After seeing what Day I of Rockstadt Extreme Fest had to offer, with a handful of songs from it already making their way into my playlist, I set off for Ghimbav once again.
Official announcement poster
© Rockstadt Extreme Fest
The second day of the festival brought the members of Rotheads from Romania into the spotlight at the Brașov Stage. Sharp, tightly played death metal and an obvious hunger to perform. Tremolo-picked riffs, crushing slower passages, sombre melodies and savage vocal lines – we experienced them all.
Next came the members of Elder from the United States on the Adrian Rugină Stage, bringing a dose of psychedelic stoner metal and progressive rock. Their compositions mostly based on introspection were varied, well defined, and carried a compelling atmosphere throughout the set. I was particularly taken by “Blind” from “Reflections of a Floating World” [2017]. My only hope is that more of us will have the opportunity to see them live more often, as they have much to offer.
I also made a quick stop at the Brașov Stage for the members of Gutalax from Czechia, a grindcore group whose members might well be said to have come home after appearing at so many editions of the festival. The Czechs put on quite a show, especially as they also presented their new music video for “We Are What We Shit”. After all, we are speaking of Gutalax, what kind of song could we expect?
Remaining at the Brașov Stage, I managed to catch part of what the members of Orbit Culture from Sweden had to offer. Melodic death metal and groove metal, seemingly made to stir the masses. I particularly enjoyed “The Tales of War” from “Death Above Life” [2025].
Orbit Culture
© Art Through Photography
Then, making my way straight to the Adrian Rugină Stage, I arrived in time for Igorrr from France. Avant-garde metal and Baroque music at its finest. Like beings who never seem to exhaust their creativity, they left his mark on the festival. For me, “Hollow Tree” from “Spirituality and Distortion” [2020] marked the peak of the performance.
Igorrr
© Art Through Photography
Next came the members of Nevermore from the United States on the Brașov Stage. For the veterans of power metal, it seemed to be a night to remember. They launched into songs centred on politics, philosophy, human issues and misanthropy with remarkable conviction. I particularly appreciated Berzan Önen’s performance; as a vocalist, he truly broke the mould. Among the songs that stayed with me after the performance were “Inside Four Walls” and “Believe in Nothing” from “Dead Heart in a Dead World” [2000].
Nevermore
© Art Through Photography
I made a quick dash to the Andrei Calmuc Stage to catch the German members of Non Est Deus because, if there is one aspect of black metal I never seem to tire of, it is the way opposition to religion, particularly Christianity, can become such a rich source of inspiration for lyrics, themes and artwork, especially when the members of a group know how to make something meaningful out of it. The ones from Non Est Deus certainly did. Their appeareance had something distinctive about it, from the vocals, which sounded exceptional throughout, to the excellent instrumental work behind them, while their attire and stage movements added another layer to the atmosphere, reinforcing the impact of certain moments instead of simply serving as decoration.
Non Est Deus
© Art Through Photography
Vader
© Art Through Photography
As the line-up had changed, I remained at the Andrei Calmuc Stage for Vader. The death/thrash metal Poles have always had a way of keeping my attention. Hearing them live, it was easy to understand why. The riffs remained razor-sharp from beginning to end, the guitars moved naturally around one another, and not a single passage felt out of place. As for the songs that impressed me, well, no wonder, all of them I could catch. Pure maniacs. They did not even give you the chance to choose just one.
In Flames
© Art Through Photography
Making my way quickly to the Brașov Stage, I also managed to catch part of the performance by the Swedes from In Flames. I would say I arrived just as things were really beginning to heat up, judging by the large crowd shouting the name of the band and singing the lyrics in unison. They took us through their vast discography, with “Take This Life”, the opening track from “Come Clarity” [2006], leaving the strongest impression on me. I appreciated the seriousness with which the members of In Flames approached their performance. No doubt, they remain one of the benchmark bands in metal.
Eventually, it was time for the members of Godsmack, another prominent name in American rock. The members of Godsmack took to the Adrian Rugină Stage before a sizeable crowd. It was a performance worthy of their reputation, full of drive, one that did not let you leave the barrier at the front even for a single moment. I particularly enjoyed “Awake” from the album of the same name [2000], as well as “Bulletproof” from “When Legends Rise” [2018], strategically placed towards the end of the performance.
Godsmack
© Art Through Photography
The night culminated with Grave at the Andrei Calmuc Stage. The Swedes and their death metal came at just the right moment after Godsmack. It was clearly a show people had been waiting for, judging by how often the crowd shouted the name of the band. They interacted with the audience, called for circle pits and mosh pits, and seemed to be having a good time on stage themselves. Among all the songs we heard, “Turning Black” from “Soulless”, released in 1994, was the one I enjoyed the most.
Grave
© Art Through Photography
