Dinkelsbuhl, Germany

In June 2016, I found myself in a place I had always dreamt of: Hellfest Open Air. My first time in France and in Europe was one that happened very unexpectedly. I was only 22, had just started working my first official job a year prior to that and had just come off the back of a six week long vacation in the UK and Norway after celebrating my graduation from the London School of Economics. But it seemed like that celebration had to keep going. So, when I had the opportunity to cover one of the greatest metal festivals in the world, there was no way I was going to turn it down.

But this story? This story isn’t about Hellfest. It’s about one band in particular that I saw for the very first time and fell absolutely in love with. It’s about the impact they had on me ten years ago in France. It's about the unexpected connection forged that day, a testament to the sheer force and unfiltered emotion of their performance that resonated with me on a profound level. It’s a reflection on the enduring impact of witnessing their raw, visceral energy, an experience that has stayed with me long after the final notes of ‘Behind a Wall of Silence’ faded.

In  around 2010, I stumbled upon Heaven Shall Burn through their widely acclaimed album ‘Iconoclast: Part 1: The Final Resistance’ and while I eventually listened to the whole album, there was one song in particular "Endzeit." The sheer intensity and ferocity of the music struck me with an almost overwhelming force. I was completely blown away by the raw power and aggression, the chaotic yet meticulously crafted soundscapes that felt utterly revolutionary to my ears. It was a revelation to discover that such an extreme and intense form of music could exist. Diving deeper into their work, I found not just powerful music, but also a band deeply committed to ethical principles, particularly veganism and animal rights. This discovery resonated profoundly with my own passions and beliefs. It was inspiring to see a band use their platform to advocate for something they truly believed in, adding another layer to the impact of their music.

Enter metal festival season, 2024 at the end of a fourteen day metal pilgrimage across Europe that finally led to this . This was not just another concert; it was the culmination of a very long and rather exhausting solo journey, a moment etched in anticipation. Almost 10 years later, I found myself at the barrier of the main stage of Summer Breeze Open Air in Germany, having waited for 9 hours in the same place just to see this band who meant the absolute world to me.
My legs ached, sleep had become a distant memory, and proper food was a luxury amidst the chaos of three back-to-back heavy metal festivals while juggling full-time work, but to be honest with you, as I always choose to be, I didn’t care. What mattered was that I had made it to the front of the barrier for a home show by a band I loved and respected. Seeing bands in their hometowns and countries is so important because there's an undeniable energy that vibrates in the air. It's a shared pride, a connection to their roots, and an understanding of the cultural nuances that shape their music. It’s more than just a concert; it's a powerful affirmation of identity and belonging…