Chug, chug, chug...

By: Gerovit Slavenski "Sistem"

 

Alestorm and Skálmöld decided to dock in the Culture Factory (Tvornica Kulture), Zagreb on the evening of Tuesday night alongside their Skalstorm tour through Europe. Although it was a working day, Festcamper Crew set out from their lair in hometown of Osijek to the capital of Croatia.

 

Around noon, Skalstorm tour bus was parked in front of the venue with the road crew unloading and preparing for tonights party. After snooping around town and chiling at the winter manifestation that was held at the square, we headed up to Tolkien theme based bar for some short warming up and continued to the crime scene of the night.

As we approached the Culture Factory, so we realised the crowd gathering in front of the entrance. And so, we popped by the bar on the other side of the street and waited out for the entrance to be opened while having a nice cold beer. As the venue opened, even though the gig hasn't been sold out, crowd streamed in, and not only the local one, but from other parts of Croatia and also Slovenia as we met the older slovenian couple, ready to loosen' it up during a working week :)

 

First on the stage was band Voloh from Rijeka, Croatia. Folk pagan metal with croatian lyrics and two vocals turned up to be an interesting choice for a support. Great contact with the crowd and their faithful crew from their hometown, made an atmosphere which is hard to see for the local band, especialy in Zagreb. Near the end of the set, friend and member of the band Svarica joined them on the stage with pagan handmade drum to sing the cover song of Svarica. Crowd screamed for more but due to tight schedule they had to let the stage to next band, which had a great atmposphere from Voloh to begin with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skálmöld arrives from Iceland, and so does their atmosphere; Viking theme with icelandic lyrics send the crowd to another world. Even though the songs were long and a bit more to listen and enjoy at home laid back, crowd didn't mind as they were fully engaged. With few headbanging and large applause after each song, the crowd and the band really cliked on and by the end of the set, Skálmöld promised to come back again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the chilling in the north sea, it was time to let the energy flow as the party was ready to unleash - Alestorm.

Pirate power metal which became more of a party metal with lots of booze, kept the crowd going from first to the last song with singing, screaming and moshing to go around. With the set full of hits and songs that engulfed the fans with raging party thirst, booze was flowing all over the place, literally. Great shownman and frontman Chris Bowes with his usual references to crowd which he teased with silly remarks and questions upon which they always agreed with him, led them to make a wall of death by saying "I want you to make two sides and to f*** each other on the oposite side on my mark". As the party went on so did they bring their big mate from the down under to chug a beer on the joy of the crowd which was getting crazier. Something like a frat party to depict closely ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To ease a bit, it was a time for a "Nancy the Tavern Wench" which united the Culture Factory in one hell of a pirate crew, as the crowd sat and rowed the entire song, singing along. Then it came for the ritual last trip of the famous rubber ducky that looked upon the whole crazy party. For the end there where hands in the air giving all of us a finger as the party ended with everyone singing "Fuck you, you're a fuckin' wanker...".

Skalstorm team sailed away to another party next day while the rest of us carried on with a smile and a mid week hangover oh-woah-oh..