Wet keffiyeh stuck under the cap, cup of blonde in hand, Noé Varlin is red and out of breath from having “pogoté” under 40°C.

The 34-year-old young man, ten editions of Hellfest on the clock, would not have missed the recovery in Clisson for "nothing in the world": "It's unique here, it's our refuge, our freedom to us", explains Noé Varlin, from Lille.

A little further, Lisa Glatin, spiked bracelets and denim shorts, stands, arms outstretched, under a metal arch from which cool water flows.

"I'm burning. But I don't care because I've been waiting for this for two years: to go wild in the crowd", smiles the 27-year-old young woman, taking out of her banana a tube of sunscreen index 50.

Canceled in 2020 and then in 2021 due to the pandemic, the Hellfest returns for an exceptional edition, organized over two weekends instead of one and with the monster Metallica as the new headliner.

Tens of thousands of festival-goers brave the heat wave to find the boosted atmosphere of Hellfest, high mass of metal, on June 17, 2022 in Clisson (Loire-Atlantique) Loic VENANCE AFP

Three hundred and fifty hard-rock, punk and metal bands, including Guns N'Roses, Deep Purple and Scorpions, take out the big guitars in the middle of the Nantes vineyards for seven days of festivities.

shadow square

In front of the main stage, festival volunteers sprayed festival-goers all afternoon with a garden hose.

Tens of thousands of festival-goers brave the heat wave to find the boosted atmosphere of Hellfest, high mass of metal, on June 17, 2022 in Clisson (Loire-Atlantique) Loic VENANCE AFP

Giant misters have been installed next to the six stages, water points multiplied and water bottles and bottles exceptionally authorized to cope with the heat wave.

Taking advantage of a small square of shade, dozens of festival-goers dozed in the afternoon under the few trees of the 60 hectares of fields and along the perimeter walls.

Leaning against a tree, Lorenzo Carré, 27, shirtless and wearing a bandana in his long hair, is having lunch in the shade.

"As deprived of vacation for two years", he is delighted to be back in Clisson, where he meets friends every year "from the four corners of France".

Heat obliges, he will not "drink too much" and will wait until the end of the afternoon to "enquiller".

He still drank an “early morning” beer, before the sun beat down too hard.

Yohann Fesseau, 40, maintains that "beer hydrates" and puts on his khaki cap to protect him from sunburn.

More than for the headliners, whom he has already seen all play "at least once", he came to Hellfest "for the atmosphere" and "for the people", "metal guys happy to be there "with whom the pogos "never end in a fight".

Tens of thousands of festival-goers brave the heat wave to find the boosted atmosphere of Hellfest, high mass of metal, on June 17, 2022 in Clisson (Loire-Atlantique) Loic VENANCE AFP

420,000 spectators are expected over the seven days of the festival, more than double the 180,000 welcomed in 2019 for its last edition before the health crisis.

The first weekend, from June 17 to 19, heavyweights from the metal or rock scene are expected, such as Faith No More, Judas Priest, Deftones, Deep Purple, Offspring and Killing Joke.

The second installment, from June 23 to 26, was added in June 2021, with stars Metallica, Guns N'Roses, Scorpions, Alice Cooper and Bad Religion.

© 2022 AFP