Back! Was absolutely amazing, even better than last year. Anyone even remotely interested in any of this sort of stuff just has to comenext year. Missing out on so much fun!
Traveling there was a bit of a faff this time. Went with flybe. I call AVOID on them, wasn't great. But once we were in Hanover was great (9 euros for an hour long train journey with a change! Holy fuck!). Went early on the friday rather than getting a hotel in hanover on the thursday night, which was pretty good, even if it meant a 4.30 start!
Met lots of lovely people from all over Europe including some nice lads from Birmingham who camped with us. Everyone was really nice and welcoming as usual lots of drunken singing of German drinking songs etc.! 
The site was more or less the same as last year, except in the camping area they had a full medieval 'village' made up with shows, mead, horns, shisha etc, and even a working blacksmith, lotsmore apparently, though I didn't see much of it. Medieval isn't really my thing, and the place was rammed with people after mead once themain stage area had closed. Still a great idea though ^^
Anyway the bands I saw:
The Legendary Pink Dots: Went for the fun name. Pretentious not fun. Left
Cinema Strange: These were the first I saw properly, after some shopping, and really just wandering into the hangar on the off chance. They were brilliant! I'd advise them to anyone who reallylikes the music from The Mighty Boosh or MSI or just anyone who wants Noel Fielding (the bassist is his spit). Sort of avante gardey ish,cept they haven't forgotten that at the end of the day it's all about bouncing around in crazy costumes.
Mesh: Were a good bit of fun. Nice industrial rock outfit from Bristol. The singer looked like they'd just grabbed some skater kid and threw him on the stage, hehe. Great atmosphere, lots of bouncing. No problems here 
Tanzwut: These guys were great. Words really can't describe the visual spectacle of seeing these guys in the flesh so I wont even try. Was something else though. Musically it was sort of Industrial folk metal of sorts, lots of bag-pipes and stuff. Absolutely brilliant stuff, well worth a listen. Again, very bouncy, very good fun!
ASP: Were... ok. They had some technical difficulties which they struggled to get back from in my opinion. But they were in the unfortunate position of being before the next band, whom me and lots of people around me were waiting for.
VNV NATION!!!!!: FUCKING YES!! Absolutely bloody brilliant! Finally, FINALLY managed to see them without something getting in the way, and so worth the wait. Was bang smack in the middle, 5 people back. Amazing atmosphere, everyone from front to back totally up for it. Just brilliant, couldn't believe I was there. When Legion came on about 3 in I was crying and screaming and singing and dancing all at the same time. Beyond words for me, got very emotional all the way through. Finally fucking seen them, and I'd do it 100 times more and they'd still have the same effect. Absolutely amazing. No better way to see them first time than with 20,000 people behind you giving it what for. Brilliant brilliant brilliant!!!!
Painbastard: Another firm favourite of mine kicked off day 2 for me and didn't disappoint. Dressed in sort of future body armour with saw blade shoulder pads, jumping about like a lunatic. Also look like the manly guy from 2 pints of lager and a packet of crisps. Anyway, excellent stuff. I knew I'd enjoy it, but was glad the atmosphere was still great that early in the day.
Elegant Machinery: Saw a bit, but they seemed a bit, well, generic sort of synthpop without a lot too it. Hope for them it was just that song? Definitely biggest disappointment for me.
Eisbrecher: Like Rammstein except better. Seriously. That's coming from me, massive Rammstein fanboy that I've always been, this was a whole other level entirely. Jim got the best view of this if he posts (they were his favourite performance of the whole weekend). Check them out. Do it now!! Fresher, darker, better, brilliant.
Combichrist: Evil, nice!! Again brilliant. In the hanger, packed to the brim with a massive queue trying to get in. Left covered from head to foot in endless sweat. Couldn't stop moving, you couldn't be in that hangar standing still. Atmosphere was electric from start to end. I think everyone there could have watched them all day if people weren't starting to pass out, amazing gig, completely wrecked by the end. Covered in bruises and aches, but so so worth it. Everyone should go see Combichrist and VNV live. Incomparable.
Unfortunately Combichrist wrecked me for the rest of the day, so listened to New Model Army and Fields of the Nephilim from the tent flat out. Both of them I think I would have enjoyed, but Combichrist were worth missing them.
So:
Best: VNV
Worst: Legendary Pink Dots
Biggest Surprise: Cinema Strange/Eisbrecher
Biggest Dissapointment: Elegant Machinery
Roll on 2009. Give me more!! :D
