dparinello reviewed on Aug 16 2008 5:49AM:
Show Rating: (4)

The music saved the day. Being a past OZZFEST attendee, I had some ideas of what was going to be the setup. The typical vendors were there, the food and drink were toooooo much money, the security and venue employees were clueless. As for the event, the Music really saved my sanity. At past "festivals", I left with a ton of autos, pix, and other stuff. The fact that I was told my camera was unacceptable, prior to getting in should have set off some bells. I have used this camera at every concert I've been to in the past year (14). To "Meet" Sid Wilson, I had to pay money, which I do not have a problem with...No talk, No shake, no acknowledgement he even saw ANYONE. My last OZZFEST with Slipknot (they headlined 2nd Stage) I met Corey, Joey and Chris and actually spoke to them each. Bad Job. Plus after leaving the meet and greet (hah) line, I turned to take a pic and a large security guard stepped in front of me and said no pix. Also in the Jager tent, FFDP were awesome guys and everything was pretty cool there except No Pix either. I have pix at home with all the guys from Atreyu, Norma Jean, All That Remains, Kerry King, Disturbed and many others...ease up on the photo restrictions.

Music...different story. Best of the night, the boys from IOWA totally destroyed it. So glad to see them back, they were amazing. Disturbed was the best I ever saw them, 5 times. Dragonforce was great and Mastodon blew it up. Of the undercard...FFDP #1, Underoath, Suidcide was very good as was Black Tide.

Overall a great musical day, need a better plan to make the people who pay happier...

Lunaticfringe reviewed on Aug 16 2008 5:52AM:
Show Rating: (5)

The Show was Kick ass Disturbed and slipKnot tore up the stage. I am looking forward to next years mayhemfest.

deathshallspare reviewed on Aug 16 2008 5:53AM:
Show Rating: (2)

other than airbourne, 5fdp, and black tide sucking it was pretty good slipknot ruled suicide silence played a really good set it was a fun time!!!! getting stranded with 4 beautiful australian girls made the night even greater!!!!!

kramww reviewed on Aug 16 2008 11:17AM:
Show Rating: (5)

Had a great time!

Saw all the bands except Mastodon (didn't feel like going inside so I watched Walls of Jericho instead).

The setup for the side stages were in the adjacent parking lot for the main amphitheater and was very comfortable and roomy. The Jager band was Beyond the Scar who were pretty good for being the only band I had never heard of before.

I didn't care for Black Tide (too generic) or Suicide Silence (too screamy and try too hard to be relevant plus the singer thought that he was in Connecticut).
The Red Chord, 5FDP, Airbourne, Walls of Jericho, Underoath, and Machine Head were all top notch. 36 Crazyfists were OK.

Inside was roomy in the pit area, but more crowded in the seats and lawn that I would have expected (Corey said 15,000). DragonForce was fun and Slipknot was the reason to be there. I personally enjoyed when Sid, who has two broken heels, crawled to the hydraulic drum set on the opposite side of the stage and dragged himself to the top for no particular reason.

Disturbed, however cliched and boring they have recently become, was the best that I have ever seen them. They were very professional and just came to rock ("Land of Confusion" was omitted for the better).

With Ozzfest always questionable and the Warped Tour overcrowded with 15 year olds that could care less about music, I hope Mayhem continues annualy!

jake112354 reviewed on Aug 17 2008 6:35PM:
Show Rating: (4)

The Slipknot and Disturbed shows were Amazing. The Dragonforce and Mastodon Sets were good but the sound quality was poor. I was pissed that I missed Walls of Jericho for Mastodon. For the other opening bands playing outside Suicide Silence was the best hands down. Machine Head and The Red Chord were pretty kick ass too. Overall it was a great Show and I hope It comes again next year. and I also hope they sell the Monster for less than $5 a can.

Mackster reviewed on Aug 18 2008 8:55AM:
Show Rating: (4)

"OzzFest Light version 1.0" is about all I can so for the "Festival" aspect of this show. Much fewer vendors, fewer activities, less of everything; EXCEPT...

The music was awesome! Even the bands that did not do as good of a show on the second stages (see others comments) were at least as good as other festivals have been. We were in the pit for the main stage, and, the sound for every band there was amazing! In year's and festivals past, this has been an issue. Not so with the professionals who put on a great show at Mayhem.

As far as next year--I prefer Ozzfest, still, for the Festival atmosphere. But, they could learn a lesson from Mayhem for show, sound and band quality. If Mayhem is back--I will be back, too!

Thunderbolt reviewed on Aug 18 2008 7:18PM:
Show Rating: (4)

Disturbed was absolutely awesome! Could have done with a longer set. Was a little disappointed with Slipknot - expected a little more energy, less drama - dragging out the pauses between songs. Dragonforce was great - lots of energy, lots of fun - even though the audience really didn't give a great response. Guess they're just too new. This was my first festival type concert and was a bit upset with the idiots trying to mosh on the lawn. Just kept running into people - causing injuries and making us miss parts of the show because we were too focused on not being knocked down. Missed most of the other bands cause I was lucky enough to score passes to meet the bands - which rocked! Disturbed were just regular guys, spoke to everyone, gave autographs and took pix. Dragonforce was a lot of fun - hung out for quite a while, joking and talking, signing whatever. Walls of Jericho also hung out. So did Black Tide. Only 2 members of Slipknot showed up for about 10 minutes and MachineHead really didn't want to be there - seemed too full of themselves to be bothered with the little people. Will definitely go next year if Disturbed is playing!

dakimmerz reviewed on Aug 19 2008 5:50AM:
Show Rating: (4)

ive seen slipknot 12 times...and this was probly the most dissapointing...and it wasnt even their fault! the Susquehanna isnt ready to rock out. the speakers were blown and you could see the poor soundguy trying his ass off to get it right, even though it wasnt that easy! the sound was more strewn together and muzzled as compared to hearing it all "together"...

disturbed could have been phenomenal instead of just good if the sound was on point, and Mastadon could have been out of this world!

oh, and Corey, knowing there was a loudness curfew, should have just shut the fuck up and sang...

even the security in the pit was all about intimidation instead of just letting us rock out... we take care of each other in the pit, and if those fuckers in yellow shirts had the sense to watch for a second before they just tried to stop it, theyda seen that. they also would have stopped the pit from moving all over if they would have stopped getting in front of everyone.... oh, and jumping in front of us girls to "protect" us. "hey, asshole, MOVE!!!"

however bad the sound was, though... i almost ripped the whole bar off the lawn posts when i heard people=shit

gimme back tweeter!! at least they could replace the speakers!!

hazeleyespa reviewed on Aug 19 2008 6:02AM:
Show Rating: (5)

All I can say is that Disturbed kicked ass. It is ashame that they did not play longer. My husband and I usually go to Ozzfest each year, but we were definitely not going to make a trip to Texas. We mainly went to Ozzfest to see Disturbed anyway. It was awesome this year because as we were walking back to the main stage area, Disturbed walked right in front of us. It was awesome to see them so close up. If Disturbed is at Mayhemfest next year, we will definitely be there.

sheezer reviewed on Aug 19 2008 1:58PM:
Show Rating: (5)

I thoroughly enjoyed the show start to finish. Aside from blowing a ton of money on snacks and beverages ($6 for a soda????) Five Finger Death Punch and Walls of Jericho were the best bands on the 2nd stage. I will never listen to WoJ without thinking "CIRCLE PIT MOTHERFUCKERS!!!" again. As for the main stage, didn't see Mastodon but Dragonforce blows and some emo douch entertained us by singing along like it was his life. Disturbed kicked ass. But my reason for going (and possibly breathing!) was Slipknot. Aside from not playing Eyeless or Spit it Out I was highly entertained!!! My boyfriend went to the show 2 weeks before in Scranton, PA and said that they didn't really get into it. We both agreed that this was a much better performance with a ton of heart, cool pyro, sick drum shit and general vomit inducing fun that you have come to expect from the guys!! I love them and I can't wait till they come back!!!!!!!!

zombie13 reviewed on Aug 21 2008 9:00AM:
Show Rating: (4)

The Festival was off the hook!! Lots of Mayhem, BMX was cool as shit and got to meet some of the bands including Sid with his busted ass feet! And for all those of you who are comparing this to Ozzfest, shut the F*#! UP!! Dont compare the likes of Ozzy to Slipknot b/c it is a different generation and Slipknot rocks harder than any of those 70's bands who are still hanging on for dear life and riding the same wave for the past 30 years...Five Finger Death Punch was absolutely insane and the best 2nd stage act by far. oh yeah, Dragonforce and Disturbed BLOW!!!! Slipknot sound quality sucked but other than that they rocked as usual..One word..PROSTHETICS!!

heinikengrl reviewed on Aug 21 2008 4:22PM:
Show Rating: (5)

Best concert ever!!!! 3 stages, dirt bike tricks, and I got to meet Dragon Force! All the bands were grest, good pits, good people, good times.