JUNE 26th, 2024
TONS OF ROCK FESTIVAL
DAY 1

Review & Photo Gallery By: Polina Kulikovskikh
Day 1 - http://www.metaltitans.com/concertpics/tons-of-rock-2024-day-1/

This summer, one of Norway's biggest festivals, Tons of Rock, celebrated its 10th anniversary. While modest compared to giants like Wacken or Sweden Rock, this milestone remains significant. Over the years, many renowned bands have headlined the festival, including Iron Maiden, Scorpions, Black Sabbath, Kiss, and many others. This year, the highlight of the four-day music marathon was Metallica.

Today, was Day 1, and as the saying goes, when you attend a festival, it's either scorching heat or pouring rain. This summer in Oslo had been very rainy right up until the festival, but in the end, we mostly got scorching heat. Despite these perfect BBQ and beach day conditions, thousands of men and women in black flocked to Ekebergsletta to indulge in the celebration of heavy music.

Traditionally, the festival was opened by Norwegian band Black Debbath with a fitting new song, "Hip hip! We hate jubilee!" from their upcoming album. The atmosphere in the audience was very lively, and surprisingly, many people showed up early, especially for a weekday (Black Debbath hit the stage at 13:35). This was likely due to Metallica playing on the first day.

However, as with other days, there was something for everyone. Almost simultaneously with Black Debbath at the Scream stage, Better Lovers took the Moonlight stage. Here, crowd surfing to hardcore punk rhythms was all the rage.

On the Vampire stage, the first band of the day, Motorpsycho, played their progressive rock infused with elements from many different genres. Formed in Norway in 1989, the band has recorded a long list of albums and earned many local prizes for their outstanding contribution to Norwegian culture. They started their set with "Psychonaut" from the album "Trust Us," continuing with "The Quick Fix" and "Hey Jane." Overall, it wasn't a long setlist (totaling eight songs), but it left the fans of the band very happy.

Back at the Moonlight stage, the all-female thrash/death metal band Nervosa was preparing to share their intense energy. Despite numerous lineup changes over the years, the band delivered a powerful performance, showing that their spirit remains unbroken.

Next on the main (Scream) stage was Saxon, a band from the "new wave of British heavy metal" era of the 80s. Though they never reached the heights of Iron Maiden or Def Leppard, they have maintained a strong presence. With many lineup changes over the years, vocalist Biff Byford remains the longest-standing member. They returned to Norway with their new album, "Hell, Fire & Damnation," opening their set with the title song and continuing with classics like "Motorcycle Man," "Power and the Glory," and new tracks like "Madame Guillotine."

Mammoth WVH was the next band on the Vampire stage, led by Eddie Van Halen’s son, Wolfgang, who played bass in Van Halen from 2007 until Eddie's passing in 2020. With only two albums, "Mammoth WVH" and "Mammoth II," the majority of their setlist featured songs from their second album. The stage seemed a bit too large for their performance, which might have resonated better in a smaller, more intimate club setting.
Back on the Scream stage, Europe took the spotlight. While most people know these lively Swedes for "The Final Countdown," the band is far from a one-hit wonder. With numerous albums and live shows under their belt, Europe delivered a great performance, starting their set with "On Broken Wings" and continuing with "Rock the Night" and "Walk the Earth." Naturally, they also included their biggest hits, "The Final Countdown" and "Carrie."

Shortly after While She Sleeps wrapped up their set on the Moonlight stage, it was time for Parkway Drive on the Vampire stage. They truly set the stage ablaze with an exceptionally well-executed pyrotechnic display, complementing the band's energetic performance. Vocalist Winston McCall especially stood out as he walked down the gigantic runway. They kicked off their set with "Glitch," followed by "Prey" and "The Void." For me, it was the most visually impressive show of the festival, and their live performance revealed new depths to their music that recordings alone hadn't captured.

As Rotting Christ was closing out the day on the Moonlight stage, more and more people were heading towards the Scream stage, eager to witness the legendary Metallica. For many, Metallica was the main reason for attending the festival. Typically, Metallica's stage setup is designed for circular arenas and stadiums, but there was curiosity about how they would adapt it for Tons of Rock. In the end, they used a regular stage with a half-circle runway and a "snake pit" in between.

With the first notes, there was a surge of excitement, but unfortunately, it quickly turned to disappointment. Surprisingly, a band as massive as Metallica had issues with their sound. It wasn't just one instrument or voice; the overall sound quality was far from perfect. This problem seemed to persist, affecting several bands over the next three days.

Despite the sound issues, Metallica continued their set with "Whiplash," "Creeping Death," and the classic "For Whom the Bell Tolls." Following tradition, they played a local song, CC Cowboys' "Vill, vakker & våt." The surprises didn't end there. Diamond Head guitarist Brian Tatler, who had performed earlier with Saxon, made a guest appearance on "Am I Evil?" James Hetfield mentioned that Metallica had opened for Saxon at the legendary Whiskey a Go-Go in LA in 1982 and that Saxon had been a significant inspiration for them. Dusting off this song, which they hadn't played in a while, was a fitting tribute.
The evening ended on a high note with "Master of Puppets," leaving the crowd electrified despite the sound issues.

Overall, the first day of Tons of Rock was a mixed experience. While the performances were energetic and filled with surprises, technical difficulties marred some of the enjoyment. Still, the festival's atmosphere and the sheer talent on display set a promising tone for the rest of the event. As fans headed home for the night, there was a buzz of anticipation for what the next days would bring.

Metallica setlist:
It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)
(AC/DC song)
The Ecstasy of Gold
(Ennio Morricone song)
Whiplash
Creeping Death
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Enter Sandman
72 Seasons
If Darkness Had a Son
(followed by Kirk & Rob's doodle: CC Cowboys' "Vill, vakker & våt")
Fade to Black
Shadows Follow
Am I Evil?
(Diamond Head cover) (with Brian Tatler) (tour debut)
Nothing Else Matters
Sad but True
Lux Æterna
Seek & Destroy
One
Master of Puppets