KAVARNA ROCK FEST 2010
ACCEPT, Annihilator, Primal Fear, Voivod

25.07.2010, 'Kaliakra', Kavarna
words by Stefan Yordanov - Stiff, photo: Dankisha

It's sunny today, but for some of us it's still cloudy, you know? Last night we drove around the city (the graveyard, the camping and the city center), screaming "SLAYEEERRRGGGHHH" at the innocent pedestrians. It all ended some 20 minutes later with flashilghts in our faces and police officers repeating the same questions again and again. Yeah, they treated us like we deserved to be treated, as criminals. But we are as cunning as Cleopatra and did some hypocrite remarks finally got free despite the bad reputation of some of us (Stiffenstein got arrested here a couple of years ago).

Here, on the stadium, everything seems to be OK. Kuman Dimitrov Kumanov walks around and looks after the grass. It's 11:20 and there are already some soundcheck sounds coming from the stage. Cool! We can't wait for another day full of drunken adventures.

20 minutes later ACCEPT do their soundcheck with a fresh cut of 'Losers And Winners'. This is probably the first band on the festival that is doing their soundcheck if full line-up. The bass player and the guitarist of the German legends admitted that they didn't know much about what was going on behind the Iron Curtain.

They visited our mobile studio this afternoon and were in great shape. "We found MARK by chance" - told us Wolf - "I visited PETER and we jammed with a local drummer and somebody suggested their friend and we tried and he just blew us away."

The conversation led to the obvious comparison with JUDAS PRIEST. "They opened many doors for us. We were very influenced by JUDAS PRIEST"- said PETER.

It turned out that the ACCEPT manager is WOLF's wife: "Yes, My Sharon is called Gabi. She's my wife and she's been our manager since the 80's."

SNAKE of VOIVOD told us they came from Canada especially for this gig! "We travelled a lot" - told us the vocalist of the band right away after he made himself comfortable in our cool studio - "We flew from Canada to Holland and then changed to Romania and travelled to Kavarna by bus."

SNAKE told us about VOIVOD's future: "We overcame PIGGY's death very tough, but we are working on a new album now and think of it as it is a new beginning."

"JASON left us because PIGGY died" - said the frontman - "But his version will probably be different. Anyway, the new VOIVOD album will be out due to next year."

The Leader of theВ ANNIHILATOR came to us to hide from the heat outside but told us that the temperatures are the same in Canada.

We have very short time. "Rock stars talk only for 2 minutes and they go back to the limo and to their five star hotel to drink expensive champagne." - JEFF is laughing.

It turned out that he is a huge VAN HALEN and SLAYER fan. "SLAYER fans look angry. They are not funny but aggressive. It's not like this with ANNIHILATOR. We smile all the time. Unfortunately we can not only smile onstage without playing, because the promoter will ask for his money back."

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Before 18:00, a little bit unexpectedly VOIVOD take the stage. Later on we learn that the band desired to go out earlier to play more. They begin with their self titled hit dating from 1984. Actually they live in their own world.

The oldschool fans go crazy with the first tunes of 'Ripping Headaches'. The truth though, demands that we say it- it's a small crowd in front of the stage. But they deserve every drop of your fucking sweat. It was quite natural for this concert ot end with PINK FLOYD's, "Astronomy Domine".

PRIMAL FEAR, typically for a German band, show all their teutonic power. The crowd increased drastically. Fact is that Ralph Scheepers has loads of energy and owns a great voice.

We heard 'Killbound', 'Six Times Dead (16:6)', 'Riding The Eagle' and of course the encore, 'Metal Is Forever'.

ANNIHILATOR hit the stage at 20:30. JEFF WATERS' bunch is tight and menacing. It's a killing rhythm and sound too. The set list covered the whole discography of the band - 'Hell Is AВ War', 'Plasma Zombies' and 'Trend'В  but ended with the inevitable 'Alison Hell'- the track which every self respecting metalhead knows by heart.

ACCEPT are the undeniable headlines tonight. They have to prove their new singer Mark Tornillo and they do this right away as they invade the stage and execute a perfect rendition of 'Metal Heart'.

Then without any hesitation, they shoot 'Midnight Mover', 'Restless And Wild', 'London Leather Boys' and 'Losers And Winners'. Mark is just great. He easily hits the high notes of the classics and has a biker charisma. He doesn't try to emulate Udo, he just fits the band perfectly. He even reminds us of the late Bon Scott. It is simply not possible to have a more epic end than 'Princess Of The Dawn', I Am A Rebel', 'Fast As Shark' and 'Balls To The Wall'.

We pack our stuff and leave for Sofia. See you next year, Kavarna!

SETLIST

GALLERY