The village of Colombier-Saugnieu is more used to the sound of planes passing above than the saturated guitars of Heavy Metal. However, for the last ten years, the hamlet of Montcul has been hosting the Plane’R Fest. The festival got bigger every year. On the 7th and 8th of July 2023, the fest scored their best programmation up to this day!
Ever After
The difficult task of starting the party fell to Ever After, a French Symphonic Metal band. They rose to the occasion and delivered a short but energetic set with many qualities. The alternation between the feminine operatic vocals and growls was particularly efficient. The crowd still entering the fields, quickly gathered around for “Lost Control” out of their first EP and the catchy “Fucking Phoenix” from their debut album released last year.
Akiavel
Next up on the main stage (called Terminal 1 as a reference to the international airport nearby…) was Akiavel and their Melodic Death Metal. Hailing from the South of France, the heat did not seem to bother them as they owned the stage. Auré’s talent as a vocalist is nothing short of impressive. She definitely is one of the best female extreme singers of the Death Metal scene nowadays. Both the sheer brutality of her growls and the mad persona that she incarnates on stage send shivers down your spine. Her wicked smile (on “My Lazy Doll”) is more terrifying than the little girl from The Exorcist. The band based their setlist mostly on their first two albums V (2020) and Vae Victis (2021). Akiavel set the bar very high for the rest of the day… If you think Arch Enemy has grown too soft over the years, try Akiavel and you will not be disappointed.
Suasion
Amongt the thousand of people clad in black over the weekend, Suasion perhaps had the better idea to dress as space vagabonds in ochre rags seemingly from Arrakis, as to avoid the heat. They opened up their set with the high-powered “Trapped” from their EP Momentum (2022.) They followed with more recent from their latest release The Infinite(2023). The band from Belgium succeeded in their gamble of offering their mix of Electro and Hardcore to a Metal audience. The sound balance was excellent and helped them to gather a larger audience. The melodic “House Of Cards” can make you think of bands such as Nothing More. Just like Akiavel, you should keep an ear out for Suasion and their future releases.
Blind Guardian
Apart from Hellfest in 2022, it had been quite a few years since Blind Guardian had graced the stages of France. The performance of the bards at the Plane’R Fest was a special event, and it seemed that a good number of spectators bought their tickets at the sole sight of Blind Guardian on the poster.
Hansi and pals got on stage just as a merciful breeze and some clouds refreshed the fields. Even if The God Machine was released last year, Blind Guardian chose to play fast and heavy good old classics from their first albums. Except for “Violent Shadows,” they did not play any song more recent than Nightfall In Middle Earth. This choice may have disappointed the younger fans but it struck a chord with the audience.
“Welcome To Dying” made way for the earliest of crowd surfers. Looking back on the live captions of the bands in the ’90s, Blind Guardian is one of these bands who gained charisma over the years. They have been ruling over the international Power Metal scene for several decades. Marcus channelled his inner Geralt Of Rivia with his white hair, even if “Blood Of The Elves” was not played that night. The staging was simple but beautiful with the artwork of Somewhere Far Beyond draped at the back of the stage.
“Lord Of The Rings” allowed those who like to sing along to warm up for the rest of the show and after this short respite, more classics followed:”Time Stand Still (At The Iron Hill)” and the inevitable “Bard’s Song (In The Forest), during which Hansi did not need to sing. Marcus, André and new bassist Johan Van Stratum, delivered very convincing backing vocals as well. Even if Blind Guardian enjoyed the longest time “Mirror Mirror” and “Valhalla” brought the show to a close way too early…
Nightmare
After yet another lineup change, Nightmare, the pioneers of Heavy Metal on the French scene, presented their new singer Barbara on Terminal 2. Their latest album Aeternam was a critical success, and this show put her to the test. With a more aggressive and hardcore-typed voice, she still managed to get her own spin on the Nightmare catalogue and proved to be a good choice for the post. As always the duet of guitarists Franck Milleliri and Matt Asselberghs was deadly efficient. “Ikarus” and “Aeternam” were highlights of the show. With this kind of longevity, the band of Yves Campion is still a force to reckon with.
Mass Hysteria
Besides Blind Guardian, Mass Hysteria was certainly the band that gathered the biggest and most agitated crowd. Right at the start of their set with “Chiens D’la Casse.” During the first couple of songs, the photo pit overflowed with crowd surfers. So much so that this reviewer is still wondering to whom belong the orange shoe that landed on her head. At some point, even Mouss, the vocalist, had to remind the crowd of the rules of camaraderie needed in the moshpit. While Mass Hysteria generally uses their songs to defend their political ideal, they tuned down the politics for the night to focus on values of tolerance, equality and fraternity (a much better display of Republican values than shown by the French government recently…)
After a chaotic and wild beginning the atmosphere of the show became quickly friendly again. The album Matière Noire the fans’ favourite was highly represented. But too soon, came the end of the show and the band invited all the kids on stage for the last few songs as an ode to the younger generation of Metalheads. The audience melted under the cuteness of the six years old girl lucky enough to get on stage with no doubt her favourite band. Mass Hysteria gave a heartfelt thank you to the parents who introduce their children to Metal Music.
Vertex
A few days before the festival Loudblast had to cancel their show due to health issues. Whiplash is a common occupational hazard for every Metal Band… Vertex stepped in for the occasion. Their Experimental and Technical Death Metal was a success, as a good part of the audience was happy to see this local band they already knew well. Vertex played in an already conquered territory.
Myrath
To bring the night to an amazing close, Myrath was the last to step up on the main stage, in a very relaxed atmosphere. A bold choice, especially at a festival, they chose to play a good number of new songs. Among them were “Child Of Prophecy” and the very catchy “Let It Go”. The next album is planned for later this year. Zaher seemed amused to no end by the vast array of jokes possible in French with the name “Montcul”, probably helped by the beers he drank on stage. (Yes, the local beer was excellent as well!)
Even if the stage theatrics were simpler than on the previous tour (no levitation this time) it remained one of the most original of the contemporary Metal scene: dancers, acrobats, fire breathers… The band admitted to suffering from terrible jetlag even if the songs were not impacted. A very drunk Zaher ended the show in tears, but still managed to teach each half of the crowd to sing different melodies at the same time, at the end of “Believer”.
At 1 am this sounded remarkably well and only bore good omens for the following night!
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