Maryland Deathfest: The Movie
First 12 minutes of Maryland Deathfest: The Movie
Excerpt courtesy of Metal Injection
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This film is, above all else, a labor of love. There’s no money in documenting an underground metal festival; the only audience is people who attended the titular event back in May 2009 or those who wish they had. Filmmaker David Hall and his crew went through logistical nightmares (documented here) to make it happen, and that passion shows in the immediacy and DIY aesthetic of the footage that made final cut.
Much like the music on display, the film is visceral and gritty. Stark black-and-white photography complements the grind and hardcore, giving it the feel of someone’s basement show home video. The footage is clear but not slick; there are no MTV-style quick cuts or other gimmicks that tend to ruin other concert docs. The audio (mastered by Scott Hull) strips away each band’s façade and gets to the point: can your live act cash the check your albums write? Viewers can judge for themselves, but there are some obvious winners (Weekend Nachos) and losers (not good enough to look up) on display.
The outdoor stage is very hit-or-miss with audio quality and band selection. Some sets sounded like they were played through a phone receiver. Granted, outdoor sound is tough to capture without high-end equipment, but perhaps the bands with very poor sound could have been cut in favor of giving other bands more coverage (only a handful of acts get more than two songs of screen time). Also, who thought Hail of Bullets playing outside under the sun was a good idea? That’s just wrong.
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The film is separated by each day, but that will be your only guide. Unless a particular band says their name, or are instantly recognizable (Napalm Death, Unearthly Trance, etc.) there is no indication of who is on stage. No title card, subtitle, nothing. Here we have an interesting Catch-22: you don’t know what’s coming, so you refrain from hitting fast forward in case it’s good. Afterwards you have a new favorite band, but have no idea who they are. This could turn off a whole block of potential viewers, which is a shame. It’s an easy fix.
The bonus footage consists of Grace Perry (Landmine Marathon) interviewing various band members, fans, and industry folk at the fest. It’s a great idea, but the actual execution devolves to everyone talking about how stoked they are to see Bolt Thrower. Considering how this festival is the premier event in the US for extreme music these days, some more involved discussions would have been a great addendum. Yet for each misstep, there is a classic moment: closeup footage of Adam Jarvis’ otherworldly drumming for Misery Index; filming Wolves in the Throne Room in soft blues instead of black & white for a welcome change of pace; Asphyx enrapturing the crowd on Friday night. If you weren’t there, you really will wish you had been.
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Front page photo by IGN Board member Bolt_Thrower
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Official film trailer
Purchase DVD (includes entry into drawing for free pass to MDF ’11)
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