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Insane Beer Drinking Metal Madness: This Is Ozzfest a review by Grak
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Ozzfest couldn't have been any funner this year. For Bryan Cox and I, it has been a tradition since 1999...the year metal embraced us into the fold. For me (and Cox and a couple other my friends too...Not too many though), metal is an escape. It's a chance to just go nuts one day out of the year...And it's so much fucking fun I can't even describe...because at a heavy show, if you don't go nuts, then you just don't fit in.
Anyway we talked Gordo into going (he went with me to Ozzfest 2000 in Nashville...it was fun), so I knew he was in. We also talked this crazy mother fucker named David Young from the valley into going...He wasn't to into metal...But we told him we were going to Charlotte for 3 days and getting fucked up at a concert...so he was in. Turns out he raised almost as much hell as Cox and me (almost). Anyway, we rented a hotel near the venue and got so fucked up...I don't know how we woke up the next morning at 6 to get their tickets. But we did...And the day was; metal...beer...moshing...tities...smoke...metal...beer...moshing...tities....smoke...you get the picture. Anyway, it really kicked as. As for the bands? Here's the review...
American Head Charge
The first wave of ass kicking: Delievered by American Head Charge
Well we got to the gates 2 hours before they opened so we could make sure to get Gordo and Dave Young a ticket. We were successful...they were the first two people in line. As soon as we got there...we walked around for 10 minutes and then American Head Charge started playing. I had heard from a lot of people that they were the best unknown band at the show. The hype was well deserved...These mother fuckers tore shit up. We were moshing full throttle at like 10 am to a band we'd never even heard. But after their show, we all knew we were in for a fun ass day. On a scale from 1 to 10...AHC got a 8. The best songs they did were: "Violent Reaction", "Reach and Touch", and "The Suspect Song".
No One
No One rips shit up on the Levi Stage
After AHC got done, we rushed over to the 1st stage (they called it the Levi Stage) to watch No One...We only caught the last couple of songs by them. I really wanted to see a song called "Chemical", and we were lucky enough to see that and one more song. No one got a relatively small crowd going nuts...They were the only band we watched on the Levi Stage and they put on a great show. Rating: 7. Favorite songs: "Chemical"
Spineshank
One of my all time favorite bands getting the crowd insane: Spineshank
Bryan Cox, Johnny Santos (lead singer of Spineshank), and me.
Spineshank was next I think. I'd seen them once before and really liked them...They've been one of my favorite bands for years now...And this year...They totally ripped shit apart. Huge circle pits started right as soon as the music did...And they had great crowd interaction. Spineshank is a band that deserves to be playing right before Ozzy...They are that good. And as you can see from the picture above, Cox and I got our picture with the lead singer. That was like a dream for me...And the cool part about it was he was so grateful for us driving all that way to see them. I love it when bands actually appreciate you showing up...Spineshank (along with Hatebreed) were the best act of the day. Rating: 10+. Favorite songs: "Detached", "Height Of Callousness", "Cyanide 2600", and "Syntheic".
Hatebreed
This is HateFUCKINGbreed. Whatcha know about Hatebreed, huh? This is hardcore music for hardcore people.
Ever been in a pit? This ain't no Crazy Town mosh pit...This is the real deal...A Hatebreed Pit.
Spineshank wore me out...I absolutely moshed harder than I probably ever had in my life. After their set, I was heading to get something to drink. I was about halfway there when I heard a man announcing Hatebreed. I've never run so fast in my life. Hatebreed is one of my favorite bands...And there was no was I was missing any of their set cause I'd never seen them before. So I ran all the way back to the stage and was right up front. God...Talk about a show. They put all those rap metal bands to fucking shame. Cox and David had to run through the biggest, meanest pit I'd ever seen (the one in the picture above). We absolutely raised hell...I was so tired at the end of their set that I could hardly stand and was dying of thirst. Along with Spineshank: they were by far the best band of the day. Rating: 10+. Fav songs: "Last Breathe", "I Will Be Heard", "Burial For the Living", and "Driven By Suffering". Fucking amazing.
Nonpoint
Ellian of Nonpoint getting lost in the rythm
Ok...My whole body felt like jello after Hatebreeds set. We were about to go get some free Yoo-Hoo...But Nonpoint was next and I knew they would put on a good show so I stayed up front once again. I made the right choice...Nonpoint was great. I'd seen them once with Spineshank at Mooses and they were awesome. And they are really nice too...Me and Cox know the bass player (kinda). I talked to them in February and asked them if they were gonna be at Ozzfest...And he said if they got a chance to play it then they would. And they were one of the best acts all day...They were one of the bands that everyone were talking about at the end of the day. Rating: 9. Fav songs: "What A Day", "Endure", and "Back Up".
Taproot
Taproot: Delivering an ass kicking in style.
This was Bryan's favorite band of the day. I thought Taproot did a pretty good job...It was a helluva lot better than their set at Ozzfest 2000. I thought they sucked at Ozzfest 2000, but this year they more than redeemed themselves this year. Rating: 8. Favorite Songs: "I", "Emotional Times", and "Smile".
Drowning Pool
Drowning Pool tears it up.
My favorite picture of all time. From left to right: Bryan Cox, the lead singer of Drowning Pool, the lead singer of The Union Underground, myself, and the drummer from the Union Underground. In shorter terms: Five Drunk Metal Heads
Drowning Pool was next. I was really into the "Bodies" song and so was everyone else at the time. I bought their CD and wasn't really impressed with it...It sounded kinda like everything else. But their live show was amazing...and they are some of the coolest mother fuckers I've ever met...which made me like their CD a lot more. The picture above is of Cox, the lead singer of Drowning Pool, the lead singer of the Union Underground, myself, and the drummer of the Union Underground. This is my favorite picture of the day...And the guys from the bands were so cool about taking it...They were like "Make sure to show your fucking horns!". I loved it. I'll never lose this picture. But anyway, Drowning Pools show was awesome. Rating: 8. Favorite Songs: "Bodies", "Tear Away", and "I Am".
Union Underground
Union Underground: Taking everyone on a South Texas Death Ride
I bought the Union Underground CD right before Ozzfest and fell in love with it. If you like White Zombie, then you will definately like the Union Underground. They have a very unique sound and are all really nice guys. And their show? Fucking crazy. They came on right before Mudvayne and we stood in the back for the first part because we were so tired. But in the end we were right up front were we belonged, head banging and moshing like there was no tomorrow. Rating: 9. Favorite Songs: "Revolution Man", "South Texas Death Ride", and "Turn Me On Mr. Deadman".
Mudvayne
Mudvayne: One of most intense shows you'll ever see
Another pic of Mudvayne's incredible show.
As if the day hadn't been insane enough...Then comes Mudvayne. One of the best live bands out there. I asked Bryan if he thought we could make it through the whole set because we were in the very front. It was probably one of the most brutal shows I can remember...Everyone was so jam packed it was hard to fucking breathe. Mudvayne are nothing more than lunatics with musical talent...and they with that musical talent, they turned everyone in the crowd into luncatics too. I can't even describe the intensity of this shit...You'd have to had seen it. Fucking awesome. Rating: 10. Favorite Songs: "Dig", "Death Blooms", and "-1".
Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society
We missed most of BLS. But I was really fucking drunk by that time (I forget to mention that we had been drinking beer all fucking day and were all about wasted). But I was walking around drunker than piss and I heard BLS playing. Cox and I went to our seats and watched them do a cover of Ozzy's "No More Tears", and that turned into a drunken sing-along. Loved it. Black Label Society were the only redneck rock-n-roll there, so I really enjoyed them. Rating: 9. Favorite Songs: "No More Tears", "Superterrorizer", and "13 Years Of Grief".
Crazy Town
Crazy Town was a band that I thought I would help boo off the stage. I think their music is fucking pathetic and that they didn't deserve to be at Ozzfest. But to tell the truth, they kinda fucking rocked. They are a pussy rap metal band, but they showed more of a metal side at Ozzfest...Shifty let out some pretty awesome screams on the songs "Darkside" and "Toxic". I was actually impressed...considering they are a pussy band and all. Rating: 6 (they still suck). Fav songs: "Toxic" and "Darkside". I hate that god damn "Butterfly" song...I think I threw up my beer to it.
Disturbed
A pic of Disturbed on the Main Stage...They sucked.
I saw Disturbed on the second stage at Ozzfest 2000 and I really liked them. What happened? They totally blew goat balls this year...Most other people seemed to like them...But I was booing them off the stage. They just stood there...No jumping around...No screaming "Get the fuck up"...no nothing. Pathetic. They don't even deserve a review. Rating: 3. Favorite Songs: None.
Linkin Park
I'm not a huge Linkin Park fan anymore now that they've gotten really popular...But they actually did a descent job. They; like Crazy Town, were a band that I thought I'd help boo off the stage. But they showed a really metal side that day...And had good crowd interaction. I actually really enjoyed their set. Good job Linkin Park, you proved me wrong. You're still a pussy band though...but you're live show isn't that bad. Rating: 6. Favorite Songs: "In The End", "Crawling", "Papercut".
Papa Roach
Here's the thing about Papa Roach. If I liked punk rock, then I'd like them. But I don't. As far as a live show goes...They do a fucking great job. But I just don't like their music. I think Coby is a fat dork and that they didn't belong at Ozzfest. So, that's my standpoint on Papa Roach. Rating: 4. Favorite Songs: I kinda liked "Broken Home"...that's it.
Slipknot
Man I was really looking forward to seeing Slipknot again. They were the best band at Ozzfest 99. They totally tore shit up. This year something was just...missing. Their sound was horrible...All the sounds sounded jumbled and distorted. And Corey's voice just wasn't the same. And they weren't half as crazy as in 99. I dunno...I think if they were on the second stage they'd have been a lot better. Maybe it was just a bad day for Slipknot...Who knows. I still love their music...But their performance that day was pitiful. Rating: 5. Favorite Songs: "New Abortion", "Sic", "Wait and Bleed", and "Surfacing".
Marilyn Manson
Manson putting a kick ass show on the main stage
Here's the whole reason Gordo and Dave came...To see Manson. Cox and I weren't really hyped to see him...But to tell the truth Manson kicked ass. His stage props were amazing (He sang "Evolution" on this 80 foot stilts...Fucking crazy!). And he played all the songs I like by him...Some Manson songs I love and some I hate...By irony he played all the ones I loved. The only thing I didn't like was when he got naked during "Sweet Dreams"...now that's just god damn sick. But otherwise he put on a good show. Rating: 9. Favorite Songs: "Love Song", "Beautiful People", and "Disposeable Teens".
Black Sabbath
By this time, everyone was tired and no one wanted to stay for Sabbath. I'd seen them before, so I agreed to leave. Now I wished I hadn't....That's like a cardinal sin in heavy metal...To miss Sabbath. Oh well...Another time. Overall I had a great fucking day. I did just what I planned...I got drunk as fuck and moshed all day with my some of my best friends. The only people that I knew down there were Jason Weaver, his brother, Jackie Ray Overbay, and Justin Emmit. I was really happy to see them...And to all you mother fuckers that said you would go but didn't...God did you ever miss out. Too bad...
And now for the award ceremony.
OZZFEST 2001 AWARDS
Break Out Act: American Head Charge and Nonpoint. Everyone was talking about their shows once the day was over.
Best Crowd Interaction: 3 Way Tie: Marilyn Manson, Mudvayne, and Hatebreed. They got the shit going nuts.
Biggest Disappointment: Slipknot. Sound was horrible. I was too far away...And they weren't as crazy as 99...Just musta been an off day for the Knot.
Biggest Suprise: Tie between Linkin Park and Crazy Town. I thought both of them would be booed off the stage.
Best Song: Big tie. Here are my favorite ones: Spineshank - " The Height of Callousness", Marilyn Manson - "The Love Song", American Head Charge - "Violent Reaction", Black Label Society - "No More Tears", The Union Underground - "Revolution Man", Hatebreed - "Driven By Suffering".
Best Crowd Interaction: Crazy Town - "Butterfly". God I hate that song.
Worst Overall Band Disturbed or Papa Roach. I'm glad there was no guns close to me during their sets...
Best Overall Band Spineshank or Hatebreed. Total insanity...You wouldn't understand...
Well, I guess that's it people. I really wish I'd have seen more of my friends at Charlotte this year. Next year's Ozzfest is sure to be a blast too...Maybe this time you fuckers will listen to me.
My favorite group of all time, Down ( a side project of Phil Anselmo of Pantera), is rumored to be headlining to second stage this year...That will be fucking insane. Filter is also rumored to be there...but those are the only two bands that have been mentioned so far. I'd also like to see the following bands there: Nothingface, Ill Nino, Chimaira, Machine Head, Fear Factory, Poison The Well, Korn, TOOL, Hatebreed, Spineshank, hed (pe), System Of A Down, Static X, Cold, Dope, E Town Concrete, 18 Visions, Biohazard, and Sepultura. Those are just a few that come to mind...Guess we won't know till it's official...Well I'm tired of typing...Adios.