11.-13.8.2011, Military fortress Josefov, Czech Republic

There are many rock or metal festivals but not many of them are as unique as Brutal Assault festival in Czech Republic. Each year is very unique and different in a way and also “the best“ in one way or another. But I think the 16th episode deserves to have attribute “the best“.

Despite all the unique bands, which also became part of the first day of the festival, Thursday was clearly marked by Motörhead. The participation of this band on the Brutal Assault festival raised a big fuss among many festival fans. Some of them even consider this decision as a betrayal of festival philosophy. It is true that we would probably look for a rock´n´roll band on the festival with a focus on extreme music in vain, but the organizers got to this courageous choice with full power and it was worth. Since early morning, the presence of this legend was felt almost everywhere. But while the legendary trio came to the stage, military fortress resounded with music of various extreme metal bands like FRONTSIDE, HECATE ENTHRONED, SYLOSIS, UNEXPECT or ASPHYX. A little before eight o'clock in the evening, German thrashers KREATOR started their performance with a perfect contact with the audience and their traditionally great show full of big hits like Pleasure to Kill or Enemy of God. They were followed by another star of the evening, "slightly funky" SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, who brought to this festival another genre, and ultimately about 100 people to the stage. Shortly before ten, everything was ready for the arrival of the real legend of this evening, MOTÖRHEAD. Right after Lemmy Kilmister appeared on stage, he needed to clearly define what is going to happen: “We are Motorhead and we play rock´n´roll!“ I´d say that everybody got crazy. Even the most orthodox black metal fans had to enjoy great songs like Iron Fist, Ace of Spades or Overkill. We all had a chance to hear also some new songs, drum solo and 90-minute performance was slowly but surely drew to its conclusion. Lemmy Killmister, Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee have done their best. Beside, on the next stage, a long-awaited Morbid Angel, who had a difficult task ahead of them, defend their latest and slightly industrial album, that reap more or less negative responses, prepared for their performance. Band decided to play the good old classics including new ones I Am Morbid news, Nevermore and Existo Vulgoré that perfectly fit into the concept of death metal performance. SEPTIC FLESH from Greece, the next monster, performed one of the best gigs of the night. That was something really so to say perfect. But here always comes something not good. Too loud commercials from the screen as well as too loud rehearsals of EXHUMED. End of the first day belonged to the bands TÝR and TSJUDER.

The second day promised also many amazing experiences. Punk THE EXPLOITED, thrashers EXODUS or one of the last gig ever of CATHEDRAL. There were definitely many things to see and hear since early morning to late night and everyone was certainly able to choose something from the menu DEBUSTROL, DECAPITATED, EINHERJER, HAIL OF BULLETS, CANNABIS CORPSE, RAM-ZET, SOILWORK, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN and many other great bands. However, I think there were people that missed ATHEIST which was unfortunately unable to play their show. A great delicacy of this evening was obviously SATYRICON, who played a flawless set full of immortal songs like Now, Diabolical or Mother North. I can´t forget to mention the controversial MAYHEM, which I still think that there´s no way how to surprise the audience more, but they always convince me otherwise. Brutal Assault is going at full blast!

The last day of the festival presented to us other great bands. DRACONIAN, SKYFORGER, FORBIDDEN or SEVENTH VOID with Type O Negative members, they all performed so fantastic. Spanish pathologists HAEMORRHAGE showed to us how the real musical autopsy should look like. VADER aimed to present some of their newest stuff but I think this was definitely not their best performance ever. Piotr also didn´t have to speak almost only in Polish and gratefulness could be presented in a different way because „dzięki Polska“ didn´t fit with festival that takes place in Czech Republic. On the other hand, TURISAS played great show full well-known songs as well as some new ones. A big surprise to me was ANATHEMA that brought so magical moment to this festival of extreme music. Vincent caused a big surprise to one photographer standing under the stage when he took her camera and started to take pictures of the audience. SEPULTURA knows how to entertain, they can play a real metal gig but I think this band lost something important really long time ago. TRIPTYKON, KATAKLYSM with their security service test and 1349 played so great shows. And DAGOBA completed these fantastic three days full of amazing performances, smiling people and great experiences. 

16th year of Brutal Assault has definitely been one of the best. Besides all the great bands, a real security service that really took care of the safety of fans finally got to the area. 16 brought many other news like refundable cups that should reduce waste or accessing of a bigger part of the fortress. Weather also seemed not to be good but fortunately festival atmosphere was not rainy. As a minus I would say lack of local bands. In any case, the organizers managed to ensure a smooth and more or less mistake-free running of the festival and I think that everybody could be satisfy. SEE YOU IN 2012!