Unirock Open Air Festival
Encyclopedia
Unirock Open Air Festival is one of the summer open air heavy metal music festivals in İstanbul. It takes place annually in İstanbul, Turkey. Total 40,000 attendees at first two years.
Having brought the likes of Testament
, Arch Enemy, Opeth
, Kreator
, Dark Tranquillity
, Paradise Lost
, and Amon Amarth
to you over the first two years.
The festival was awarded 4 full pages in the September issue of the infamous British publication, Metal Hammer
, and in just two years has grown to international fame with various artists, journalists and managers alike expressing their support.
Unirock Open Air Festival, aims to maintain and improve on already impeccable standards in all areas including artist booking and production with a goal to unite metal fans from all over the globe.
Bands who have participated in the festival from the Middle East include Orphaned Land
(Israel
), Bilocate (Jordan
), and Arsames
(Iran
) along with our Greek neighbours Rotting Christ
who expressed their solidarity with Turkish fans in 1999 when they held a charity concert for Turkish earthquake victims. These names alone are some of the best examples of the way metal music and metal fans transcend all conventional borders and boundaries.
Location : Parkorman, İstanbul, Turkey
Running Order :
20 June 2008: Obstinacy, Definitive, Insistence, Affliction, Catafalque, Opeth
21 June 2008: Unleash, Altona, Crossfire, Malt, Orphaned Land
, Mezarkabul
, Testament
22 June 2008: Prime Object, Heretic Soul, Black Tooth, False In Truth, Moribund Oblivion
, Soul Sacrifice
, Dark Tranquillity
Location : Maçka Küçükçiftlik Park, İstanbul, Turkey
Running Order :
17 July 2009: And I Exist, Undertakers, Pickpocket, Rampage
, Magilum, Soul Sacrifice
, Arch Enemy
18 July 2009: Deathblow
, UÇK Grind, One Bullet Left, Catafalque
, Rotting Christ
, Paradise Lost
, Kreator
19 July 2009: Mosh Pit Project, Arsames
, Bilocate
, Saints'N'Sinners, Episode 13, Firewind
, Amon Amarth
Location : Bronx, İstanbul, Turkey
Bands : The Haunted
Location : Maçka Küçükçiftlik Park, İstanbul, Turkey
Bands : Biocrime, Carnophage, Moribund Oblivion
, Graveworm
, Legion Of The Damned
, Mezarkabul
Location : Maçka Küçükçiftlik Park, İstanbul, Turkey
Running Order :
2 July 2010: Gates of Eternity, Belphegor
, Entombed
, Behemoth
, Overkill
, Cannibal Corpse
3 July 2010: None Shall Return, Sabhankra, Sabaton
, Necrophagist
, Dark Funeral
, Grave Digger
, Evergrey
, Amorphis
4 July 2010: Choler Age, Since Yesterday, Makine, Heaven Shall Burn
, Korpiklaani
, Obituary
, Nevermore
Location : Maçka Küçükçiftlik Park, İstanbul, Turkey
9 September 2011: Baht, Azhirock, Apsent, GROZA, Decapitated
10 September 2011: Dream Ocean, Chopstick Suicide, Nitro, Kimaera, Asafated, Orphaned Land
11 September 2011: 5grs, Gürz, Decaying Purity, Undermost, Ascraeus, Vader
, Mayhem
Location : Jolly Joker Balans, İstanbul, Turkey
Bands Confirmed Yet : August Burns Red
Having brought the likes of Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
, Arch Enemy, Opeth
Opeth
Opeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...
, Kreator
Kreator
Kreator is a thrash metal band from Essen, Germany, formed in 1978, but formalized in 1982 under the name Tormentor. They originally performed a speed metal style with Venom influences. Their style of music is similar to their compatriots Destruction and Sodom, the other two big German thrash metal...
, Dark Tranquillity
Dark Tranquillity
Dark Tranquillity is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Gothenburg. They are one of the longest-standing bands from the original Gothenburg metal scene, and are one of the most integral pioneers of the melodic death metal genre of music....
, Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost (band)
Paradise Lost are a heavy metal band that formed in 1988 in Halifax, England.-History:Their first three full-length albums are examples of the death/doom style, although the latter two incorporated some melodic and gothic elements...
, and Amon Amarth
Amon Amarth
Amon Amarth is a Swedish viking metal band from Tumba, Sweden founded in 1992, and takes its name from the Sindarin translation of Mount Doom, a location in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. The band comprises vocalist Johan Hegg, guitarists Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg, bassist Ted Lundström...
to you over the first two years.
The festival was awarded 4 full pages in the September issue of the infamous British publication, Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
, and in just two years has grown to international fame with various artists, journalists and managers alike expressing their support.
Unirock Open Air Festival, aims to maintain and improve on already impeccable standards in all areas including artist booking and production with a goal to unite metal fans from all over the globe.
Bands who have participated in the festival from the Middle East include Orphaned Land
Orphaned Land
Orphaned Land is an Israeli progressive metal band, formed in 1991, that combines Death/doom, Jewish and Arabic influences.- History :In 1992, the band changed its name from the original Resurrection to Orphaned Land....
(Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
), Bilocate (Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
), and Arsames
Arsames (band)
Arsames is a Persian melodic death metal band from Mashhad, the second largest City of Iran,originally formed in 2002 by Ali Madarshahi. Arsames had changed line-up many times, Vocalist and first drummer Ali Madarshahi is the only original member who has remained...
(Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
) along with our Greek neighbours Rotting Christ
Rotting Christ
Rotting Christ is a Greek black metal band formed in 1987. They are noted for being one of the first black metal bands within this region, as well as a premier act within the European underground metal scene.- Line-up :...
who expressed their solidarity with Turkish fans in 1999 when they held a charity concert for Turkish earthquake victims. These names alone are some of the best examples of the way metal music and metal fans transcend all conventional borders and boundaries.
2008
Dates : 20-21–22 June 2008Location : Parkorman, İstanbul, Turkey
Running Order :
20 June 2008: Obstinacy, Definitive, Insistence, Affliction, Catafalque, Opeth
Opeth
Opeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...
21 June 2008: Unleash, Altona, Crossfire, Malt, Orphaned Land
Orphaned Land
Orphaned Land is an Israeli progressive metal band, formed in 1991, that combines Death/doom, Jewish and Arabic influences.- History :In 1992, the band changed its name from the original Resurrection to Orphaned Land....
, Mezarkabul
Mezarkabul
Mezarkabul is a Turkish metal band formed by Hakan Utangaç and Cenk Ünnü. Mezarkabul is known for integrating Anatolian elements into their music. Mezarkabul means 'accepting the grave', or literally 'grave accept' in Turkish....
, Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
22 June 2008: Prime Object, Heretic Soul, Black Tooth, False In Truth, Moribund Oblivion
Moribund Oblivion
Moribund Oblivion is a Turkish black metal band from Istanbul. The band was formed by vocalist Bahadır Uludağlar in 1999. There have been several line-up changes prior to the current line-up, which now consists of Bahadir Uludaglar, Can Agriboz, Savas Sungur, Onur Burgaz and Emre Kutucularoglu who...
, Soul Sacrifice
Soul Sacrifice
"Soul Sacrifice" is an instrumental song by Santana, that was released on the Prime Cuts label and appears on their self-titled debut album, Santana.-Woodstock Music and Arts Festival:...
, Dark Tranquillity
Dark Tranquillity
Dark Tranquillity is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Gothenburg. They are one of the longest-standing bands from the original Gothenburg metal scene, and are one of the most integral pioneers of the melodic death metal genre of music....
2009
Dates : 17-18–19 July 2009Location : Maçka Küçükçiftlik Park, İstanbul, Turkey
Running Order :
17 July 2009: And I Exist, Undertakers, Pickpocket, Rampage
Rampage
Rampage may refer to:* Rampage , an American rapper* Dodge Rampage, a subcompact, unibody pickup truck* Rampage , a video game series....
, Magilum, Soul Sacrifice
Soul Sacrifice
"Soul Sacrifice" is an instrumental song by Santana, that was released on the Prime Cuts label and appears on their self-titled debut album, Santana.-Woodstock Music and Arts Festival:...
, Arch Enemy
18 July 2009: Deathblow
Deathblow
Deathblow is a fictional character in the . He first appears in Darker Image #1 was created by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi.-Fictional character biography:...
, UÇK Grind, One Bullet Left, Catafalque
Catafalque
A catafalque is a raised bier, soapbox, or similar platform, often movable, that is used to support the casket, coffin, or body of the deceased during a funeral or memorial service. Following a Roman Catholic Requiem Mass, a catafalque may be used to stand in place of the body at the Absolution of...
, Rotting Christ
Rotting Christ
Rotting Christ is a Greek black metal band formed in 1987. They are noted for being one of the first black metal bands within this region, as well as a premier act within the European underground metal scene.- Line-up :...
, Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost (band)
Paradise Lost are a heavy metal band that formed in 1988 in Halifax, England.-History:Their first three full-length albums are examples of the death/doom style, although the latter two incorporated some melodic and gothic elements...
, Kreator
Kreator
Kreator is a thrash metal band from Essen, Germany, formed in 1978, but formalized in 1982 under the name Tormentor. They originally performed a speed metal style with Venom influences. Their style of music is similar to their compatriots Destruction and Sodom, the other two big German thrash metal...
19 July 2009: Mosh Pit Project, Arsames
Arsames (band)
Arsames is a Persian melodic death metal band from Mashhad, the second largest City of Iran,originally formed in 2002 by Ali Madarshahi. Arsames had changed line-up many times, Vocalist and first drummer Ali Madarshahi is the only original member who has remained...
, Bilocate
Bilocate
BILOCATE is a Dark Oriental metal band from Amman, Jordan, founded in 2002 by Ramzi Essayed, Waseem Essayed and Hani Al Abbadi. The band's style combines doom metal and black metal with Oriental elements.-History:...
, Saints'N'Sinners, Episode 13, Firewind
Firewind
Firewind is a Greek power metal band. Formed in 1998, the group is currently signed to Century Media Records and was originally a small project created by guitarist, Gus G. to showcase his demo, Nocturnal Symphony in 1998. Firewind later became a full band over three years later when they recorded...
, Amon Amarth
Amon Amarth
Amon Amarth is a Swedish viking metal band from Tumba, Sweden founded in 1992, and takes its name from the Sindarin translation of Mount Doom, a location in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. The band comprises vocalist Johan Hegg, guitarists Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg, bassist Ted Lundström...
Warm-Up Party
Dates : 27 March 2009Location : Bronx, İstanbul, Turkey
Bands : The Haunted
The Haunted
The Haunted is a Swedish metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1996.The original members were Anders & Jonas Björler, Peter Dolving, Adrian Erlandsson and Patrik Jensen...
Extreme Open Air Festival
Dates : 3 October 2009Location : Maçka Küçükçiftlik Park, İstanbul, Turkey
Bands : Biocrime, Carnophage, Moribund Oblivion
Moribund Oblivion
Moribund Oblivion is a Turkish black metal band from Istanbul. The band was formed by vocalist Bahadır Uludağlar in 1999. There have been several line-up changes prior to the current line-up, which now consists of Bahadir Uludaglar, Can Agriboz, Savas Sungur, Onur Burgaz and Emre Kutucularoglu who...
, Graveworm
Graveworm
Graveworm is a symphonic black metal band from Bruneck, Italy with strong influences from gothic metal .-History:...
, Legion Of The Damned
Legion of the Damned (band)
Legion of the Damned is a thrash metal/death metal band from the Netherlands. The band was formed in 2004 following the demise of Occult and the departure of former singer Rachel Heyzer. Lyrically the band tend to focus on horror motifs, dark occult and religious themes and apocalyptic events...
, Mezarkabul
Mezarkabul
Mezarkabul is a Turkish metal band formed by Hakan Utangaç and Cenk Ünnü. Mezarkabul is known for integrating Anatolian elements into their music. Mezarkabul means 'accepting the grave', or literally 'grave accept' in Turkish....
2010
Dates : 2-3–4 July 2010Location : Maçka Küçükçiftlik Park, İstanbul, Turkey
Running Order :
2 July 2010: Gates of Eternity, Belphegor
Belphegor (band)
Belphegor is a blackened death metal band from Salzburg, Austria. They originally formed in 1991 under the name Betrayer before changing their name in 1993. They are named after the demon Belphegor.-Early years :...
, Entombed
Entombed (band)
Entombed is a Swedish death metal band which formed in 1987 under the name of Nihilist. Though Entombed began their career as an early pioneer of Scandinavian death metal which initially differed itself from its American counterpart with its distinct guitar tone, by the early 1990s their sound had...
, Behemoth
Behemoth (band)
Behemoth is a Polish blackened death metal band from Gdańsk, formed in 1991. They are considered to have played an important role in establishing the Polish extreme metal underground, alongside bands such as Vader, Decapitated, Vesania and Hate....
, Overkill
Overkill (band)
Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining from the original lineup. Along with Anthrax , the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal...
, Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band from Buffalo, New York. Formed in 1988, the band has released eleven studio albums, one box set, and one live album...
3 July 2010: None Shall Return, Sabhankra, Sabaton
Sabaton (band)
Sabaton is a Grammis-nominated power metal band from Falun, Sweden formed in 1999. The band's main lyrical themes are those of historical wars. This is heard in albums Primo Victoria, Attero Dominatus and Coat of Arms where all of the songs, except final tracks, take inspiration from historical...
, Necrophagist
Necrophagist
Necrophagist is a German death metal band, founded and fronted by Muhammed Suiçmez; a German-born, Turkish guitarist and vocalist. The band is known for its rapid and technical compositions....
, Dark Funeral
Dark Funeral
Dark Funeral is a black metal band from Stockholm, Sweden, founded by guitarists Blackmoon and Lord Ahriman in 1993. They are one of the bands to have emerged in Sweden during the Second wave of black metal....
, Grave Digger
Grave Digger (band)
Grave Digger are a German heavy metal/power metal band formed in 1980. They were part of the German heavy/speed/power metal scene to emerge in the early to mid 1980s.-Band history:...
, Evergrey
Evergrey
Evergrey is a progressive metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. The band was founded in 1995 and released its debut album The Dark Discovery in 1998. Their most recent album Glorious Collision was released in 2011.-Lyrical themes:...
, Amorphis
Amorphis
Amorphis is a Finnish heavy metal band started by Jan Rechberger, Tomi Koivusaari, and Esa Holopainen in 1990. Initially, the band was a death metal act, but on later albums they evolved into playing other types of genres, which include heavy metal, progressive metal, and folk metal...
4 July 2010: Choler Age, Since Yesterday, Makine, Heaven Shall Burn
Heaven Shall Burn
Heaven Shall Burn is a German heavy metal band from Saalfeld, formed in 1996. They combine an aggressive metal sound with lyrics that show a militant support of anti-racism and fighting social injustice. All members of the band are vegan.-Biography:...
, Korpiklaani
Korpiklaani
Korpiklaani is a folk metal band from Finland who were formerly known as Shaman.-Biography:While other folk metal bands began with metal before adding folk music, Korpiklaani started with folk music before turning metal...
, Obituary
Obituary (band)
Obituary is an American death metal band formed in 1984 in Tampa, Florida under the name Executioner, then changed the name's spelling to Xecutioner, and later changed their name to Obituary in 1988. The band comprises vocalist John Tardy, drummer Donald Tardy, guitarists Trevor Peres and Ralph...
, Nevermore
Nevermore
Nevermore is an American heavy metal band from Seattle, Washington. Formed in 1991, they are known to incorporate elements from styles such as thrash, power, progressive, and neo-classical metal into their songs, and also makes use of acoustic guitars and a wide range of vocal styles.-Early years...
2011
Dates : 9-10–11 September 2011Location : Maçka Küçükçiftlik Park, İstanbul, Turkey
9 September 2011: Baht, Azhirock, Apsent, GROZA, Decapitated
10 September 2011: Dream Ocean, Chopstick Suicide, Nitro, Kimaera, Asafated, Orphaned Land
Orphaned Land
Orphaned Land is an Israeli progressive metal band, formed in 1991, that combines Death/doom, Jewish and Arabic influences.- History :In 1992, the band changed its name from the original Resurrection to Orphaned Land....
11 September 2011: 5grs, Gürz, Decaying Purity, Undermost, Ascraeus, Vader
Vader
Vader may refer to:* Vader , a Polish death metal band* Darth Vader, a fictional character in the Star Wars universe* Big Van Vader, American professional wrestler* Els Vader , Dutch track and field athlete...
, Mayhem
Mayhem (band)
Mayhem is a Norwegian black metal band formed in 1984 in Oslo, Norway and regarded as one of the pioneers of the influential Norwegian black metal scene...
Warm-Up Party
Dates : 8 June 2011Location : Jolly Joker Balans, İstanbul, Turkey
Bands Confirmed Yet : August Burns Red
August Burns Red
August Burns Red is an American metal band, from Manheim, Pennsylvania. Formed in 2003, the group began their first performances while a majority of the members were attending their senior year of high school, and soon began playing shows around Lancaster, before being signed to CI Records, and...