Live Report: Ladies of Metal vol.4 – April 2022

The reason was the Ladies Of Metal festival, which this year took place at Hollywood Live Stage and hosted many important bands.

Two days on fire!

From the get-go it looked different from previous times. The biggest difference was the double date! Two days, 9 different acts and melodies that burn, promised the crowd an unforgettable whole. For me personally, it was my first contact with this particular festival – but definitely not the last. I didn't quite know what to expect. I'd had the chance to meet the Ladies who'd be taking part earlier on – through a series of interviews you can find on Λαγωνικό's YouTube channel – but the festival itself was still a mystery to me. So, buzzing with anticipation, I showed up for both days right from the start to catch every artist.

Day 1: April 9

Mute Tale

First day and the line-up kicks off strong! Opening the stage is Annou with Mute Tale. First off, let's say this is a band with a lot of members. Three voices, 2 guitars, keys, bass and drums make up a multifaceted sound that's really interesting. Their compositions carry messages that, more often than not, are hard for anyone to say out loud. This was definitely one of the bands I discovered through the festival, and I'll keep following them.

Andy Rocks

What followed was quite different. Taking the stage were Andy Rocks with Andrea Weiss. I'd had the chance to get to know Andy Rocks through their first album. Even so, I was blown away seeing them perform their songs live on stage. This is a southern rock outfit, with a gorgeous sound and killer chemistry between the instruments. Andrea had told me in our interview: 'Andy Rocks will rock you!'. And boy, they did rock us all!

From the first note to the very last, the band from Germany fired up the crowd and left promises for the future. I'm definitely looking forward to their next album, and to seeing them live again!

Project Renegade

Ladies Of Metal had it all this year! The Project Renegade took the stage to give us their own take on metal music, and it stood out. The band moves in Nu Metal territory and honestly, it's the reason we ended up slamming in front of the stage. Their hard, rhythmic melodies impressed and set the crowd free (Liber8), while reminding us that when it comes to metal, Project are our fix (The Fix is In). See you at Midalidare festival for another dose of them!

Jaded Star

Second to last on stage were Jaded Star, with the impressive Maxi Nil. They were simply impressive, both in stage presence and musically. Their sound is looking better than ever and much more mature. With the new line-up they seem to have found their footing, and promise many more impressive shows to come!

Enemy of Reality

Headliners of the first day were Enemy of Reality with Ηλιάνα Τσακιράκη. Impressive and dynamic, they performed old but also new compositions from their upcoming album. One of the highlights of the night, and definitely a moment I'd personally been eagerly awaiting, was when they performed the traditional Pontic song 'Την πατρίδα μ' έχασα'. The emotion from the song's powerful lyrics, combined with Ηλιάνα's unique performance and Στυλιανός's melodies, sent shivers through the crowd.

Day 2: April 16

Μαριαλένα Τρικόγλου

Still buzzing from the first day, I arrived at Hollywood full of anticipation for the second part of the Ladies Of Metal festival. Μαριαλένα opened the day. With a band getting its baptism by fire on the festival stage, she performed songs from her first record. Impressive stage presence and really beautiful compositions make me eager to get my hands on her upcoming release. 

Disillusive Play

The night continued with Αντιγόνη and Disillusive Play. Here too we had a band that stood apart from the rest in style and sound. Disillusive have a very distinctive style and compositions. They move through different rock and metal branches, and combined with Αντιγόνη's beautiful performances, they give the band's music a truly unique character.

Barbara Black

As the night was building to its peak, Barbara Black took the stage. The Spanish star presented, along with her band, songs from her latest record, which shows a clear shift from a southern sound toward more metal territory. Their sound was excellent and the crowd seemed to hang on Barbara's every gesture! This was definitely one of the highlights of both days of Ladies Of Metal combined. 

Meden Agan

Headliners of the second day were Meden Agan, with the excellent Δήμητρα! The band closed the festival in the best and most powerful way. They had us slamming, shouting and singing along! Presenting a setlist with both old and new tracks (from their upcoming record), they took us on a journey down metal paths!

In conclusion

Being a guitarist myself, I have the habit of watching every artist through a musician's eyes. My attention usually turns toward the guitarists. Ladies Of Metal was a festival where the drummers won me over big time! Every artist on that stage was excellent, but the people wielding the drumsticks truly smashed it! 

I can say I left the festival with a smile on my face! I had high expectations going in, which were not only met but exceeded. One of the things that stuck in my mind is the intensity the artists brought on stage, and the overall vibe of the atmosphere.

Looking forward to the next Ladies Of Metal! Keep on Rocking!!!