The Dragon's Ball - Friday

What do Wales, Pontin's, over three thousand metalheads and 50 kick-ass rock bands all have in common? As a horde of hair, booze and beards descends upon the small and vulnerable town of Prestatyn, it soon becomes clear that Hard Rock Hell is the answer. Still only in its second year of existence, the change of location for 2008's event has worked to its advantage. With the train station a mere 15 minute walk away and the town itself not much further, it is a refreshingly seamless check-in that provides the first sign of what will surely be a great festival – and the weekend does not disappoint. After all, with free biscuits at reception, how can things not go well?

This writer manages to arrive just in time for the tail-end of Attica Rage’s set over on the Young Blood stage – nestled happily within the venue’s on-site pub. The Scottish heavy metal crew win over their audience with ease, and a solid cover of Mötörhead’s ‘Overkill’ finishes off a great performance that has already set the standard for those that are yet to play. Luckily, it is Glyder who are on soon after, and the Lizzy-worshipping Irishmen open up the Classic Rock-sponsored main stage with an excellent show that is accompanied by fire-eaters, stilt-walking demons and fireworks. In fact, were it not for the slightly pressing issue of there being eight more hours’ worth of music yet to come, their set could have easily rounded off the evening nicely.



As it is, US power metallers Benedictum are on next and, led by heavy metal’s very own Tina Turner in frontwoman Veronica Freeman, they proceed to do their best to win over a curiously lacklustre crowd. They may not have any of the theatrics lent to Glyder only a few minutes earlier, but they certainly have gusto, and their ballsy, thrash-toned metal sounds even more crushing in a live environment. A quick jog over to the Metal Hammer second stage sees progressive metal act Textures produce a concrete live translation of their intricately heavy and calculated noise, before the day’s headliners in Thin Lizzy arrive to cement their status as one of the world’s premier tribute acts. After all, how can they be anything else by this stage?



In all fairness though, theirs is a highly enjoyable set, and the cheers that greet the likes of ‘Dancing In The Moonlight’ and ‘Cold Sweat’ show that any cynicism surrounding the band’s decision to continue without legendary frontman Phil Lynott has evaporated. The night is not over by any means though, as bona-fide heavy metal icon Doro manages to make most modern female rock singers look like amateurs with a thrilling cover of Judas Priest’s ‘Breaking The Law’, before Welsh veterans Tigertailz mix it up by inviting erotic dance troupe Satanic Sluts onstage for a boogie. The bars are still open at this stage and don’t close until 3am, but unlike Watford on a Monday night, it only leads to a continuously great atmosphere that is bolstered by a fantastic opening day of music.

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