Rock Monsters Romania

Text and photos by Ionela Pleșan

I arrived in Bistrița early in the morning and I explored the city on foot until I reached my accommodation. Bistrița, a charming and tranquil town, exceeded my expectations. In the days leading up to the concert, I visited museums, parks, and admired the numerous passages of the city.

I must admit that the main reason I decided to come to Bistrița was to see Sepultura. I had long wanted to see them in concert and understand what lies behind the frenzy that characterizes them. The Way Too Far Rock Festival has already become a traditional event in the area, starting in 2017, and so far, it hasn’t disappointed in terms of its lineup. They have had renowned bands on stage, such as Within Temptation, Katatonia, Crazy Town, and others. At first, it seemed unusual to me that Sepultura would perform in Bistrița, but then I realized that the festival had already had editions with impressive lineups, which changed my perspective.

The first day of the festival was marked by a challenge: how to get there? The bus was running late, and when it finally arrived, it turned out to be a minibus. Nevertheless, I accepted the situation and set off for the festival, only missing one band due to the delay. At the festival, Sacrificial Slabs were performing on stage, managing to attract teenagers. I also noticed a significant number of children in the audience, making the festival suitable for all ages. However, I was concerned that not all children had ear protection, as I even needed earplugs at one point. The payment system at the festival was a bit of a headache. You had to purchase a card with cash, which I didn’t have, and then top up the card to make purchases within the festival. The universal cup with the option for refills was a well-received initiative. It was heartening to see Romania adopting this system, as has been the case at other European festivals for years. People were satisfied, with one participant even planning to use the cup at other events. Sacrificial Slabs got the teenagers in front of the stage excited.

Next up were Mother of Millions, who were the surprise of the evening for me. They are a Greek progressive metal band that I had the pleasure of hearing and seeing live. They captivated my attention, and I now wish to see them as headliners. They approach a typical style of progressive metal but with an innovative twist.

Smash into Pieces took the stage without their instruments and with a backup guitarist because their guitarist wasn’t feeling well. “If it sounds like hell, it’s because I can’t hear anything in my headphones,” the lead singer said at one point. Their instruments were lost during transport, but the guys rallied and wanted to continue the concert, even though the sound wasn’t perfect. They had remarkable charisma, and the audience had a good time. Smash into Pieces pleased the crowd, even though the sound quality left much to be desired.

The headliners of the first day were HammerFall. I couldn’t wait to shout “Let the Hammer Fall” and enjoy the synchronization of the guys on stage. The Swedes took the stage and captured the audience’s attention. Teenagers were headbanging, adults were singing along to the songs they grew up with, and parents with children were living in the moment. Joacim Cans was very charismatic and interacted with the audience, demonstrating their experience as a band. Oscar Dronjak was in perfect harmony with his bandmates and managed to create an extraordinary atmosphere. During “Hearts on Fire,” Joacim Cans stepped off the stage and approached the audience, who were singing at the top of their lungs. We headbanged, sang along, and even had circle pits; it was a memorable concert.

The journey to Bistrița was quite an adventure. The minibus was late, and when it finally arrived, I was amazed at how many people could fit inside. It was like that joke about how many people can fit in a specific place. We set off for Bistrița while listening to romanian traditional music, with people standing in the aisles.

The second day of the festival began for me with a minibus that arrived on time. I arrived at the festival full of energy and ready to enjoy the music of We Are Numbers. The band from Brașov, known for “Romanian metalcore,” managed to get the audience moving. I saw circle pits, headbanging, dancing, and a great atmosphere. A We are Numbers concert can be summed up in these words. It wasn’t my first time seeing them live, so I was there to sing along and have a good time, and of course, to shout, “We are numbers!” The guys seemed just as enthusiastic, and the crowd was excited and pleased with what they heard.

After We are Numbers, it was the turn of the Bulgarian band Eufobia to take the stage. They spoke Romanian better than some of my friends. They spoke Romanian throughout the show, and the audience appreciated this. Eufobia is a typical death metal band with guitars that seem never-ending, but the voice of their lead singer stands out.

Next, the Ukrainians from Noapology took control of the stage, with Daria Zaritskaya as the lead singer. They combined melodic metal with Daria’s voice, complemented by an interesting instrumental backdrop. Daria interacted with the crowd and attempted to speak Romanian. At the end of the show, she threw her sunglasses into the crowd, and a teenager in the front row was very proud to catch them.

The headliners of the second day were Evergrey. I was curious to see them live since this Swedish band has been playing progressive metal for over 25 years and has released 13 albums. Tom S. Englund created a special atmosphere, but what impressed me the most was Jonas Ekdahl, the drummer of the band. He had long and powerful drum solos that made you contemplate. After seeing Jonas Ekdahl live, I came to the conclusion that he is one of the top five drummers I’ve ever seen. Alongside Mike Mangini from Dream Theater, Martin Axenrot from Opeth, Gavin Harrison from Porcupine Tree, and Eloy Casagrande from Sepultura. I truly enjoyed the drumming and the bass, and I lived in the moment. The audience seemed captivated by the enchanting atmosphere created. During the return journey in the minibus, I spoke with other passengers and realized that it wasn’t just my opinion; the microphone was set too low for Tom S. Englund’s voice, and the spectators confirmed.

The final day of the festival kicked off for me with Slave Steel, a British band that pleasantly impressed me. I still listen to them now, that’s how much I liked them. Their lyrics and music courageously address the significant deficiencies in society that affect and disarm individuals, ultimately disrupting art, much like nations can divide people’s lives. The audience shared the same emotion with me. The band members encouraged the crowd to move and enjoy the moment, and this was clearly reflected in the audience’s reaction. Then came Altar and Trooper. To Trooper’s songs, I went back to when I was 14, reliving my teenage spirit. I grew up with Trooper and remembered every moment of my adolescence when I listened to their music. I sang, danced, headbanged, smiled, and loved how everyone in the crowd was enjoying the moment. Trooper has been and will remain one of the bands that come to mind when I reminisce about my teenage years.

The wait was over, and the Brazilian metal legend, Sepultura, took the stage. The audience became extremely energetic, with everyone in motion, and the atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm. Circle pits, headbanging, lyrics being shouted, guitars and drums vibrating the air – the concert had everything you could wish for. I was amazed by Eloy Casagrande, who seemed to be able to play the drums without stopping. The energy was unending, and as the concert continued, the atmosphere became even more charged with energy and enthusiasm from the crowd. I was impressed by how Sepultura managed to attract such a large number of fans over the years and how they have remained relevant, but now I understood. Derrick Green was sensational on stage, using impressive vocal techniques, which I found fascinating. From “Ratamahatta” to “Roots Bloody Roots,” I had the privilege of hearing them all. I thoroughly enjoyed this concert and I am grateful for the opportunity to see Sepultura live.

The conclusion after the three days of the festival? It was an interesting experience; the organization could have been better, but I’m curious to see what the lineup has in store for us in 2024. Tickets are already on sale, and you can find them here.