Day Three at Nova Rock Brought ESC Candidate and Hardcore Legends

A touch of Song Contest swept over the Pannonia Fields on Friday: After all, with Baby Lasagna, the runner-up of last year's ESC was a guest at Nova Rock and fired up the audience with powerful songs between pop, electro, and metal. Good vibes were ensured, while the Swedish hardcore legends Refused bid farewell - this time probably for good. The reason? "We want to save our friendship," said drummer David Sandström.

Refused had already said goodbye to the scene for the first time at the end of the 1990s. And just at the time when the 1998 album "The Shape of Punk to Come" really took off and with its complex noise rock went from an underground tip to heavy rotation on MTV - remember the legendary "New Noise" video. But the band was completely at odds back then. "It was traumatic," recalled singer Dennis Lyxzén, who subsequently (co-)founded various formations, in an APA interview.

"You have to confront your mistakes"

But as the saying goes: Time heals all wounds. In 2015, the comeback album "Freedom" followed, they went on tour again and wrote more material. But really satisfied? No, they actually weren't, as the rather self-critical Sandström noted. "I wanted to make different music long ago, but it didn't sound like Refused. So it became a strange in-between thing. But you have to confront your mistakes." Only then can you process them and grow from them.

Gradually, the musicians realized: Refused will have no future in this form. "There are many different reasons. But the nicest answer is probably: Refused has always gotten in the way of our relationship," Sandström pointed to his colleague and himself. They were happiest when the band didn't exist. The logical conclusion? "We two have been there from the beginning. If one of us doesn't feel like it anymore, then that's it," nodded Lyxzén. Originally, around 15 farewell shows were planned last year. "But then I had a heart attack," the singer recounted. "Or not. Maybe he just wanted to play 60 shows this year," his colleague teased him.

The goal now is to give the many fans the opportunity "to see us one more time," summarized Lyxzén. "It's nice when people come and can celebrate the legacy of this band. They get another chance to hear the old songs." After all, they have influenced an entire generation of hardcore kids, as also highlighted by a cover album recently released as a bonus to an anniversary edition of "The Shape of Punk to Come." Brutus, Touché Amoré, and others have tried their own versions of classics like "The Deadly Rhythm" or "The Apollo Programme Was A Hoax," with resounding success.

Day three at Nova Rock with Refused

That Refused will be missed was also proven by the gig at Nova Rock: The quartet played through a lean set uncompromisingly, leaving little time to catch a breath, but highlighting Lyxzén's entertainer qualities. As an additional highlight, the Swedish jazz saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, who lives in Nickelsdorf and with whom parts of the band play together as Backengrillen, stopped by and gave a taste of this combination, which only seems unreal at first glance. It also got political, as is almost always the case with Refused. And now? A series of club shows will follow in the fall before the final point is set in their hometown of Umeå. After that, they will form a new band again "With a completely different sound," promised Sandström. All the quirky ideas have to come out somehow.

Baby Lasagna and Glueboys on Stage

Very idiosyncratic was also Baby Lasagna. The Croatian musician, known for his ESC entry "Rim Tim Tagi Dim," relied on pounding beats and a hearty fire show that at times obscured the view of the stage quite a bit. It should really get going, seemed to be the motto. "Whoever plays, whether metal or not, if it's music that moves, then people are open to it," he had told APA before the performance - and he was right.

The local Glueboys also struck this chord, already successful this year at the Amadeus Award in the "Electronic/Dance" category: The trio played with a band formation on the Red Bull Stage and really spurred the audience on. "Being on stage with the full crew is really something new. We are very hyped," Isaak Kaserer rejoiced a few hours before. "A festival is always something special, it really stands out from a club gig," Arthur Gobber agreed. They wanted to make the most of it in any case.

Musically, the Glueboys are certainly hard to pin down, as their origins lie more in reggae before they veered towards dialect hip-hop with clubby beats and a lot of humor. "We are certainly more than just après-ski," Kaserer nodded, "and we take the music really seriously." This variety also makes it difficult to say what a Glueboys track needs. "Different genres just come together," said Maximilian Stöckl, who added with a laugh: "What is the Glueboys magic? No idea. Probably the golden mix of the three of us." After the summer, the group's entire focus is on the "Seidlrallye" tour, which will take them across Austria in December.

Nova Rock: Proven Success: Slipknot Delivered Again

Never change a winning team: It is often and gladly mocked that major rock festivals play it safe when booking. But when a band like Slipknot delivers as they did Friday night at Nova Rock in Nickelsdorf, there's simply nothing to complain about. Corey Taylor and his masked men scored with a show of force that was convincing across the board. Just like much of this festival day, by the way.

Precision and Passion

When night falls over the Pannonia Fields, it's time for a bit of spooky fun. This was proven true again this year, even if Slipknot came without new material, but with a genuine best-of set and some small special features. Early hits like "Wait and Bleed" were just as indispensable as brutal bangers of the caliber of "The Heretic Anthem." Although the band has undergone some personnel changes over time, the precision and passion with which they still go to work silences all critics immediately.

As befits a more than solid Slipknot concert, the more melodic side was not neglected either, as the anthems "Unsainted" and "Duality" were hurled into the night sky at the end of the regular set. In between, the ever-charismatic Taylor thanked the audience for their years of support. He too has recognized what he has in Nova Rock and the Austrian metal fanbase in general. The wheel doesn't necessarily have to be reinvented to run smoothly. After a good one and a half hours, it was over, and both sides know: The encore will follow, patience is a virtue.

Tricks, Hype, and Business as Usual

Even before that, there was no reason to complain: The Australian AC/DC epigones Airbourne dug deep into the hard rock bag of tricks, were carried on fans' shoulders, and churned out one groovy rock 'n' roll riff after another. In contrast, the deathcore hype Lorna Shore appeared as a massive wall, with the US band already offering a taste of the upcoming album "I Feel the Everblack Festering Within Me" with "Oblivion." Singer Will Ramos, who seamlessly switched from heavy growls to pig squeals and back, wrapped the crowd around his little finger. The US band Thrice was also worth a visit, oscillating between hardcore and alternative, but despite a great song selection, they gave off a bit of a feeling of just doing business as usual that evening.

The Scots Biffy Clyro provided a little melody, opening with their newly released song "A Little Love." A message the world probably needs urgently. "Definitely," nodded bassist James Johnston in the APA interview. "Life can just be hard. And relationships can also be difficult, there are often ups and downs. But in the end, love will prevail. It actually feels like people are being divided. But we have to try to find more common ground again."

Biffy Clyro with Enormous Hit Density

Perhaps by singing together? Biffy Clyro are indeed always good for that: "The Captain" spread a swaying mood, the subtle "Biblical" invited dreaming, and "Mountains" opened hearts. Despite initial sound problems, the trio, supported live by numerous fellow musicians, delivered on all fronts, with singer and guitarist Simon Neil simply having to be credited for effortlessly pulling irresistible melodies out of his sleeve. There was a hit density that was second to none. And good news: new material probably won't take too long to arrive.

Metal Mass to Conclude

Powerwolf were scheduled as the day's finale at midnight on the Blue Stage. "We usually prefer to play into the twilight," said keyboardist and organist Falk Maria Schlegel in an interview with the APA. "When it slowly gets dark, it has a natural light effect. But I am convinced that at midnight at Nova Rock, it will be a huge party." The German power metal formation not only brought their songs but also numerous show elements. "Our credo is the metal mass to entertain the audience."

With "Bless 'em With the Blade," the band started, and the hit single "Demons Are a Girl's Best Friend" was just as indispensable as Schlegel's theatrical stage acting and singer Attila Dorn's "blessing" of the audience. "It's a huge spectacle," said the keyboardist. "We burn everything we can. It sounds clichéd, but that's exactly what it is. We always say: more is more. When Attila blesses the surroundings, the blessing lasts forever. We bring the metal blessing here to Nickelsdorf in front of the Blue Stage, which is then holy ground."

Tschebberwooky Instead of Greeen

Reggae vibes also had a place on the Red Stage: Tschebberwooky, self-described as a Roots-Acoustic-Reggae-Dub-Ska-Dance band from Austria, stepped in for rapper Greeen, who reported sick. The conga line was quickly formed, a welcome alternative to the mosh pit. Right after, Krautschädl also attracted a large audience.

More about Nova Rock

(APA/Red)

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