FortaRock

July 2, 2011

Performed at Park Brakkenstein in Nijmegen, Netherlands

Devilish rites are best performed in the dark shadows on a moonless night, but if you happen to be scheduled for late afternoon at an outdoor festival, copious amounts of stage fog and red lights will do in a pinch.

“What a contrast to this in the tent, because there the preparations for a Black Mass begin: Backline in church window look, wafts of fog drift across the stage, and then the six members of GHOST appear on the scene to sacred organ sounds. Jubilation.” -Eckart Maronde (via Microsoft Translator)^[1]

“It is not easy to put an atmosphere like this in a tent on an early hour, a quite unknown band which actually found its way to many European (festival)stages this summer. Credits for them to make it happen, it is one of the most interesting shows of the day.” -Sabine van Gameren^[2]

Ghost’s melodic spells of evil stood out amongst their peers at the festival.

“Ghost's music is very refreshing; With roots firmly in obscure 70s metal and a touch of Mercyful Fate, this band provides a retro sound that is unparalleled. Just solid heavy doom rock with a very lugubrious sauce, namely the lyrics dripping with Satanism.”-Park Brakkestein (via Google Translate)^[3]

“Definitely the most surprising act of Fortarock this year, GHOST treats the audience to a mysterious pleasant intermezzo in contrast to all the grunts and guitar violence of other bands. GHOST’s singer, wearing skull makeup and a cardinal outfit, has a great voice and makes their songs about Lucifer and Satan sound like a lullaby.”-Ruth Mampuys^[4]

At the end, while performing ‘Ritual’, a Sinterklaas doll that bears more than a passing resemblance to Papa Emeritus is tossed onto the stage.

“Even the Sinterklaas (the Dutch Santa Claus) doll that was thrown onto stage doesn’t seem to break his concentration, but was treasured by him like a true relic for the rest of the show.” -Ruth Mampuys^[4]

“It is not torn to pieces, but neatly given to a child in the front row. Secretly, these are also sweet boys who visit grandma every Sunday for a cup of tea. Some conservative metal fans look on enviously from a distance, but Ghost puts on a great performance. Or, as others amusingly remarked: a witty band.” -Ruud^[5]

• [1]Metal.de, FortaRock Festival Arch Enemy, Immortal, Sacred Reich u.a. live in Nijmegen by Eckart Maronde
• [2]Tempelores, 02-07-2011 Fortarock by Sabine van Gameron
• [3]Written in Music, Fortarock 2011 by Park Brakkestein
• [4]Reflections of Darkness Music Magazine, Live Review: Fortarock Festival - Nijmegen 2011 (part 2) by Ruth Mampuys
• [5]Metalfan.nl, FortaRock - The Festival 2011 by Gilber, Ruud, Joan, and Tonnie

fok.nl, Foto's: Fortarock by Eric van't Hof

Festival Info, FortaRock 2011 by Gertjan Van Der Loo

allmetalfest.com, FortaRock 2011 Live Report (via archive.org)

Luukies Site :)), Fortarock 2011, park Brakkestein Nijmegen by Lukas Bergman