Mayhem was Mayhem

Ok, so I've been to metal festivals before, I've been going to metal shows since I was fifteen, more than four years. My Mayhem Fest experience was awesome, but horrible. Something like this has never happened to me and really, I was shocked. Some of you may disagree, but I don't find body-surfing at all necessary, especially when it's me on top of the crowd. Just a few minutes before the close of Hatebreed's set, I found someone's head between my legs and felt myself being hoisted onto the crowd. I surfed along, praying to get back on the ground, and I did. HARD. I was dropped on people not paying attention and I landed on the concrete straight on my rear right hip bone. It hurt so bad I had to get out of the pit and sit down because everything was spinning and I felt like I was about to vomit. This effectively ruined my day. I literally sat through Five Finger Death Punch and Lamb of God, hoping to at least make it until Rob Zombie's appearance and duck out before Korn, but there was no way. I got too sick and had to back out. On the way home I threw up out the car window, my body obviously suffering from major shock and unable to recover due to the heat and surrounding cigarette smoke.

Before the incident, I was in metal heaven! The stages were set up side-by-side so that one stage would have a band playing while the other performed its set change. I was able to see a great show from Shadows Fall then an even better performance from In This Moment who really lit it up playing Just Drive, Blazin', The Promise, Beautiful Tragedy, Gunshow and Daddy's Falling Angel.

After In This Moment, I went back to the Jagermeister stage for Chimaira who put on a good show, much better than the annoying screechfest from Atreyu on the Mayhem Stage. Next up was Hatebreed who showed off why they were headlining the Jager Stage. Drawing a huge crowd, they managed to hit every album playing Last Breath, Empty Promises, Smash You Enemies, Proven, I Will Be Heard, Doomsayer, Live For This, To the Threshold, As Diehard As They Come, In Ashes They Shall Reap, and Everyone Bleeds Now. It was epic, and awesome.

I saw half the mainstage and definitely enjoyed what I saw. Being not very familiar with 5FDP I didn't know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. They were very good, solid metal, but I have to say that I don't think they were Main Stage quality. Lamb of God, on the other hand, was great! They sounded good, they performed well, and they put it all out there. I've seen them twice before this and was impressed but this show easily surpassed the others.

Though I missed Zombie, I'm sure he did well. I've seen him three times before and he never disappoints. If you have a chance to catch him on the Halloween Hootenanny Tour this fall, make sure you do.

My experience may have been shorter and more painful than expected, but it did nothing to deter me! I have every intention of attending Mayhem Fest next year, though maybe from a slightly farther distance for the hardcore bands (sorry Jasta), it was far too awesome to miss!