Architects command the whole second day of Summer Breeze – report from the festival 15.08

After the mayhem of the first day, it’s time for another crazy adventure on the Summer Breeze grounds, which promises to host once again many interesting and top-notch acts. Our day starts quite soon, at least sooner than yesterday. We arrive at the infield around 11 o’clock, set up shop and then get ready to enjoy the first act on the main stage.

Crypta

Which is Crypta, an all-female death metal band from Brazil. But let me warn you: if you think or presume that these ladies are not able to deliver a good show, you might as well just close this page and check out one of their upcoming performances. Because, not only do they put on a massive show, they play metal harder than any of the all-male metal bands. With their coordinated movements, their endless headbanging, their chemistry and connection, it’s clear that they have put quite some effort into preparing and performing their set. Now I understand why everyone speaks so highly of these ladies: they surely deserve all the praise they’ve got, and perhaps even more!

Photo: Silvio Colombo.

Dynazty

From an all-female metal band, let’s now watch an all-male metal band. At 12:55, it’s Dynazty‘s turn to enchant the audience present at Dinkelsbühl. I have been wanting to see Dynazty for at least two years, and they definitely made my wait worthwhile. This group is capable of engaging so well with the crowd, providing us with spectacular vocals and very powerful sounds. Then, you know, a girl’s also got to look at something pleasant for a change, am I wrong? Nils Molin and company certainly have got their charm and charisma; but then, Swedish bands have always been very close to my heart for more reasons than mere looks. They played several songs out of their latest release “Final Advent”, as well as immortal classics. There is literally nothing more I could have asked of them!

Photo: Silvio Colombo.

Blind Channel

It would be enormously disrespectful to the website I write for and to Finland as well if we didn’t catch Blind Channel performing. I’m also willing to go a little bit overboard and say that they should have played on the main stage because the crowd that they managed to gather was impressive. Just as the line that was at their signing session (which I obviously attended), the talent of these Finnish lads is something that goes unmatched to this day. The energy they have on stage is out of this world, the passion and dedication they put into their tracks is awe-inspiring. From their latest hits like “XOXO” or covers like “B.Y.O.B.“, there is nothing that Blind Channel cannot achieve. All hail Blind Channel!

Photo: Silvio Colombo.

Architects

I can’t believe it’s already time for the headliner of the second day, and this time we’ve been graced with Architects. After their spectacular show I saw in Wacken Open Air not even two weeks ago, I was eager once again to witness their set. They obviously did not disappoint, bringing even more power and intensity to Summer Breeze. This was achieved with the use of pyrotechnics in combination with their bewitching use of lights and animation. The group is solid and perfectly at ease in such a setting, and didn’t display a single sign of weakness. Sam Carter on lead vocals commands the stage and switches from growls to clean vocals like a piece of cake, Adam Christianson and Martyn Evans on guitars know exactly how to fuel the music with their intricate riffs and memorable solos, Alex Dean on bass was proficient and skilled, Ryan Burnett was a bit hidden when on keyboard duties, but shined like the sun on noon when he was playing guitar. Dan Searle is the cherry on top, drumming and performing like his life depended on this. From recent hits like “deep fake” to notorious classics like “Doomsday“, the band grabbed full hands from their discography to try and satisfy everyone in the crowd. Based on what I saw, people were definitely pleased with their show!

Photos: Silvio Colombo.

Dark Tranquillity

We’re leaving the metalcore of Architects behind to welcome the melodic death metal of Swedish masters Dark Tranquillity, remaining always on the main stage. Their performance started with a 10-minute delay on the schedule. I have heard long of them, but never had the chance to see them live before Summer Breeze, and now I get the excitement they gather to them. The group, led by Mikael Stanne, is almost as close to perfect stage presence as the headliners, and that is a statement that not many bands are going to get. Stanne walks on stage as if he were on a stroll, trotting from left to right with a huge smile on his face (when he’s evidently not growling). Like a bottle of good wine, with time passing they get better; as they have a career that exceeds 30 years, the taste of Dark Tranquillity is sweet, intense and forcible.

Photo: Silvio Colombo.

Exodus

If the 10-minute delay of Dark Tranquillity wasn’t much, unfortunately, Exodus‘s show started 30 minutes late. It wouldn’t have bothered me if this happened in the afternoon, but after a long and exhausting hot day of running and working, it definitely took a toll on me. But still, I would have waited for them even longer, because it isn’t every day that these thrash metal legends come across the pond. Their set was very minimal, with just a wall of Marshall amplifiers behind them, but that is all that they need to make an ordinary show turn to magnificence. The majority of the songs they played were taken off of their debut album “Bonded By Blood”, their baptism into the fire that is heavy metal. Their show concluded with “Strike Of The Beast“, introduced by a snippet of Slayer‘s “Raining Blood” by Gary Holt. The second day ends in a blast!

Photo: Silvio Colombo.