Earlier, Him bathed the main stage in their 'love metal'.
Every time we've stopped by to watch Him on festival stages in the past, with the intention of watching only a couple of songs, we've been suckered and stayed for the whole set.
Frontman Ville Valo cuts a thin figure, bathed in black with hoody and hat intact...despite this being the hottest day of the year so far.
Their set is hot too, even if the band looks a little too chilled about things - it's the perfect festival set-list, pleasing the die-hards who are out en masse, but doing more than spiking the interest of 'passing trade'.
Right Here in My Arms, Your Sweet 666, Soul on Fire, and the almost obligatory cover of Chris Isaak's Wicked Game are all given an airing.
'We've just been told to skip a song...thank you so much for having the patience and energy,' Ville tells the swell crowd, before the Finnish fantastics play out with Funeral of Hearts.
The Prodigy headlined the main stage, their furiously delicious blend of dance with rock-itude wringing every last drop of energy from the crowd before them, and its a typically tight set from Keith Flint, Maxim and Co, and while its not Prodigy at their most monstrous, it is a show and a half - Breathe launches things, Voodoo People, Writings on the Wall and Poison follow, boom, boom, boom.
Relentless and wired, and with enough punch to see the night out in style as Sonisphere experiences the first of the weekend's rain...
Total MK will be back on site for more in the morning....
Words: Al Hunter & Sammy Jones
[gallery link="file" ids="2651,2649,2652,2650,2642,2646,2647,2648"]
IN PICTURES AT SONISPHERE: ANTHRAX & THE PRODIGY GET THE PARTY STARTED
(Scroll down for gallery)
"We wrote this and thought we could change the world, " Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian ays, addressing a fiery crowd, who have assembled to hear Anthrax's 1987 album Among the Living played out in full.
"...we were 22 years old..."
He speaks of One World but though the American thrashers were naive in part - they sure as hell never changed the world - there is a hell of an audience in here for who it is clear Anthrax did change their world.
When they play the frenetic Caught In A Mosh, the Bohemia tent is full of ecstatic, loyal fans shout back the lines 'I ain't gonna live my life this way...'
It's a Friday night ringing loud with riffs and big, juicy tunes, songs that haven't just stood the test of time, but songs that still have a relevance today.
Maybe that's why we are all fighting a losing battle with the heat in this tent, and why we are pretending not to notice how poor the sound is.
Besides, how can we possibly grumble when in the distance a band much older and wiser than when we first clapped eyes on them , still play with such a zest and passion?
We've all grown older - Scott's beard in now in a natural grey and we're standing comfortably half way back as opposed to swapping sweat with unknowns near the front, but we know a great song when we hear one , and we know a truly great band.
And this is still very much a band that matters.
Imitation of Life ('the slowest song we ever wrote...try and stay awake'), Indians, Among The Living, NFl...Among the Living was a corker when it was originally released, and is now a much-loved classic album.
Joey Belladonna doesn't just sing about Indians, he races around the stage like a man possessed, relishing his role and still a man loving the day job.
Tonight, while we don't literally get Caught In A Mosh, preferring instead to punch the air in uniform response to the splendid thrashery before us, everyone knows they've been a part of something special on this inaugural day of Sonisphere 2014, celebrating 40 years of festivals at the Knebworth site.
I Am The Law is pulled out of the track-listing, and devoured last by the sweltering consumers: 'You know what's so awesome? We get to see you again tomorrow!" the band say, giving a nod to their forthcoming main stage set.
The second coming...
Earlier, Him bathed the main stage in their 'love metal'.
Every time we've stopped by to watch Him on festival stages in the past, with the intention of watching only a couple of songs, we've been suckered and stayed for the whole set.
Frontman Ville Valo cuts a thin figure, bathed in black with hoody and hat intact...despite this being the hottest day of the year so far.
Their set is hot too, even if the band looks a little too chilled about things - it's the perfect festival set-list, pleasing the die-hards who are out en masse, but doing more than spiking the interest of 'passing trade'.
Right Here in My Arms, Your Sweet 666, Soul on Fire, and the almost obligatory cover of Chris Isaak's Wicked Game are all given an airing.
'We've just been told to skip a song...thank you so much for having the patience and energy,' Ville tells the swell crowd, before the Finnish fantastics play out with Funeral of Hearts.
The Prodigy headlined the main stage, their furiously delicious blend of dance with rock-itude wringing every last drop of energy from the crowd before them, and its a typically tight set from Keith Flint, Maxim and Co, and while its not Prodigy at their most monstrous, it is a show and a half - Breathe launches things, Voodoo People, Writings on the Wall and Poison follow, boom, boom, boom.
Relentless and wired, and with enough punch to see the night out in style as Sonisphere experiences the first of the weekend's rain...
Total MK will be back on site for more in the morning....
Words: Al Hunter & Sammy Jones
[gallery link="file" ids="2651,2649,2652,2650,2642,2646,2647,2648"]
Earlier, Him bathed the main stage in their 'love metal'.
Every time we've stopped by to watch Him on festival stages in the past, with the intention of watching only a couple of songs, we've been suckered and stayed for the whole set.
Frontman Ville Valo cuts a thin figure, bathed in black with hoody and hat intact...despite this being the hottest day of the year so far.
Their set is hot too, even if the band looks a little too chilled about things - it's the perfect festival set-list, pleasing the die-hards who are out en masse, but doing more than spiking the interest of 'passing trade'.
Right Here in My Arms, Your Sweet 666, Soul on Fire, and the almost obligatory cover of Chris Isaak's Wicked Game are all given an airing.
'We've just been told to skip a song...thank you so much for having the patience and energy,' Ville tells the swell crowd, before the Finnish fantastics play out with Funeral of Hearts.
The Prodigy headlined the main stage, their furiously delicious blend of dance with rock-itude wringing every last drop of energy from the crowd before them, and its a typically tight set from Keith Flint, Maxim and Co, and while its not Prodigy at their most monstrous, it is a show and a half - Breathe launches things, Voodoo People, Writings on the Wall and Poison follow, boom, boom, boom.
Relentless and wired, and with enough punch to see the night out in style as Sonisphere experiences the first of the weekend's rain...
Total MK will be back on site for more in the morning....
Words: Al Hunter & Sammy Jones
[gallery link="file" ids="2651,2649,2652,2650,2642,2646,2647,2648"]
