stage, commenting how she couldn’t believe she was famous enough to be there. 

The Backyard stage continued to be strong, with metalcore giants While She Sleeps burning it all down within seconds. A perfect timed slot, the tent was packed to the brim and due to its unique set up it felt more like an intimate concert than one of many festival gigs, something not many festivals are able to achieve.

Before the legends, Slipknot got the people out of the tents with their killer show after a short but strong rain shower, Ghostemane benefited from the rain with everyone running into the tent in time for the set. A continuous strobe light sadly was a bit distracting and exhausting, but it was a great performance nonetheless.

The weather was a bit cloudy on Saturday, but because all stages except the main one were placed in tents that didn’t bother anyone. Belgium DJ SEA started the day with her set in the Boiler Room which filled up very fast and in the end even left some people waiting outside. 

Irish punk band The Murder Capital, set up in the Club, performed another one of their great shows. The band offered a lot of audience interaction and theatrical improvisations like smoking a cigarette on stage or sitting down for several minutes just watching the crowd which certainly made the performance more entertaining.

Norwegians superstar Aurora is always guaranteed to touch everyone who joins one of her shows, and this was no exception. Her unique persona, powerful voice, and songs that combine politics, connection, and emotions are just a few of the ingredients that make her one of the most fascinating young artists of this generation.

Palaye Royale, Clutch, and Frank Carter all played the Backyard stage on Saturday, a row of nonstop moshpits and dancing ended with Frank setting an example of what it means to create a safe environment for the crowd – he made sure that every single female crowd surfer arrived safely and even called for a women-only moshpit!

Tame Impala‘s show was sadly a bit underwhelming, especially with the heated-up energy, the crowd seemed to need a bit more than slow stoner rock and their psychedelic stage show didn’t work here as well as it did in other venues.

The sun came out a little more on the last day, but shoe gaze hero’s Slow Crush brought the crowd straight back into a dark comfy night with their magical performance that was dominated by beautiful light combinations.

Girli, performing in the Backyard, surprised everyone by performing without a band or any live musicians, just her and her background singer. Nevertheless, she was able to get the crowd going fast and this unconventional setup was forgotten fast.

On the main stage, British pop rock band Sea Girls probably would have been better placed on a smaller stage, they barely filled up and seemed a bit lost in the space they had. But this four-piece band still offered a nice performance despite having minimal hits, definitely a band to watch.

Nova Twins once again brought girl power back and one last time heated up the backyard to its full potential. Strong messages, detailed outfits, and guitar riffs that impress every hardcore metal head are just a few reasons why they are promising on every level.

YouTube star Chloe Moriondo came up right after, if the show can be described in any one word then it would be ‘adorable’. Fun, light-hearted songs, and her excitement were infectious, even though her lacking stage experience showed at times through long distracting breaks.

Many were waiting for one of the two last bands, one of which was Bring me the Horizon. The crowd was still pretty sparse and except for the first few rows, many only seemed to know the newer songs. This lack of energy made me feel as if the lead singer Oli Sykes didn’t really want to be there and was exhausted after a long summer tour. While the show itself was great as usual, it felt scripted and absent of any of his usual expressive outfits, replaced by a black hoodie.

After a long break, the Arctic Monkeys closed out Pukkelpop. Learning from their past mistakes and mostly playing their old hits that defined the youth of a whole generation. A solid show, with no surprises but a nice way to end a well-organized festival.

The post Rewind on Pukkelpop Belgium, where mosh pits rule and rain does not appeared first on Quip Magazine.