The Pretty Reckless has spent nearly two decades patiently building its audience, and the investment is clearly paying off. High-profile opening slots for AC/DC and Guns N' Roses have exposed the band to increasingly larger audiences and helped establish Taylor Momsen and company as one of the more reliable names in contemporary hard rock. Their appearance on one of Hellfest's Main Stages, sandwiched between modern metalcore acts and veteran rock bands, felt entirely natural.
Much of the attention inevitably gravitates toward Momsen. A charismatic frontwoman with an instinctive understanding of how to command a large crowd, she remains the focal point throughout the set, leaving the rest of the band to concentrate on serving the songs. Fortunately, those songs are strong enough to justify the attention. Rooted in hard rock but carrying traces of punk attitude and grunge, The Pretty Reckless delivers exactly the sort of direct, hook-laden material that works best in a festival setting.
There is little reinvention taking place here, and none is required. The band knows its strengths and plays to them. On a bill designed to accommodate several generations and subgenres of heavy music, The Pretty Reckless provides an effective bridge between newer acts and more traditional rock fare. Judging by the reaction they receive at Hellfest and the fact that a headlining arena date awaits them in Paris this autumn, their upward trajectory shows no signs of slowing.
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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)