Metal Bands Accused Of Rocking Too Loudly At SWEDEN ROCK

[Ragehead91]

Metal Bands Accused Of Rocking Too Loudly At SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL

weden Rock Festival wants to penalize several bands — including German power metallers RAGE and Swedish stoner rockers WITCHCRAFT — for playing too loudly!

The festival is being fined 250,000 SEK (around $35,000) by Swedish authorities for noise ordinance violations. According to a report in Aftonbladet, Sweden's largest daily newspaper, Sweden Rock Festival does not want to pay the fine. Instead, it blames five of the acts that played the festival on June 3-6, 2009 in Sölvesborg for violating noise laws during their shows. The groups in question are RAGE, OUTLAWS, WITCHCRAFT, HYSTERICA and TRACE NINE. The festival is considering dumping the fines on the bands, claiming the acts are responsible for the infractions, since they all have their own sound engineers.

WITCHCRAFT's frontman, Magnus Pelander, disputes this. He says his band does not have a soundman and instead used the one that was provided by the festival.

Each band would be fined 50,000 SEK — a approximately $7,000.

"We are not multimillionaires", Pelander told Aftonbladet, saying the fine will pose a great financial burden on the group.

WITCHCRAFT is four-piece, which means that the group would be responsible for paying out nearly $2,000 per band member if such a fine were to be imposed upon them.

The next time Strato plays in Sweden they should watch out for the swedish sound-nazis...

[Shurik]

WTF?

[NeonVomit]

Rock bands playing loudly?! What is this world coming to?!

[shg]

Here in Finland has strict limits on volume of rock concerts. In June Provinssirock Manowar gig was rude at the end when the local environment inspector pulled the wires off the plug because the band played too loud, despite several requests.

[Ragehead91]

Fuck those goes. It is a festival. For the other 362 days of the year this town will be perfectly quite (well, as quite as a town can be). No need to get all pissed about this and fine everyone.

[NeonVomit]

If it ain't pissing people off, then it ain't rock.

[Rage1979]

We got this law in Sweden 2006. I haven't actually noticed big differences. But I think it is really silly... though.

[shg]

It is the skills of sound engineers stick to what the music sounds like in concert. Necessarily very loud is not the best sound. Is the concert outdoors or indoors also affected.

On the other hand, I understand the volume limitations, so as not to damage your hearing. Loud noise also affects the pressure. I find it uncomfortable if it is too strong. At Startovarius gig, the sound pressure seems appropriately. Pant legs shaking even though I only have been in open-air concerts. So strongly Jörg's drums will play!

It would be interesting to know how strong sound comes on stage.

[Ikola]

Since I am from sweden I now after 3 years of this law welcome it warmly since it has changed the music. Concerts being loud as hell and you can barely hear whats being played wasnt too unusual before but now most concerts I go to have really good sound since the technicians can't "fix" bad sound by turning the volume up, they just have to get their bands a good sound from the beginning.

comparison is Megadeth at sweden rock 2005, a good concert but so loud we had to use both earplugs and our hands to not get damaged. There was no chance of listening to the perfectly played songs since it was all drowned in bassdrums and extremely loud guitars. I now saw them in malmö arena during spring 2009 and it was an amazing concert with excellent sound where I could hear everything perfectly without using earplugs at all. I didn't even have the usual "beeeeeeeeep" in my ears the day after =)


Since many ppl seem to think that playing outside should make you be able to have a higher volume due to loss in volume due to winds etc. Well, you don't need to if you use the kind of systems they had at sonisphere festival this summer in hultsfred. Amazing sound with speakers at several locations in the crowd. Really amazing stuff making my ears happy while still hearing everything loud enough.

[Babylon]

Ridiculous!

[Arkash]

WHAT THE MOTHERUFUCKING FUCK? SCREW THE FUCK OF THEM!

Since I am from sweden I now after 3 years of this law welcome it warmly since it has changed the music. Concerts being loud as hell and you can barely hear whats being played wasnt too unusual before but now most concerts I go to have really good sound since the technicians can't "fix" bad sound by turning the volume up, they just have to get their bands a good sound from the beginning.

comparison is Megadeth at sweden rock 2005, a good concert but so loud we had to use both earplugs and our hands to not get damaged. There was no chance of listening to the perfectly played songs since it was all drowned in bassdrums and extremely loud guitars. I now saw them in malmö arena during spring 2009 and it was an amazing concert with excellent sound where I could hear everything perfectly without using earplugs at all. I didn't even have the usual "beeeeeeeeep" in my ears the day after =)

You are right, but it's fucking stupid to make thrm pay so much, they will destroy the bands doing that, and it's what people want!

[Intiaani]

WHAT THE MOTHERUFUCKING FUCK? SCREW THE FUCK OF THEM!

Since I am from sweden I now after 3 years of this law welcome it warmly since it has changed the music. Concerts being loud as hell and you can barely hear whats being played wasnt too unusual before but now most concerts I go to have really good sound since the technicians can't "fix" bad sound by turning the volume up, they just have to get their bands a good sound from the beginning.

comparison is Megadeth at sweden rock 2005, a good concert but so loud we had to use both earplugs and our hands to not get damaged. There was no chance of listening to the perfectly played songs since it was all drowned in bassdrums and extremely loud guitars. I now saw them in malmö arena during spring 2009 and it was an amazing concert with excellent sound where I could hear everything perfectly without using earplugs at all. I didn't even have the usual "beeeeeeeeep" in my ears the day after =)

You are right, but it's fucking stupid to make thrm pay so much, they will destroy the bands doing that, and it's what people want!

Well, most people don't. That's democracy.

But are there as many people living near getting irritated than there is audience? Someone should count all of them...

[Ragehead91]

Picture what would happen if the citizens of Wacken would be that pissy and throw hissy fits when the music gets too loud.

[Intiaani]

Picture what would happen if the citizens of Wacken would be that pissy and throw hissy fits when the music gets too loud.

Nothing? The fans' throw them out.

I bet they leave the town in the festival weekend anyway.

[hiro23]

True but isn't this a rock concert?

plus I also agree on what's been said on suing the band members, what is that going to accomplish other then bankrupting the band?

[Mormegil]

Since I am from sweden I now after 3 years of this law welcome it warmly since it has changed the music. Concerts being loud as hell and you can barely hear whats being played wasnt too unusual before but now most concerts I go to have really good sound since the technicians can't "fix" bad sound by turning the volume up, they just have to get their bands a good sound from the beginning.

comparison is Megadeth at sweden rock 2005, a good concert but so loud we had to use both earplugs and our hands to not get damaged. There was no chance of listening to the perfectly played songs since it was all drowned in bassdrums and extremely loud guitars. I now saw them in malmö arena during spring 2009 and it was an amazing concert with excellent sound where I could hear everything perfectly without using earplugs at all. I didn't even have the usual "beeeeeeeeep" in my ears the day after =)


Since many ppl seem to think that playing outside should make you be able to have a higher volume due to loss in volume due to winds etc. Well, you don't need to if you use the kind of systems they had at sonisphere festival this summer in hultsfred. Amazing sound with speakers at several locations in the crowd. Really amazing stuff making my ears happy while still hearing everything loud enough.

LISTEN TO THIS MAN

I personally hate going to a concert and only being able to hear the bass/bassdrums. I simply can't see any point in it (unless your band is called Manowar). I think most bands are still some 20-30 dB short of playing with too little volume.

[icecab21]

I think the organizers should have defined rules about sound that they put in the contracts with the bands. If there was a law that the organizers chose not to enforce in contract, then I think the organizers should pay. If there were guidelines in the contract, then the bands should pay for breaching their contracts. If anything, a loud cover of "I fought the law and the law won" would be appropriate.

[Arkash]

I personally hate going to a concert and only being able to hear the bass/bassdrums. I simply can't see any point in it (unless your band is called Manowar). I think most bands are still some 20-30 dB short of playing with too little volume.

Agree with that but not with the amount of money the bands have to pay, this is definitly a culture-killing thing!

[hiro23]

Very true, I agree with Lemmy in the fact that it seems they try to stamp it out every 5 to 10 years

[icecab21]

it's one thing if the sound is just on someone’s private property but I kind of do think there should be rules about sound invading the public or other peoples private property without consent. If its just private property around I think the venue should be free to negotiate, and if public, that the public has the right to vote on what is collectively owned. I don’t think we have the right to invade other people's rights in the name of culture. If it’s a simple fee and a band accepts the consequences, go ahead and celebrate. I don't think we can call this something about metal because the same rules apply to everyone. If Britney spears wanted to push it past 11, she too would have to pay. People should definitely have their rights to privately do their own thing, but if sound travels past their privacy. I’m not ready to tell the offended people to just deal with the trespass. I see metal as more of an "I do my thing, you do yours" kind of thing than an "I do what I want for the fuck of it". With the first option people are respectfully agreeing to disagree about how to live their lives, but the second one shows a complete lack of regard for others and turns things wild. Of course I’m not the most metal of people, at least the aggressive side of it.

[Mehida]

I don't think by mulcting the bands with money you can solve something.
But I'm completly agree about this law.
I think the bands should take care about this. Even if the venues where they play are not the best, you can always diminish the bad sound quality.
It would be like the bands showing a bit of respect for their audience too. Seems most of the bands don't care that much, they just play and... thanks for the money.
I share the same thoughts of Icecab, Mormegil and Ikola.

[AAAAAAAAA]

Icecab .You are the least metal here. You are a very sensitive person . With secret dreams of Britany and dancing in the moonlight. You are an altarboy and NOT a metalhead and I hope you stay that way...

[hiro23]

I say if it's loud and it sounds good, crank it up, however if making it loud makes it sound crappy I'm all for turning the volume down a little.

[icecab21]

If the international space station cannot hear it, crank it up. If sea mammals don't beach themselves from the frequencies, make it happen.

[Ikola]

But are there as many people living near getting irritated than there is audience? Someone should count all of them...

It's not about the ppl living close by, it's about protecting the audience's hearing or something like that. Since it's allowed for all ages the government is really picky about the soundlevels.

[shg]

It's not about the ppl living close by, it's about protecting the audience's hearing or something like that. Since it's allowed for all ages the government is really picky about the soundlevels.

Protecting audience's hearing is extremely important to me. Hearing is important also to metalheads. :headbang:

Hearing damage will be very easy for a short exposure.

[hiro23]

There is probably some kind of compromise that can be reached so that bands can play loud and not turn down so much that they might as well be a pop band but at the same time not hurt people's ears so badly that they won't ever be able to come to a metal concert again

[icecab21]

Silver sonic XL !!! 50 extra db

https://www.silversonicxl.com/

here is a statement the festivals press manager...

Forssman's statement regarding the matter reads as follows:

"I just wanted to let you know that the Aftonbladet story [the Blabbermouth.Net article was] referring to is wrong. The reporter did an interview with me but misunderstood a few things and drew his own conclusions.

"First of all, the fine has not gone through yet, and it is far from certain that it will. Secondly, not all the mentioned bands were using their own sound technicians (all bands and technicians were however informed of the rules and there was measuring equipment at all the mixing towers). Naturally, whatever happens, we will not hold bands who did not bring their own sound techs responsible for those violations.

"Swedish authorities allow a 97 dB average with 110 dB peaks on events that are open to children under 13 - such as the Sweden Rock Festival. Unfortunately, measuring sound levels is not as exact as measuring speed or temperature since they are greatly affected by wind, air humidity etc. We hope this will be taken into consideration when the final decision regarding the fines is made."

[Ragehead91]

Okay, so now we know that we can't trust Blabbermouth anymore