After the resounding success of the two HARD ROCK HELL festivals, the heavy metal bootcamp is something we are going to see more and more of in the future. The Metal Hammer sponsored HAMMERFEST was a superb value weekend, with plenty of decent bands across 3 stages, and 2 nights of accommodation all thrown in. ‘Hi De Hi campers’…

The event began on Friday afternoon, with a number of unsigned bands playing the small third stage, inside Pontin’s Queen Victoria club. Later, the main stage action was kicked into gear by the ultra-heavy TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED who played a destructive set, sure to ram home the point that the metal circus had arrived in town. One band who just had to play at a festival called HAMMERFEST, were Swedish true metal warriors HAMMERFALL. Attracting a sizeable crowd, HAMMERFALL ripped through a number of fist-raising anthems, and as long as you’d hit the alcohol early enough, the set was a thoroughly enjoyable dose of vintage heavy metal.

The highlight of the evening was a terrific performance by Yorkshires kings of doom, PARADISE LOST. Despite wrestling with a few sound gremlins, the dark metal legends delivered a memorable set, full of classic songs from their long career, including a blistering ‘The Enemy’, and a haunting rendition of ‘Gothic’. For me, PARADISE LOST are by far a better live band than Friday night headliners OPETH, who played their usual dry, static set, enough to make anybody ready for their bed. My cradle certainly didn’t need rocking after this…

The first band to really attract the punters on Saturday were Scottish pirate mad men ALESTORM, who still seem to be riding the crest of a wave that has fast seen them become on the most popular new metal bands in Europe. ‘Wenches and Mead’ and ‘Over The Seas’ were as enjoyable as ever, but having seen ALESTORM at so many festivals over the last year, it was nice to hear some new material, with a few songs played off new album ‘Black Sails at Midnight’, which is due out next month.

After Welshmen SKINDRED had managed to instigate the biggest mosh pit of the weekend, thrash legends SEPULTURA hit the main stage, with only 2 original members now flying the Brazilian flag. After a lukewarm response to the new material that opened the set, I headed over to the second stage where Irish retro speed-thrashers GAMA BOMB were laying siege to everything in their path. For me, this was the most enjoyable set of the weekend, and young guitarist Domo Dixon played an absolute blinder.

It was now time for headliners SAXON, who were stopping at Prestatyn on a major European tour to support impressive new album ‘Into the Labyrinth’. SAXON have enjoyed a new lease of life of late, and it’s no wonder that their popularity seems to keep increasing with such fantastic live performances. Of course, the classics of ‘Denim and Leather’ and ’747 Strangers in the Night’ were enjoyed by all, but great new tracks like ‘Hell Cat’ and bombastic set opener ‘Battalions of Steel’, kept the quality levels at a very high plateau.

After a great show by SAXON, old school doom metal wizards CATHEDRAL were left to pick up the pieces. With the time fast approaching 2am, the awesome ‘Ride’ was played, with it’s awesome riff right out of the Tony Iommi guitar book. ‘Ride’ is one of the greatest headbanger songs of all time was the last song of the weekend for me, and I certainly had a sore neck as I wandered back to the chalet.

HAMMERFEST was another thoroughly enjoyable weekend. The atmosphere on the Pontins site was fantastic with hordes of metal fans hell bent on having a good time. As mentioned right at the start, you just can’t beat these festivals for value for money, and the best thing of all, you don’t have to crawl through a field at the end of the night to find your soaked, squatty little tent. Roll on December for HARD ROCK HELL III – it’s going to be another cracker!

Festival Rating: 4.8/5.0

Photography by Alexander Shaw

(Friday’s photos)

(Saturday’s photos)