Graspop Metal Meeting 2019 – Day 3 (23/06/2019)

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The biggest metal party in Belgium is almost over as we kick off the third day at Graspop Metal Meeting. The festival may be nearing its end but I’m not done having my portion of fun just yet.

While She Sleeps (***)

I will always remember opening up for While She Sleeps with my very first shitty band in a tiny venue in the middle of nowhere in Affligem. That was almost ten years ago. Needless to say, these guys have come a long way. Like any self-respecting groovy metalcore band they kept the energy levels high by taunting the crowd and making everyone bounce up and down. Seeing a band – the vocalist particularly – lose themselves in their performance from the get go is always a lot of fun and gets you pumped until the very end of the set.

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The pits were less packed with violent dancers than I expected but this is Graspop after all and not a pure hardcore festival. There was even room for some peaceful moshing and crowd surfing. These Britons have been at it for more than ten years and they’ve got a lot to show for it: music that stands out in an overcrowded genre, a loyal fun-loving fan base and a very professional performance to boot.

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Set list:
You Are We
Anti-Social
Civil Isolation
The Guilty Party
Haunt Me
Four Walls
Silence Speaks
Hurricane

Kvelertak (****)

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Ah, my big favorites of the day. Kvelertak are always a blast to behold. Mind you, this was my first time seeing them with their new singer Ivar Nikolaisen, since I missed their set at the Ancienne Belgique when they opened for Mastodon the last time they played Belgium. Now that I think about it, Kvelertak have been around for quite some time. Am I getting old or what? I know I’ve been listening to them since their first masterpiece (‘Kvelertak‘, 2010), and that was almost ten years ago. Time really flies when you’re having fun.

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After the oh so nostalgic intro that was ‘Burnin’ For You‘ by Blue Öyster Cult, we get to partying on the heavy punk metal we love these Norwegians for. I gotta say Nikolaisen does a good job in the vocal department all while trying to do his own thing. He’s not trying to imitate Erlend Hjelvik, by coming on stage donning the blue-eyed disco owl on his head. He does however engage in other frontman shenanigans such as waving around a flag imprinted with Kvelertak‘s logo. The set list was cool as always, with song like ‘1984‘, ‘Kvelertak‘ and ‘Blodtørst ‘, but still incomplete without my favorite one: ‘Sjøhyenar (Havets Herrer)‘. In all the times I’ve seen them perform – and there have been quite a few – they have never played it. I think I will lose my mind the day they do.

Kiss (****)

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Rare are the bands that put up a show as entertaining as Kiss‘ show was. It was to be expected since it’s their last time playing Belgium. Forever. Right. I’ve lost track of the number of farewell tours they have done so far. It’s all become a bit of a joke, really. And it seems they’re in on it too since they’re playing their ‘Final Tour Ever‘. But when you see the shows they still put up, it’s actually a good thing they keep reviving the band every few years. I think it is vital for younger generations to learn where all their favorite music originated. I know. I used to be part of a younger generation that discovered Kiss a long, loooong time after they started.

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This Kiss show had all the shock rock antics you could imagine. It was quite impressive, as always. I mean, they had it all: fireworks and other pyrotechnics, the drum kit on a mobile platform, levitating platforms for the guitars and bass, solos from all sides, Paul Stanley flying over the crowd to a higher elevated stage, fire breathing, guest appearances, disco balls, Gene Simmons‘ tongue, the whole shebang. The gimmick list goes on and on. The set list remains mostly the same as the last time Kiss played Graspop, with nearly all their classics being played. It is of course difficult to find a Kiss song that isn’t a classic. See for yourself:

Set list:
Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin song – Intro)
Detroit Rock City
Shout It Out Loud
Deuce
Say Yeah
I Love It Loud
Heaven’s on Fire
War Machine
Lick It Up
Calling Dr. Love
100,000 Years
Cold Gin
God of Thunder
Psycho Circus
Let Me Go, Rock ‘N’ Roll
Love Gun
I Was Made for Lovin’ You
Black Diamond

Encore:
Beth
Crazy Crazy Nights
Rock and Roll All Nite

God Gave Rock ‘n’ Roll to You II (Outro)

Graspop Metal Meeting could not have reached its end more appropriately than with the help of the legendary Kiss. It has been a beautiful three and a half days of metal and hard rock madness. I’ve really had the time of my life. Man, I’m already looking forward to next year.

Read our reports on the pre-day, day 1 and day 2 here, here and here!

All picture credits go to Graspop Metal Meeting.

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