The big boys come out to play at Hammerfest 2!

If ever there is a case of preaching to the converted, DevilDriver at Hammerfest is that occasion. From the second the band hit the stage, the heroes welcome that Dez Fafara and his riffing cohorts are afforded is astonishing and the band repay that faith by ripping through their tracks at break-neck speed. Back With A Vengeance is played at punk rock pace and when the band finish their set ten minutes early, they just start to rip through songs they’ve not detonated in aeons. The people and the band are one right now and it’s that incredible feeling that makes Hammerfest such an amazing experience. We’ll move on before we start welling up but it’s the kind of thing that makes you proud to be a metalhead.

Headlining night one, Five Finger Death Punch’s star has not stopped rising since they hit our shores for the first time at last year’s Defenders Of The Faith tour and on tonight’s evidence, it’s easy to see why. Bulldozer heaviness combine with dynamite vocal hooks and Ivan Moody is currently one of the best frontmen in the game. Not ready to party? Not on his watch, the motherfucker insists that you throw down and he’s not a man that you want to say no too. Worthy headliners? You bet your ass!

At the set’s climax, Moody tells us that they’re coming back to hit the Download festival and they’ll continue to blow minds and swell their growing reputation as one of the best hard rock bands to enter our world in the past 5 years at Donington in June.