Buzzbox

Rockfest 2001 speaks directly to anyone who cheered when Pantera’s Phil Anselmo announced, apropos of nothing, “I hate rap music” at last year’s OZZfest.

Noticeably bereft of the hip-hop-influenced bands that speckle the OZZfest roster, Rockfest addresses the main concerns of its core audience (KQRC 98.9 listeners) — heavy riffs and charismatic vocals. Headliners Staind (pictured) entertaind area fans in an opening slot at last year’s Family Values tour, with Aaron Lewis’ hearty grunge growl contrasting nicely with Korn singer Jonathan Davis’ sinister whine. Staind’s latest disc, Break the Cycle, contains the plugged-in version of “Outside,” which became a radio hit in acoustic form.

Buckcherry blends a Black Crowes-like twangy jam with the unabashed idiocy of ’80s pop metal, rewarding those gluttons for punishment who embrace Behind the Music-ready drug-hoarding and groupie-shagging. And while Professional Murder Music could easily be the name of a ruffneck rap crew, it refers instead to a Cure-covering industrial band nestled at the stylistic midpoint between Orgy and Fear Factory. Monster Magnet primes the key demographic for its gig with The Cult later this month by pounding out its mammoth-volume space rock from the big stage, while Live wistfully ponders the days when it alone could headline arenas.

On the undercard, Seven Mary Three, which tart-tongued punks the Vandals once dubbed “the Southern-fried kings of mediocrity,” battles for rights to that title with qualified contenders Saliva. Lurking among a bevy of unassuming early-afternoon acts, local heavy-music pioneer group Puddle of Mudd will treat frying fans to a taste of regional rock.