Hellfest 2003
Review by Justin Carretta
Issue 2, Summer/Fall 2003
Just because it's hot out, it doesn't mean you can't wear black.
Thousands of hardcore fans descended upon Syracuse, New York, from July 4-6, 2003 to attend Hellfest at the Syracuse Fairgrounds.
The festival had more variety than in years past, featuring everything from all out metalcore (Norma Jean, Lamb Of God, In Flames) to more melodic hardcore (Static Lullaby, From Autumn To Ashes) to pop-punk (The Movielife, Autopilot Off), to emocore (Beloved, Thursday) and everything in between. Even a band like Onelinedrawing, which frequently is just one man and a guitar, impressed the Hellfest crowd, which was very open and accepting of many styles of music. The only band that had a less than open welcome was one of the headliners, Kittie, who had most of the crowd leave before its set.
Hellfest had three stages. Stages A and B were located side by side, so while one band played, the other set up. However, it was not always instantaneous. Some of the time, the next band played right away, but sometimes it took a few minutes extra. Stage C was off to the side, and fit very few, which made for a very crowded and overflowing tent when bands such as With Honor, which has a very intense fanbase, hit the stage. Merch tables were under tents nearby, selling merchandise from all the bands who played the festival as well as many tables for record labels, and there was plenty of free stuff to pick up along the way (I personally picked up about 15 samplers without spending a cent). Bathrooms were...an experience, and "fresh running water" was nothing but a few hoses lying around. Prices were very good for a festival, water 2 for 3 dollars, pizza for 2 dollars a slice, along with lemonade, ice cream, nachos, and other items.
Bands ran from 11:30am-10pm each day. There were benches to sit on and plenty of grass, along with a small skate ramp set up, but the music was the main attraction. The bands didn't disappoint.