Деца, не правете това у дома! – SOFIA ROCKS 2013

„Children, don’t try this at home“- Sofia Rocks 2013, 26.07

„Sofia Rocks“ now  can safely re-name itself as „Sofia Headbangs“, and in particular this year’s Edition – „Sofia Burns“. Over the past few years we’ve seen enough of some of the most famous and best established musicians in the rock and metal music area. Starting from the great and well-known concert of the big four of thrash metal and the first visit of Rammstein, trough Whitesnake, Judas Priest, Guns’n ‘ Roses, Trivium, Kaiser chiefs, etc., so we get to the day, remaining forever in the concert Chronicle of Bulgaria. Rammstein will destroy our country for the second time, and Bullet for my valentine-for first. That’s what makes the event one of the most anticipated, and even for several generations, as we convinced ourselves of those people at the concert. Impatient fans early take over fast entrances of Vasil Levski Stadium, and spending the time by the delay for opening doors, cheering „Ramm-stein!!“ and „re-signation!“. Even for a moment the crowd resembles early and slightly diverged to protest.
Without the presence of any Bulgarian bands on stage, under the scorching sun came out LaFrontera from Germany. They were called out at the last minute (or not-according to their Facebook page, their participation was announced in Thursday, and the musicians that night were in the hotel at Sofia) as alternates of their countrymen Dorrn. They were dropped after an illness of their vocalist Jackie. Well, the boys from LaFrontera surprised us pleasantly and confirm the assertion of some people from the crowd: „They made a show. When there is a show, they’re good! „. Staking of interesting and unusual costumes, combined with their energetic German metal, band gets excellent for warm-up of the audience in an otherwise unpleasant conditions of heat in the late afternoon and almost empty stadium. LaFrontera performed songs from their current album „Creepolis“, among which were „Babylon“ and „System Overload“.

Their response on the Internet :
Wow! This was awesome! The party is here! We will show and photos and videos. Now is the turn for some interviews, then Rammstein, then-party! Greetings to all and thank you for your incredible support!

Setlist LaFrontera :
Freiheitstod
Inhibit Me
Zersetzung
Never Ascend
Babylon
Extinguished
Evolution
System Overload
Nimbus Obsolet
Kalkuliertes Risiko
Serenity
Messiah of Mercy
Three Times

Shortly before the start of the Germans and the HÄMATOM set, slightly reserved I headed to the stadium. I must say honestly, I was not familiar much with creativity of the band, with a few exceptions. I know that they have three issued albums that are from Munich and that are the type of German bands, which only the Germans can understand.
Yet with the first piece HÄMATOM grabbed the audience and actually turned out to be very pleasant and fun band. The German professionalism stands out in the face of the musicians with interesting nicknames – Nord, Sud, West, Ost. Demonstrated the enviable stage presence and charisma. The culmination of the mixes came with the release of two actors with costumes of gorillas, which beautifully proves in what is happening on stage. HÄMATOM showed that they came from and I’m sure they won plenty of new fans in our country.
Here’s what they shared after the concert:
This day will definitely stay forever in the history of HÄMATOM. Thank you for these unspeakable moments, filled with energy, emotion and hospitality. Sofia, we love you and we hope to see you again as soon as possible!

Here’s finally came to see one of your favorite bands on home land. Of course, it comes to Enslaved. After a few months ago I was able for the first time live to enjoy their show in the Hungarian capital, and I knew that this won’t be the last time I visited their concert. But as some kind of providence, precisely on the day of the show in Budapest, the organizers of the Sofia Rocks have announced their participation in Sofia. At last everything around the event of Norwegians in Sofia was a complete mystery, because in addition to the information from BEC, the official website of the band had not confirmed date in Sofia. But now that everything’s falling into place and Enslaved show what they can do more with the first song Riitiir. Magic, coming from the five musicians, which stuns fans. With the second song– Ruun, the band visibly gives everything by themselves, and 85% of the audience continues watching and wondering what are those guys doing out there on the stage, why are they here, which lasted until the very end of the set. During the show Grutle said – „You may not like our songs, but instead they are long“. This is evidenced by the third song Ethica Odini to grow into Roots of the Mountain. The professionalism of the Enslaved is incredible until the very end of the show. The band showed off everything that is capable and I’m convinced that few fans stayed well content with by their performance.
Of course, there’s still the dream of a solo concert of Enslaved in Bulgaria. Because this is a band for a club where the contact group-the audience is very strong. And that they can do it, and do it extremely well. After rolled a few t-shirts into the audience, we say goodbye to Enslaved with the hope to see them soon somewhere in Europe or in Bulgaria and thanks for that, that certainly managed to win a handful of new fans.

Setlist from Enslaved :
Intro (The Sleeping Gods)
Riitiir
Ruun
Еthicа Odini
Rооts of the Mountain
Convоуs to Nothingness
As Fire Swept Сlean the Earth
Allfadr Оdinn

And Enslaved spoke on the occasion of their participation:
We thank all who were at the concert in  Bulgaria tonight!!! We had a great time and we will be back! Greetings!

The stage is gradually clearing in order to detect the banner with the art cover of the current album of Welsh metallers of Bullet for my valentine. Matt Tuck and company are one of the most waited contemporary musicians here. Their first visit here will definitely be remembered with a tight set, felt contact with the audience, very energetic and happy mood  of the boys. The fans are flashing at the first notes of „Breaking point“, and the euphoria intensifies, more in the subsequent songs. From the new album we managed to hear the song „Temper Temper“ too, „Dirty little secret“ and „Saints and sinners“. Of course, the inevitable were and some of the most standout songs from the first albums of Bullet for my valentine as their awesome classic „Your Betrayal“ and the stunning live version of „The last fight“ from the third album, „Fever“, the brilliant „Waking the demon“ and „Scream aim fire“ from the eponymous second album, etc. We heard really carefully selected songs, the combination of which leads to a situation in which we can not determine the exact high tide. And rightly so-Bullet for my valentine have no time for frivolity. Acceptable terse, they shake the stadium piece after piece with such zeal that may possess only one young band at the peak of its popularity. We know that experienced Bulgarian fan hospitality, they will return, so do not cry. Split up after „Tears don’t fall“, became a symbol for the group and a proof of why are here now and why are such a big name in the modern metal scene. Despite the solid dose of negativity and negative sentiment, as the saying goes, there’s someone for everyone, and Bullet for my valentine definitely satisfied their Bulgarian fan base.

At the same time, the wait is over. The scene is occupied almost entirely by the myriad of backdrops and outfits, ready for one of the most amazing shows, of which a metal fan can be witnessed. I’ve always thought of Bulgarian as a very „Rammstein“ country, and the love of the group, together with rampant temper and enthusiasm of the native metal fan portend an unforgettable evening in the company of the German machines. Yes, probably you will read everywhere  definitions like „metal Veterans“, „a classy show,“ „impressive stage effects“ and so on, but it’s the truth. Whatever we would say, it’s going to be a bit. Because this is something you should see, and Rammstein are one of those groups that are in the „must-see“ list, even if you’re not a fan.

The stage

Besides, even if it’s just for the show, like some people are saying. The curtain descends a little after the beginning of „Ich tu der weh“, and the sky resounds in fireworks and wild grumbling of thousands people audience. And because love is for all („Liebe ist für alle da“), Rammstein sprayed German love (later did literally) destroying the national stadium to the ground. The audience gets swept away with each of their hymns, among which the „Keine Lust“, „Feuer frei!“, „Mein teil“, „Benzin“. An astounding scenery changing with almost every song-show program includes exhaling on fire, torched the microphones of the spring-loaded, broken keyboards, lots of lights, spotlights, confetti and kinky German brains. The infamous lead singer Till Lindemann appears in fluffy pink coat-utterly inappropriate for summer weather conditions and performed gruesome chef-cannibal, perverse masochistic set homosexual, fire-breathing …dragon, a horny guy in the company of a dangerous gas column and everything that has came out in the minds of the veterans. During the ‘ Buck dich ‘ opening lines fans taste from „semen“ (mastic) from the fake penis of Till and the air carries the scent of steeped rural pub. Walking marsh zap-three audience obediently marching on „Links 2-3-4“ and quite not so peaceful was run over by the eternal „Du hast“ and subsequent „Ich will“. Yet the default first and only Encore with a relaxed piano version of„Mein herz brennt“ to finish the evening program even more crazy with the fans ‘ favorite „Sonne“and „Pussy„. (For the latter of which was used the thing with maaaany of the well known lather )

Only time will tell whether we will have the opportunity to watch again Rammstein in Bulgaria and we don’t know if we could satisfy them again, judging by the relatively weak and, say, offensive to a group of rank of Rammstein attendance. But they definitely have more to show – imagination is boundless, their opportunities, too. But the fans’ dedication as I was convinced, too, is at a fairly high level. Or at least for Rammstein, which will always be amongst the most revered bands here. Uncompromising, almost unpredictable, but putting great expectations, devastating inspiring, deservedly popular, with strong self-esteem and confidence in what they are doing for years – they smash everything with style, again and again. No ordinary concert, no show, it was a grand spectacle. We left satisfied, groups (we hope) – also, enriched their vocabulary with some Bulgarian words. Starting the day with the chanting „resignation!“ the audience proudly sing our national anthem between the groups, until finally only imbued with foam and mastic neighborhood metallers make peculiar their after party (unlike Rammstein, who this time chose to party in the elite chalga club ina non-elite company..again) with fake screaming in German in the early hours of Saturday morning. Walking marsh-two, three, four …by next year at this time.

On this link you can see more photos from the show.

The report is a result of the common work of Rada and Black Art.