France's Hellfest Was Rocked by Metallica, NIN, and Extra: Photographs + Video

Editor’s Word: The huge 2022 version of Hellfest passed off in Clisson, France, over two weekends, with seven days of performances from most of the largest steel and laborious rock acts on the earth. Heavy Consequence photojournalist Raymond Ahner was available for the second weekend (June Twenty third-Twenty sixth), the place he captured pics of Metallica, 9 Inch Nails, Scorpions, Ministry, Alice Cooper, and lots of extra acts. See his recap and photograph gallery beneath.

After canceling the 2020 and 2021 installments because of the ongoing pandemic, Hellfest returned in 2022 in a giant approach, with not one, however two fully jam-packed weekends, that includes a lot of as we speak’s largest steel and laborious rock bands on the planet. When the huge lineup was introduced final yr, it nearly appeared unattainable that one thing this huge may very well be pulled off, but when there’s one competition on the planet that might make it occur, it could positively be Hellfest.

After Judas Priest, Deftones, Ghost, and Korn all headlined weekend one of many competition, the place temperatures soared to effectively over 100 levels, week 2 began off on Thursday (June Twenty third) beneath rather more delicate climate. Phil Campbell and The Bastard Sons opened the principle stage, taking part in a lot of Motorhead’s most well-known songs, together with “Iron Fist,” “Overkill,” and “Bomber.” From there, highlights included Tribulation over on the Altar stage, and Zeal & Ardor on the Temple stage. Different standouts through the day had been Insomnium, UFO, Whitesnake, Helloween, and the headliners of the night, Scorpions. Phil Campbell returned to the stage to hitch Scorpions for “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” after which he and his Motorhead bandmate and present Scorpion drummer Mikkey Dee took a minute to handle the group and to pay tribute to the late Lemmy Kilmister. The pair invited the group to hitch them on the newly put in big statue in Lemmy’s honor, and to hitch them in a toast.

Day two of week two was all concerning the industrial bands on the invoice, and kicked off with Youth Code on the principle stage. Up and coming Los Angeles act Well being had been up subsequent, and from there Nitzer Ebb took over, bringing a lot of headliner 9 Inch Nails’ followers right down to the entrance of the stage to bounce alongside to their electro beats. Killing Joke introduced out an enormous crowd to witness their set, whereas Godflesh packed the Valley stage. The night then went forwards and backwards from industrial to steel as Ministry placed on a blistering set of classics simply because it began to pour down rain, adopted by Alice Cooper, who drew an enormous crowd to witness his legendary stay present. 9 Inch Nails, making their Hellfest debut, closed out the mainstage, however not earlier than Trent Reznor took a minute to thank the earlier bands for influencing his music. Megadeth, who additionally performed week one of many competition, closed out night time two on the principle stage with a setlist that included a few of the bands most well-known songs.

Whereas many in attendance for day 3 had been clearly followers of headliners Weapons N’ Roses, there have been nonetheless loads of different bands for everybody. Gary Clark Jr., Myles Kennedy, and Epica all packed in the principle phases whereas Fleshgod Apocalypse performed to an overflowing sea of individuals on the Altar stage. Germany’s Kadavar placed on one of many weekend’s greatest units over on the Valley Stage, and GBH and The Exploited closed the Warzone stage. Some of the intriguing units of the day got here from Myrkur, whose quiet nearly folkish set positively gained over the group. Weapons N’ Roses ended the night with a 24-song set that included covers of AC/DC’s “Again in Black” and The Stooges’ “I Wanna Be Your Canine.”

In fact, it was Metallica that the majority had been buzzing about on day 4, however there have been various bands taking part in earlier than the steel giants to maintain folks occupied. Midnight placed on a thrashing set of black steel on the Temple, whereas Italy’s Ufomammut provided up a fantastic set of psychedelic doom over on the Valley. Blood Incantation and Vltimas each dominated the Altar stage, whereas Cult of Fireplace, hailing from the Czech Republic, performed the Temple stage and placed on a set that may solely be described as bombastic. Bullet for My Valentine, Ugly Child Joe, and Black Label Society all rocked the large phases, earlier than lately reunited Mercyful Destiny took over the Temple stage. Opening their set with “The Oath,” frontman King Diamond and firm tore by way of various classics, together with “A Corpse With out Soul,” “Black Funeral,” and “Come to the Sabbath.”

Addressing the huge sea of those that had crammed all the space in entrance of the 2 most important phases with “Good night, Hellfest, are you prepared?” James Hefield and the remainder of Metallica instantly launched into “Whiplash.” From there it was a setlist stuffed with Metallica classics, together with “Creeping Demise,” “For Whom the Bell Instruments,” and “Search and Destroy.” Returning to the stage for a 3 tune encore of “Injury Inc.,” “One,” and “Grasp of Puppets,” Hetfield ended the night with “Metallica loves you, Hellfest,” simply as a barrage of fireworks ignited from behind the stage lit up the sky.

By the point it was all mentioned and accomplished, Hellfest pulled off what was actually one of many largest and most triumphant European festivals of all time. Good luck making an attempt to high it subsequent yr!

See Heavy Consequence’s unique photographs and fan-filmed video of Hellfest 2022 beneath. All photographs by Raymond Ahner.

Picture Gallery – Hellfest 2022, Weekend Two (click on to enlarge and scroll by way of):