{"id":148371,"date":"2021-12-10T11:19:54","date_gmt":"2021-12-10T10:19:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.exitfest.org\/?p=148371"},"modified":"2022-03-03T14:45:40","modified_gmt":"2022-03-03T13:45:40","slug":"the-power-of-rebellion-punk-and-metal-at-exit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.exitfest.org\/en\/the-power-of-rebellion-punk-and-metal-at-exit","title":{"rendered":"The Power of Rebellion: Punk and Metal at EXIT"},"content":{"rendered":"

EXIT started its underground chapter with the slogan \u201cExtreme Stage for Extreme People.\u201d For the past 16 years, this chapter has been written by a specific audience to whom this is about more than just music \u2014 it is an attitude and a way of life.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The forerunner of Explosive was Metal Hammer<\/strong>, a stage founded back in 2005. However, face-melting riffs, solos, and drum patterns have not been reserved for this stage from the very beginning. While Napalm Death, Bombarder, Annathema, Overdrive, Hitman, Doghouse, Diecast, Most Precious Blood, Ritam Nereda<\/strong> (and many others), thundered from Metal Hammer for the first time that year, Apocalyptica, Slayer, <\/strong>and Laibach<\/strong> steamrolled onto the Main Stage.<\/p>\n

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The prestigious BBC Radio 1<\/strong> followed EXIT 05 live, and MTV<\/strong> came back for the second time. Through them, EXIT sent a clear message to the world that a loud, fierce oasis<\/strong> was created at the Petrovaradin Fortress \u2014 one that would become an essential part of the then-budding festival, which has never stopped intriguing audiences and media worldwide with its diversity.<\/p>\n

Soon after, EXIT\u2019s organizers started receiving letters from local fans who wanted to hear the fantastic Finnish symphonic-power-epic metal<\/em> band Nightwish<\/strong>. So it would be \u2014 as part of the 2008 World Tour, Nightwish came to Serbia and former band member Tarja Turunen<\/strong>\u00a0had a solo performance at Fusion in 2019<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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For regional punks, 2008 was particularly significant, as one of the first authentic punk groups in Yugoslavia, Pekin\u0161ka patka<\/strong> reunited after more than two decades to play on the Main Stage. After this iconic Novi Sad band, the Main Stage hosted punk royalty \u2014 the Sex Pistols<\/strong>, for their first-ever performance in Serbia.<\/p>\n

EXIT 15 \u2013 Metal, Punk, and Rock \u2018n\u2019 Roll Holiday<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

The American hardcore band Suicidal Tendencies<\/strong> is still hailed for one of the best performances in Explosive\u2019s history in 2010. Still, the 2015 edition of EXIT<\/strong> was legendary for metal, punk, and rock \u2018n\u2019 roll fans. The jubilee EXIT no. 15 was opened by the intense Goblini<\/strong>, followed by the rock \u2018n\u2019 roll legends from California, Eagles of Death Metal<\/strong>. At one point, Dave Catching<\/strong> blindfolded himself and performed a solo before throwing the blindfold into the audience while the other band members bowed to him. Motorhead<\/strong> also performed at the Main Stage in 2015, while Fusion played host to Eyesburn, Brkovi,<\/strong> and Zoster<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The line-up at the Explosive stage<\/a> was one of the strongest ever<\/strong>. The audience was again blown away by the cult metal band Napalm Death<\/strong>, celebrating ten years since their first EXIT appearance. The famous American hardcore band Terror also performed at Explosive that year, along with the cult New York band Nuclear Assault<\/strong>, for whom the performance was part of a farewell tour. But, one of the most attended performances ever at Explosive was yet to follow<\/strong> \u2013 American industrial metal band Fear Factory<\/strong> came to Serbia at the peak of their career.<\/p>\n

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Since 2015, the pub<\/strong> has been a special segment of Explosive \u2014 it gives visitors an authentic backstage experience and is widely considered the place at the festival where the best crew gathers. It also includes Meet & Greet<\/strong> events for fans, a merchandise area, music label presentations, and exhibitions<\/strong>. Numerous global stars would show up at the Petrovaradin Fortress long before their performances to sign CDs, records, and t-shirts, as well as take photos and give interviews. So, bands like Anti Flag, At the Gates, Fear Factory, Nuclear Assault, Paradise Lost, and other legends had their Meet & Greets at the pub.<\/p>\n

EXIT\u2019s guitar temple<\/strong>\u00a0continued to welcome the undisputed rulers of punk and metal in 2016. Punk icons, one of the most influential street punk bands ever \u2013 Cock Sparrer<\/strong> headlined the Fusion stage. Punk could be heard from the Explosive stage when the American anti-establishment band Anti Flag<\/strong> performed in Serbia for the first time. The stage also hosted the pioneers and creators of the Gothenburg metal scene, At the Gates<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Phil Anselmo, Sabaton, and the Best Local Bands<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

The 2019 edition brought a real treat to fans of Pantera<\/strong>, one of the greatest metal bands of all time. The famous frontman Phil Anselmo<\/strong> then arrived at the Main Stage with his band The Illegals<\/strong>. The audience got the chance to enjoy a special performance called A Vulgar Display of 101 Proof<\/em>. It was a genuine exclusive and a very rare setlist composed exclusively of Pantera songs<\/strong>, reserved only for select festivals during the tour. And that was not all \u2014 as soon as the gates opened on the second day of EXIT that year, loyal Pantera fans were in for a surprise in front of the backstage \u2014 a cheerful Anselmo signing autographs and taking photos with fans.<\/p>\n