By Santiago Rivas' team @rivas_santiago Photo by Oscar Perfer @perferoscar
Metal Day is getting more and more interesting. I might spend my time like a grandpa asking if this is grind, or is thrash, or whatever, But beyond the genres, the lineup has greatly enriched Saturdays, which used to be a real drag. This year, the four international acts on the first day more than lived up to my expectations, but the contrast with most of the local bands is still significant. Not because of a lack of quality or virtuosity, but because of the way they approach their sound. We still have a long way to go to have a metal scene as interesting and sonically rich as the ones this festival is bringing. And yet here we go.
Heaven Shall Burn has a loud and sharp sound, as a band should be extreme metal (I know my little secrets too, don't think otherwise), But they incorporate certain hardcore elements, which are very much in line with their character. You can't understand them, of course, but if you look at their lyrics you'll realize how committed they are to their fight against racism and injustice. Being vegan and straightedge seems like an exaggeration to me (four of its members are), but to each their own. The truth is, they're a very interesting band for a metal scene that wants to address political issues. They can be a very positive influence in a country that desperately needs the voices of young people plagued by inequality to gain visibility.
The big hit of the day, in my opinion, was Nervosa, from Brazil. I'm not just talking about the infatuation that the vast majority of the male audience experienced, thanks to the presence of their vocalist Fernanda Lira, which was already a lot. Let's pause on that for a moment, to defuse it: never before on a metal day at Rock al Parque, Very beautiful women had stood on the platform, I had heard so many declarations of love. Of course, I also hadn't seen so many intimidated men in the park, to paraphrase a wise observation by Alfonso Espriella. The end. Now, the music.
Nervosa is a Brazilian band of rigorous thrash metal, designed to be a power trio of women. They're a band brimming with power, and the crowd showed their appreciation after every song. I know I'm repeating myself, but the real magic lies in how they conceive their songs. It's not enough to have power, a skilled drummer, or a good bass line. They compose to demand the same from the audience that they demand of themselves. The song doesn't stop, until suddenly Fernanda's final scream is heard and everything goes silent; the crowd takes a deep breath, shouts with joy, and we start all over again. riffs Prika Amaral's guitar playing is impeccable. Simple in their conception, without combining complex chords, but achieving a great sonic richness, Which I suppose comes from the combination of about three pedals. I don't know what else to say. Honestly, the best presentation of the first day.
After a lunch break, we had the opportunity to see Darkness' farewell performance., who set an example of civility, giving a final presentation in which they emphasized that, despite the differences, one can always rise to the occasion and do what one knows. I was never a fan of Darkness, but I fully understand what it means to many Colombian metalheads. We need more examples like theirs, bands that take risks to create something meaningful, to become an influence on other bands, instead of simply being a compilation of all their influences. Darkness is what it is because it has its own sound and a lot of character. You may like it or not, but it's clear from the beginning (I first heard them many years ago) that they compose each song to be an anthem. So, thank you very much to Darkness, and may that legacy grow for many years to come.
There were two national bands that partly portray what I said at the beginning of this article. There is still a great distance between the sounds of contemporary metal and what is happening in our national scene. Vein and Heresy are two powerful bands, because they are groups of virtuoso people, masters of the traditional metal sound (which in Colombia is the combination of Death, he Thrash and something of Speed o Black, (according to the band), perfectly capable of handling a stage like the one at Rock al Parque. But many of his compositions sound like more of the same. I don't mean this in a bad way, quite the opposite. It's worthwhile to take a creative look at yourself, to see how much of what you compose is just habit, and how much is a statement. The concerts were good, but it's really important that the sound of Colombian metal continues to evolve, because so much is happening and it's better not to get left behind, longing for the only thing we've known for years. The best way to protect domestic products is by enriching them.
Death Angel is a great band. Period. I was confused by the very melodic voice of its vocalist, and I thought it was some kind of Heavy metal on steroids, but very kindly Eugenio Chahín showed me that it's about thrash Purest metal, and that was great news. Let me explain: Even though I'm not a metalhead, I truly appreciate the opportunity to discover new sounds., and to recognize the nuances between genres, or within them. In this case, having the good fortune to hear two bands like Nervosa and Death Angel, who supposedly play the same thing, but who together sound so different, both so good and so relevant, is refreshing. If it is for me, it should be for those who truly enjoy metal. Death Angel gave a great performance and played everything. From their origins and their classics (the crowd went wild for “Kill As One”) up to the material from his later years. Excellent closure for the Bio platform.
Finally, Lamb of God. This is a band that is very popular with the people of Bogotá., She is very grateful to those who visit her multiple times and is happy to give another great concert. After two previous occasions, Lamb of God faced the largest crowd they have ever played for. It's a very interesting choice to close the first day of Rock al Parque, because of the sound they represent. Randy Blythe, their vocalist, was visibly happy. Lamb of God's sound has a special, warmer cadence. None of this diminishes their power; quite the opposite. It simply shows us that we don't have to take refuge in the same old formulas. Hopefully there will be more Rock al Parque Saturdays like this one.
One single negative note Who the hell thought of making a castle into the design of the main stage screens? It doesn't just look bad, it looks shoddy. Maybe people haven't noticed, but it's truly an incredibly ugly and baroque screen design, when the video alone would suffice. Perhaps it's just another misunderstood project and I'm being unfair, so you'd better see it for yourselves. See you in the park.
[metaslider id=813]