"Eyes wide open, wallet, keys and a half dead phone that needed a SIM Card, the mind focused on the horizon and a little MJ on the side."

The Festcampers on their way to Pumpehuset to start the journey together with a lot of metalheads filled with satanic smiles, horns, beers and music.
Weather is good, sunny but the shadows are getting longer and the cold wind is foreshadowing a chilled hell. Let us see; the line-up is good and filled with something for all tastes, from rock to black metal, old, new names, reunion and something special for the 10th edition of Copenhell!

 

It was Monday

 

The crowd was at large, the music had started. Bit out of scene, so it seemed, when we arrived at Pumpehuset which each year takes the center stage of starting Copenhell, so people can meet, hear some music and get their wristbands to avoid too large queues at the festival. More about the queues later.
A solo artist from a Danish rock band took the stage and played an acoustic set of old written songs. I have to admit, I was a bit confused, but hey, it’s room for all, as long as I get the wristband and a beer! So it must be, so it shall be done and a quick hello, up the stairs and wupti, so it was done!
We are ready to spend the next days in hell. Rain or shine! Well…. Better shine than rain.

Lots of people and greeting as always but also a bit different atmosphere. Copenhell is getting “older” and even if 10 years isn’t much, it has grown a lot over the years and is now on the counting of 28.000 guests, tickets are expensive and of course a line-up that can’t really satisfy all but that is, as always, very diverse. So, I did met a few of the Copenhell people that had declined this year edition. I do understand some people’s frustration about direction of Copenhell is taking, but right now I don’t mind. It’s still a great “garden party” on the concrete docks of the former shipyard of Burmeister & Wain, but maybe we metalheads are getting too spoiled as we get older?

Beers were shared, cheers cast around, horns were given, thrown and the next band really put some kick ass energy into the crowd, much needed. As the talk went high, the sun slowly went behind the houses, the time was for us to return to the crypt to plan the next couple of days. One thing was sure, Copenhell was once again in town, so were the people and the feeling of home!

 

It was Wednesday

02:30h! Waking up, hurry to job, looking at the clock, done, clothes off, on, out the door, biking, home, getting ready, waiting, friend arrive! Copenhell, we are ready! Beer me and that can only go slow!!

The day started out nicely, an old friend was staying at my place and the 3 of us talked a bit about old days, and the hell we were about to enter. So, with a little shared beer and a declined Rammstein concert, we headed instead out for Refshaleøen, the home of the festival, to join the Pre-hell day. A little homage to the old day, where only a few people are allowed in and most of the area is still cut off, which makes it feel much smaller and more “just for us”, the old foxes and hounds.

We arrived at a place that is “under construction” the mood is high and it’s actually quite nice. The clothes are still fresh, the feet unmarked by any long walks, large stones, dropped beer and rain. Yes, the clouds are there, but it didn’t look like to rain. Also, the weather forecast said, no rain. So, let’s put our faith into the meteorologists. I look and wonder once again about the weirdness of Copenhell.
You arrive by bus, check, you see there are two lines to walk, check and choose the right one. Then, some goes left and other mortals turn left a bit further ahead. You pass up to the large area where the entrance gate is and you look around. Why!?
No fence, no line as such, then why spend so much money on banners, signs if the doesn’t matter a fuck where people go. It’s a returning funny joke and a bit sad too.
Some never learn, some just don’t want to.

 

We start off by getting in line, the line for wristbands vs the line for those who have but are guest and volunteers. For some reason the wrong line moves too fast, I look a bit around and wonder why, 1 of the rows are open, out of 4.

Question will be answered when we arrive. I heard another worker asking the worker that is in front of rows letting people pass, why he has chosen to close one, when they are set up and ready for two open rows. He explains, she wonders, they argue and I guess, the usual problems with the communication at the gates, hasn’t been solved again this year.
In retrospect; no, the rest of the days there was a constant miscommunication, closed rows at the different gates, creating too long lines and problems that shouldn’t had been. So, mentioned and left behind.

We are in, I look at my friends and I am kinda excited to return, but more than happy with my company. Weather isn’t warm, it’s windy and of course we have extra clothes with us.

The Greetings, the Cheers and the Reunions. It is always great to see each other again and most of the times it only happens this one time a year, where it’s certain and at the pre-day of Hell, where only a few thousand people are allowed in. Here it’s clear that the “old metalheads” that had been there from the beginning are also always the first to return.

Bands, honestly, I have no idea if they played well or not. We entered the perimeter just after 1000mods had played, which was the result of a really nice and great dinner at home!
Yummi…!