Author: Rok Klemše
Location: Športna dvorana, Postojna
Concert date: 06.03.2009
Attendance: 0
Ticket price: 12€/15€
We waited a long time for the new Heavy Metal Night. The last one went down on July 16, 2007, in Veliko Ubeljsko near Postojna, and even back then the next one was announced for around the same time the following year. So when September of last year rolled around and still no HMN, our ears were starving for a Slovenian day of heavy metal, our throats were bone dry, and we were dreaming of the excellent traditional free bambus. Then at the end of January the organizers finally cheered us up. Heavy Metal Night was happening, a little late but happening! And on March 7 at the sports hall in Postojna, with some big headliners to boot. The cult Slovenian heavy metal/hard rock band Requiem were the first evening’s main draw, celebrating their 15th anniversary, with Dawn Patrol helping out, and for dessert the fathers of Slovenian heavy metal, Pomaranča, plus an AC/DC tribute band.
The Postojna sports hall, which also hosts the annual Božični rock koncert, was already filling up nicely around eight in the evening, and you could feel in the air that Heavy Metal Night was something Slovenian metalheads had really been waiting for. At nine, the great hopes of Slovenian heavy metal, Dawn Patrol, took the stage, despite some unpleasant complications not long ago. You couldn’t tell at all, though, as the guys and the girl strode in energetic and confident for their three-quarters of an hour. Heavy metal crushers like Control, Dark Side of Society, Ametist and the new Alcoholic sound fantastic on a big stage too, even with the somewhat poorer sound. Izi’s guitar was unfortunately a bit hard to hear this time, but that didn’t change the fact that Dawn Patrol are simply born for stages this big. Aleš not only has probably the best voice in the country, he’s also a born frontman, and you’ll be hard pressed to find better stage presence. The biggest praise, though, goes to the drummer who sat behind the kit for Dawn Patrol at HMN, Borut Rampih (Eruption). Borut learned all the Dawn Patrol songs in just three rehearsals, and on top of that he pounded the skins mercilessly and with incredible feel. Hats off! The fired-up crowd got even hotter thanks to two original masterpieces, Fortress and the anthem Rockstar Ate My Hamster, and the set was nicely rounded out by an excellently played Iron Maiden cover, The Wicker Man, and a slightly weaker Megadeth cover, Symphony of Destruction. Dawn Patrol are well on their way to ruling stages like this as headliners themselves before long. Let’s hope abroad too!
After a short changeover, the big comeback kings of the Slovenian heavy metal scene, Requiem, took over the stage. Requiem is a name that will always be written into the history of heavy metal/hard rock in this country. Who doesn’t remember cult classics like Amsterdam, Mr. Twister and especially the anthem of homegrown heavy metal, Stare device? The 15th-anniversary return was planned on a seriously grand scale: an excellent setlist, special surprises and guest appearances by members from every era of Requiem were all promised. Big announcements like that usually raise a doubt or two, but Requiem wiped them all away in the very first moments. Requiem are refreshed and rejuvenated, and they sound better than they ever have. The lineup is fantastically tight and in sync, they’re virtuosos instrumentally, new member Miha Nedoh on drums fit into the band perfectly, turned in a truly excellent drumming performance and beat the snare to within an inch of its life. The guitar duo of Marko Slokar and Marc Kavaš served up a varied selection of confidently and cleanly played riffs inspired by giants like Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and the like. The cherry on top was the band’s first vocalist, Primož Romšak, who took our breath away and took us through the first three albums, MCMXCV,X, Ogenj and III. Not only was the band perfectly tight and in sync, the energy practically erupted off the stage into the crowd, mostly thanks to the wild, confident and lively Primož, who belted out classics like Amsterdam, Čarovnice, the gorgeous ballad Kaja, Heroji, the killer Zvezdnato nebo, Pekel in raj, Rock ‘n Roll naj živi and the eternal classic Stare device. The repertoire was honestly finger-lickin’ good, all twenty fingers’ worth (oh yeah, foot fetish, hehe). The most beautiful moment of the concert was surely the lovely dedication of Ker te ni žal to the prematurely departed drummer Damijan Brezovec, and the unforgettable atmosphere came from the superb stage lighting, which conjured up a dreamy, fairytale glow. Once the first three records were done, it was time for Sergej Škofljanec to step out from behind the bass and move to vocals, since next up was the band’s last record, Zadnja molitev, where Sergej handled the vocals (and then some). After the intro Lacrimosa, Requiem set the place on fire with probably the best heavy metal song in the country, the crushing, apocalyptic Križarji. Sergej floored us right away with a voice that’s hard to describe in words, and a priest, acted out for the occasion, added just the right note with his central address. The epic 12 let sounded every bit as good, and during Mr. Twister that same gentleman climbed up on stage as well. Too bad we didn’t hear a few more songs from Zadnja molitev, but Requiem gave us two hours of first-class heavy metal. And after Stare device with Primož and Sergej, what more could anyone possibly want!? Requiem also recorded the show for an upcoming DVD, which will include a bonus: the first record, which sold out long ago!
After Requiem’s phenomenal performance, which will probably be impossible to repeat (I actually hope I’m wrong), the long wait came to an end for the elders and pioneers of the Slovenian heavy metal movement, the legendary Pomaranča. A lot was expected of them, but sadly they were a complete letdown. They sounded totally out of tune, and the worst of the lot was vocalist Boris Krmac, who hid his withered voice behind a mountain of effects. The band came across as completely static, bored and aged on stage. Despite a medley of classics with an excellent Soldat and its timeless, profound message, Pomaranča left a thoroughly bitter taste this time. I really hope they sweeten it in the near future, as the name and reputation of Pomaranča undoubtedly deserve. If not, sadly all that will be left is listening on records and CDs.
Heavy Metal Night 2009 was a success in every way. Hats off to the organizers for the excellent organization (school requirements did bring a few hiccups, but that shouldn’t count against the overall organization) and for the dedication it took to put together such a big event. And we can happily start waiting for the next Heavy Metal Night, which is coming as early as this summer. Anyway, it doesn’t matter when it happens. Heavy Metal Night is the Slovenian holiday of heavy metal!
Photos: Mojca Perdih
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