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Sonisphere 2011 Review

 Sonisphere 2011 – Knebworth House

8 – 10 July 2011

Day 1

Since the end of the last run of European Sonisphere concerts in 2010 the rock rumour mill was rife with stories about 'The Big 4' of Thrash Metal (Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer and Megadeth for those who have been hiding under a rock for the last few years) playing the UK version this year.  Notable by their absence last year due to scheduling difficulties, the inevitable was confirmed earlier in the year and the Friday night mainstage was wrapped up as quick as you could say 'lets add Diamond Head to the bill too'. But how did they fare? Taking to the stage first was a Scott Ian-less Anthrax, the bald, bearded founder member guitarist granted paternity leave following the birth of his new born son. Stepping in on six string duties was Sepultura's Andreas Kisser who admirably rose to the challenge, not missing a riff and even getting to enjoy the band's impromptu run through of the Sep's classic 'Chaos AD' – Anthralpura anyone?! The last time the 'Thrax played Sonisphere two years earlier former singer John Bush had stepped in on vocals following a merry-go-round shambles involving the band's ongoing singer situation. Back this time with much-loved Joey Belladonna, the band played a proverbial blinder, delivering a greatest hits set with the introduction of one new song, Fight Em Til You Can't, which bodes well for recently re-recorded forthcoming new release Worship Music.

With the days of Metalillica-driven bitterness seemingly now pushed to the background, Dave Mustaine stepped on to the stage that he will later share with his ex-bandmates to offer a good reminder of just what he has achieved on his own since his unceremonious dumping from the band. With a rejuvenated Dave Ellefson back as sparring partner, Mustaine looked hungry again for the music he was playing – something that certainly bodes well for new album Thirt3en later in the year.

The thing about Slayer is that, well, everyone simply likes them. Anyone who says otherwise wearing a metal T shirt is likely to fail a Jeremy Kyle lie detector test. His headbanging days may be well behind him for medical reasons but, regardless, singer/bassist Tom Araya still manages to evoke the devil's own soul with his inimitable unmistakable vocal style delivered on such thrash classics as Dead Skin Mask and South of Heaven. With guitarist Jeff Hanneman also absent due to having the 'more metal than metal' injury of having contracted a flesh eating disease, stand in guitarist Gary Holt (formerly of Exodus) both sounded and looked the part, ably holding the reins for the much-missed guitarist. As ever though with Slayer all eyes do have a habit of veering to the right of the stage and the tattooed metal bulldog that is Sir Kerry of King. Playing with the aggression of a man half his age and still wearing his trademark wristband of six inch nails, he remains the heart and soul of the band, headbanging furiously throughout a relentless set that ended in style with a ferocious run through of 'Angel of Death'.

Metallica effectively gave permission for the Big 4 to happen due to their undeniable status as being at the very top of metal's pile. With nothing to lose, the band upped the ante regardless offering a mouth-watering setlist that included oft-forgotten gems such as 'Shortest Straw' and 'The Call Of Ktulu', alongside the expected-but-always-welcomed likes of Master of Puppets, Enter Sandman and Creeping Death. Masters of the Festival headlining slot, the band's seem to be enjoying themselves as much as any point in their career offering a pyro-laden run through of some of the most classic metal songs of the last thirty years.

With expectation rife and fingers crossed that Sonisphere would get 'that' finale, as previously witnessed at the inaugural Big 4 reunion in Poland, captured for prosperity on the recent Big 4 DVD, fans were not disappointed as members of all 4 bands ambled on stage for a run through of Diamond Head's 'Am I Evil' made even more special by the presence of the band's Brian Tatler who had previously opened the mainstage. An awe inspiring finish for only the first day of the Festival.

Day 2

With the majority of activity focused on the Big 4 domination of the mainstage on the Friday, Sonisphere truly kicked into real action as a multi-stage Festival on the Saturday. With the cleverly positioned and timed Saturn and Apollo stages allowing for no stage clashes, the remaining three stages still offered enough entertainment to enable tough choices to be made. Destroying the Red Bull stage early on in the afternoon were South Wales bruisers Revoker. Dates with Rob Zombie and Ozzy have seen them hone their Bullet-style modern metal to a super-tight degree, winning them a bunch of new fans in the process and assuring their position as 'ones to watch' for 2011. Despite being the smallest stage at the Festival, the Jagermeister stage, managed to ably punch above its weight with a host of excellent rising bands from differing genres. Cambridge boys, The Treatment, reminded everyone of why they have just earned themselves a Best Newcomer nomination at the Classic Rock Awards with an energetic set of classic hard rock that even the most cynical critic would be hard pressed to criticise. With performances from Six Hour Sundown (featuring Lauren 'daughter of Steve' Harris), The Crave and classic rockers St Jude and Rival Sons, the Jager stage came to a climactic end with the arrival of the Black Spiders, drawing the biggest crowd of the weekend. Four hairy blokes, one massive hard-rock Sabbath and Kiss mash up and one guarantee that the band are destined for mainstage action in future years.

Meanwhile on the main stages, a case of hangover kill-or-cure was underway with the visceral explosion that comes with a Gallows live set. With lead-shouter Frank Carter announcing that he was quitting the band, the Watford-based punk band's normally edgy set had a certain additional intensity which went down well with the Sonisphere crowd. Over on the Apollo stage former Sepultura frontman Max Cavalera walked onstage wearing his trademark army combats and a hairstyle that has gone beyond dreadlocks into just, well, a big dollop attached to the back of his head. Reunited with brother Igor for the 2 albums old Cavalera Conspiracy, the band did not disappoint, offering a heavy-yet-melodic run through of the best bits of their two albums with some Nailbomb and Sepultura thrown in for good measure.

Having endured patchy weather for most of the day it's fair to say that once God heard the optimistic, up beat tones that could only be a Weezer live set, he decided it was only fair that he match the mood by allowing the sun to come out to create the perfect setting for the bands sounds. With an understated brilliance, Rivers Cuomo and co embarked on a run through of pop-rock gems including an audience-bewildering cover of Wheatus' Teenage Dirtbag – looking around it was clear that large sections of the audience were oblivious to the joke and may have only now just realised that it wasn't actually a Weezer song. Spending almost as much time in the crowd than on stage, Rivers' nerd-like demeanour belies the fact that he is quite simply a master showman. Understated yes, under-performed though, no chance.

Saturday's headliners Biffy Clyro divided opinion on message boards when they were announced. Possibly explaining the larger than average crowd at the Jagermiester stage for people preferring their rock at the heavier end of the spectrum, the band's crowd was predictably the smallest of the three headliners. A band on top of their game though, for those that were into the band it was arguably one of the enigmatic Scottish trio's finest hours. With a set that focussed mainly on their mainstream-success post Puzzle era , scattered with a few early gems, the band played with a confidence and assurity of a band who know they deserve their place as a Saturday night headliner. A triumph for for the Scots.

Jeni Eckersley