2000-11-11 Link – Edgecrusher – Forcible

The VV notes mention that night the bar was manned by Frederik Plets & Nick Rebry (‘Retaliate’ guitarists) and Davy Bauwen… The profits went to Solar recs.

‘Edgecrusher’ was a band that rehearsed in the Vort’n Vis. Their vocalist was Davy Bauwen, a V.V. ‘shitworker’ (volunteer) that organised quite a few gigs there. They wrote something in the guestbook on 2000-04-22 so this one here might not’ve been there first one… They played “melodic death-metal”. Besides Davy, there was Isaac Delahaye (guitar; also singer in ‘Panopticum’), Jo Decaesteker (guitar), Nico ‘Sientje’ Sinnaeve (drums; replaced by Arian Van Weesenbeek), Frederik ‘Freddy’ Vanhee (bass; replaced by Thijs Lanoye). ‘Freddy’ & ‘Sientje were both ex ‘D.S.A.’ and also played in ‘Retaliate’. The first ‘Edgecrusher’ demo Damnatio Memoriae (recorded by Michael ‘Link’ Maes) was available that year and their second demo Impressions Of Mankind (2002), was with Michael ‘Link’ Maes on drums.

Davy and Freddy ran the label Solar Productions (intended to release an ‘Edgecrusher’ CD?) together. Davy also did Arcane Chaldaeus (a “dark zine, dealing with philosophy, occultism, mythology and other magic darkness”) and a newsletter (in Dutch) entitled Youth Against Society (with philosophical/political items).

‘Forcible’ (also previously in the guestbook on 2000-07-26) was a local thrash-metal band. The above-mentioned Isaac Delahaye (a student at the Rotterdam conservatorium) was also in this band. Besides him there was Matthias Baillieuil (bass/vocals), Michiel Cauwelier (drums) and Phil (guitar). Isaac later played for the Dutch death-metal band ‘God Dethroned’ (and a few others). They did a demo (Imprisoned Redemption of Disorder) in ’98.

‘Forcible’

‘Link’; another local band with V.V. shitworkers: Inge Cappoen & her partner Michael Maes (vocals & guitar). They played many times since they started around ‘97… I think bassist Greg ‘Briko’ and drummer ‘Juju’ Julien De Jonckheere had left by then. Their 1^st CD The Last Sacrifice was recorded in 2000, with a drum-computer and Geoffrey Geeraert on bass. Geoffrey & drummer Michiel (both in ‘Abrogate’) had joined the band beginning 2000 but the latter already left  after a few months. The band continued with a drum-computer for a few years… (Read Michael’s ‘history-lesson’: 97-09-12)

‘Link’ (The Last Sacrifice line-up)

Brob

Isaac joined later on. The original line-up was with ‘Sientje’, Jo and myself.

Frederik ‘Freddy’ Vanhee, ‘Edgecrusher’ bassist

additions wellcome!…

95-08-20 Churn – By All Means – Liar – Fungus – Timebomb – End In Sight – Chokehold

Intro: 95-08-18&19&20 Hardcore Festival

The ‘Chokehold’ guys were coming from the train-station with their guitars and bass in hand. Their European tour [with ‘Feeding The Fire’] was a mess (some of the last gigs of their tour got cancelled) and they got robbed if I remember correctly. I felt sorry for them for having such a bad experience over here. They mention it in an interview.

Carsten Pötter, Frankfurt

‘Steadfast’, a band playing “powerful new-school sXe hardcore” from the Osnabrück/Munster region (in Germany), were announced at some timepoint but didn’t play. Their guitarist Stefan Uhe and their bassist Volker Pohlschmidt (R.I.P.) did visit.

‘Churn’ was an emo-core band (Leuven/Limburg) with Raf Gelenne (vocals), Peter Peumans (bass), Raf Gielen (guitar), Jan Beckers (guitar) & Maarten Beckers (drums). The latter 3 went on with ‘Kindred’.

‘Churn’ (courtesy of Peter Peumans)

‘By All Means’ (from Mantua/Modena), was a straight-edge HC band with vocalist Massimo ‘Melo’ Meloni, guitarists Andrea ‘Gallo’ Gallinini & Mario ‘Ringo’ Luppi (he founded the label Insociale recs and was also in various other bands), Adriano Pratissoli (drums) and Matteo Verri (bass; replacing Stefano Bertelli). The members swapped also intsruments in bands such as ‘Society Of Jesus’ and ‘Immortal Majority’… In 1992 they did a tape, a self-titled 7” on Inaudito Dischi and a split-7” with ‘Equality’ on Green recs. In 1993 there was the Blind Side LP (also Green recs) and in the 1998 Fino A Qui… Tutto Bene! LP.

‘Liar’ (Roeselare/Ieper area) rose from the ashes of ‘Wheel Of Progress’ (93-06-13). This was their 1^st appearance at one of the V.V. fests (the had already played some regular concerts late ’94, early ‘95). They would become of the most ardent H8000 promoters. During these early days the band consisted of Hans Verbeke (vocals; also ‘Blindfold’s guitarist), Joost ‘Josh Fury’ Noyelle (guitar; also ‘Congress’), Jan ‘UxJx’ Vandekerckhove (bass; also ‘Congress’) and Raf (drums). They played socalled edge-metal (straight-edge metallic hardcore with non-compromising, hard-hitting lyrics). Raf (Raphael) left the band in ‘96 to do other things in life, he turned into a professional snowboarder and played in a punk band called ‘Red Lobster’, together with some ‘Spirit Of Youth’ members. From then on Bert Guillemont (ex ‘Sektor’) would play the drums. The recordings (still with Raf) of their debut Falls Of Torment (released on GoodLife recs in ’96 and announced as “a mix of ‘Unbroken’ & ‘Morbid Angel’…”) happened after some 10 rehearsals and a few shows.

‘Fungus’ (from the Kortrijk area) were Mich Decruyenaere (guitar; later in ‘Blindfold’ & ‘Hitch’), Olivier Wychuyse (drums; later in ‘Hitch’), Carl Lachat (bass) & Tim Nottebaert (vocals – might not have been in the band anymore at that time…). They probably ended up here because Hans (‘Liar’) was a fan… Not really a band fitting in; they played “noisy rock”…

‘Timebomb’ (from Rome) was a communist, vegan and straight-edge band playing metallic HC: Cristiano Suriano (drums; later ‘Opposite Force’), Daniele Marini (guitar), Giorgio Fois (vocals; later replaced by Emiliano), Marco Ciccone (guitar; his first show with the band here; later also ‘Opposite Force’) and Simone Marini (bass; Kill for Love zine). In 1993 they did a demo and a 7” (Fury) released by SOA recs. Paolo Petralia also did their Hymns For A Decaying Empire CD (‘96) and in 1998 The Full Wrath Of The Slave got out on Genet recs (last recordings with Giorgio). They became regulars at the V.V.: they also played the 96, 97 & 98 fests…

‘End In Sight’ (“edge-metal” from Gislaved) were Toni Niskanen (bass), Janne Hanhela (guitar/vocals), Marko K. (drums), Matthias P. (guitar) and Mikke Niskanen (vocals; he was only on the 1^st 7”). Marko Raboldt (Emotion X recs) released that Deep Wound 7” (recorded in Feb). The second (Obiter Dictum; released in ’96 was in another line-up with Andreas ‘Lasse’ Lassus on drums, Daniel on guitar).

‘End In Sight’ (photographed by Steve Lammertyn)

‘Chokehold’ was a vegan straight-edge ‘chugga chugga’ hardcore band from Hamilton, Ontario (Canada). The band was – I believe – Jon ‘Randy Sharronto’ Sharron (bass; also in ‘Union Of Uranus’), Chris(topher) Logan (vocals), Jeff Beckman (guitar), Matt Beckman (drums) and Matt S. (guitar). They had been touring in Germany with ‘Feeding The Fire’ (organised by Mad Mob from Berlin) but that didn’t go too well. 1995 ws the year their Content With Dying LP got out on Scott Beibin’s Bloodlink recs. He’d also done the Instilled 7” (the year before). The band split up in ’96. Here’s the band playing live at the Vort’n Vis. Their last show was in March 1996 at the New Bedford Fest.

Brob

‘Chokehold’ (pics 1+2: Patrick Federli, 3: unkown)

As far as I can remember it was a reasonably good gig for us. I further recall the Italians especially. It was here that we got in contact with the guys of ‘Burning Defeat’. When they toured later, they ended up sleeping on my floor. Great guys! Everyone was there for the Swedish but I’ve never been an X-crew person so they didn’t do much to me. ‘Churn’ started after Jan Beckers and I had a conversation about our mutual musical interest in ‘Rorschach’. He invited me over to his house where I got to know Maarten and Peter. A bit later Raf joined. Bart (Poer zine) [Verelst; of ‘Hopeman Path’, ‘State Of Grace’, ‘Sheen’] also rehearsed with us a certain time… We quit after a gig in Germany (musical theatrical differences).

Raf Gelenne, ‘Churn’ singer

‘Chokehold’ got their by train. That was because they played this fest and we didn’t.

Rob Franssen, ‘Feeding The Fire’ singer

I remember that we finished our set with Firestorm (‘Earth Crisis’ cover) and a guy in the pit broke his collar-bone or something. It was pretty intense!

Toni Niskanen, ‘End In Sight’

I also played in ‘Society Of Jesus’ (guitar) and was the singer of ‘The Immoral Majority’, bassist in ‘Mourn’ & ‘Celestials’, etc. etc. ‘Melo’ played bass in ‘Society Of Jesus’ & ‘No Somos Nada’. Adriano [Pratissoli] also drummed for ‘Society Of Jesus’, ‘Mourn’, ‘Celestials’, etc. ‘Ringo’ was also the singer of ‘Society Of Jesus’ and the guitarist of ‘The Immoral Majority’. Matteo played guitar in ‘Society Of Jesus’ & ‘No Somos Nada’ and bass in ‘The Immoral Majority’.

At that time we all did the fanzine The Legendary Blumergaster (raised from the ashes of my own Monkey Face) together. Nowadays I have a tattoo-shop in Berlin [Out Of Step Tattoo Parlour].

I remember the fest was great, good organisation; there were cool people, record-stalls and distros, decent food. ‘Concrete’ practiced outside the venue acoustically…really really funny. People of ‘Comrades’, ‘Concrete’, ‘Burning Defeat’ were all together on the road from Italy to Belgium. Great tour! We were there the whole weekend; it was awesome. I remember ‘Kosjer D’ as one of the best bands. And ‘Chockehold’!!!

‘Gallo’, ‘By All Means’

I wasn’t there…

‘Ringo’ Luppi

The ‘Kiss’ face I had during the ‘Congress’ show, the day before, didn’t shock people. With ‘Liar’ we did succeed to shock the crowd…

U.J.

U.J.’s arms were all cut up. I had rubbed his blood all over my face. My mother who was standing on the side of the stage, saw everything. Good old ‘Liar’ days. Top. Bounded by blood…

Hans Verbeke

I remember it being the best show we played. And the hell we went through to get there…

Chris Logan, ‘Chokehold’ singer

excerpt from the V.V. guestbook:

“Con Ogni Mezzo” = By All Means

additions wellcome!…

2001-08-17&18&19 Ieperfest

In May 2001 the Vort’n Vis crew had to abandon the space at the Kiekenmarkt 7 that they had as their home-base since 1989. The headquartes were relocated to the Sint-Jacobsstraat 3). In 1999 & 2000 the annual fest had already moved to the ‘Stedelijke Academie voor Muziek en Woord’ (Municipal Acadamy for Music and Drama) located d’Hondstraat 59 (a walk of some 500 m from the Kiekenmarkt). In 2001 things were happening at the ‘Jeugdstadion’ (Youth Stadium) at the Leopold III laan 16 (on the outskirts of town). The event was announced as ‘2001: A Hardcore Odyssey’ or ‘Vort’n Vis HC Fest’. In my view, over the years it had grown out of proportion… The national press even gave attention to it…

Here’s what ‘De Standaard’ (one of the biggest Belgian newspapers) wrote about it: >>The well-known Hardcore-festival, an organisation of the not-for-profit association De Vort’n Vis, starts at 1 p.m. In that scene this the festival is known as the biggest underground hardcore-festival in Europe. The foreign interest is massive. The camping at the youth-stadium is completely crowded with tents, motors and hardcore-fans. No surprise because the hardcore-festival is happening in the immediate vicinity. In this way the organisers want to minimise noise in the city-centre. This afternoon the bands performing are Good Clean Fun, Caliban, Unconquered, E-150, Endstand, Severance & Retaliate. Tomorrow, saturday: Children of Fall, Circle, Liar, Man vs Humanity, Juliette & Reproach op. Sunday (a.o.) Maximum Penalty, Leiah, Manifesto Jukebox, Concrete, Bloodsport & Kingpin. The festival-site measures 2.700 square metres and has 2 tents for food and beverages. A ticket for a day costs 600 Belgian franks, for the weekend 1.200 Belgian franks.<<

The poster lists the following bands… Some bands cancelled, others were added or switched…

2001-08-17: Good Clean Fun (USA), Caliban (Ger), Unconquered (USA), E-150 (Spa), Children of Fall (Swe), Endstand (Fin), Course Of Action (Bel), The Deal (Bel), Deadbolt (Nl), Severance (Bel), From The Dying Sky (Ita), Retaliate (Bel)

2001-08-18: Catharsis (US), Liar (Bel), Circle (Bel), Stack (Ger), New End Original (USA), Man vs Humanity (Ger); Venerea (Swe), Posession (Spa), The Oath (Nl+USA), Comrades (Ita), Juliette (Pol), Reproach (Bel)

2001-08-19: Maximum Penalty (USA), Facedown (Bel), Leiah (Swe), PN (Bel), Manifesto Jukebox (Fin); Burden (Can), Reliance (Bel), Concrete (Ita), Die My Demon (Bel), Newborn (Hun), Kingpin (Bel)

‘Man vs Humanity’ didn’t play because they called it a day a few days before they were supposed to perform… Also ‘Comrades’ didn’t come.

In the Vort’n Vis guestbook there’s contributions of Brian ‘Catharsis’, ‘Empathy’ (Bel; not on the poster), Gold Standard Laboratories (San Diego, California; ‘The Locust’s label), New Winds (Por), ‘Newborn’ (Hun), PN (Bel), ‘Stack’ (Ger), ‘Striker’ (Bel; played unanncounced), ‘The Locust’ (USA), ‘The Oath’ (Nl+USA), ‘Reliance’ (Bel), ‘Caliban’ (Ger), ‘E-150’ (Spa), ‘Endstand’ (Fin), ‘Good Clean Fun’ (USA), ‘Retaliate’ (Bel), ‘Severance’ (Bel), ‘Unconquered’ (USA), ‘Firestone’ (Bel; played unanncounced), ‘Circle’ (Bel), ‘Cornflames’ (Bel), ‘Liar’ (Bel), ‘Reproach’ (Bel), ‘Bloodsport’ (Nl), ‘Concrete’ (Ita), ‘Kingpin’ (Bel), ‘Leiah’ (Swe), ‘Manifesto Jukebox’ (Fin)

There’s also a video of ‘Length Of Time’ at this fest online…

More on the actual concerts will follow…

We never played the Ieperfest after the 90s. Our van broke down in 2000 touring with ‘Abstain’ [2000-07-16], that was the last time we were supposed to play the V.V. We were on the bill but we didn’t go. I don’t remember what happened exactly.

Paolo Petralia, ‘Comrades’ vocalist

The ‘98 fest was the first time I visited. I thought my band ‘Blue Water Boy’ [vegan straight-edge band from Switzerland] played in 2001 but I checked with our drummer and it was (a bit) after that…

Chrisitan Unsinn

I attended the 2001 HC fest in Ieper. ‘The Locust’ and ‘Catharsis’ where headliners. There was a water-balloon riot during the ‘Catharsis’ show.

Lars Berndt Jensen, ‘Jaded’