Various

Various: Hellfest Volume III DVDHellfest Volume III DVD (2004)
Hellfest

Reviewer Rating: 4

Contributed by: FortyMinutesWestFortyMinutesWest
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on January 4th 2005Another year, another Hellfest DVD. The first time I picked up one of these, it was on VHS and the sound quality was terrible. Although it wasn't the highest quality video ever and I knew that it would've sounded a hell of a lot better in person, but I still enjoyed it. It also had some nice intervi.

Another year, another Hellfest DVD. The first time I picked up one of these, it was on VHS and the sound quality was terrible. Although it wasn't the highest quality video ever and I knew that it would've sounded a hell of a lot better in person, but I still enjoyed it. It also had some nice interviews that allowed the fans to see what the bands were thinking as they were playing the fest. Well, even though we're only on Volume 3 of the series, it seems as though we're on Volume 20, and every year the video seems to get more professional.

The concept behind this is rather simple: bands play fest, bands get recorded, best songs are chosen, songs are put on DVDs and sold to fans who either couldn't go or want to see if their awkward looking stage dive made the video. So how did Further Seems Forever end up on here? Your guess is as good as mine.

The Red Chord starts the party off right with "Dreaming In Dog Years" off of their brilliant release Fused Between Revolving Doors. The sound quality is better than last time around and the intricacies of most of the songs on here aren't buried as they sometimes were in the past. Although Hellfest is primarily a hardcore and metalcore event, every year a few bands that really don't "fit" show up with varying levels of success. The Bouncing Souls might not play metalcore or have big breakdowns, but they definitely get the crowd moving with "East Coast! Fuck You!" The Locust might not be as out of place as the Souls, but they're certainly met with some confusion. But hey, the kids covered in duct tape sure seemed to dig it. No Warning, who showed no indications of their future career as a Linkin Park cover band flies through a sped up version of their song "Short Fuse." The song had been my favorite track off of their final Bridge 9 effort Ill Blood, but the live version simply slays the original.

The Dillinger Escape Plan is also strong playing "The Mullet Burden" complete with fire breathing. Other highlights include With Honor, Stretch Arm Strong, and Ed Gein. But not every band was lucky enough to be met with an enthusiastic reaction from the crowd. Murder By Death seemed misunderstood, and Found Dead Hanging was received with about as much excitement as a jury duty notice. I guess this is to be expected considering the diversity of the roster.

The commentary, highlight reels, and wacky hijinks you've come to expect are here as well. The interviews are largely worthless this time around, as they're short and essentially pointless, with a few exceptions.

If you've ever seen any of the previous installments, you've got a pretty good idea of what to expect, and you know if you're going to like this. If you've liked what you've seen in the past, this is worth picking up, as the sound and video quality are improved. If you've been waiting to check one of these out, this is a fine place to start. While I might disagree with some of bands that get picked, or be disappointed by which song shows up, I always enjoy watching these, and I'll be looking forward to this year's edition.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (September 26, 2005)

where can i find the onelinedrawing performance as an audio file? its best in show fo' sho'

Anonymous (May 5, 2005)

Dillinger Kicks Ass, No Every Time I Die Though, Except The Intro

Anonymous (March 11, 2005)

Norma Jean performance was fuckin sweet, you had to be there to appreciate how crazy and fun it was to stagedive and ru a muck through the pits.

moneenerd (January 20, 2005)

They def. should have included Skycamefalling's last set. I heard from friends that it was the highlight of the whole festival. But yeah, Hellfest 3 was basically a spit in the face to all the real hardcore Hellfest goers and volume 2 lovers.

Sure it's rad cuz its got a little more diversity, and some crucial sets (Bleeding Through, Terror, Brother's Keeper), but I mean, FSF, FATA, and My Chemical Romance? Gag me with a fucking spoon.

Also, The Bled might be the worst band I've ever heard. Sometimes a band has a good album, and sucks live, or vice verca. The Bled fail in both categories. The only thing worse than their music is their ridiculous clothing and hair. They def. give Blessed By A Broken Heart (decent band, mind you) a run for their money.

Anonymous (January 7, 2005)

jeff fucking dring! WNB!'
-#2

Anonymous (January 6, 2005)

cooooool. here's the heavy breakdown part where 50 kids, some wearing ridiculous black bandana's over their faces, flail and punch and kick like they are having some sort of seizure. Lock me in a room and play 90% of the bands on this dvd...that's hell for me.

-WNB
jd

Anonymous (January 6, 2005)

dillinger escape plan really blow..

DickAround (January 5, 2005)

Haha, I saw myself on this DVD.

Weird!

jamespastepunk (January 5, 2005)

Hellfest 2004 should include the performances of Avail, Bane, Dillinger Escape Plan, Converge, Shai Hulud, Death By Stereo, Most Precious Blood, Strike Anywhere, and Zombie Apocalypse.

Those are just the ones I remember.

Anchors (January 5, 2005)

I was also at that Hellfest, and like them or not, Skycamefallings last set was absolutely incredible. Even if you don't like hardcore, the amount of emotion put into that set was amazing.

Like 50 kids crowded around Chris at the end, all screaming the chorus to 'With Paper Wings.' I may have only been 16 at the time, but I'll never forget it.

Brothers Keepers set was great too, and they both get left off for Further Seems Forever and From Autumn To Ashes. Fucking ridiculous.

Anonymous (January 5, 2005)

I went to this hellfest... so I bought the DVD first chance I got. i was disappointed though. Skycamefalling's last show, and no video, unless I'm missing something all the extras were included in the trailers (which were amusing, they should've made more); no hope conspiracy video, BAH.

Plus, Anti-flag and Hopesfall's sets SUCKED (and i like hopesfall), why did they make it on the first disc? I'm thinking record labels paid top dollar to get their bands on this, other wise, why would the AKAs (matt ski's new band) get on the main disc, and Brother's Keeper's last show is on the second. I don't get it.

Anonymous (January 5, 2005)

did Ensign make it on this DVD? I heard their set was REALLY good this year.

Anchors (January 4, 2005)

I would absolutely love to see a tour with Dillinger, Ed Gein, Hot Cross, and Circle Takes The Square.

I would be in fucking heaven.

ElVaquero (January 4, 2005)

I want a DVD with just Dillinger Escape Plan shitting on a napkin.

bizzlebrizzle (January 4, 2005)

I sorta agree with BSD

Most of the bands on this DVD suck ass.

THere were sooo many better bands on Hellfest, what douche bags picked these ones?

punkcorekid (January 4, 2005)

sorry...there's not one. my bad.

Anonymous (January 4, 2005)

There needs to be more great DVD's like this.

Just with totally different bands.

-BSD

Anonymous (January 4, 2005)

i havent seen this dvd, but i had to agree that the douchebag with the glasses in the trio dvd completely ruins it

if you want to sing along, make sure you know the words fucknut

musical-monkey (January 4, 2005)

punkcorekid:
"The trailer for Volume IIII looks pretty good."

where did you find this?

musical-monkey (January 4, 2005)

i can't wait for the hellfest 2004 dvd. and the norma jean performance on here is the worst thing i have ever seen

Anonymous (January 4, 2005)

I want a fucking DVD of the greatest moments of Fiesta Grande...that would totally butter my toast.

-Ken

Benjasaurus (January 4, 2005)

Murder by Death and Dillinger are pretty much the only worthwhile bands on here.

TheOneTrueBill (January 4, 2005)

"Metalcore is a joke now"

Now?

ZDP (January 4, 2005)

If you are referring to the same guy I'm thinking of in the Alk3 DVD, (glasses boy) then I totally agree. Totally out of control.

This DVD was pretty funny. Entertaining at times, but a lot of humor mixed in. Take for example, the lead singer of Comeback Kid defying puberty at the beginning of their song on Disc 3. I'm saying this as somebody who likes CK too. Or Mike Ski of Brothers Keeper being engulfed by the crowd and yelping. What a way to go out.

moneenerd (January 4, 2005)

Also, in reference to the ALkaline Trio dvd comment... do you mean that guy with the glasses who makes these stupid maniacal faces?!

moneenerd (January 4, 2005)

...Also, CKY actually does some amazing thing son this DVD that is def. worth seeing...

1) covering G.G. Allin
2) literally throws a lame fan-boy off the stage
3) "Bite it, Hellfest fucks!"

moneenerd (January 4, 2005)

Wake me up when Hellfest goes back to it's hardcore roots. Imma just take a long nap through My Chemical Romance's set...

Anonymous (January 4, 2005)

the hellfest dvds just keep better & better.
but godamn, did Norma Jean suck. That guy was about to get the shit kicked out of him.

Anonymous (January 4, 2005)

Maybe it's just me, but I hate it when there's a lot of footage of the crowd in music DVD's. Most people act like such dumbasses it ruins it. Take the alkaline trio DVD for example, theres tons of footage of some dumbass in the crowd looking like an ass, it takes away from the whole dvd.

Anonymous (January 4, 2005)

excellent dvd, though more bands couldve been shown. one of the best parts is how you can see the crowds very clearly. i was able to see a few of my friends in the crowd during onelinedrawing, and if you look closely at the end of his performance, theres a tshirt thrown onto the stage. 2 of my friends made a shirt for jonah.

Anonymous (January 4, 2005)

Doesn't the guy from Found Dead Hanging, who also doubles as a roadie for Ed Gein put this garbage together?

FortyMinutesWest (January 4, 2005)

Haha yeah, I agree, that's fucking hilarious. The poor kid gets half a line out, and then he's gone.

punkcorekid (January 4, 2005)

I agree...the interviews suck ass. One of the funniest parts of the whole DVD is when the singer of CKY pushes that kid off stage...he's so serious about it. I hate CKY, yet I watch that part all the time. The trailer for Volume IIII looks pretty good.

Allular (January 4, 2005)

The Onelinedrawing performance is really good.

Anonymous (January 4, 2005)

Metalcore is a joke now

Anonymous (January 4, 2005)

Nice picture of Greg from Dillinger on the front there. Looks cool.

theundergroundscene (January 4, 2005)

The Red Chord is so good. They need to finish Clients already! With Honor and Ed Gein are also sicknasty.

Also, Murder By Death = extremely overrated.

Anonymous (January 4, 2005)

It's floorpunching ninja-fest time!