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Thursday started surprisingly well regarding all the beer we consumed the day before. After the usual morning routine, we headed to the press tent to work a little. Since we already "lost" two interview appointments the previous day (Paradise Lost cancelled all interviews due to some timing issues, and we arrived too late for the interview with 1914), we seized the opportunity for an "instant" interview with Jacob Björnfot, the founder of Swedish black/pagan/speed metal project Kvaen.
After we finished work in the late afternoon, we dozed off a little, then headed for the Kvaen performance, starting at 19.40 on Wera Tool Rebel Stage. It was a powerful and most genuine one, with tracks from both albums, The Funeral Pyre and this year released The Great Below. Jacob was visibly enjoying the show, and so was the audience.
From one Swedish act to another - melodic death metal band Arch Enemy, performing on the main stage, with the amazing Alissa White-Gluz's growling, singing clean vocals, and performing in her unique "sexapil" style - no wonder the audience was crowded. The majority of the performed songs belonged to the latest album, Deceivers, though they drew no less applause than the hits like "No Gods, No Masters" or "Nemesis".
Finish folk metal outfit Ensiferum was the next, though brief, stop. They brought their "swords" to the T-Stage, and the rain. It was a battle-spirited performance - well-served for those who enjoy folkish sounds. The now-nylon crowd seemed to catch the battle spirit despite the rain.
After Ensiferum finished, French Dagoba started on the near Wera Tool Rebel Stage. Although we've been avoiding listening to the hardcore/grindcore/groove... "infected" bands, we decided to attend the performance while waiting for Der Weg Einer Freiheit. And it wasn't even the first time for us - Dagoba was the Moonspell's supporting group at the concert in Gratz about seven years ago.
And then, at least in our opinion, the stars of the second Summer Breeze day, German atmospheric post/black metal band Der Weg Einer Freiheit. The performance was definitely the most technically improved so far - breathtaking, especially the instrumental parts.
Mesmerized by the sounds, we decided to stick with Der Weg Einer Freiheit and be late for Dark Tranquillity, performing the last on the main stage. Iconic Swedish outfit has been with us for already 33 years, and talkative vocalist Mikael (by the way, since 2021, the only remaining member of the band, and not even the original one) didn't forget to congratulate the Summer Breeze festival on its 25th anniversary, as well not to mention that Dark Tranquillity had already been working on its fourth full-length by the time the Summer Breeze festival was born.
The Dark Tranquillity performance was, thanks to Mikael, who also kept wandering the stage, the most interactive one. He seemed deeply touched by the feedback and genuinely sincere with his praises to the audience and the Summer Breeze festival. With "Misery's Crown" then we got escorted to the dreamland. Stay tuned for more reports!
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