Interview
AGES OF METAL FESTIVAL 2009
STEFAN had a talk with AOM founder BART CALIS
Metal To Infinity
On
Saturday, August 08th. We were all present at the second edition of Alcatraz
Metal Festival 2009 that took place in Brielpoort Ghent – Belgium. Great Metal
event, awesome bands like Helstar, Testament, Agent Steel, Saxon and more on the
bill… a true feast on Metal, be sure I had a great time being there! Next
Belgian Metal bash for the future is called ‘Ages Of Metal’ it all will take
place on Saturday 17th. Of October and I really look forward to this
awesome Metal event. I’d like to know some more details about the happening…
one of the founders, named Bart Calis, will help me out of my curiosity.
Q:
Howdee Bart, what’s up brother – already recovered from Alcatraz Metal
Festival 2009? Real hot and thirsty, right?
A: Yep indeed. Especially that thirsty part!!! But we made it trough the night!! Barely, but we made it!
Q:
Fully satisfied about this festival? Which bands you’ve joined the most of all?
A:
Well, I saw all the bands who played the main stage. And I enjoyed all of them .
Killer with the old bass player was great. But for me personally I
don’t have it for keyboard players! But still Killer was great. Testament was
again solid as a rock!! And well, we all know what to expect from Saxon of
course… I was hoping for a change in the set from them but I saw them now for
the 22th. time and it was still good. To be honest, I was secretly hoping on a
different set.
I
really hope the Alcatraz fest is going trough again next year. We’re always up
for a good metal party surely!
Q:
Hey man, I’d like to ask you some questions regarding your own Metal bash
coming up mid October 2009. According to myself, awesome initiative – from
where the decision set up this kinda event?
A:
I travel a lot to do festivals. Most of the time we’re going to Germany. The Metal scene there is way bigger then here in Belgium. I go every year to the
keep it true festival and Headbangers Open Air Festival and bang your head and
so on and a lot of bands who play there haven’t played in Europe over 20 years!
For example Grim Reaper, Cloven Hoof, Sortilege, Picture. There’s a very big
Heavy Metal scene in the world. Here in Belgium we are just getting the top of
that scene. We get the world famous bands like Saxon, Maiden, Hammerfall, …
But
damn back in the days…. Tokyo blade played the heavy sound. Avenger played
with Maiden and Saxon!!! We have forgotten these bands in Belgium. I know a lot
of Belgium friends got albums of Tokyo Blade and Avenger. Let’s bring those
bands back here. They will prove they still kick ass like they did 25 years ago!
I
want to bring a mixture of great old band and new talent! I hope the Belgium
people will leave there home’s and come see them. A lot of people complain
there’s nothing to do in this country. Well here’s there chance to proof
that this metal still lives on!
We
started together with some friends to put up the festival. And the idea was to
bring damn good music and one hell of a party at affordable prices. And that
idea hasn’t changed yet!!!
Q:
To organise a festival; there will be a lot of things to arrange … speaking
for yourself, how everything have gone finding the right bands, accommodation,
place to be, etc…?
A:
Well, we are a personal organisation. And the tough part was to find a venue. We
did find one but that was a difficult quest. A recognized organisation will get
a venue in no time. Except when it avows loud pounding metal. You got to play it
loud and don’t have a evening clock on it. And so we found a place were we let
the guitars rip al night trough!!
The
bands went very well. I know Gary from avenger cause we boozed al night with him
@ the HOA fest. I also knew the guys from Fireforce, Trenchfoot and Gae Bolga.
Same deal, I mean boozing and so on… hahaha. Accommodation in this part of
Belgium is hell of course!! There are very few hotels and bed and breakfast with
enough accommodation. So a call to all the metalheadz… give your foreign
metalheadz a place to stay!!!
Q:
How difficult to find / contact the right bands – please mention all the
troops of Metal that’ll be present at Ages Of Metal festival!
A:
The biggest difficulty to find the right bands is…. There are to many fucking
good bands!!! And you can’t ask all of them. Damn……
The
troops are :
Ungoliath:
local Black Trash
Hyperbirches:
Speed Rock and Roll from Roeselare Belgium
Gae
Bolga : CSM BEER CULT THRASH METAL (you’ve got to love the description!!
Hahaha)
Fireforce:
good old Heavy Power Metal from Belgium (ex double diamond members)
Avenger:
NWOBHM - back after 20 years
Trenchfoot:
Crossover Speed Metal from Belgium
Cloven
Hoof: Cloven Hoof sounds like Cloven Hoof… no further details!!!
Tokyo
Blade: NWOBHM
Q:
Particular reason to announce why you choose these outfits?
A:
They’re damn good bands, one by one!!
Q:
To inform the readers even more, here’s your time and space to give a short
background history of each one of the bands… No need to introduce bands like
Tokyo Blade, Avenger and the almighty Cloven Hoof because who never heard of
them… right?
A:
Yeah indeed but I give a description anyway.
Tokyo
Blade are one of the many acts lumped into the New Wave of British Heavy Metal
movement from the early 1980s. The band was formed in 1983 under the moniker
Genghis Khan. It consisted of Alan Marsh (vocals), Andy Boulton (guitar), Ray
Dismore (guitar), Andy Robbins (bass), and Steve Pierce (drums), but band
members changed frequently.
Later
in the year, the band changed their name, recorded an album, and shared the
stages of festivals with heavyweights like Metallica and Venom. They've been
doing tour packages with bands like Blue Öyster Cult, Dio, Ozzy Osbourne and
Scorpions, and now, 20 years later (remember Heavy Sound Festival '85!!), they
are back in Belgium with Ages of Metal! They will play again with the original
guitarist and band-founder, Andy Boulton.
Cloven Hoof is a M band from Wolver Hampton that was active from 1979 to 1990, and again from around 2000 onwards. The band were associated with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Now cloven hoof is back they have released many albums like ‘’A Sultans Ransom’’ and the first ep ‘’The Opening Ritual’’!! Wich they still perform like it was made yesterday.
Avenger is originally a band from the legendary N.W.O.B.H.M movement with over
20 years of history (spanning over three decades). Releasing albums and EP’s
on the NEAT RECORDS label in the 1980’s alongside other legendary artists such
as the Tygers of Pan Tang, Venom, White Spirit, Atomkraft, Blitzkrieg, Marshall
Law, Jaguar, Fist and Raven.
The ‘Avenger Anthology: Too Wild to Tame’ CD
was released by SANCTUARY RECORDS in 2002, containing all the avenger material
from the 1980’s. Avenger reformed in 2005, touring with legendary rockers
Y&T and also making some European festival appearances. The Avenger line-up
changed again in 2007 which seen the departure of original bassist Mick Moore.
The new line up of Avenger featuring - Ian Swift – Vocals (Avenger’s main
singer from the 1980’s, also vocalist with legendary bands Atomkraft and
Satan), Garry Young (Avenger’s original drummer), Liam Thompson (guitarist of
Death in Blood), Sean Jefferies (guitarist of Fallen Skies, Earthrod) and Huw
Holding (Bass) have since toured with / played alongside bands such as Twisted
Sister, Candlemass, Saxon, Rage, Raven, Sinner, Grim Reaper, UFO, Cradle of
Filth, Skyclad and Diamond Head (plus many more) in 2007 alone (under the
renamed title of Avenger UK, for legal and other reasons). The new line up is
currently working on a new album which will be released in early – mid 2009
entitled ‘The Slaughter Never Stops’.
Trenchfoot is a young Belgian band who exist with members from a hole lot of other bands like Mindstab and others… all the musicians wanted to go back to their roots of crossover speed thrashing madness. Well they succeeded and will prove it on the ages of metal festival.
Fireforce was founded on 16 august 2008 Fireforce was just a "working"
name but now it's for real!!! Demo recordings of the songs "Born To Play
Metal", "Firestorm" and "Hell Or Paradise" were
recorded by Filip "Flype" Lemmens, Erwin Suetens, Wouter Debonnet,
Marc Vinckier, Tom Van Steenbergen who once were Double Diamond...
The band is complete now and will be rehearsing untill they're ready to
rock your place! Be prepared for some nice Heavy Metal...
Gae
Bolga is raging as a five-piece unit of pure disgust for all that is not Metal!
And in there own words… Bolga plays: Slayer meets (old) Grave Digger meets
Atrophy meets Motörhead meets (old) Running Wild meets Sodom , only better and
faster!
Hyperbitches
will give us rock and roll on the rocks so hold on to your girlfriends.
The
opening band Ungoliath are young, but damn good black thrashers. They will be
the dark fast opener for the Ages Of Metal fest. Check these guys out.
Q:
Ages Of Metal is an indoor Metal happening – never thought to let the festival
happen as some kinda 'open air' fest?
A:
For the moment not. We are first going to try an indoor fest. You have the
chance to get closer to the bands and most of the time you got better sound
indoors then outdoors. And we want don’t want to become a major festival in
space but we want to become a festival with just great bands.
Q:
It all take place at a Belgian venue named ‘t Ipperste in Oostrozebeke… for
all foreign metalheads you should give a road description where to find the
place to be.
A:
it’s not easy but here it goes.
From
Bruges to Oostrozebeke
Take
the Expresweg/N31
Continue on N31. Go on to A17 (signs to Rijsel/Kortrijk/Lille/Roeselare)
Take exit 8 (Roeselare-Beveren) heading to Ardooie/Tielt/Roeselare.
(Soft curve to the left on
R32. Turn left to Stay on the R32)
Continue on the N37 Turn right at Brugsebaan/N50
Continue on the N50, go through 3 roundabouts, heading to Kortrijk.
At the roundabout in Ingelmunster, take the 3rd exit to Oostrozebeke/N357
Stay on the N357 untill you get to the Markt (market square)
Turn left at the Markt
Turn left at Ernest Brengierstraat
Turn right to stay on Ernest Brengierstraat
Ernest Brengierstraat turns left and becomes Smallestokstraat
Van Gent/Waregem naar Oostrozebeke:
Take the E17 heading to E40/Kortrijk/Brussel/Oostende
Stay left at the crossroads, follow the signs heading to Kortrijk and go on to
the A14/E17
Take exit 5-Waregem to merge onto Expresweg/N382
Go through 1 roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Stationstraat
Turn left at N357/Rijksweg, Continue to follow N357
Go through 1 roundabout, Turn right at Markt
Turn left at Ernest Brengierstraat
Turn right to stay on Ernest Brengierstraat
Ernest Brengierstraat turns left and becomes Smallestokstraat
Van Kortrijk naar Oostrozebeke:
Take
the N50 heading to Bruges/Ingelmunster
When entering Ingelmunster, go through 1 roundabout. Take the First exit to
Oostrozebeke/N357
Stay on the N357 untill you get to the Markt (market square)
Turn left at the Markt
Turn left at Ernest Brengierstraat
Turn right to stay on Ernest Brengierstraat
Ernest Brengierstraat turns left and becomes Smallestokstraat
Fom
Brussels/Antwerp to Oostrozebeke (AOM):
From
Brussels, start on the E40, heading to Ghent
From Antwerp, start on the E17, heading to Ghent
Take exit Zwijnaarde to merge onto A14/E17 toward Kortrijk
Take exit 5-Waregem to merge onto Expresweg/N382
Go through 1 roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Stationstraat
Turn left at N357/Rijksweg, Continue to follow N357
Go through 1 roundabout, Turn right at Markt
Turn left at Ernest Brengierstraat
Turn right to stay on Ernest Brengierstraat
Ernest Brengierstraat turns left and becomes Smallestokstraat
Daaaaaaamn!!!!
Q:
What about the capacity of the venue – how many people can come in having a
great feast on Metal?
A:
300 limited!
Q:
At what time all starts Bart – when the first band will enter the stage?
A:
Doors are open at 14h. and the first band will kick your ass at 14h. 30
Q:
Can we expect a small Metal market too and what about the prices to order drinks
and food which is actually very important while visiting a festival right?
A:
We need all the room for people of course. So there’s not going to be a big
metal market. There will be (of course) the official merchandise stands.
We are looking to keep the drink and food prices as low as possible so
for 1 beer you are going to pay 1 ,50 euro. So that’s pretty cheap.
Q:
About the three headliners Tokyo Blade, Avenger and Cloven Hoof – man, this a
great choice to me. I saw Tokyo Blade way back in the early 80s at the
prestigious Heavy Sound Festival in Poperinge, Belgium. Well, very long time ago
but my memory won’t let me down on that show… Tokyo Blade ruled the stage
that day. Decades later now, what are the expectation from the nowadays TB
legion?
A:
I saw them live at work on the Keep It True Festival and I can say they are
still standing ground. But the best thing to do is to come and see for
yourselves!! I can say you can expect a night of the blade!!!
I
have spoken to Andy Boulton personally and he promised to give Belgium back what
they had on the Heavy Sound Festival!!!
Q:
About Cloven Hoof and Avenger – damn right I always admired these guys’
style! I guess you saw them both lately in Germany, am I correct? If so, how
were they?
A:
Avenger is still great and a very fun band to watch on stage. They really get
the crowd going. Watch Ian Swift (vocals) crazy dude really!
Good
old new wave of British Heavy Metal in his purest form!!! Over 30 years they are
playing killer elite and so on… Respect
is already earned!!
Cloven
hoof is a must see. Russ north is one of the best vocalist I have ever seen. One
hell of a band. A really, really ‘must’ to see them on stage.
They
also have a new collection album. After you have seen Cloven Hoof. Well let’s
say your certainly going to buy that album!!
Q:
Besides three excellent headliners, there are plenty of other and especially
great Belgian Metal act to enjoy. As for me, I really look forward to Gae Bolga
(THE Thrash Metal revelation at the moment), Fireforce (ex-Double Diamond!!) and
Trenchfoot (Thrashcore). I guess that the bands are ready to deliver a hell of a
performance, right?
A:
Gae Bolga is playing a home match so expectations are high. Look forward for
great tracks like: ‘smell my jacket’, ‘mambo nr 666’ and of course
‘he’s not gay - let’s thrash him anyway’!!
Fireforce
still rocks like double diamond did couple of years ago. There live performance
still shakes the ground. It’s the first time since the chance of the band name
that they come to this part of our little country so they are going to give it
their best
And
yeah Trenchfoot … well if you like it fast you’ll be on the right track with
them!
Q:
Do you have an idea how many tickets are sold by now, about one month before
hell breaks loose?
A:
Yeah sure I have an idea. Let’s just say don’t wait to long to order
tickets. Sold out means SOLD OUT you know!
Q:
Better give a contact address where to order tickets.
A:
tickets can be ordered at the following stores:
Metalzone
Brugge
Café
De Witte Raaf Oudenaarde
And of course on the website and email: www.agesofmetal.be / tickets@agesofmetal.be
Q:
By the way, people come to see the show after travelling many many miles from
home… can they overnight to sleep a couple of hours?
A:
Like I said, if metalheadz from the area want to stay for the night there are
a bunch of bed and breakfast at our site. And if other metalheadz can give some
people a bed let it know on our guestbook or @ info@agesofmetal.be
So
for sleeping possibilities head for
the website www.agesofmetal.be
Q:
Raising up such type of Metal event must be quite expensive – to collect some
extra cash, you had to search for sponsors I suppose. Did that process went good
so far?
A:
Well yeah pretty well. It could been better but there’s an economical crisis
and people are not so keen to invest in such festivals. Let’s hope the wind
turns next year right? But hell fuck it. Live for Metal and die for Metal. As
long as we can organise this festival for years to come we will do it. No matter
the costs.
Q:
To promote Ages Of Metal, you’ve travelled many roads from Belgium to Holland
over Germany. Being present at foreign Metal events to promote your own
festival, to stick posters on the wall as much as possible – what about first
reactions on the festival Bart?
A:
A lot of people in Belgium didn’t even know all those bands still existed. A
lot of metal maniacs from the 80’s are looking forward to see them again. All
reactions where very positive. I did interviews for Streetclip TV in Germany at
the Headbangers Open Air Festival. Reactions in Germany are also very positive.
There are a bunch of German metalheadz who already ordered tickets and will
travel 6 to 8 hours to show us there worst German attitude hahaha. So watch out.
We also have sold tickets to French people and guys from Holland and so on.
Let’s hope the reactions are the same on the day of the festival.
Q:
Okay Bart, I'm running outta questions brother – I wish you all the very best
with Ages Of Metal Festival and surely will do my very best being present at
your Metal happening later on. Keep up the great works dude – any last words
to our readers?
A: Let’s kick some ass on the 17th of October guys - Cheers and beers… See ya there!