I waited to return from Wacken Open Air before bringing you this write-up. I was hoping to compare the organization, prices, and audience profile of both festivals since they both take place in Germany. However, I’m sure you’ve heard, WOA turned into a bit of a fiasco this year:

On July 31, due to worsening weather conditions, storms, and rain, vehicle access to WOA was halted. Those already on the road created queues stretching for kilometers on the highways leading to the festival site. People ran out of food and water while waiting in their cars. The festival management directed these crowds to various parking lots within a 20 km radius. While people tried to camp in these areas, we watched the developments from a distance. On the morning of August 2, the festival announced via a red bulletin titled “Arrival Stop” that it was completely stopping new audience entries. No matter how you arrived, you could not enter. Due to increasing security concerns, the entire ticketed audience could not be accommodated. Only those who had already entered would continue with the program. Chaos ensued. Many people had traveled long distances at great expense. Now they were being turned away at the door. What about the time and money lost? Additionally, thousands of people had already entered and were enjoying the festival – how was this fair? Some argued that the festival should be canceled entirely and ticket prices refunded. Forums and Instagram were ablaze with complaints. However, some took a more mature stance: “Do you want everyone’s fun to be ruined just because you can’t enter? Should safety be compromised for casualties? Go home and stop whining, life is like this. It could have been worse.”

Moreover, performances by smaller bands were also canceled, including Turkish band Black Tooth. This further fueled the outrage. Despite this, the festival continued, sharing regular posts and stories showing people enjoying the festival, watching concerts, and wallowing in the mud. Some comments stated, “Despite the ban, we came to the gate, and the staff let us in without any issues. You should have tried harder.” This made those who followed the rules feel like fools, sparking more debate. Eventually, the anger subsided. Requests for live streams were made, followed by comments of admiration: “Wonderful, very nice, I’m so envious.” Ultimately, what happened? The 2024 tickets were sold out within minutes.

As for us? When we received the “Arrival Stop” news, we were at the station with our giant suitcases, about to board the Hamburg train. This news scared us because we had no alternative accommodation in Hamburg. If we weren’t allowed into the festival, boarding the train was no longer sensible. Besides, we had rented a panel van for the festival, which was both our transportation and our home for three days and four nights. What if the car got stuck in the mud? What if we couldn’t return? What if the van was damaged while being towed? Festivals were my escape from life’s worries, a time for carefree fun. If I had to worry so much, there was no point. Övünç and I reluctantly left the train and sat in a café at the station. By stepping back at that moment, we lost all access to Wacken. Even if they later allowed entries, buying a new train ticket would cost at least 150 Euros per person. Deutsche Bahn, known for its rigid policies, wouldn’t allow us to change or hold our tickets. We swallowed our expenses and opened a Carlsberg. Thanks to our dear friend Zeynep, who let us stay at her place, we waited for our return flight in a calm and decent manner.

Full Force Festival 2023: A Rollercoaster of Emotions

Hellfest had bulldozed over us, and we only had three days to detox before the next marathon. Before spreading out, we had to change countries. We traveled from Clisson to Nantes, then to Paris. After spending a night in a hotel at the train station, we set out early for Leipzig. After an 8.5-hour train journey, we finally arrived in the elegant city of Leipzig, 200 km south of Berlin. Until Thursday, I wanted to lie flat on my back, surviving solely on vitamin C and ginseng tea.

Thursday, June 22

Full Force Festival announced a “Warm Up Party” to kick off. We were undecided whether to party or conserve energy. We planned to reach the festival site in Ferropolis by renting a car, which elevated our comfort level. As we walked to the rental company on Thursday afternoon, we saw storm clouds approaching. As we picked up the car, we received back-to-back “red alert” warnings on our phones. According to these warnings, a massive storm was heading our way. Therefore, all opening events of the festival were canceled. Those who had set out were advised to return, and those arriving at the train station were told not to leave. We decided not to go that night. Luckily, the rental company offered us a 4×4 Volvo XC60 instead of the entry-level Opel we had booked. This substitution was perfect, especially for traveling to the countryside in rainy weather. However, if trees fell on the car during the storm, we’d be paying off the damages for years.

Friday, June 23

The next morning, we learned that the storm had passed, and the festival app invited us to the site. We were happy but learned that “storm over” didn’t mean “rain over”… We packed up and hit the road, set up our tent at the campsite. Sylvaine, who had agreed to our interview request, was expecting us at 5 PM! We decided to catch some concerts until then, but as soon as we finished setting up the tent, it started pouring. No problem, we donned our raincoats, boots, and hats and took a step towards the venue. However, before we could take a second step, a festival worker appeared, telling us we had set up our tent incorrectly and needed to move it a meter and turn the entrance another way. I felt like fainting. I tried to reason with him, thinking I could override his authority due to his young age. But his politeness and logical explanations made me comply. I begged, “Can we do it after the rain stops?” He, being a local, knew the rain wouldn’t stop. With some satanic force, we moved and re-setup our tent. Without succumbing to exhaustion, we headed back to the venue.

We were looking for the Backyard stage for UnityTX. After a long search, we found this “stage” in a corner of the festival grounds. Ferropolis, where the Full Force Festival is held, is a unique place. It’s an old mining area filled with defunct industrial equipment. The Backyard stage was constructed from old containers, stacked two high and one wide. It’s reminiscent of municipalities planting grass between two road lanes and putting up a sign saying “So-and-so Park and Green Space.” This mini stage was enclosed on all sides, creating an intense sound corridor. Despite not being a fan of hardcore or crossover, Texas’ UnityTX intrigued me. Shaolin G’s aggression transformed into powerful vocals, delivering solid bruts. Their song “Roc Sh!t” was even highlighted by Revolver as one of the “Best 6 new songs” of the week of July 7. Those mosh pitting at the front turned the mud into an opportunity for a festival classic: the ritual of covering oneself in mud.

As it approached 5 PM, we received bad news from Sylvaine: she couldn’t come out for the interview due to the rain. They were trying to stay as dry as possible. Completely understandable. Since the interview was postponed, we went with the flow, heading towards the main stage.

I wasn’t familiar with Annisokay’s music. Forgive me, but some metalcore bands sound the same to me. Turns out, they’re post-hardcore – even worse. But the festival grounds were dotted with their patches and t-shirts on young people’s vests. This intrigued me to watch them. Annisokay filled the main stage both in terms of performance and audience size. Rudi Schwarzer, who replaced Dave Grunewald as the brutal vocalist in 2019, did an excellent job. I’m vouching for the new guy.

Finally, it was time to move to the most beautiful stage of the festival: the Medusa Stage. This stage was located on the shore of Gremminer Lake, offering a spectacular view. Mantar was about to perform on this breathtaking stage. You know, we were supposed to see them in Istanbul last October, but the concert was canceled due to insufficient ticket sales. Mantar couldn’t sell tickets due to the economic crisis, not because they weren’t loved. The crowd gathered in front of the stage proved how beloved the band was. With 10 years of history and five albums, Mantar was as energetic on stage as ever. Particularly during “Hang Em Low” and “Cross The Cross,” the expected chaos ensued. Despite their sludge/doom sound, I find them quite energetic. Their live performance was even more energetic than their recordings. It was the first performance of the festival that made me regret not having my earplugs.

Jinjer, who had been promoted to the main stages, started around 10 PM. While my mind was preoccupied with Callboy, their advanced stage decor, lighting design, and Tati’s Blade Runner image drew me in. However, upon focusing, I noticed some shortcomings. While Tati delivered her famous brutal vocals, she didn’t exert much effort on the clean vocals, avoiding the high notes. Was she saving her vocal prowess for their US tour starting in July?

Seeing Electric Callboy as the headliner in their homeland was going to be incredible! The relentless rain stopped at the sight of Callboy. Knowing their stage entrance ritual from Hellfest, we quickly took our positions for “Techno Train.” This time, there were no time constraints. They chatted leisurely and performed almost their entire (2020 and onwards) Callboy catalog. There were extra jokes too: Frozen’s “Let It Go” and Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way.” However, the biggest surprise was their cover of Cascada’s “Everytime We Touch.” The original, released in 2006, must have been a huge hit in Germany. Everyone, including bar staff, was dancing. Metalheads remain the best pop fans. Ultimately, we danced, shoved, and experienced the Callboy I had imagined.

Saturday, June 24

Saturday morning greeted us with a bright and warm day. It was time to head down to the water. Milking The Goat Machine had already started their set on the Lake Stage with their Kiss makeup and goat masks. This was my first encounter with the band, and it turns out they’re part of the “fun-themed metal bands” crowd. Just like Alestorm with pirates or Gwar with aliens, these guys are goats. Would I listen to them voluntarily? No. Would I watch them if I came across them? For 10 minutes. Would I recommend them? If you like grindcore, why not?

Under the scorching sun, Born Of Osiris and While She Sleeps performed back-to-back, providing a delightful experience. Given the intense heat, I planned to watch them calmly. However, WSS’s crowd immediately declared, “Are we here to sit?” and got me on my feet. This was one of the few concerts where I witnessed the main stage area completely filled throughout the festival. Loz was one of the most consistent vocalists I’ve seen live. He sang without going off-key, getting tired, or altering the songs. I loved his crowd control – if he called for a circle pit, it happened; if he asked for applause, it was immediate. Despite the 30-plus-degree heat, the whole band, especially Loz in his fishnet top, put on a fantastic performance. I realized how much I missed Silence Speaks, a song I hadn’t listened to in a while.

The moment had arrived for the most anticipated concert! I don’t want to say anything negative, but who decided to place Sleep Token, the biggest event of the year, on the festival’s third-largest stage? This was a covered tent stage… The crowd started gathering half an hour early for the 22:50 show. As the time approached, the ground turned into a mud lake from the heavy rain, yet people filled every inch. This venue wasn’t designed for such a large crowd; the stage was quite low. Övünç was lucky to get into the photo pit, while I was stuck in the middle with my view blocked. As I slowly moved back for a better view, I suddenly found myself outside the sound range, realizing I had unintentionally exited the area. Damn it. People around me started climbing the tent poles. I finally found a spot and held my breath. I don’t want to exaggerate, but the band’s music doesn’t fully resonate with me; I’m not a huge fan. My main goal was to hear Vessel’s soul-stirring vocals live. I didn’t expect to be so captivated by the characters. The moment the concert started, the tension and crowd crush transformed into amazement and admiration. As Vessel stepped onto the stage, he genuinely put the audience in a Chokehold. The charisma of being masked and mysterious is well-known. However, there was an undeniable allure seeping through the fabrics. While I struggled to keep my attention on their albums, it was the opposite during the concert. Time flew by as I watched with my mouth agape. When I returned home and listened again, I realized that my love for Sleep Token is now confined to live performances.

Gojira was in the middle of their Mega-Monster Tour with Mastodon and Lorna Shore in the US. The first leg of the tour ended in mid-May, and before the second leg began, they were touring Europe. I recognized the stage screens from last year’s tour, including the countdown before the show. Their stage show was primarily led screens. But Gojira is a band that works as hard on their visuals as their music, and the clips were as magnificent as ever. Watching Another World and seeing the Eiffel Tower at the end almost made me cry. A fantastic choice for a band that doesn’t believe in stage shows or audience interaction. Though I must admit, Mario trying to hype up the crowd during his drum solo, using emoji visuals, was quite endearing. Every festival needs Gojira. Their greatness may still not be fully realized. The audience didn’t take their eyes off them for a minute; we were all mesmerized. When it ended, I realized the entire festival audience was present.

Sunday, June 25

We joined the sunbathers and swimmers by the lake. Stand Atlantic was performing with their charming pop-punk melodies on stage. The heat was drawing the crowd from the stage towards the lake. Vocalist/guitarist Bonnie Fraser tried to engage the crowd by shouting out to those on the beach between songs. Her Australian accent made me feel like I was on vacation at Bondi Beach. Apologies for not making it to the stage, but I really liked you guys.

The main stage’s concrete area was scorching hot. I found some shade and waited for Skindred. Benji Webbe is irresistible. As soon as he stepped on stage, his magnetism drew in thousands of people, filling the hot concrete area. Skindred’s songs and stand-up show-like banter set them apart. He managed the crowd by addressing us as “motherfuckers,” directing us to shout, clap, or mosh. Before the Newport Helicopter ritual for “Warning,” we had one more surprise: guest artist Jacobi Shaddix! Despite being the headliner that night, he didn’t try to remain mysterious, appearing before the audience at noon. Respect.

Övünç, a Spirit Box enthusiast, rushed to their concert while I sought a beer. I hadn’t managed to solve the drink issue since arriving. The festival operates on a cashless system requiring money to be loaded onto wristbands. But you can only load amounts like 50, 100, or 200 Euros! Why? Just because… And if you have any leftover balance, you can’t get it back after the festival. You need to request a bank transfer. But I’m a foreigner, how do I access your bank?! I was about to lose my mind. Finally, I saw a familiar face at the bar, our tent neighbors. I approached them and asked, “Hello, I’m not a vendor or beggar. Could I give you cash and you buy me a beer with your wristband?” They smiled and said, “Of course!” As our beers were being poured, they asked where I was from. They were aware of the situation in Turkey, and we shared our frustrations. Despite my insistence, they refused to take money for the beer. I felt embarrassed. I’m retiring the term “Alman Hesabı” (Dutch treat).

I said to Övünç, “Now Avatar is up. I find them utterly ridiculous, but let’s watch.” We headed to the Medusa stage. On the last day of the festival, a tipsy and sunburnt crowd had gathered. The Swedish band, who had adopted a clown theme, had set up a carnival-themed stage. Johannes Eckerström came out with a red balloon. I wanted to scoff, “Oh, did you turn into Pennywise?” but his dedication won me over. The clown concept was a mix of weird and beautiful. The music had shifted from melodic death metal to industrial. The march drum beat was energizing, but the guitar tones were so bad I couldn’t get into the melodies. Johannes’ mechanical body movements, synchronized with the beat, showed how hard the band had worked on their stage show. Even the leather mask worn by the roadie bringing equipment was impressive. Johannes’ lengthy banter in A2-level German, making the crowd laugh, assured me that I would watch them again wherever I found them.

I never imagined I’d be listening to Papa Roach in 2023. But thanks to our dear friends Ersay and Cem Çetinok’s enthusiasm, it was a must-watch. The band had announced that they wouldn’t allow photographers before the concert. Combining this with the tour’s name, “Ego Trip,” I had some preconceptions. Was Jacobi, who won me over during the Skindred concert, secretly arrogant? Absolutely not. Maybe it was a tactic to be taken seriously, I don’t know. To summarize: The concert was an incredible butt rock fest. Jacobi and the band were full of energy. Including covers like The Cure’s “Lullaby” and The Prodigy’s “Firestarter” was brilliant. They managed to draw non-fans and those who thought they were one-hit wonders, like me, to the stage. Listening closely, I realized they had more hits than I remembered. Jacobi’s heartfelt speech about addiction, depression, and anxiety before “Scars” was genuinely touching. If it made even one person feel less alone, that’s a win.

Full Force Festival is a place where a metalhead can feel very comfortable. The crowd is homogeneous, with listeners from all age groups and metal subgenres. This wasn’t the case in 2019; it was more metalcore-heavy with a younger audience. The festival being on a peninsula, surrounded by water, adds a nice “vacation” feel. You can jump into the lake whenever you want, wearing your swimsuit, underwear, or even naked. The lakeside is always full of metalheads diving in and out of the water. As a small festival, there are no overwhelming crowds or traffic-stopping mobs. You wait a maximum of 3 minutes for a beer and 1 minute for merchandise. If you insist on getting to the front of the stage, you can (except for Sleep Token). However, some things are annoying: Firstly, you’re quite isolated. There’s no nearby town or roadside market within walking distance. This makes the second problem more serious: Full Force Festival is expensive compared to larger festivals. Festival shirts are 35€ (25€ at Hellfest), 40 cl beer is 6€ (60 cl is 6.5€ at Hellfest), and the cup deposit is 2€ (1€ at Hellfest). Plus, the cups are plain plastic, not worth keeping as souvenirs. There’s a stand selling 2€ cans of Becks in the camping area, but you can’t bring them into the festival grounds. Since we brought our own food and drinks, we weren’t forced into the high prices. However, I did miss out on an official festival shirt because I didn’t want to spend 1,000 liras.