Acid Bath is one band I never expected to see. They broke up nearly thirty years ago and not only did a reunion seem improbable, the idea of them playing France bordered on fantasy. Outside of the American Deep South, their cult remained relatively small. Praise be to the Hellfest organizers for turning fantasy into reality. Their singular blend of doom, groove, blues and psychedelia happens to be very much in vogue today, but back in the nineties there was nothing quite like them.
Fifty minutes is woefully inadequate for an event of this magnitude, but beggars cannot be choosers. Hearing Dax Riggs' unmistakable voice once again soar above the riffs and leads of Sammy Duet and Mike Sanchez is almost worth the price of admission on its own. The crowd gathered before the Valley stage understands the rarity of the occasion and responds accordingly.
And in yet another twist nobody could have predicted, Acid Bath will soon be opening for System of a Down on their European tour. Which means that Acid. Bath. Will. Be. Playing. French. Stadiums. This. Summer. Yes, really. They may not be the most natural setting for music this strange and intimate, but nobody is complaining. After waiting nearly three decades, fans are in no position to be picky. Hopefully, this remarkable second life eventually leads to a proper headlining tour. Until then, we'll gladly take whatever Acid Bath chooses to give us.
TesseracT @ Main Stage 2 (Photos, setlist)
Point Mort @ Warzone (Photo)
Queensrÿche @ Main Stage 1 (Photos, review, setlist)
Stoned Jesus @ Valley Stage (Photos, review, setlist)
Bloodywood @ Main Stage 2 (Photos, setlist)
Accept @ Main Stage 1 (Photos, review, setlist)
Sepultura @ Main Stage 2 (Photos, review, setlist)
Helloween @ Main Stage 1 (Photos, review, setlist)
Opeth @ Main Stage 2 (Photos, review, setlist)
Iron Maiden @ Main Stage 1 (Photos, review, setlist)
DAY FOUR
Scour @ Temple Stage (Photos, review, setlist)
Eyehategod @ Valley Stage (Photos, review)
Six Feet Under @ Altar Stage (Photos, review, setlist)
Corrosion Of Conformity @ Valley Stage (Photos, review)
Possessed @ Altar Stage (Photos, setlist)
Agnostic Front @ Warzone - (Photos, setlist)
Acid Bath @Valley Stage (Photos, review, setlist)
Marduk @ Altar Stage (Photos, setlist)
Napalm Death @ Altar Stage (Photos, review, setlist)
Down @ Valley Stage (Photos, review, setlist)