Rockfreaks.net

author PP date 11/06/23

Are you attending Copenhell? Did you know it is colloquially referred to as the best metal theme park in the world? What about the lineup? With so many known and unknown bands on offer, what should you make an extra effort to watch? What happens in the Biergarten? What about the food? What else is there to do?

The answers to all of those questions and much more are in this article - our non-comprehensive guide to Copenhell 2023. Take it from those of us in the know who have been attending ever since the birth of the festival and have watched it change, adding new areas, bigger stages, and more varied lineups over the years. This is going to be your summer party anno 2023, guaranteed to make you come back with amazing memories and countless new friends and acquaintances met over the next four days.

We’re a few days away from the grand opening, so if you’re reading this on a train/ferry/car (but not in the driver’s seat!) / hiking trip towards the festival, it’s the perfect start to what you should be looking forward to as compiled by our magazine’s writers.

Copenhell has grown so much that listing it all here would be an impossible task. From the impromptu marching bands traversing the festival site to the themed areas spread across the festival site, there’s just so much to describe here.

Therefore, one of the most important things to remember is to simply take a break from watching shows, wander into a zone of the festival, have a few drinks, and enjoy your surroundings to take it all in. It’s too easy to simply shift from stage to stage watching every single band play thanks to the great scheduling at Copenhell. But given the theme park nature of the festival, do yourself a favor and try out some of the following things on offer:

• Visiting the Biergarten is a must, especially during one of the rowdy Openhell live band karaoke events or late nights after the last bands are done. Expect people standing on chairs in a wonderful mixture of chaos and partying.
• Smadreland is another Copenhell staple. What could be more cleansing than wielding heavy manual weaponry, and slicing and smashing cars, household machinery, etc. into smithereens?
• Copenhell Con returns for the second time ever. It's basically an arcade/comic book/geek culture area with its own stage, featuring immersive and interactive performances on its Fantasy stage, horror film screenings, board games, as well as its own sci-fi-themed bar.
• There are a number of other interesting happenings around the festival area during the weekend that require separate tickets, too. For instance, a traditional Swedish crayfish feast taking place at Tutten Bodega on Friday from 14:00 (tickets here).
• Be sure to also visit the special Viking area situated in a small forest within the festival area for a taste of Viking cuisine (including mead!) and culture.
• Try the various beers specially brewed for Copenhell, such as Brooklyn Brewery's "Time Machine IPA" (ABV 6.66%, of course), available at the Brooklyn Brewery bar, or buy the Tuborg Gold 'golden coffin' full of gold Tuborgs for 1100,- to impress everyone at the festival.
• Try different foods from the vast assortment of eateries that far surpass the generic options other festivals have available: we recommend Gaza Grill’s Palestinian specialties; Tommis Burger Joint for delectable, juicy burgers and fries; Smokestack-BBQ for slowly smoked, Texan barbecue specialties; Big Easy Woodoo Kitchen for NOLA-style gumbo, corn ribs, and even oysters. And when darkness falls, Grill ‘Em All provides the perfect night food: huge, gourmet sausages with bread and all the garnishes. Or if you would like something unique, try the Ugandan street food from Ugood, or the Iraqi street food concept Mamati.

Ville Valo @ 14:00 Wednesday on Hades

Five and a half years have elapsed since HIM completed their “Bang and Whimper” farewell tour and brought one of Finland’s most revered rock bands to a conclusion. It was thus surprising how little fanfare there was around the announcement that HIM’s frontman Ville Valo would be visiting Copenhell this year. After all, with only a single album to his VV moniker’s name (“Neon Noir” from earlier this year), it was obvious that he would be delivering lots of HIM classics as well — something that recent setlists have already confirmed. So join us in death, and sing along in baritone to iconic tracks like “Poison Girl”, “Right Here in My Arms” and “Wings of a Butterfly”, all of which are certain to strike a vivid contrast to the blazing sunshine that is forecast. AP

Sick Of It All @ 17:15 Wednesday on Hades

Legendary New York Hardcore band that was there to start it all. They have released some of the most important albums in the genre over the years, and watching vocalist Lou Koller bounce around the stage with energy like a twenty-year-old despite pushing almost sixty years of age is a sight to behold. Prepare to pump your fist and for some intense pit action for this one. PP

Touché Amoré @ 17:45 Wednesday on Pandæmonium

Raw emotion delivered through an unadulterated mixture of post-hardcore and screamo with melancholic melodies that once upon a time inspired an entire movement of bands known as the wave. They've only gotten better on later albums, consistently finishing near the top of our end-of-year charts album after album. PP

The Ghost Inside @ 20:00 Wednesday on Hades

Royalty within metalcore / melodic hardcore. Their lingering melodies and semi-clean growls are hauntingly beautiful. They've written some of the best metalcore songs in history, such as this one. PP

Dance With The Dead @ 20:00 Wednesday on Gehenna

Aptly named Dance With The Dead plays an instrumental fusion of the 80s worshipping electronic genre synthwave and fiery heavy metal, even getting legendary horror director John Carpenter to feature on the intro track of their latest outing. Evoking images of slasher flicks and Aviator sunglasses, it is going to be interesting to see how it all translates in the live setting but with an evening slot at 20:00 on the first day of Copenhell 2023, I am expecting people to be well-ready for some neon-drenched, danceable tunes from these Californians. KW

Vended @ 12:45 Thursday on Hades

With all this talk of so-called nepo babies enjoying undeserved success in modern pop culture as a result of their parents’ achievements, there is one nepo outfit you should not miss: Vended. The band features Griffin Taylor on vocals and Simon Crahan on drums — and indeed, those are the respective sons of Slipknot’s frontman Corey Taylor and percussionist M. Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan. It should not be surprising to anyone that the band’s music thus sounds very similar to early Slipknot, and while none of the five musicians wear scary masks, their live performance looks just as deranged based on video evidence. Their early set seems like the perfect way to shake off the hangover in the pit. AP

Rot Away @ 14:30 Thursday on Gehenna

Probably the best hardcore band in Denmark right now aside from maybe EYES. Their live shows are high-energy onslaughts of fist-pumping hardcore fury, supported by their brilliant debut album "Nothing Is Good" from a couple of years back. PP

Sleep Token @ 15:00 Thursday on Pandæmonium

I don't think it should surprise me that Sleep Token is first on my list. Sleep Token was scheduled to play at Prime Fest 2020 back in the day, which would have marked their first time in Denmark. But, as we all know, it got canceled. It is three years later, and they have released "Take Me Back To Eden." The only con I have about Sleep Token is their set is in the afternoon with full sun. Bad planning, Copenhell. KRS

Electric Callboy @ 16:00 Thursday on Helvíti

This will be stupid. Very stupid. But also very catchy. Electric Callboy blends tongue-in-cheek metalcore with numerous different genres such as German Eurodance ala Scooter, schlager, and 80s glam metal. If you don't take yourself or metal as a whole too seriously, I think this could quite possibly become the biggest party of the whole festival. I for one will be joining in with the silliness with a massive grin on my face. KW

Fever 333 @ 17:30 Thursday on Pandæmonium

Oh yes, Fever 333 is on my list. I'd admit I was very nervous if it was going to happen due to the leaving of previous band members. But it looks like Aaron has gotten some new and good members to join. So I'm excited to see them kick it off before Brutus. KRS

Brutus @ 18:30 Thursday on Pandæmonium

Brutus took my wind away with the album "Unison Life", and after seeing them in March with fellow writer AP. It was probably one of the best concerts I have seen this year. So I'm excited to see more of it out in the open! KRS

Møl @ 19:45 Thursday on Pandæmonium

Arguably the kings of atmospheric black metal in Denmark, and one of the best bands in the world currently playing this type of music. Back-chillingly beautiful harmonies in a black metal setting. With "Diorama" they finally made a record of international caliber. PP

Pantera @ 21:30 Thursday on Helvíti

This one should be self-explanatory. Paving the way for throngs of groove metal bands, the legendary Pantera finally revisits Denmark for the first time in more than 20 years

Sparking a lot of controversy after their reformation without founding and deceased members Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul, Rex Brown and Phil Anselmo, however, seem ready and able to kick-start a parade of hit after hit, and with the one and only Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante filling the two vacant seats, this should be a must-see for anyone. RUB

Samael @ 23:15 Thursday on Pandæmonium

Nearing 40 years of existence, the Swiss industrial black metal act Samael will grace Denmark with its presence for the first time in almost 15 years. When it comes to extreme metal of that origin, only fellow Swiss band Hellhammer and eventually Celtic Frost should resonate more. With a spot on the Pandæmonium stage at 23.15 on Thursday it will be very exciting to see, how these aging metallers will perform their experimental take on the extreme genre. RUB

Strychnos @ 15:15 Friday on Hades

Few Danish metal bands have been receiving as much hype as Copenhagen’s blackened death metal crew Strychnos. It may have taken the group 24 years since their formation in 1998 to release their début album “A Mother’s Curse”, but anyone who has heard the record will unquestionably agree that it was worth the wait. Channeling cult bands like Demilich and Incantation and fusing their iconic sounds with modern progressive touches reminiscent of Spectral Voice, Ulcerate et. al, the band is certain to deliver one of the heaviest and most intense concerts at this year’s festival. AP

Architects @ 18:30 Friday on Helvíti

The band that dared to think differently about metalcore - no wonder they are playing the main stage this year. Some masterpieces under their belt waiting to be unleashed on the Copenhell audience. PP

END @ 20:30 Friday on Gehenna

In my opinion one of the most successful so-called "supergroups" in heavy music, END sports members from numerous heavyweights in metal such as Fit For An Autopsy, Counterparts, and The Dillinger Escape Plan. Sonically, it doesn't get much more abrasive in hardcore than this - it is furious, grimy, and fast. If the band Nails is your jam, you cannot miss this opportunity to get your head blown clean off. KW

Slipknot @ 21:30 Friday on Helvíti

Say what you want about Slipknot's music but their arena metal performances are a sight to behold. Expect loads of pyro, crazy antics, and an aggressively charged energy that puts almost every other live band to shame. PP

Spectral Wound @ 21:30 Saturday on Gehenna

Prepare yourself for freezing and harrowing black metal from Canada. With high-pitched shrieks and a chilling force of nature, Spectral Wound combines traditional Norwegian black metal with a more modern and crisp sound, making this band a definite must-see if you're a fan of extreme metal. RUB

Billy F. Gibbons @ 15:45 Saturday on Helvíti<

Saturday afternoon will provide a veritable riff feast when the legendary ZZ Top frontman Billy F. Gibbons takes over the main stage, accompanied by the former Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum and dirty southern country music legend Austin Hanks. Expect a litany of hard-rocking ZZ Top classics, as well as assorted covers of iconic rock and country songs to play your air guitar along to; it’ll be the perfect soundtrack to that mid-afternoon buzz that’s going to be keeping the looming, week-long hangover at bay. AP

Fishbone @ 17:00 on Saturday

I have a weak spot for Fishbone, and it's undeniable. I'll likely be singing extremely loud. I really liked the EP they released. So, I am hoping for some golden oldies and new stuff. KRS

Spiritbox @ 19:30 Saturday on Hades

Let's hope it is "second time's the charm" and not the third this time around. Spiritbox is back for a rematch after cancelling last year's Copenhell and I hope that means they're thirsty for blood. The band has only risen even more in popularity since then, becoming one of the most hyped bands in metalcore at the moment. It is catchy and relentlessly heavy, with Courtney LaPlante delivering both the soaring hooks and demonic growls. I just hope they can live up to the hype I have built over the years of being a fan of their music, this being the first time I will catch them live (fingers crossed). KW

Blackbraid @ 20:00 Saturday on Pandæmonium

Perhaps *the* most exciting new name on the scene, the Native American black metaller Sgah'gahsowáh - the sole member of Blackbraid, has quickly skyrocketed into stardom. With a sound not unlike that of Mgla and a first visit to these shores, it will be very interesting to see how he is greeted by what can only be a very seizable and curious crowd at the Pandæmonium stage Saturday evening. RUB

Gaerea @ 20:15 Satruday on Gehenna

Releasing one of the best albums of 2022, Gaerea is quickly becoming a household name in Denmark. Having just played here, every attendee of the show would testify to why you shouldn't miss out on yet another very interesting act on the most extreme end of the spectrum. RUB