92-09-05 Feeding The Fire (photos)

More on this concert:

92-09-05 Ironside – Strong Event – Blindfold – Shortsight – No More – Feeding The Fire – Spirit Of Youth

Here’s some extra photos (taken by Jean-Paul Frijns), courtesy of Jason Fox:

Léon Kleikers (drums; also guitarist of ‘No Sense), Illona Stephan (guitar); co-organiser Hans Verbeke

Rob Franssen (vocals), Roger ‘NBH’ (bass); Tom Chapman (‘Ironside’ guitarist) in the crowd

Illona, Har(ald) Brosselt (guitar; also in ‘No Sense), Rob; Nick Royles (‘Ironside’ drummer) & Jase Fox (‘Step One’) in the crowd

Har, Illona, Rob, Roger; Nathalie D. & Jörg Jacoby in the crowd

Illona, Har, Rob; Edward Verhaghe & Jörg Jacoby in the crowd

Har, Rob, Illona; an astonished Michael Müller (R)

95-04-09 Strain – Mainstrike – Rancor – Congress

‘Strain’ – Remorse 7″

This gig was organised by Hans Verbeke…

‘Strain’ was a band from Vancouver (Canada) that played “metallic mosh-core in the vein of ‘Snapcase’ & ‘Chokehold’, with staccato rhythms”: Eric ‘Flexyourhead’ Thorkelsson (bass; ex ‘Fratricide’; does the Flex Your Head radio-show), Jody Taylor (vocals), Len Greenblat (drums), Greg Dinardo (guitar) and Sean Lande (guitar; seanlande.com). They had put out some 7”s (self-titled on Overkill recs ’94, Cataract & Driven on HeartFirst ’94, Remorse on Pushead’s Bacteria Sour recs ‘95) and later recorded for several more releases on the label ran by Flo(rian) Helmchen (my mate from Berlin, ex ‘Squandered Message’ bassist): HeartFirst recs. The latter was on the road with them and present here. On this tour Gabriel ‘Gabe’ Mantle stood in on drums, and I believe Jennings ‘Jinx’ Stringer stood in on guitar. The band came back on 96-09-22…

‘Strain’ (pics by Joeri Hoste)

‘Mainstrike’, a SxE band from Arnhem/Nijmegen did their first gig at the V.V. that day. They were Jeroen ‘Beertje’ Vrijhoef (guitar; together with Marcel Palijama he also ran the label Coalition recs), Jasper Meijerink (bass; later replaced by Johnny van de Koolwijk), Jonas Moberg (guitar), Roland ‘Big’ ‘Lord Bigma’ Roller (vocals, also guitarist ‘Man Lifting Banner’) and Pepijn Oostenbrink (drums, later also in ‘One Day Closer’). They had a demo out, called Youth Crew ’95. After the summer they did a 7”, Times Still Here, released on Peter Hoeren’s Crucial Response recs. They came back a bunch of times: 95-08, 95-10-20, 97-08 & 99-08…

‘Mainstrike’ (photo by Joeri Hoste)

‘Rancor’, an ‘edge’-metal band from Dutch Limburg were Michel ‘Mike’ Senden (guitar; also ‘Bloodsport’), Fabrice Zander (bass), ‘R2D2’ (drum-computer) and Pascal Crombach (vocals). Later it was intended that Armand ‘Persecution’ would take over the bass so Fabrice could play guitar… They recorded a CD entitled Distinguish, released in ’97 by Lifeforce recs (Leipzig). Mike & Fabrice had the idea to do a label, One Solution recs…

‘Rancor’ (photo by Joeri Hoste)

 

At the time of this gig ‘Congress’ (who’d played here already a bunch of times, e.g. 93-04-25, 93-05-22, 94-01-08, etc.) consisted of Joost ‘Josh Fury’ Noyelle (guitar), ‘Uniform’ ‘UxJx’ Jan Vandekerckhove (bass), ‘Pitbull’ Pierre Vanrumbeke (vocals), Ilja ‘Chill Jay’ De Ceuleneire (drums). Their additional guitarist Michael ‘Micha Soprano’ Pintelon (also in ‘Deformity’) played here too. GoodLife’s marketing-strategy (“H8000 vegan edge-metal”) was taking form. After the ‘release’ of the Euridium 7” (at first on Warehouse recs – the precursor to GoodLife – GL started officially on Jan 1^st ‘96; a limited edition was handed out at their gig in The Pits, 94-12-23) and the band working on the Blackened Persistance (should actually be ‘Persistence’) album, Ed had “things going for him”…

Brob

‘Rancor’ and ‘Congress’ played here too. I wasn’t at the festival [95-08] so the pics are from this gig. ‘Rancor’ played with balaclavas that day. And it was also the first day the ‘Congress’ LP was available. [Brob: Blackened Persistance LP/CD was actually officially released on the “release-show” on Nov. 26^th 1995 with ‘Nations Of Fire’ in Izegem.]

Jeffrey Kroesen

‘Rancor’….the band I started with Michel (ex ‘F.T.F.’ & ‘Point Of No Return’ guitarist)! I played and we asked Pascal as vocalist. Michel and I were programming sounds/beats but eventually Michel did it on his own. Even before the 1^st show Fabrice got in the picture, in the beginning as second bassist (if it was my call) but the other 2 didn’t like the idea (too heavy?). But Pascal already had it in his head: Fabrice would definitely be in the band; as he had promised him. That became a bit of a problem. I then chose myself, stupidly enough, to leave the band to save everything. Fabrice became bassist and from the first show on they were a trio, without me. Still regret this, because it was also my ‘baby’ and Fabrice turned out a big asshole! I’ll save you the details… So, no, I never was on any stage with ‘Rancor’ (unfortunately). I did help ‘em set up on stage at the V.V. and when they played the Ieper-fest, in the barn at the back [95-08].

The music I’ve been making (solo) since 1995/1997 is not an extension of what ‘Rancor’ did, or what I wanted to do. It’s dark ambient/drones/soundscapes. ‘Monotonos’, check my website: monotonos.org (quiet room, good speakers/headphones recommended!), enjoy.

Roger ‘NBH, Nothing But Human’

So ‘Rancor’ is Roger ‘NBH’s baby? That’s interesting…didn’t know that. He and Michel made this song, which eventually got the name Victim 206, but that was even before ‘Rancor’ became a band. (Name and lyrics of that song are by Henry ‘The Serial Killer’ Körver). Roger never showed up for practice, so I guess it’s safe to say he’s never been a member of the band. He was part of the crew though and he made a very nice layout for our tape and indeed, he helped us in Ieper roady-style. But that’s it. It’s something he seems to regret and now he likes to bitch about it. Talking shit about Fabrice. Get over it and grow up, you’re making a fool of yourself.

‘Rancor’ was an experiment. We know it wasn’t all that great, it was experimental and fun, looking back I can say we where ahead of our time. But it was all over before we could give ourself a chance to grow and make our sound more complete. Still, it was fun playing with all these great bands like ‘Congress’, ‘Integrity’, ‘Mainstrike’, ‘Ringworm’ and many more.

By the way: Armand ‘’Persecution’ never played bass, it was something we talked about, but never happened. One Solution recs was just a name but didn’t exist.

Vort’n vis was a great venue, there was nothing like it. It was the heart of the Straight Edge hardcore scene and it was always great being there!

Pascal Crombach, ‘Rancor’ vocalist

Len Greenblat had some sort of break down; that’s what I heard anyway…

Gabriel ‘Gabe’ Mantle, ‘Strain’ drummer on this tour

I was on that tour in ‘95 (guitar) but I wasn’t on the tour in ‘96. (Four your interest: due to some member-issues, ‘Strain’ was almost not going to do the tour in ‘95 but glad they did. Fun times!!!) Sorry, I don’t remember the club or show exactly, but I do remember Ypres… First time for me in Belgium, first time I had some Belgium fries… Yum. I believe there was an air-balloon festival of some sort at the time? Also remember visiting the war-monuments, but it seems like a long time ago. Just by looking at the show-lists, ‘Strain’ played with ‘Congress’… I remember them being pretty damn heavy, probably heavier than any band we played with on that tour. I believe they were still pretty unknown at the time, I think I may still have a 7”?…

Jennings ‘Jinx’ Stringer, ‘Strain’ stand-in guitarist

I was 19 and it was my first big tour. A lot of it was a blur. I remember the ‘Congress’ guys but my memory is so bad. I actually recall playing that show and something about the stage. I don’t even remember most of the shows whatsoever. It was a 7 week tour with shows almost every night.

Sean Lande, ‘Strain’ guitarist

My memory is fuzzy. I remember a strange stage and lots of windows in the venue. Ed took us for some frites and laughed at us when we were surprised that Belgians put more than ketchup on their fries. We also walked around looking at some war-memorials. As for the show: ‘Congress’ blew me away, they were amazing! Met some very cool people there.

Jody Taylor, ‘Strain’ vocalist

I was indeed on tour with ‘Strain’ and at this gig. I do not have a lot of recollections of it; mainly that I met Ed [GoodLife] and Bruno [Genet]. And that I thought what a bunch of clowns this whole H8000 thing was. I also remember ‘Mainstrike’ taking SxE very seriously with their white hooded sweaters, esp. the singer. The gig was pretty OK but I don’t really have much interesting and positive to write about it.

Flo(rian) Helmchen

I have fine memories about the Vort’n Vis. I came over regularly with Jean-Paul of Value Of Strength zine, long before the ‘Rancor’ period. That were always great weekends that I will never forget. ‘Rancor’ played there twice. This first time was enormously embarrassing because the P.A. wasn’t prepared for a drum-computer. Our 2^nd performance [95-08], on a sweaty afternoon, was more succesful.

Pascal Crombach, ‘Rancor’ vocalist

photos courtesy of Jeffrey Kroesen:

‘Strain’

‘Rancor’

(in the back: Roger ‘NBH’)

(on the right: Joeri Hoste (black tie), Ed GoodLife, Aaron Vyvial, Yannick Daems)

crowd (with some ‘Sektor’ members) during the ‘Congress’ set

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

Diana B. (‘Mainstrike’ driver): “… I loved it here! The bands were great, the atmosphere good, and it’s always nice to meet up with friends and acquaintances, and meet new people …”

additions wellcome!…

94-10-09 Dystopia – Unhinged – Deconsume – [ABC Diabolo] – [Hypocritical Society]

Did ‘Gluebag’ play??? Can’t remember… (See guestbook… Was a short-lived band with Phil ‘Hiatus’…)

Brob

I think ‘Dystopia’ didn’t play that show [They did write something in the V.V. guest-book and ‘Mauz’ & others remember…]. It was our (‘Deconsume’) 1^st gig by the way… I believe ‘Unhinged’, ‘Hypocritical Society’ and ‘ABC Diabolo’ were billed but ‘ABC …’ never made it over… So there were only 3 bands.

‘Deconsume’ were 6 class-mates [Koen, Bart, Steffen, Pieter, Michiel, Nico] who decided to make music. After having seen ‘Disrupt’ (93-10-31) at the Vort’n Vis the choice to also play crust was easily made. We did about 6 or 7 shows I think, but they were all great: two at the Vort’n Vis but also with ‘Masskontroll’ in the Antwerp region, with ‘Kosjer D’, ‘Insane Youth’ and a lot more bands in Tongeren. After secundary school the band fell apart. Half also got different musical interests. One of our singers (Steffen Geypens) sang for ‘Visions Of War’ for a moment (he’s on their first split 7”). Koen Luyckx became the second singer for ‘Vuur’ for a few years after Yannick Daems had to stop singing. I still jam with Stef ‘Empower’ & Nico Peeters (‘King Terror’) sometimes (in the vein of ‘Drop Dead’, still hard and fast). I’m also in ‘Nervous Mothers’…

Bart Jansen, ‘Deconsume’ guitarist

I clearly remember being really disappointed when ‘ABC Diabolo’ was supposed to play but didn’t turn up as one of their guys had to get his welfare-stamp that day or something…hehe. [They did play the year before: 93-12-20.]

Stijn Druyts

It was the first appearance of ‘Deconsume’ (Bart Jansen – guitar, Koen Luyckx – vocals, Michiel Mostmans – bass, Steffen Geypens – vocals, Pieter Brosens – drums & Nico Braspenning – guitar) here but they came back 95-04-29…

‘Unhinged’, from Liège, was the band of my mates Manu (vocals; later Nat) & Alain (guitar) – both running Nabate recs & distribution, with some lads of ‘Hiatus’: Wills (later Tomoy of ‘Scraps’) on bass and Azill (later Ben) on drums. They’d played at the Vort’n Vis a few times before (94-01-30 & unannounced on 94-08-06). Their 2^nd demo was recorded (at Ape studio) April ’95 and these songs were later released (combined with 4 songs recorded in ‘96 at 195 studio) on the band’s debut LP Win Our Freedom In Fire (released by Nabate in ’96).

‘Unhinged’, photos by Piero Majocchi

‘Hypocritical Society’ had been here before with ‘Disrupt’ (93-10-31)… Bart ‘Deconsume’ had the idea they were due here again but no-one seems to be able to confirm this…

‘Dystopia’ (from California) was termed ‘sludge’ (a mix of heavy metal and crust-punk – “doom-laden, metal-tinged, down-tuned punk”). Their sound embodied all of the horrors, pain, agony and desperation of modern day society; brutal, hateful and misanthropic – a “love earth – hate people” philosophy. The band consisted of Anthony ‘Dino’ Sommese (drums/vocals; nowadays in ‘Noothgrush’ & ‘Ghoul’), Matt ‘Mauz’ Parrillo (guitar/vocals), Todd Kiessling (bass/vocals) & Dan Kaufman (vocals; also ‘Mindrot’). Their very first European tour was booked by Michael Knopp of the German label Common Cause (he also did their tour in ‘97). They had a split-12” with ‘Embittered’ & a split-7” with ‘Grief’ out on Misanthropic recs (1993). The Human = Garbage LP (1994) was without Dan. (Later it was released as a 12 track CD on on Life Is Abuse (Mauz’ label), Misanthropic recs and Common Cause, featuring additional songs from their splits with ‘Embittered’ and ‘Grief’, and one unreleased track).

Brob

‘Dystopia’ did indeed play. ‘ABC Diabolo’ did not, they were supposed to but one of the guys couldn’t miss work that day for some reason… I think half of the band was there with us. We had van-trouble along the way there and arrived late, showing up right when ‘Unhinged’ was starting. So I don’t remember if ‘Deconsume’ played? I don’t think ‘Hypocritical Society’ played as we’d met them before and I don’t remember them being there. But yeah, we had a great time playing there with ‘Unhinged’ which was the beginning of a long and great friendship with them and the ‘Hiatus’ folks. After the gig we had wonderful evening partying with them and the locals… The equipment was still set up after the doors were locked and we started jamming covers with Azill and Wills. And I remember drinking a lot of amazing Lambics as well!

Dan wasn’t there as he left the band 6 or 8 months after we formed. Everyone in ‘Dystopia’ are still in contact with each other and we’re still good friends (though the band will remain finished; it’s much easier for all of us). Dino is still in Oakland and now singing in ‘Noothgrush’. Todd lives in Minneapolis now – he was playing in ‘Sour Vein’ for awhile but not active with any music at the moment. Dan lives in Long Beach, working at postman and plays in the band ‘Destroy Judas‘. I’m currently playing in the band ‘Kicker‘ and running a print-shop.

Matt ‘Mauz’ Parrillo, ‘Dystopia’ guitarist (monolithpress.net)

I was the driver for ‘Dystopia’ on that leg of the tour. Basically it was Andreas (the singer for ‘ABC Diabolo’) who couldn’t play because he had to report back to the unemployment-office the next morning). I’m fairly certain ‘Hypocritical Society’ didn’t play either… I went to sleep almost straight away after the show was over, only to be woken up (around 3:00 a.m., if my memory serves me right) by ‘Dystopia’ playing Sleep at full volume… How befitting, I thought. I think one of the Belgians talked them into it. I don’t think they played that song at any of the regular shows on that tour. There might or might not have been an incident involving a Belgian and the impossibility of peeing out of a roof-window that night, though the details of that part of the night escape me… Fun times.

Jürgen ‘Evil’ Bäuerle

During the winter of 1994-1995 I visited the Vort’n Vis many times while I was living in Leuven. I could write the same thing for every gig; that it was very exciting and fuckin’ funny, very good bands, the best available at that time (at least for me, living in Northern Italy). In those years Belgium had a historical HC-scene (I adored ‘Nations On Fire’) and crust-scene (‘Hiatus’, my favourite band), the best bands from all over Europe and USA were touring there and there were lots of active people, distros and organisers; plus endless rivers of excellent beer and mountains of Dutch weed. Also lots of music, talks, engagement, fun. The main difference with punk-gigs in Italy was that in Italy it was absolutely clear that you were in a political anarchist squatted social centre at a punk gig; most important was the political message, not the music as simple entertainment and fun. Belgian gigs were much less politically oriented but still DIY, not commercial, and with a very positive atmosphere; less problems (or no problems) with drunken aggressive people, no violent pogo. In Italy at that time, we still had problems with that… So, to describe just this one night: it was the second time I went to Ieper – as always alone and by train; the classic ritual of a punk gig (for me, at least): a look at the distros buying some stuff, talking with people, eating and dinking beer, then the gig. ‘Dystopia’ was a wall of screaming sound, a mix of political US hardcore (a mid 90s scene that I loved, with ‘Rorschach’, ‘Born Against’, ‘Nausea’, ‘Antischism’, ‘Subvert’, ‘Initial State’, … and European crust such as ‘Doom’, ‘Hiatus’). Then there was ‘Unhinged’ – the first time I saw them: fantastic, half of ‘Hiatus’ with Alain and Manu of Nabate recs. I was in contact with Alain since 1989 by mail, we shared the same feelings and ideas about punk, DIY, anarchy and life, we shared the goals (the death of the state and of money) and the way to achieve them (DIY, political engagement, creating alternatives to the shit, unified life resistance, no fuckin’ money!!!). All those years I distributed Nabate records in Italy. The ‘Unhinged’ gig was great: the feeling of all of this expressed in music and screaming, I still remember it… But the following part of the night was even better: an hoard of barbarian crusties (the Liège-block, with whom I shared a unforgettable alcohol-marathon in Liège that winter, was present) remained around the bar drinking all night, singing, shouting and making noise, hitting wood sticks against every possible surface in the room, total fuckin’ chaos. Late at night (morning?), I went upstairs to the sleeping-place where I met a gang of young punx from somewhere in Flanders; we talked, drank, smoked ganja, sat on the sleeping-bags, with the endless noise of the demonic hoards dowstairs, untill dawn. Holy shit, in grind we crust!

Piero Majocchi, AZ distro (Pavia, Italy)

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…

99-08-20&21&22 Ieper HC festival

(ieperfest.com)

‘Mörser’ (from Bremen, Germany) played unannounced (as did probably some more bands; e.g. the local ‘Lifecycle’)…

‘Lifecycle’ (pics courtesy of Frederik Severijns)

This August fest was the 1^st time outside the Vort’n Vis premises (start of a new era ?) so I guess that’s why it’s sometimes referred to as Ieperfest. I had already parted with the event a few years before (because of the commercialism, violence, homophobia, sexism, etc. – see 96-08). Below are a few impressions of people who attended…

Brob

>> The leading European hardcore festival, the Vort’n Vis Fest in Ieper had to move to a bigger location. The festival was no longer in the ‘big’ barn behind the Vort’n Vis venue but was now held on a school playground. It was open-air and I thought that was odd as hell. A hardcore show in open air. I think this was the beginning of the end of the, once cool, festival. A lot of poseurs had shown up already and in the years to come things would get worse. These days the festival is fucking stupid and most of the bands playing suck. In 1999 only a few cool bands would play. Things I still remember from the ‘99 Vort’n Vis Hardcore Festival is ‘H-Street’ playing and getting a massive response to covering ‘Token Entry’s The Edge (a song that was one of my favorites that summer), being handed Like An Arrow issue #1 by Erik Tilburg, ‘Bloodpact’ being boring as shit and ‘True Blue’ playing a weird show. […]

I think this was the first time I saw ‘True Blue’ live. I was looking forward to seeing them live, but I was a bit let down that I didn’t see 5 dudes in ‘Cro-Mags’ or ‘Chain’ shirts jumping around like idiots and being as straight-edge as can be. What I saw instead were two longhairs with rings playing guitar, drinking beer and smoking cigarettes, and a singer with unposi leg tattoos featuring skulls and post-apocalyptic scenes. I was a bit baffled at first but eventually stuck around and started enjoying the show. I think a lot Ieperfest attendees were a little let down by this sight and performance as well, because the playground emptied pretty much after two songs that sunny summer afternoon. it must have been the lack of political statements. This proofs again that ‘True Blue’ was far from a popular band. There were only a few dudes moshing and I might have done the same had I had a clue as how to mosh (to ‘True Blue’), but the only true moshers doing their thing were Mark Stroeken, Pieter SDC and Erik ‘Arrowman’ Tilburg, all three ‘True Blue’ Army. Mark was dancing like an asshole, like he always did, and probably still does, Tilburg brought his signature ultra-classic T. mosh and Pieter SDC was doing something between clumsy and cool. Other than that BXL Crew jerk Bayram was bashing some innocent bystander’s head in on the tunes of ‘God Of Wrath’ (PK mid-breakdown quote “Relax buddy” addressing some Bayram pit/pit-side beef, can still be heard from time to time during ‘Rise And Fall’ shows when some pit-shit hits the pit-fan) and I think Diamond Dave was just standing in the middle of the pit being hard. Other than that there was a big horseshoe in front of the stage. ‘True Blue’, the band that gets jocked so much and would get a huge pit-response these days, brought the greatest mosh-parts of Ieperfest 1999 and no one cared. Besides the ones I just mentioned. I remember seeing my (then soon to be) homeboy Bjorn Dossche (who was in mosh-tirement from 1997 till 2000) chilling on stage next to Jan ‘Blindfold’ behind some amps and thinking “If these dudes are checking out this band they must be cool.”. […] <<

Comment by anonymous: >> The Vort’n Vis Festival in 1999 took indeed place in a somewhat odd location, and it was the last time I visited the festival. I don’t remember all the bands. ‘Mainstrike’ were at their peak. ‘Ensign’ – whom everybody seems to have forgotten – played a crazy show with a huge circle-pit. ‘Bloodpact’ were originally not scheduled to play; I liked their set a lot at the time, they played a ‘Man Lifting Banner’ cover and I bought their split LP with ‘Varsity’. Not too sure, if I still like ‘Bloodpact’. Haven’t listened to them in many years. ‘As Friends Rust, ‘Get Up Kids’, ‘Mörser’, ‘Spirit 84’, ‘Liar’, ‘Arkangel’, ‘Reaching Forward’ and many other bands were playing; but most of those bands didn’t leave much of an impression. ‘H-Street’ were indeed playing as well: they played this curious mix of rock’n’roll and youth-crew. They were nice guys…not sure what they are up to nowadays.

If I remember correctly, ‘True Blue’ were not scheduled. They played in the early afternoon and virtually less than a dozen people were moshing; there was a big empty space in front of the stage. I was also surprised to see a long-haired metal guy on stage. I kinda liked their set, but – as you rightly said – it would have been a killer show if it would have taken place a few years later. At the time, very few people cared. When the 7” came out, I felt that it was a bit of a letdown; I have rarely listened to it. There was a peculiar aura surrounding that tape that could not be replicated. […] <<

lionsandcheetahs2011.blogspot (2011-05-14), by Bart De Duytsche (Crucial X Culture zine)

I made the trip to Ieper from Switzerland mostly to meet friends from around Europe and to possibly enjoy some music from the few good bands booked that year. The festival of the Vort’n Vis was like a punk Mecca, it really had a certain mythical appeal to it, although in reality the punk factor wasn’t shining terribly bright, with all these atrocious moshcore bands wearing Nike and Lacoste sweaters. I remember Christophe from Stonehenge/ ‘Fingerprint’ even boycotting that year’s edition and selling his records on the floor right outside the main entrance. The whole thing was very clean, very safe and overall not very exciting. Well, ‘Mörser’ from Bremen did play a surprise gig if I’m correct; that was fun. But I never came back.

Vincent de Roguin, Genève

I remember there were massive circle-pits during ‘Ensign’ :-)

Michael Kopijn, Groningen

Personally I think this was the last cool Ieper festival. Small bands still had the change to play there. Nowadays it sucks totally. I’ve been there two or three times after that but the old comradery is gone. It’s just a mere festival. ‘True Blue’ was really great, I bet people were shocked. They were ahead of their time. ‘Mainstrike’ rocked the show, I think they just came back from their American tour and it was their second to last show before they split up.

Peter Hoeren, Crucial Response recs

review in the Swiss Evil zine (#2); courtesy of Vincent de Roguin

Photos courtesy of Vincent de Roguin:

Vincent ‘Vinnie’ Royers (‘Rubbish Heap’ guitarist), Joris De Buysser (Conspiracy recs) & Tom Verstraete

Jeroen ‘Beertje’ Vrijhoef (‘Mainstrike’ guitarist, Coalition recs)

Markus Haas (Per Koro)

Marc Hartmann (Scorched Earth Policy, ‘Man vs Humanity’ drummer)

Fabien Thévenot (Molaire Industries, ‘Iscariote’ vocalist)

‘Sabeth’; L=>R: Sebastian Busch (friend), Felix Böhlken (guitar/vocals), Thomas Hahn (guitar)

attentive audience (L: Pedro Tallieu, ‘Instinct’ bassist)

Portugese crust vegan edge Rafael Brazuna, cooking macrobiotic in the old Vort’n Vis’ yard

The V.V. fest was outdoors for the first time and I couldn’t care less about most of the bands that played – a  shitload of sXe bands; just remember enjoying ‘Mörser’ & ‘John Holmes’. Still it was a nice trip with friends (Guilherme Charters, Afonso [Afonso Cortez Pinto; Freedom distro] and Hugo ‘Mosgo’ – the singer of ‘Simbiose’). The four of us drove from Lisbon to London by car to stay with some friends. We passed through Belgium for the fest and before that we stayed a couple of days at Jaak [ex ‘Nations On Fire drummer] ‘s house, which was fucking cool since he lived just above his health-food store, vegan paradise!

Rafael Brazuna

additions wellcome!…

(full posts with photos of some bands playing are planned…)

99-08-20: Hundred Years Of Forgetting (Bel), JR Ewing (Nor), Once Never Again (Bel), Surface (Ger) Hebriana (Bel), Tumult (Ger), Heaven Shall Burn (Ger), Discount (USA), Sad Origin (Bel), As Friends Rust (USA), Mainstrike (Nl), Hot Water Music (USA)

99-08-21: Ochtenddauw (Bel), H-Street (Öst), Stroke Of Grace (Bel), Redemption (Ita), Ananda (Fra), Sabeth (Ger), Product (Ita), Mörser (Ger), Reveal (Nl), Spineless (Bel), Bloodpact (USA), Thumbs Down (Bel), Pray Silent (Swi), Ensign (USA)

99-08-22: Instinct (Bel), Point Of Few (Nl), True Blue (Ger), Jane (Ger), Sunrise (Pol), Reaching Forward (Nl), Leiah (Swe), Vitality (Bel), John Holmes (UK), Facedown (Bel), The Get Up Kids (USA)