As many of you must already know, Day 2 kicks are asses off at the Tony Sly stage again, but with an American post-punk/art rock band from Detroit, Michigan, called Child Bite. Today’s performances are obviously a solid mixture of punk rock and metal, which includes a bunch of familiar names such as Guttermouth, Unearth, Obey the Brave, Sepultura, Anthrax, Sodom, Assorted Jelly Beans, and even a goddamn Pantera Tribute hit the stage.

Without further ado, here are our pictures from Day 2. Check ’em all out!

Day 1 kicked off at the Tony Sly stage with Ottawa’s Life on Trial setting off the mood with some good ol’ hardcore tunes. After that the event settled in with amazing performances by The Creepshow, Cannibal Corpse, Cradle of Filth, The Brains, Twisted Sister, Gore Guts, Dead Kennedy’s and so on.

There’s just too many bands to see, so we kept it tight this year and saved our gallery for the very best.

So, I’m sure you’ll enjoy browsing through this gallery. Just make sure to check back tomorrow for Amnesia Rockfest: Day 2. There’s going to be tons more photos!

Rock Hard \m/

Photo credits go to the sensational King Hazard!

But first, let’s talk about the opening acts.

The first act was a local French-Canadian band. This band ranks so low on the relevancy meter that their name was totally lost on me. Aside from the sound issues from the get-go, this band totally sucked and the chorus to their most memorable song became the running joke among the audience; at random times throughout the venue, you could hear mocking chants of “Fuck the World,” quickly followed by jeers of laughter. OK, so it’s not nice to poke fun at a band comprised of 50-somethings who are probably just having fun, but bad is just bad.

Next up was the small band from Rhode Island, Them. This band might not be well-known, and they might be doing things on a micro-budget, but they’re bringing a big idea to the stage. Them is a theatrical power metal band not unlike King Diamond, yes, even with banshee-like falsetto vocals.

If the vocals didn’t do it for you, thankfully you had some pretty good musicianship to keep your heart pumping. And if that still didn’t trip your trigger, then there was the narrative to follow. So, if you like actors, costumes, a plot of possession, and a sacrifice with your metal, then you’ll be just fine indulging in a show by Them.

Although fans had been either captivated or caught in headlights up to this point, we were all there for one reason and one reason only, and that was to see the legendary Helloween!

With 30-plus years of metal and 15 studio albums under their belt, the German godfathers of power metal absolutely killed it! And they killed it for more than two hours with a set filled with early-era classics, material from the new album, and everything in between. The metal gods above bequeathed upon us a hell of a good time, and it was to be had for sure. The fans loved it and showed their admiration with roaring applause.

Although there was nothing spectacular about the show, meaning that there were no props or fantastical light shows, frontman Andi Deris is a pro at getting the crowd engaged and excited. Not only does he deliver belting vocals (even if he claimed to have been sick), but he can tell a story and keep the audience captivated. While it was cool to listen to Andi go into details about this and that the first time, the second time during the last song of the night felt like overkill. But that’s a minor detail in an otherwise amazing set.

As well, guitarist Sascha Gerstner was quite the character. Funny faces, weird gestures, unusual antics, Sascha is a quiet leader on the stage who’s not shy to show off a little. It was rather cool to also see younger, “newish” band members with such a classic band.

It was even cool that the band gives the guitar solo to Sascha instead of having founding guitarist Michael Weikath dazzle the crowd. However, I wonder if Sascha has ever heard Eddie Van Halen’s “Eruption.”

Aside from the couple gripes I had, it was still an amazing show, and it proved to some people who had always prejudged Helloween because of their name, never giving them a chance, that this band might be one of heavy metal’s best kept secrets.

Helloween Setlist:

Intro
Eagle Fly Free
Dr. Stein
My God-Given Right
Steel Tormentor
Mr. Torture
Waiting for the Thunder
Straight Out of Hell
Heroes
Drum Solo
Where the Rain Grows
Lost in America
Power
Forever and One (Neverland)
Halloween/Sole Survivor/I Can/Are You Metal?/Keeper of the Seven Keys
Before the War
Future World (+git-intro)
I Want Out

Rock Hard \m/

Not long after our interview with Nightwish frontwoman, Floor Jansen, the venue was packed. I swear that I almost have never seen the place so full, especially before the main act took the stage.

The winter night started out with the Dutch symphonic metal band, Delain, warming up the stage first. They were good, and probably should have provided direct support to Nightwish. The surprise guest I mentioned above, well that happened during the Delain set when Arch Enemy‘s Alissa White-Gluz. It was only a brief moment, but the audience recognized who it was right away and showed their approval the only way a heavy metal crowd knows how, with load voices! So, Alissa growled for a few seconds and Delain continued for a few more minutes.

Next up was Nightwish countrymen, Sonata Arctica. I won’t say they sucked and I won’t say they were great, but the last four songs or so ended as if it were their last, as frontman Tony Kakko stood there waiting for applause, and each time they started a new song my soul died a little more.

Nightwish, however, was able to erase any memory of what came before them. With an ominous track to build suspense, the band took the stage one at a time, and with each member a roar from the crowd, and opened the show with “Shudder Before the Beautiful,” the opening track to their latest album, Endless Forms Most Beautiful.

Dressed in a glimmering silver corset affair, Jansen commands the stage, and given her roughly 6-foot stature, there’s no reason she shouldn’t dominate. It would be one thing if she sucked, but the woman is a powerhouse of vocal styles, hitting operatic notes with perfection and traditional rock tones with swagger.

Bass man Marco Hietala also had his fair share of vocals to deliver, and he’s always a nice element to the songs. In fact, dude could probably front his own band.

There were a few other songs from the new album, including the massive hit “Elan,” which also treated the audience to some traditional instrumentation from Troy Donockley.

Even with a relatively new singer on board (Floor permanently joined the band in 2013, and now has one album under her belt), the Nightwish was firing on all cylinders and it was apparent that this is a band who’s been delivering epic performances for many years.

If you have the chance, go see Nightwish to see how symphonic metal is done right! In the meantime, enjoy the photo gallery above from the show we attended.

Photos are from our very own King Hazard.

Nightwish Set List:

1. “Shudder Before the Beautiful”
2. “Yours Is an Empty Hope”
3. “Ever Dream”
4. “Storytime”
5. “My Walden”
6. “While Your Lips Are Still Red”
7. “Elan”
8. “Weak Fantasy”
9. “7 Days to the Wolves”
10. “Bless the Child”
11. “I Want my Tears Back”
12. “Nemo”
13. “Stargazers”
14. “Ghost Love Score”
15. “The Greatest Show on Earth”

Rock Hard \m/

Photos by King Hazard.

The Agonist played a status quo set, and Eluveitie, who played for an hour and a half, put on one hell of a performance. What’s amazing about them is their ability to play folk metal, replete with traditional instruments, without it coming off as cheesy; it’s still very much metal, and it’s great.

Epica always puts on a fantastic show. They’re professional and care deeply about their craft, so it’s rare that they stumble during a live performance, if ever. But on this night, the band might have performed from a higher level due to some outside influences. Their performance was hard, heavy, powerful, perfect, and emotional.

The emotional deliver, in large part, is owed to frontwoman Simone Simons, who might have had the biggest reason to get lost in the music and exorcise some emotions. Although the band’s official statement (see below) only says that Simons had to leave the tour after Montreal to head home for a family situation, the rumor circulating within the audience that night was that her father passed away. Regardless of the reason, family is important and our thoughts and sympathies go out to Simons, her family, and to the band.

And, just as Eluveitie before them, Epica played for the better part of two hours, burning through new songs and fan favorites. See the set list just below. In addition to Epica’s performance, the sound and lights were masterful, filling up the venue with perfect levels and zero hiccups. Thank you sound guy.

Epica Set List:

1. The Second Stone
2. The Essence of Silence
3. Sensorium
4. Unleashed
5. Martyr of the Free World
6. Cry for the Moon
7. Drum Solo
8. Storm the Sorrow
9. The Obsessive Devotion
10. Victims of Contingency
11. The Phantom Agony
Encore:
12. Sancta Terra
13. Unchain Utopia
14. Consign to Oblivion

Epica’s Official Statement Regarding Simone Simon:

Dear North American fans,
Luck has not been on our side as of late and it is with heavy hearts we share some unfortunate news.

Take care,
Epica

Rock Hard \m/

Rock Hard \m/

Of course, the horror anthology won’t only feature a gigantic cock the size of a human being, but will present all sorts of other bizarre, provocative, and shocking things that only genre filmmakers can think of. Fortunately for you, ABCs of Death 2 which features 26 segments from 26 different directors from across the world is already on VOD platforms. That’s right! You can immediately start watching it now, if you want your stomach to be turned inside out and even laugh at times. Oddly, both don’t usually work well together, but ABCs of Death 2 is guaranteed to do the trick.

If you like what you see above, then make sure to catch it in theaters on Halloween too.

ABCs of Death 2 Red Band Trailer

Full list of directors:

Julian Barratt (THE MIGHTY BOOSH)
Todd Rohal (THE CATECHISM CATALYSM)
Steven Kostanski (MANBORG)
Alejandro Brugués (JUAN OF THE DEAD)
Jim Hosking (commercial director)
Hajime Ohata (HENGE)
Chris Nash (SKINFECTIONS)
Álex de la Iglesia (THE LAST CIRCUS, DAY OF THE BEAST)
Rodney Ascher (ROOM 237)
Bill Plympton (Animator)
Erik Matti (ON THE JOB, MAGIC TEMPLE)
Kristina Buozyte and Bruno Samper (VANISHING WAVES)
Sion Sono (COLD FISH, SUICIDE CLUB)
Vincenzo Natali (SPLICE, CUBE)
Larry Fessenden (THE LAST WINTER, HABIT)
Marcus Dunstan (THE COLLECTION)
Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo (INSIDE, LIVID)
E.L. Katz (CHEAP THRILLS)
Jen and Sylvia Soska (AMERICAN MARY, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK)
Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado (RABIES, BIG BAD WOLVES)
Julian Gilbey (A LONELY PLACE TO DIE)
Dennison Ramalho (NINJAS and LOVE FOR MOTHER ONLY)
Lancelot Imasuen (Nollywood director)
Jerome Sable (THE LEGEND OF BEAVER DAM, STAGEFRIGHT)
Robert Morgan (BOBBY YEAH)

Like we promised yesterday, we’ll be sure to keep this page updated as much as possible with many pics of live shows, the fans, and maybe even some backstage stuff like a JapanDog (you’ll know more about that later).

Enjoy what we have to offer and make sure to share this page if you love metal.

Nonetheless, we thought we’d take a moment to honor her and all she accomplished for women of metal with a quick photo retrospective.

Rock Hard \m/

I kid, I kid!

Don’t come breaking down my door because I said that. I figured we would drop a picture of 15 year old Electra Mustaine, daughter of Megadeth founder and frontman Dave Mustaine since she recently teamed up with Jason Kertson for a special concert called Operation Ward 57 to benefit wounded servicemen and women.

Watch her perform “A Tout Le Monde” live on New Day Northwest.

She’s pretty damn good!