This is a difficult band to defend. Every objection traditionally levelled at Limp Bizkit remains valid. The lyrics are juvenile, the posturing absurd, the subtlety nonexistent and the entire enterprise often feels like a monument to bad taste. I have seen them before and came away with all my prejudices intact. Shallow, stupid, basic, hooligan music for suburban idiots. And yet, against all reason and good judgment, I have to admit that it works. Not despite those qualities, but because of them.
There is something almost liberating about the complete lack of pretension. Fred Durst has no interest in sophistication, emotional complexity or artistic credibility. He wants riffs, grooves and gigantic choruses designed to be screamed by intoxicated lunatics. And he gets them. Once you stop fighting it and allow your inner knucklehead a few moments in the sun, resistance becomes futile. Those hooks are undeniable.
The effect on the Hellfest crowd is immediate. The pit transforms into a giant furnace, with an endless stream of bodies flying over the barricade while thousands more bounce, mosh and shout every syllable back at the stage. It is chaotic, ridiculous and strangely beautiful. The sort of thing no focus group or marketing department could ever manufacture. I still hate Limp Bizkit. But for ninety minutes, I hated myself a little more.
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)