WOM Fest V Open Air will be JUNE 29-30, 2012
(There will be a Prefest Show June 28 in Columbus)
TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE!!! ORDER YOURS TODAY - AND PRE-ORDER YOUR FEST T-SHIRT TOO!
WHAT WILL YOU HAVE TO SAY AFTER THE WARRIORS OF METAL FEST - OPEN AIR 2012?
Don't let it be "DAMN, I SHOULD HAVE GONE..."
FEEDBACK AND COMMENTS ABOUT WARRIORS OF METAL FEST IV - OPEN AIR 2011
James J LaRue of Vindicator states: "Festivals I've played in the past: Download 2010, Wacken 2010 , Szene 2010, Philly Death Fest, New England Metal Fest. Most fun I've ever had at a fest in my entire life, ever: Warriors of Metal IV. Warriors of Metal actually keeps it true! Can't wait for next year, line up sounds amazing. The site rules, beautiful area. Met some rad bands this year. Lords of the Trident, Draekon (amazing shreds guys), Vanlade, and Widow!!! And of course METAL CHRIS!"
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On her first Hard Rock Radio Live show after the Fest, DJ Valkyrie wrote: "Today on the show [I'm] going to be talking a lot about Warriors Of Metal Fest IV [Open Air]. It was amazing time!! I love this fest and I will be returning and if you did not go this time you need to put it on your calender for next year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've got to thank Datis Alaee for making sure I was invited to this Fest. [It was the] best times I have had at a show! I enjoyed each and every band. I did not know Deathalizer before but they impressed me so much, really love thier music and those guys are just so nice to be around too! I met some of the coolest people, fans and bands & it was like one big Metal family \m/!"
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New Fest fan and Benedictum sponsor, Kent Wittwer wrote: "Warriors of Metal Open Air was Excellent my friend!!! Hats off to all the staff and the bands!!! I had a great time seeing one of the Greatest Female singers out there now! Benedictum, Vindicator, and Aska were my faves! Warriors of Metal Open Air is the Gold Standard as to a great outdoor Fest in the Good Old US of A! Thanks Datis and Lea! I Can't wait till the next one! Support your metal guys and gals and go see a live show!!!"
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Benedictum vocalist, Veronica Freeman wrote: "...what a great time at WOM. Thanks to all!! We had a blast and appreciate the fans who rocked with us and all the bands at WOM!!!! Thank you everybody who came out to the Warriors of Metal Fest IV last weekended! We had a great time and it was awesome to meet new fans and our loyal fans!"
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Our gorgeous MC from Jacksonville, Florida (Sarah Tate) wrote upon her departure: "Datis! Thank you so much again for allowing to me to come out & be a part of the show, it was so amazing to meet you , the crew, the musicians and metal family. I had a blast and I actually felt sad when I was leaving. I miss everyone I met. It truley felt like a metal family."
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New Fest fan Andrew Pinkham wrote: "I really liked [Age Of Distrust's] performance at the festival last weekend. I stayed for the whole festival. Everyone who played was pretty good, honestly. I think the WOM is truly one of the few festivals that actually showcases the really good stuff metal has to offer. This was the first year I attended. I plan on bringing a handful of people with me next year."
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Scott Landon, 2 time Fest veteran and Benedictum sponsor wrote: "Well this years WOM Fest IV was the best one yet. Those who missed it, missed out on one hell of an awesome Metal weekend. I am not gonna list all the bands that played but I will mention a few that kicked my ass. First & foremost are my two favorite bands of the fest the Lords 0f The Trident kicked ass yet again this year as they did in 2010 & then the might that is Vanlade also kicked my ass. New comers that amazed me were Deathalizer, damn their set crushed me into the muddy ground. Stone Magnum brought the doom and damn did they bring it! Machinage brought it as well & the Ohio thrashers Vindicator destroyed as well. Argonaut was also a very surprising band that kicked my ass that guitar player is one intense shredder & there was also Benedictum they were totally amazing as well. Shok Paris kicked ass too and what can be said about Aska other than that they always kick Aska ass \m/!"
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Vic Stown, vocalist and guitarist of Vindicator wrote: "I care about METAL. WOM is truly one of the best experiences we've had and every one of Vindicator is happy to return. REAL metal heads come to WOM, not shallow fucks who buy shirts of bands they have no clue about."
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Fort Wayne, Indiana's Progressive Speed Metal band, Argonaut wrote: "Thanks to everyone who partied with us at Warriors Of Metal Festival Open Air! Special thanks to Datis and Lea and everyone who helped make it the best metal fest in America! USA!"
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Third year in a row Festival headliner, ASKA's vocalist, George Call stated after the festival that: "WOM FEST IV - BEST in the series! This thing is like a snowball rollin' downhill! Watch out!"
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Bill peters, owner of Auburn records wrote: "I had a great time visiting the WARRIORS OF METAL festival yesterday with SHOK PARIS at the Frontier Ranch near Columbus, Ohio! Small turnout but cool new location, big covered stage, excellent sound (one of the BEST PA and monitor systems I have ever heard at a small open air festival), well-organized and plenty of good friends to talk metal with all day and night.
Personal favorite bands I saw and heard on Saturday included, of course, SHOK PARIS (crushing 70-minute full headlining set featuring 5 new songs-the band was at the top of their game!), Brazil's MACHINAGE (I loved these guys-cool SODOM/KREATOR-influenced classic German thrash style vocals) and metal veterans ASKA from Texas with vocalist George Call only singing and not playing guitar this time. A new guitarist from France was recently added to the band. I liked Call better as a front man without the guitar. A very underrated and well-seasoned band. They delivered a killer headlining set that included a fun audience participation extended JUDAS PRIEST cover with fans on stage at the end of their set.
I missed Friday's show because of my radio show but heard my friends in VINDICATOR sounded great, along with WIDOW and LORDS OF THE TRIDENT. I also heard good things about the doom band STONE MAGNUM, who went on very early Saturday before I arrived.
Heavy metal journalist Mark Gromen from New Jersey was there. He drank so much beer the festival assigned him his own personal garbage can! You should be too. Forgot about what you many have heard or seen in the past with this event. I had those same misgivings and apprehensions as well. Trust me, the new location makes a big difference. For my Cleveland friends, it's practically right in our own backyard. Give this underground festival a chance and be sure to check it out next year!"
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Chris Shrum of Benedictum's Post Fest status update: "Back from the Ohio Warriors of Metal fest, what a weekend, met some very cool people, played with some great bands, and had a great time while we were there!"
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Sarah Stown, the manager of the South Amherst Thrash Metallers of Vindicator wrote: "Spent the weekend at Warriors Of Metal Festival Open Air. If you didn't, you missed out. But you can make up for it and plan to go next year. I'll borrow Widow's slogan: If you don't like Warriors Of Metal Fest... You don't like metal! Solid bands, solid stage and sound, solid community of people. Goood times!"
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Ian Bender of ARGONAUT and Hammerstrike Recording Studio wrote: "Awesome weekend at Warriors Of Metal Festival Open Air! If you missed it, you lost big metal points that can only be redeemed with excessive partying at next year's event!"
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Vindicator (Friday's direct support for WIDOW) wrote: "We would like to thank everyone who came out to Warriors Of Metal Festival Open Air over the weekend. We appreciate the support that we received as a band. Thanks to Datis Alaee for the invitation, all of the event staff for keeping things running smoothly, the stage manager and sound crew who provided excellent sound, and the killer bands we shared the stage with."
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New fan of the Fest, and our friend Aaron Duhan's girlfriend, Kattie Beels wrote: "Day one of WOM done...it was awesome....had a little rain and some technical diffculties but turned out amazing...found some great bands I can listen to now....[and after day 2], WOM was amazing last night! Benedictum was Sick!! Bought all thier cds!! =D .... Can't wait til WoM 5"
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New fan of the Fest Penny Perkins DeGreeff said: "WOM fest was awesome this year! Sacred Dawn was awesome!!!"
And about DJ Valkyrie's appearance at WOM Fest IV Open Air: "She is a very fun gal!!! Her and I met at Prog Power which was the first for us both and WOM was also the first for us both!! We will be back to WOM next year though!!!"
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"I pity the poor schmucks who did not come to Warriors Of Metal fest!" Thanks to Datis and all the other bands." - Ty Christian of Lords Of The Trident.
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The SHOK PARIS vocalist, Vic Hix, wrote the following about Warriors Of Metal Fest IV Open Air: "We had a Great time at this show, if you were not there, you missed some great sounding Bands, thanks to all!!!"
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Brett Scott, the vocalist for Kansas City, KS Thrash metallers of Vanlade mentioned one of his cool memories being a "WOM Fest IV Highlight: Justin Zych of Argonaut's mini amp fueled campground singalongs. Warriors Of Metal Fest absolutely ROCKED! Shout out to Datis and all who made it happen!" :) \m/!"
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Stone Magnum's Facebook update after the Fest said: "We had a great time this weekend at the Warriors of metal fest. Datis (All Hail!) put on a good show."
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Long time Fest fan (since the very beginning), James Davis wrote on the eve of the Fest: "Once again TRUE METAL returns to Ohio for a short time ... This weekend is going to be out-fucking-rageous."
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Kristine Fontenot of the WIDOW crew wrote about the Fest and our MC, Sarah Tate from Jacksonville, Florida: "[last weekend was] Definitely [a blast], it was great! You were a very entertaining MC, too! :)"
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Vanlade's post Fest status update reads as follows: "Thanks to everyone who made our kickass midwest tour so fucking kickass! Datis Alaee and everyone involved for the greatness that was Warriors Of Metal Festival Open Air, everyone who let us crash and/or party at their homes (you know who you are, we owe you one!), and all the amazing bands we got to share the stage with! We'll see you again soon!"
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Wayne Smith of Dragonfyre studios and Generation Metal mailorder (The Fest's official music vendor) noted upon his return home in a Facebook update: "Back from the Warriors Of Metal Fest where Shok Paris KICKED ASS and took names! And more Warriors Of Metal Fest mayhem, where not only did I get personal with Verronica, but so did my wife!!! Benedictum totally made the journey worthwhile and hung out with the crowd for 2-fuckin' Days!!!"
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New Fest fan Orion Fairman wrote: "Thank YOU for all the effort for bringing REAL METAL to Ohio. Next year will be killer and I promise to bring more local metalheads! Also, thanks for the stack of great tunes! I already had a chance to explore some great new bands!"
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James J. LaRue, guitarist for Vindicator wrote: "Fave bands at Warriors Of Metal....easily Widow and Vanlade!"
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DJ Valkyrie Lawson of Hard Rock Radio Live wrote: "I spent more time at this fest head banging than running around drinking as I have at another fest I won't mention. The bands rocked my pants off!! Oh wait that was Sarah, they ripped her pants with the great metal!! Just got home from the WOM Fest IV and it was so much fun! Pictures will be posted soon!! Made many new friends that love metal, saw some amazing bands and got to meet some bands I have supported a while on the show :-)! I miss all the people I met at Warriors Of Metal Fest! [It] Was such a great amazing time so people listen up put it on your calendar for next year, [June 28th to 30th, 2012] !!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
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The WOM Fest IV Open Air Guest Musician, Larry Fritzely wrote: "Wow,when they say they cant take that away from me I get it now....lol,unreal,I know who I am now.All the worry about can we afford to come down here,can I cut it up on stage ,30 years of shut doors last 2 have been awesome.Thank you ASKA....Datis Alaee, Lea Brundin Alaee, Veronica Freeman, Vic Hix, Dennis Schwan, Lance Souther, Kit, Warriors crew....lol. Playin with ASKA was awesome dream come true, then the rabid fans come on stage. Unreal. It was so cool!"
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Trenton, New Jersey Metal band, HORRIFIER's guitarist, Joe Hoyer wrote: "crazyness out here in Ohio beer and metal who knows what's going to happen we hit the stage at 330 tomorrow hopefully I'm awake sober by then.." And then "coming back from ohio played a really good set yesterday..."
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Two time Fest veteran and the WOM Fest III Open Air volunteer videographer, Chris Duhan wrote: "Best time I had was Vindicator's and Widow's sets, banging against the stage. Both great bands and both put on great shows. Funniest moment was when Chris Bennett pointed me out in the crowd and forgot my name. I even talked to him before the show and he remembered me from Pathfinder, but then forgot my name! I ragged on him about it afterwards though. The quality of the venue was much better than last year's too. WOM Fest just keeps improving. Keep it up!"
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Jim Brucks of the Indiana Doom Metal band, Stone Magnum wrote: "I would like to personally thank Datis, everybody who attended and everybody involved with the fest (Stage hands, sound guys, etc..). It was a blast.The monitor mix couldn't have been better. The crowd was great. What more can you ask for. Thanks guys. Keep rockin."
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Michael Matuskiewics (The Mad Scientist) wrote: "WOM did its job. Left a fan of Vindicator. Still in pain for the amount of banging that I did! Funny incident was when the power went out and Vindicator just kept playing as if it were on!"
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WOM Fest veteran of 3 years, Karen "Kelly" Onderko said: "Had a great time this weekend...always a pleasure to help out...you guys are awesome...music was fantastic with great sound...cant wait for next year...met wonderful people this weekend...Rock on my metal friends."
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DJ Shadoe of Metal Messiah Radio wrote the following about Aska: "Though I'm friends with George [Call] it was my first opportunity to see Aska play live and they put on one hell of a show. They don't just get up on stage and play music they give a show..a performance that would do the big venues proud. With the right notice I can see them going very far and being this 'generations' Iron Maiden/Judas Priest etc. They have that caliber of a performance."
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Tony Webster, the vocalist of the Cleveland area Progressive Power Metal band Archetype wrote: "WOM fest sounds like the perfect getaway for me next year, just time away from work, and all of my obligations I am definitely coming down next year."
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Two year Fest veteran and our current Stage Manager from Chicago, Petros Argyropoulos wrote: "GREAT JOB ON FESTIVAL AND ONCE AGAIN...THANK YOU SO MUCH 4 PRESENTING ME WITH..."OFFICIAL WARRIORS OF METAL FESTIVAL KICK DRUM SKIN SIGNED BY ALL DRUMMERS"!!! THAT MEANT SO MUCH TO ME!!! ;)"
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Killius Maximus of Lords Of The Tridents wrote: "Great job with the Festival; you had quite the line-up of bands."
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