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Rating: Ok, ok... it's been a little while, but I still want to tell you how that much-criticized June 4th at Gods of Metal 2006 went.
Needless to say, I was there for Korn, and their decision to attend GOM had irked me quite a bit because, since 2002, Korn hadn't come to Italy for their own show but instead infiltrated festivals. Up until 2005, everything went well; they were headliners at both Flippaut and Coca Cola Live At Mtv. But this time, they appeared to Italian fans at an event historically hostile to crossover sounds and particularly to Korn, with a reduced live set and not as headliners to make room for the pseudo-puppet version of Guns N' Roses or, better said, the Axl Rose Band. This was in total musical contrast with most of the day's groups, which was an unusual day for the Gods, dedicated to all those forms of alternative metal that aren't thrash-death or power or hard rock. Deftones, Soulfly, Stone Sour, Alice In Chains (!!!) performed before the more important groups: Korn and indeed Guns N' Roses. Starting in order, I must clarify that I didn't see all the shows, because due to delays and various other reasons, I arrived just after the beginning of Dragonforce (Rating: 7+). So, I'm sorry, but I can't tell you much about 10 Years, Benedictum, and Hellfueled. But about these Dragonforce, I must say they gave us a nice jolt even though their melodic speed/power metal was entirely foreign to the day's "nu" theme. The frontman seemed fairly confident, quite good too, especially the keyboardist. Sure, musically they don't seem to stray much from the usual power clichés, but from a live perspective, they are definitely appreciable.
The same cannot be said for Bloodsimple (Rating: 5), whose performance was anonymous and without a logical thread. Having the usual singable chorus isn't enough to be appreciated. In fact, the band, which proposes a sort of crossover/hardcore, turned out to be, at least in my opinion, one of the least effective of that fourth day of Gods Of Metal 2006. Luckily, after a quick meal, I returned to the stage area, where the flag of Soulfly (Rating: 7.5) was raised. They're one of the bands I adore the most and had already seen in great shape at Flippaut 2004. However, on June 4th, they didn't amaze; perhaps it was due to the decidedly unusual time for Cavalera and company, but the performance of the former Sepultura group, although energetic and heavy, didn't fully take off, leaving a bit of bitterness. Despite playing the usual indispensable classics ("Back To The Primitive", "Eye For An Eye", etc.) and the usual impactful Sepultura covers ("Roots Bloody Roots", "Refuse/Resist" for the nostalgic) and good tracks from the last very hard "Dark Ages" (impressive opener "Babylon"), Max is a charismatic leader, but that time he didn't give his best, that's all. But in the end, it was a performance definitely more than decent, although inferior to Flippaut 2004.
There was a lot of anticipation, at least from me, for the arrival of Stone Sour (Rating: 7), a band I had greatly appreciated on their first self-titled album but had never seen live. There were many Slipknot t-shirts and encouragements for Corey Taylor, the blonde frontman of the American formation, who presented excerpts from both the new (then unreleased) and old albums (however, "Bother" was missing... well, obviously they didn't play it at the Gods). However, they still seemed like a band dealing with their first big tour (and thus a bit clumsy). Indeed, there were far fewer dates in 2001 to support the self-titled album due to Corey and Jim's commitments with 'Knot, but they really didn't shine. Corey gave it his all, but honestly, they've grown over time, as they astonished at concerts like the 2007 Heineken Jammin Festival opening for Slayer and Maiden, delivering a killer performance. Following that, the grunge group took much more from heavy metal than Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, etc., Alice In Chains (Rating: 8), a great comeback for Cantrell and associates. After the death of frontman Layne Staley, the band seemed dead and buried, but they returned with a reinvigorated lineup thanks to the substitute William Duvall. Seeing this vocalist was a point of respect and admiration for me. Although his voice wasn't at Staley's level, William didn't want or was forced (by Cantrell) to imitate and copy the American singer's attitudes, look, and tone, flaunting his own style that didn't clash at all. A show based on classics like "Rooster", "Man In The Box", or "Would?", songs that cannot fail to please and which sated all the Seattle-sound nostalgics that day at the Idroscalo, a concert to remember.
The performance by Deftones (Rating: 2) was absolutely forgettable, a group I've always appreciated on record but which that time (my first live experience) disappointed enormously. I mean, was that a show? With Chino more concerned about showing off his underwear and barking than singing, as every frontman should, that skater attitude that was so reminiscent of Fred Durst. The DJ/keyboardist/sampler (nobody knows what he does anymore) was trying to do electronics in an Idroscalo evidently not interested in the performance (if you can call it that) of the American band, a bitter disappointment. And finally, the group I was waiting for and for which I was forced to endure Moreno's boxer shorts, Korn (Rating: 8.5) treaded the stage of Gods Of Metal in Milan for the first time in their career, and it was immediately mayhem. Many were there for them, and I was among those proudly exhibiting the t-shirt of the Bakersfield group, although at first, appearing on stage with a more than worthy "It's On", they seemed more like Slipknot than Korn, thanks to the presence of various Mr. Cavallo (Zac Baird), Mr. Coniglio (Kalen Chase), and Mr. Maiale (Michael Jhocum) at keyboards, second voice, and percussion, along with, of course, the great Jonathan Davis in a black kilt, Fieldy with loose hair without various braids, Munky with the usual work overalls, and David with longer hair and a bare torso behind the drums. In short, the most intelligent group born from nu metal had arrived, and under the cannon fire of the following "Love Song", "Falling Away From Me", and the devastating "Here To Stay", they put the Idroscalo to fire and sword with the strong support of the attending fans. A very meticulous show, quite good sounds even though sometimes when all 8 were playing (oops, I forgot the talented Rob Patterson on second guitar, well he was there too, this time not hidden like in Civitavecchia) there was a bit of blending. A perhaps too reduced setlist, but the time was what it was, and it continued with the brutal "Counting On Me", an effective revival of "TALITM", a song that hits hard like the following and wonderful version of "Somebody Someone". In short, Korn's first time at the Gods was going great (and would end great). When Jon arrived with the bagpipes, it wasn't the entire "Shoots And Ladders" that accompanied us but a mega-medley in which tracks of "Need To", "Lies", "Make Me Bad", "Thoughtless" (in a medley? well...),"ADIDAS" and the rants of "Twist" were found. Sure, perhaps a bit too summarized, but given the available time, it was the only possible solution. The final pentagram was entrusted to the classics and tracks from "SYOTOS", in fact, after the shocking medley, here comes "Coming Undone", "Got The Life", "Twisted Transistor", "Freak On A Leash" and the concluding and bone-crushing "Blind", on which, I assure you, the whole Idroscalo jumped. In conclusion, a very good performance, albeit suffering from some unclear sounds and the limited time available.
At this point, I could have taken my backpack and left Idroscalo, reached the Milan station, and caught the first train home. But curiosity to see just how ridiculous a guy like Axl Rose had become over the years kept me to watch the Guns N' Roses (Rating: No Rating) show of 2000. Well, I'll summarize the show in a few words: anonymous figures (except perhaps poor Dizzy Reed behind the keys) taking the stage in the place of Slash, Duff, and Matt (making money and playing grunge with Velvet Revolver) and improvising solos and various nonsense to give Axl a break, whose look—with braids, a jacket, and boots very Antonio Zekila—was absurd. Well, let's skip that and get to the music: they really seemed like a bad and ignorant cover band of Guns N' Roses, and I was amazed when at the notes of "Welcome To The Jungle" (placed in opening), "Sweet Child O Mine" or "November Rain" people were moshing and singing as if possessed. Maybe it was because, after 13 years of absence, the wait was such that even a bad concert like today's Guns N' Roses was turned into a great comeback, but in conclusion, I must state that the jam with Bach of Skid Row, being the only positive note of this show, makes it impossible for me to give a numerical evaluation to the Guns N' Roses' performance on June 4, 2006, on the last day of my second Gods of Metal and my first experience at the Idroscalo. In the end, a mostly decent bill (except for Guns and Dragonforce) and a day spent listening to mostly good music.
We will see what happens Saturday at Gods of Metal Pt.II 2007 with the return of Ozzy and the supposed confirmation of Korn.
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