Jailbreak Festival: Day Two Highlights in Horsens, Denmark

The second day of the Jailbreak Festival in Horsens, Denmark, was a thrilling showcase of rock and metal, featuring a lineup of bands that brought the house down within the historic prison walls. Last Friday and Saturday, music lovers were treated to electrifying performances that ranged from hard-hitting death metal to melodic rock. Here’s a look at some of the standout acts from the festival’s closing day.

Junkyard Drive

Danish band Junkyard Drive plays traditional hard rock ‘n’ roll, reminiscent of the 70s and 80s megabands like Guns N’ Roses and Mötley Crüe. With powerful riff-driven guitar work, rebellious lyrics, and a clear, crisp sound, they made excellent use of the old prison’s acoustics. The band got their big break in 2017 with their rendition of the folk song “Geordie,” which topped the charts for quite some time.

Having seen Junkyard Drive live multiple times, I can confidently say that this was perhaps their best performance to date. It’s reassuring to see that they haven’t been resting on their laurels but are still improving. One thing I especially like about this band is the prominence of the drums, which gives their music an extra punch. They seamlessly shifted between slow and up-tempo songs, maintaining the excitement and energy in the hall, which was packed with a crowd willing to withstand the oven-like temperatures. The fire effects may not have helped with the heat, but they didn’t deter anyone—on or off stage—from rocking out.

Baest

Another Danish contribution to Saturday’s lineup was the death metal band Baest. Formed in 2015, they’ve released five albums and won two awards, and it’s easy to see why. Musically, they are proficient, precise, and intense, and they especially know how to work the crowd. Their sound is heavily influenced by the 80s and 90s death metal scene, with crushingly heavy riffs, fast drums, and deep guttural growls delivered with a stage presence that needs no props.

The band began their set with a literal curtain drop before launching into their first song. It didn’t take long for the crowd to start the first mosh pit and for people to start crowd surfing. It was clear that some fans had bought tickets just to see them, with many hardcore fans in the audience. They played one of their newer songs, and I’m glad to report that they haven’t lost their aggressiveness. They still adhere to what made old-school death metal great while adding enough to make it their own. Baest loves being on stage, and their enthusiasm infects everyone around them.

Royal Hunt

Royal Hunt was a band I should have known about but somehow missed. Considering they’ve been around since 1989, my ignorance doesn’t help my case. They aren’t an unknown band in the Danish rock scene either; they have a very loyal fanbase, and I can see why. Their blend of melodic, progressive rock with an almost symphonic sound, including organs and piano, makes for an interesting mix. It’s not every day that the keyboardist is the band’s lead, but with five keyboards on stage that he can play simultaneously, André Andersen commands attention. That’s not to say the other band members aren’t talented—stand-in vocalist Mark Boals, who rejoined for their 2024 tour, particularly stood out.

While there were no stage props, the light show perfectly complemented every song. Royal Hunt was perhaps the biggest surprise for me at this year’s Jailbreak. Thankfully, it seemed I was one of the few who hadn’t heard of them before, as the hall was packed throughout their entire set.

Pretty Maids

Pretty Maids are likely one of the longest-running heavy rock bands in Denmark, having been formed in 1981. With 16 studio albums under their belt, these seasoned gentlemen know how to put on a great show. Given that Horsens, the town where Jailbreak is held, is their hometown, they seemed to have something to prove. I’ve seen Pretty Maids perform multiple times since I was young, at venues big and small, but I’ve never seen them perform like this. To say they were in rare form is an understatement. They delighted us with both new and old hits, and every soul at the festival sang along when they played “Please Don’t Leave Me.” An impressive drum solo was only paused for a minute so the drummer could toast the audience. The light show was on point, perfectly complementing the performance.

Having originated in the early 80s, Pretty Maids show clear influence from contemporary bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, especially in their earlier work, though it’s much more melodic. While they typically play a unique style of old-school rock that isn’t even that heavy, the crowd was so caught up in the moment that they started a mosh pit during one of the more tempo-filled tracks. The entire crowd was enveloped by the magic on stage, with even those sitting on benches at the back singing and clapping along. After 90 minutes of non-stop rock ‘n’ roll and two encores, they ended on a lighthearted note with a sample from Monty Python’s “Sit on My Face.” It was a great ending to an exceptional show.

Thundermother

Having to follow what was perhaps the biggest performance of the festival and close out the event was no easy task, especially with a crowd that was both drunk on beer and atmosphere after a day of great performances. However, Thundermother gave one hell of a show, proving how professional they are despite the declining crowd.

They opened with “Speaking of the Devil,” and Linnea Vikström delivered a captivating performance. One new thing about this all-female band was their temporary replacement of the guitarist, who had just had a baby, with a man. For a band that has received accolades for proving that women can make it in the rock and metal scene, this seemed like an odd choice. However, it also shows that they’re about the music above all else. Besides their musical style, which is reminiscent of the late 70s rock scene, every member of Thundermother has a lot of stage presence, not just the lead singer. More than once, my eyes were drawn to the drummer, Joan Massing, who was having her little party at the back, completely immersed in the music with a great big smile.

The band even learned how to say “Horsens, we love you” in Danish, which was a fun touch. All in all, they delivered a worthy ending to a great couple of days in “prison.”

Photo’s (c) Morten Holmsgaard Kristensen