Drenched in wet clothes while sliding through mud and puddles, we jumped, clapped and screamed our lungs out to support the bands at an unforgettable show held on March 8. It was a weekend like no other with mud infested camping grounds, beer on tap, four stages and insanely good performances by American Metal bands Killswitch Engage and Trivium. For those of you who couldn’t make it, the two metal heavyweights put on an unforgettable show at Ramfest 2014 in Witfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa. Not even the rain could stop excited fans from storming the main stage to see the show!
Also see: Killswitch Engage ‘Disarm and Descent’ – Album Review
Killswitch Engage
I made an effort to attend the festival not just for the obvious headliners, but also to see Pestroy play their final show after a 16-year run in the industry and to experience the Olmeca Stage with its explosive baseline tracks and amazing light display setup. It was impossible to separate the performances of the main acts as they pulled out all the stops to entertain just over 8,000 festival goers. Killswitch Engage and Trivium really impressed with their onstage presence and showmanship.
Trivium impressed with epic unison electric guitar riffs and solos, while frontman Matt Heafy belted out his lyrics effortlessly. The quality of their show was outstanding and extremely close to the sound of their albums. Killswitch Engage really popped the lid on the evening by opening their show with “A Bid Farewell” from their third studio album, “The End of Heartache”. Jesse Leach’s vocals were most impressive, the man screamed and grunted while switching it up with clear vocals without even flinching the entire show.
Also see: Trivium: Vengeance Falls – Album Review
Trivium
It goes without saying that I’m not taking away any of the great performances from the local acts, and the other international bands which also entertained crowds on Friday which include the likes of Biffy Clyro (Scotland) and Foals (UK).
It was a bit of a mission to reach the venue which was hidden away with a 5km dirt track to follow. The dirt became a slippery landslide of mud with hidden rocks that destroyed the front piece of my car’s bumper. It was all worth it geeks! Wet, tired, and voiceless concertgoers made their way home or to the camping grounds to lay to rest a day we all will never forget!
Check out the “Mashup” clips taken at the concert to get an idea of what you guys missed if you were unable to attend
