All images supplied by EAST SEA METAL FESTIVAL
Review by Kayla Hamilton (@kaylazomboid)

EAST SEA METAL FESTIVAL- DAY ONE
Longyou County, China
October 19th 2024

When we talk about underground scenes, it does not get much more underground than the Chinese metalcore and hardcore scenes. It’s not like these scenes are small or unnoticed, it is just due to the nature of our internet driven society- the exposure for Chinese bands to a broader audience is a little limited. This was the beauty of the East Sea Metal Festival.

Drawing me in with the allure of a star studded Asia Pacific line-up, oh and of course the German metalcore veterans Caliban, when the flyer dropped I knew I had to make the trip. Flying into to Shanghai and taking the train out to Longyou county- I was not really sure what I was going to encounter but let me just say, it far exceeded my expectations.

I am not going to lie, when I felt the rain coming down on the first day, I was pondering turning back. Walking across a bridge and gazing upon the field that held two stages, the sites of buildings and structures skirting the water and lush green areas had me in awe. Trying to avoid the rain, I nestled in between the many food trucks they had on offer. Thankfully, I was given a poncho and I knew it was time to check out the talent on offer.

The first band to come across my radar was Freezing Of Time. There was no time to waste and the crowd got hyped straight away. Giving us that Unearth/Bullet For My Valentine metalcore throwback realness, there were circle pits spinning a few songs in. The rain drizzled consistently, with every blast of the kit seeming to egg on the clouds to dump just that bit more moisture on our gathering. Nobody was phased though. Rain jackets on, gumboots or plastic bags over shoes- those committed to hitting the pit were a lot more prepared than I was. After what was just an exceptionally tight set from a band I had no idea existed before this moment, we all united in trudging down to the smaller stage.

Waiting for us was another Chinese band Ahmisa. I again, had not come across this band before. With a death metal style of brutality and an essence of hardcore, their set was littered with sick breakdowns. Again, the pit was unhinged. The smaller stage worked in their favour as the crowd was more compact. The energy of this band was condensed but explosive. A contradiction I know, but there is no other way to explain it. As the rain started to clear, more people dared to hit the pit. Stunning visuals behind them, they were truly a stunning introduction to the Chinese hardcore scene.

Speaking of a stunning introduction, up next was another Chinese band The Will On Kill. If any band could break out into the global scene on just sound alone- these guys have a chance. A very cool post hardcore/metalcore band that was just dripping with melody. Their vocalist exhibited an exceptional range that often had my jaw on the floor. The rain had given us a break by this time, but unfortunately the aftermath meant that the once grassy field was slowly turning to mud under the foot of the keen pit goers. Not that it seemed to concern anybody as the mud started to become a badge of honour. The Will On Kill kept the crowd head banging and moving. It was by this time I slowly started to realise just how energetic the Chinese scene is. Like the flight of the Valkyries, as soon as the pit opened up, enthusiastic fans would descend to the centre. Smiles across their faces as they unleashed. It was definitely a vibe that I was absorbing safely from the side.

After a little wander around the site, admiring the different stalls and scenery, it was time to check out one of the first international acts of the day: Japan’s Earthists. Even though I frequently travel to Japan for shows, this is the second time I’ve caught this band- with the other being at Thailand’s Rock Alarm Festival (check out our coverage here). As they had been to China before, they already had a bigger following here than in Thailand. If I thought the crowd went hard earlier, I was not ready for this one. Giving us a non-stop energetic signature “hypermetal” set, the language barrier did not get in the way. Slipping between English, Japanese and a spattering of Chinese phrases- they made themselves understood as we were privy to the first crowd surfers of the day. Powering through tracks from their latest EP and some earlier hits, everybody was singing along and having an absolute blast. To round off the set, frontman Yui gave everybody a heart attack as he challenged the stage logistics by getting into the pit. It was definitely a highlight of the day and further cemented the bands following in China.

Quickly rushing over to the smaller stage, it was time to check out a band that has been our radar for a little while now- An Empty City. After catching them in The Philippines at the Wacken Metal Battle event (revisit that event here), I was keen to see how they were in their home country (and fingers crossed without any technical issues). They did not disappoint. The level of tightness and stage presence should earn them a spot on the larger stage next time. Heavy as hell, they also had the crew from Guangzhou Hardcore representing for them. If you are going to add any band from China to your playlist, then I strongly recommend An Empty City. They go even harder live than they do on record so make sure you catch them if you get a chance.

Slipping off to grab a sweet treat to keep me going, I made sure my next stop was to get barricade for one of the best upcoming acts out of Japan- Sable Hills. By this time, the rain was really starting to come down again, but it did not dissuade anybody from piling over at the stage for this band. It was thoroughly worth it. The wind and rain only added to epic visuals that this classic style metalcore band threw down. Hair blowing as guitars shredded, frontman Takuya commanding an audience with a point of a finger. It felt like their set was over in a blink of an eye. Hitting us with some classics like ‘Embers’ and some bangers off their latest album Odyssey, Earthists frontman Yui made his way out to take on Kenta Koie from Crossfaith’s feature on ‘Battle Cry’. With a promise to return in 2025, the band left a trail of sore necks and mud in their wake- throwing down the gauntlet for the headliners to keep the vibe going.

Now, not in our geographic scope but we can’t not talk about the legendary Caliban. The German metalcore, I want to say OG’s or at least in one of the first generations of the genre, just are one of the blueprints of modern metalcore. They were charming and gave off an aura of they were just so happy to be there. The crowd reciprocated, creating an endearing bond between them. Pushing through any language barriers, engaging with the crowd and spoke the international language of comradery by smashing down the local beer. Playing a vibrant setlist of both new and old, it was the kind of set you could enjoy no matter if you were barricade, in the pit or watching from afar. By this time, everybody was drenched, muddy and exhausted but they kept moving. As their frontman Andreas Dorner went into the crowd, disappearing, he handed the mic to a girl who had no idea what to do. The corpse painted woman just shrieked into it, adding a little frivolity that was so in line with the attitude Caliban had brought with them to the event. When he finally returned to the stage to resume lead vocalist duties, he was also covered in mud. His face streaked, leading to their guitarist joking their singer was now a member of Behemoth. Much like Sable Hills, their set seemed to fly by and as they finished up- an encore was demanded. Obliging this oh-so grateful audience, they threw down two more songs as the sky opened up more.

The day may have ended with everybody being at the mercy of the heavy rains and covered in mud- but that did nothing to dampen the mood of everybody in attendance. As fans made their way back across the bridge, the buzz in the air for day two was evident.

We all just needed to have a shower first.

This is day one of two of the East Sea Metal Festival live report. We would like to thank the East Metal Festival organisers for allowing us to attend as a guest.