JUNE 27th, 2024
TONS OF ROCK FESTIVAL
DAY 2

Review & Photo Gallery By: Polina Kulikovskikh
Day 2 - http://www.metaltitans.com/concertpics/tons-of-rock-2024-day-2/

The second day of Tons of Rock kicked off with Norwegian Sklitakling on the Moonlight stage, followed shortly by the legendary German Metal Queen, Doro, on the Vampire stage. She started her set with "I Rule the Ruins" from Warlock's 1987 album, followed by "Burning the Witches" and "Fight for Rock." It was an energetic start to the day, and Doro, a long-standing icon in heavy music, proved she still has what it takes.

Next up was a tough choice between the Norwegian rock/punk band Oslo Ess on the main (Scream) stage and the French band Igorrr on the Moonlight stage. I chose Oslo Ess, having enjoyed their fun performance before. Although their charm may be lost on those who don't understand Norwegian (as is partially the case with Black Debbath), their positive vibe was contageous, and the band delivered an excellent performance under the blazing sun of Ekeberg.

After Oslo Ess, it was time for Swedish band Katatonia on the Vampire stage. It was unusual to see them play in broad daylight, as they typically perform in dark, atmospheric settings. They opened with "Birds" from their latest album "Sky Void of Stars," followed by "Lethean" from "Dead End Kings" and "Colossal Shade" from their latest release. Although the setlist could have included more from their earlier albums, it was a good performance overall.

Back on the Scream stage, legendary Swedes Opeth were about to begin. They performed a "by fan's request" setlist, consisting of only five long songs: "The Grand Conjuration," "Demon of the Fall," "The Drapery Falls," "Heir Apparent," and "Deliverance." Vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt jokingly complained that fans chose only old and long songs, limiting their performance to just five tracks (it still took an hour). Despite this, Opeth's performance was a festival highlight for many fans.

While Palaye Royale were surfing the crowd in a boat at Moonlite stage, on Vampire stage it was time for American rock band Extreme to hit the stage. They became famous for their ballad "More Than Words" from the 1990 album "Extreme II: Pornograffitti" - an ultimate camfire and wedding party favourite. So if that's the only song you know them by you'd be up for a surprise - everything else they play live is not like that at all. Extreme gave a very vibrant, energetic show and apart from obviously including their mentioned super hit consisted of a few other well loved songs such as "Get the Funk Out", "It ('s a Monster)", "Decadence Dance" as well as a few songs from the latest release from 2023 "Six". 

Back to the Scream stage, W.A.S.P. stepped in as a replacement for Heart, who had to cancel their European tour. Despite years of debate about Blackie's performances, many were thrilled to hear classics like "L.O.V.E. Machine," "Chainsaw Charlie," and "Wild Child." Due to an injury, Blackie performed sitting down, and we wish him a speedy recovery.

Mike Patton is well known by his great vocals and many musical projects and if you ever had a chance to see one of them - it was clear that Mr. Bungle is definetly going to deliver. In addition to Patton, Trey Spruance and Trevor Dunn Scott Ian (Anthrax) and Dave Lombardo (ex Slayer) joined the project. The setlist was very versatile to put it lightly - not only the band played their own songs, but also "Hell Awaits" (Slayer), "Territory" (Sepultura), "I Don't Need Society" (D.R.I.) and a few others. The closing song was "All by Myself (Eric Carmen cover) changed to "Go Fuck Yourself". Ultimately one of the strongest performances of this year's Tons of Rock.

The main headliner of this day (and this year's festival's edition) was Tool. It came together with a weather warning - after a few days of very hot weather a storm was geathering. Luckily it only shortened the set by one song. They started with "Jambi," followed by "Fear Inoculum" and "Rosetta Stoned," paired with trippy visuals that captivated the audience.

The first two days of Tons of Rock were a whirlwind of diverse performances and memorable moments. From the powerful presence of legends like Metallica, Doro, and Opeth to the dynamic shows by bands like Extreme and Mr. Bungle, the festival offered something for every rock and metal fan. Despite some technical difficulties and weather challenges, the energy and passion of both performers and attendees created an unforgettable experience. As the festival continued, the anticipation grew, promising even more thrilling performances and surprises in the two days to come.