Background
Metalcamp, with its programme and especially its fantastic location, fast made a name for itself amongst the metal crowds from the whole of Europe. In its 10 years, its line-up featured a very decent part of the prolific metal bands touring around Europe and hosted Danzig, Apocalyptica, Hypocrisy, Blind Guardian, Ancient, Satyricon, Lamb of God, Primal Fear, Slayer, Anthrax, Obituary, Soulfly, Dimmu Borgir, Arch Enemy, Motörhead, Cradle of Filth, Sepultura, Kreator, Immortal, Korpiklaani, Pain, The Exploited, Ministry, In Flames, Morbid Angels, Nightwish, Napalm Death, Down, Cannibal Corpse, Over Kill, Behemoth, Sabaton and the local powerhouse Noctiferia.
The festival also had a second stage for newcomers.
MetalDays programme
Programme-wise, the festival has kept the original direction and has hosted artists such as Annihilator, Iced Earth, In Flames, King Diamond, Mayhem, Sonata Arctica and Wintersun, Children of Bodom , Amorphis, Opeth, Megadeth, Korn, Sepultura, Dream Theater, Fear factory, etc.
Nevertheless, MetalDays has enriched its rooster by having the second stage booked by Dirty Skunks, a promoter that has a year long concert programme, staging various alternative music genres like metal, hardcore, punk and the many things in between. They have, for example, brought bands like Rotting Christ, Beheaded, Immolation, Aborted, Nocturnal Depression, The Canyon Observer, Benediction and Vicious Rumors. There are also concert slots for newcomers, who are still featured strong at this festival.
Besides music there is naturally some additional programme, the most curious one probably being man-in-thongs-volleyball (its corresponding sports happening is topless badminton). There is also a karaoke stand.
MetalHoliday
As the audience is mostly international, MetalDays is logistically supported by MetalHoliday who plan and organize coach trips to the festivals MetalDays (and Punk Rock Holiday – another summer festival held at that same location) from about ten European countries and around fifty cities. MetalDays also has all the stuff one needs for festival camping available for rent.