Wacken Open Air
Congratulations to the 25th edition of Wacken Open Air!
Especially the two founders and still organizers of this worldwide leading as inspiring Metal Festival probably had never imagined how huge their festival should become after starting in 1990 with six bands playing for 800 spectators the open air raised enormously to its nowadays dimensions hosting metalheads from all over the world. We ourselves joined the festival from 1997 on experiencing the Wacken evolution over the latest 18 editions.
This time it was up to Accept, Saxon, Slayer, Motörhead, Avantasia and Megadeth two headline the birthday billing. Besides that special shows like the one of Hammerfall playing their debut completely or that one of Emperor performing their debut album for its 20th anniversary raised the exclusiveness of the line-up. In comparison to the years before the festivalsite got rearranged offering more space two reach the different stages much quicker during the changeovers. For another time the organization worked very well. The clean restrooms were for free use and the variety of food and beverages was huge. Next to the Wackinger Village they placed the Wasteland interfering some postapocalyptic atmosphere known from movies like „Mad Max“. The Metal Heart – flirt zone was another location offering an alternative to spare some festival time. After last year’s extremely hot temperatures every Full Metal Bag – owner got a plastic bottle which everyone was allowed to bring to the festival area. The organization preferred to take care about their visitors than just to focus on their money. This was a very exemplary action! This year’s weather was very moderate in its temperatures and included no rain.
At this year’s Wacken Open Air 124 bands appeared on the five regular stages (besides several shows on the Beer Garden Stage and the Wackinger Stage) in three days for about 75000 visitors (Sold out just a few days after this year’s edition!).
Finally we need to express our condolences for one young visitor who died on the street getting hit by a car. Sad story which could have happened everywhere, but nevertheless tragic. Our condolences go out to the family and friends of the man.
Thursday
True Metal Stage
Bülent Ceylan The popular comedian performed for the second time in Wacken. He took care about some laughter on the infield and joined headbanging as crowdsurfing.
Steel Panther More Glam and Sleaze is impossible: The Hardrock band opened like their new album does by „Pussywhipped“ and „Party Like Tomorrow Is The End Of The World“ whose titles especially showed about what these 75 minutes were supposed to be about. I have never seen so many female breasts while a gig, but whoever was shown by the camera on a video screen the lady just joined the boobs-out-contest. Anyway, the Californians knew how to convince musically as well by „Just Like Tiger Woods“, „Eyes Of A Panther“, „Death To All But Metal“ and the final message „Party All Day (Fuck All Night)“. Just the fact that despite the vocalist all musicians wore perukes is discussable. The rest is show, like it or hate it!
Accept The big discussion about the teutonic Metal legend appearing in their nowadays line-up in a headliner position stopped when it was showtime. Starting with the world live premier of „Stampede“ from their forthcoming release „Blind Rage“ the numerous fans celebrated their faves by collective headbanging. The setlist including „Breaker“, „Restless And Wild“, „Fast As A Shark“, „Metal Heart“, the newer hit „Teutonic Terror“, „Balls To The Wall“ and „Burning“ spoke for itself and after the show everyone talked about the overwhelming gig except me. To me this line-up doesn’t work in comarison to that one with the german tank Udo Dirkschneider behind the microphone, but in this night my opinion wasn’t really representative.
Black Stage
Skyline In 1990 this band played on the first WOA edition including one of the organizers. In the latest years it had become the tradition the music program got opened by Skyline playing some cover versions each year. So they did again by Manowar’s „Warriors Of The World United“, Iron Maiden’s „Fear Of The Dark“, Rammstein’s „Engel“, etc..
Hammerfall On my personal first WOA I had the opportunity to watch this fivepiece just on their first show outside their home country Sweden. So it became like a little time jump when they played their whole debut album „Glory To The Brave“ completely assisted by the former members Stefan Elmgren („Stone Cold“), Patrik Räfling („Unchained“) and Jesper Strömblad („The Dragon Lies Bleeding“) before enthusing their fans by the encores „Any Means Necessary“, „Blood Bound“, the first time live performed„Bushido“ from the forthcoming record „(r)Evolution“ and their hit „Hearts On Fire“.
Saxon The NWOBHM – legend of course shouldn’t miss on the Wacken birthday. And the stage set with different levels showed what to expect. Supported by lots of pyros and other show effects Biff Byford & Co played a strong set starting with „Motorcycle Man“, the title track from the recent release „Sacrifice“, „Heavy Metal Thunder“, „Solid Ball Of Rock“, „Wheels Of Steel“ and „747 (Strangers In The Night)“. After this rocking first half of the show the band got supported by a little orchestra fraction. This was a nice idea for this anniversary, but the interpretations of their classics like „Crusader“, „The Eagle Has Landed“, „Princess Of The Night“ and „Denim And Leather“ reduced their heaviness factor, so they didn’t really rock as they usually do in their original versions.
Friday
True Metal Stage
Skid Row The Hardrock sensation of the late eighties and the early nineties appeared for the first time in Wacken and populated the festival area by lots of fans. Most of them still probably connected the quintet from New Jersey with Sebastian Bach not realizing the „new“ singer Johnny Solinger has been band member from 1996 on. And he did a geat job. Just the songs of this newer era like the opener „Let’s Go“, „Thick Is The Skin“, „Kings Of Demolition“ and „We Are The Damned“ just played a filler role. Of course nearly all fans waited for „Big Guns“, „Makin’ A Mess“, „Piece Of Me“, „Monkey Business“, „Slave To The Grind“ as for the the ballads „18 And Life“ and „I Remember You“ which got interpreted by Solinger very fine. They dedicated the Ramones cover version „Psycho Therapy“ for the passed Johnny Ramone. The great final got marked by their hymn „Youth Gone Wild“ which got sung loudly by the masses.
Five Finger Death Punch Suited in a German soccer jersey, of course with the fourth star for the youngest world championship title fronter Ivan Moody had all spectators in the infield on his side. But this wouldn’t have been necessary. The combination of a strong tight performance, great melody hooks and cool announcements were more than enough attraction. By „Under And Over It“, „Burn It Down“ and „Hard To See“ they got the crowd in motion from the beginning which didn’t change over the following hour while the cover hymn „Bad Company“, „Never Enough“ and the set closing „The Bleeding“.
Heaven Shall Burn The leading German Metalcore band let the thousands of fans go crazy for the fifth time resulting in a huge circle pit around the sound towers. The fans just seem to had been watiting for the beginning of this show marked by „Counterweight“. „Land Of The Upright Ones“, „Godiva“ and the new hit „Hunters Will Be Hunted“ from the current album „Veto“ got as much celebrated as „Combat“, „Voice Of The Voiceless“, or „Endzeit“. For the Edge Of Sanity cover „Black Tears“ they even got the support of EOS-mastermind Dan Swanö. And by another cover they left the stage interpreting Blind Guardian’s „Valhalla“.
Apocalyptica The Cello Finns played for the first time assisted by an orchestra on an open air festival. Musically there was no doubt, but somehow this classic interlude seemed a bit wrong positioned in comparison to the latest participations when they had appeared deep in the night. So just the Metal cover versions of Metallica („Fight Fire With Fire“, „Nothing Else Matters“) and Sepultura („Inquisiton Symphony“) earned mentionable support.
Slayer The discussions about the headliner and Thrash Metal icon from the Bay Area had lead to a maximum before the quartet gave the clear answer on stage. From the beginning by „Hell Awaits“ and „The Antichrist“ they showed all talk was cheap waste of time. Exodus guitarist Gary Holt got integrated well as Hanneman-successor and rocked as much as full bearded fronter Tom Araya. The fans theirselves supported „Mandatory Suicide“, „War Ensemble“, „Seasons In The Abyss“, „Dead Skin Mask“, the band hymn „Raining Blood“, „South Of Heaven“ and the finisher „Angel Of Death“ in huge moshpits. No question(s) left!
W.A.S.P. Deep in the night Blackie Lawless and his band entered the stage to rock Wacken by a fantastic set. From „On Your Knees“ over the The Who cover „The Real Me“, „L.O.V.E. Machine“, „Wild Child“ the silent tones of „Sleeping In The Fire being combined with „Forever Free“ to their hit „I Wanna Be Somebody“ the quartet left no wishes open till the middle of the set to let follow „The Titanic Overture“ and „The Idol“ from the „The Crimson Idol“ masterpiece. By „Blind In Texas“ Blackie & Co finished a hard rocking set.
Black Stage
Chthonic The early noon offered an exotic act by Black Metal from Taiwan. They mainly concentrated on their recent release „Bú-Tik“ by „Supreme Pain For The Tyrant“ or „Sail Into The Sunsets Fire“ without ignoring the older ones as the opener „Oceanquake“ or „Southern Cross“. Meanwhile the stageacting and the worn masks turned out a bit ridiculous. Or was it too much culture clash to me?
Endstille The switchover to German Black Metal didn’t turn the atmosphere to a much more serious one on this stage. „Bastard“, „Ripping Angelflesh“, „Conquest Is Atheism“ and „Frühlingserwachen“ were meant to animate the crowd, but they just reached a couple of diehard supporters.
Bring Me The Horizon The fivepiece from Sheffield brought by the following 60 minutes the evidence they’re more than just a young girls’ band. Their melodies combined with the breakdowns and the atmospheric parts resulted in a strong performance lead by shouter Oliver Sykes. And so not even young spectators celebrated the band mainly concentrating on their current release „Sempiternal“ by the opener „Shadow Moses“, „The House Of Wolves“, „Go To Hell, For Heaven’s Sake“, „And The Snakes Start To Sing“, „Empire (Let Them Sing)“, the hit „Can You Feel My Heart“, „Antivist“ and the final „Sleepwalking“ just considering with „Diamonds Aren’t Forever“ and „Chelsea Smile“ two older tracks.
Children Of Bodom In contrast to BMTH the Finns played a best of program consisting of the opener „24/7 Needled“, „Hatecrew Deathroll“, „Are You Dead Yet“, „Hate Me!“, „Bodom After Midnight“ and just considered by „Halo Of Blood“ one track from their latest so-called output. The fivepiece got jubilated for their performance, just Alexi Laiho’s several „fuck“-talk-bullshit stuck on my nerves.
Motörhead The festivalsite got pretty packed when the Rock ‘n’ Roll trio entered the stage after they had left it too early due to Lemmy Kilmister’s health problems under the hot sun last year. The question was: Is he well again to perform a whole 75 minutes lasting show. The answer was: Yes! Of course Lemmy wasn’t as agile as ten years ago, but there was no fear of experiencing another breakup this evening. So this turned out to a rocking party from „Damage Case“ over „Metropolis“, „Lost Woman Blues“ until the great final consisting of „Going To Brazil“, „Killed By Death“ being co-assisted by Doro“, „Ace Of Spades“ and the encore „Overkill“.
King Diamond The great master of Shock Heavy Metal is back! But as while his predecessor during this show it became clear the king hadn’t become younger. And in this context the performance as his high helium voice didn’t seem less ridiculous than before. So parts of the audience left the infield which looked clearer then. The diehard fans didn’t care celebrating „Never Ending Hill“, „The Puppet Master“, „At The Graves“ and „Eye Of The Witch“ as much as the Mercyful Fate songs „Evil“ and „Come To The Sabbath“. After the three encores „Cremation“, „The Family Ghost“ and „Black Horsemen“ the spook was over.
Party Stage
Russkaja It was up to the sevenpiece from Vienna to wake up the crowd in the late morning by their Kasatchok Rock Crossover. Of course the opener „Energia“, „Change“, „Traktor“ and the Avicii cover „Wake Me Up“ are party-orientated, but too me this kind of humor felt a bit too mundane.
Knorkator Much more subtile is the humor of Knorkator which isn’t obvious on the first view on titles or costumes. The populated Party Stage area showed the popularity of Stumpen, Alf Ator, Buzz Dee & Co starting furiously with „Ding Inne Schnauze“, „Du Bist Schuld“ and „Buchstabe“. Besides a cool setlist the band organizes a crowdsurfing wheelchair user, backwards crowdsurfing, Stumpen got shot inside a huge transparent gum ball over the audience and „Arschgesicht“ got sung by Alf Ator’s son. No wonder the well-entertained audience celebrated the new „We Want Mohr“ songs „Zoo“, „L“ and „Konrad“ as classics like „Alter Mann“, „Du Nich“, „Der Ultimative Mann“, „Wir Werden Alle Sterben“ and the finishing Boney M. cover „Ma Baker“.
Hellyeah The band of ex-Pantera-drummer Vinnie Paul had the difficult mission to get the audience in motion while it had become very hot in the meantime. With the identic beginning of their new album „Blood For Blood“ by „Sangre Por Sangre (Blood For Blood)“ and „Demons In The Dirt“ they didn’t really impress too much spectators, but that changed while the show. So „Drink Drank Drunk“, „Cross To Bier (Cradle Of Bones)“, „Band Of Brothers“ and the self-titled finisher „Hellyeah“ got more support.
Santiano I don’t know whose idea it was to bring the Pirate Pop on one of the three big stages, but it is one which should be improved. „Gott Muss Ein Seemann Sein“, „Warten Bis Der Wind Bläst“ and their very own interpretation of „The Irish Rover“ should be played on a retiree cruise, but not on the Party Stage.
Carcass It was their second WOA participation after their reunion in 2008. The Death Grind legend around Jeff Walker, Bill Steer & Co had the opponent position to Motörhead and they nevertheless filled the Party Stage field. Those fans decided for the much more agile show and got rewarded by an amazing performance of a tight band in which the new guitarist and Amott-scuccessor Ben Ash did a good job, and so did the other new member Daniel Wilding on the drums as well. By „Cadaver Pouch Conveyor System“, „The Granulating Dark Satanic Mills“ and „Captive Bolt Pistol“ three songs from the recent album „Surgical Steel“ found their way into the set which got ended by „Heartwork“ causing much headbanging action on as in front of the stage.
Saltatio Mortis The Folk Rock eightpiece had the excercise to hold the people on the infield. But as their neighbour(s) King Diamond they didn’t attract that many visitors. So just a couple of fans waited until the final „Spielmannsschwur“.
Saturday
True Metal Stage
Sodom Despite the fact to appear in the hot temperatured noon the German Thrash Metal icon attracted numerous fans to fill the infield. And after a mostly hard long night the fans were motivated to celebrate an hour of classics consisting of the opener „Agent Orange“, „Outbreak Of Evil“, „The Saw Is The Law“, „Wachturm“, etc.. By „Stigmatized“ one track from the current „Epitome Of Torture“ release got considered. And that was the right decision because the crowd wanted a best of program which got closed by „Blasphemer“, „Remember The Fallen“ and „Ausgebombt“.
Devin Townsend Project What followed was the most bombastic as approached performance of this weekend. Probably the last named issue was the reason the infield was just half-filled. Devin Townsend and his band started with the classics „Seventh Wave“, „War“ and „By Your Command“ followed by the wonderful atmospheric „Deadhead“ and everyone who had stayed had no wishes left. Supported by his funnny self-ironic announcements Devin had all present spectators on his side. And those ones freaked out to newer compositions like „Juular“ and „Grace“ as to the classics „Kingdom“ and „Bad Devil“.
Amon Amarth A few years ago it seemed like the five vikings playing everywhere, but they changed this. So this Wacken show had kind of a rarer aspect in comparison to back then. They began by the first three tracks of their recent output „Deceiver Of The Gods“, „Father Of The Wolf“, its title track and „As Loke Falls“ before the classics „Guardians Of Asgaard“, „Cry Of The Black Birds“, „Asator“ and „Victorious March“ kept thousands in motion by headbanging. This state got increased by the encores „Twilight Of The Thunder God“ and „The Pursuit Of Vikings“.
Avantasia For the fourth time Tobias Sammet’s metal opera appeared which had never been supposed to play anywhere till the first time. With the help of Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Bob Catley (Magnum), Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids), Michael Kiske (Unisonic, Place Vendome, ex-Helloween) and Amanda Somerville (known from several bands) the songs got its right live transformation. To me it became much too cheesy as Sammets foolish comments as well.
Schandmaul Again it was up to the Folk Rock sevenpiece to keep the left crowd in motion for one last time. And this plan worked well: The crowd jumped and sang along to „Teufelsweib“, the new „Unendlich“ tracks „Trafalgar“, „Kaspar“ and „Der Teufel…“ as the the regular set closing „Walpurgisnacht“. The encore part started by the cool political statement „Bunt, Und Nicht Braun“ before „Dein Anblick“ und „Auf Euch“ finished the party.
Black Stage
Arch Enemy It was astonishing to see the Melodic Death Metal faves of many fans opening the daily program even after they had got the promo push by the joining of new female vocalist Alissa White-Gluz. But the plan worked well: The infield had never been that packed so early. And without any compromise the quintet started with „Yesterday Is Dead And Gone“ and the title track from the new album „War Eternal“ to let follow the smashers „Raveonous“ and „My Apocalypse“ while the first fifty rows comitted collective headbanging. After this the third new track „You Will Know My Name“ showed the new line-up composed well at last. The live-performance rocked. Especially Alissa as banging beauty banned most views on herself. So „We Will Rise“ and „Nemesis“ were the optimal end to lead into the last day of this weekend.
Behemoth Behemoth are back! Nergal and his three bandmates began by „Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel“ and „Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer“ with new „The Satanist“ material. The huge crowd directly took part in headbanging. And this interaction increased during the show. Supported by several pyro effects especially „Ov Fire And The Void“, „At The Left Hand Ov God“ and the encore „O Father O Satan O Sun!“ became majestic.
Emperor A very rare as exclusive hour of Black Metal history got offered by the following 60 minutes. Emperor reunited for the 20th anniversary of their cult debut „In The Nightside Eclipse“. Ihsan, Samoth, Trym & Co performed this masterpiece that tight like they had never been away. The numerous fans headbanged from „Into The Infinity Of Thoughts“ till „I Am The Black Wizards“ and „Inno Satana“. The encore part wasn’t less exclusive: With the „Ancient Queen“ and the title track of the even older „Wrath Of The Tyrant“ demo they surprised most of the fans and added with the „A Fine Day To Die“ cover of Bathory which had got published as bonus track on the re-issue of their debut. And although mastermind Ihsan pointed out this was the last live show of Emperor I hope they will do the same with the 20th anniversary of their even greater „Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk“ masterpiece in 2017!
Megadeth Finally the time had come the Thrash Metal legend from California appeared in Wacken. And Dave Mustaine and his strong manned band blew an awsome opening into the infield by „Hangar 18“, „Wake Up Dead“, „In My Darkest Hour“, „Skin O’ My Teeth“ and „Sweating Bullets“. But after this awesome first half an hour the fourpiece couldn’t hold this high level. They considered newer material and the crowd became silent. Just „She-Wolf“ from the latest amazing album „Cryptic Writings“ animated the fans to take part in. The Thin Lizzy cover „Cold Sweat“ broke the ice after which the band hymns „Symphony Of Destruction“ and „Peace Sells“ found loud and active support of thousands of fans. After this the band returned to set by the final encore „Holy Wars … The Punishment Due“ the final point.
Kreator Two masked men stormed the stage with Bengal fires lighten up the ambience before the fourpiece entered the stage to open by „Phantom Antichrist“. And there still were numerous supporters with much energy left to built up several moshpits to „Endless Pain“, „Pleasure To Kill“, „Hordes Of Chaos (A Nercologue For The Elite)“, „Phobia“, „Enemy Of God“ and „Violent Revolution“. With the great final consisting of „Flag Of Hate“ and „Tormentor“ the Essen Thrash attack finished another amazing show. Just the announcements of fronter Mille could have been less pathetic.
Party Stage
Prong The trio from L.A. had the big disadvantage to play against the sound wall of Arch Enemy appearing on the neighbored Black Stage. Besides this circumstance Tommy Victor and his both colleages performed a cool wake-up-gig in the sunny noon. The title song and „Turnover“ from the new album „Ruining Lives“ found warm applause and „Beg To Differ“, „Whose Fist Is This Anyway?“ as „Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck“ took care of the first headbangers and moshpits.
August Burns Red The much younger fivepiece from Pennsylvania just needed a few minutes to get the first circle-pits started. Is this fair in comparison to Prong’s credits? Surely not, but anyhow shouter Jake Luhrs and his colleges deserved it inspiring numerous fans by „Mariannas Trench“, „Empire“ and „Composure“.
Hatebreed Even more thousands of motivated fans awaited the leaders of nowadays US Hardcore. The fivepiece from Connecticut had easy game to suceed. Fronter Jamey Jasta animated the supporters to huge moshpits celebrating „Honor Never Dies“, „I Will Be Heard“, „Born To Bleed“, „Everyone Bleeds Now“, „Destroy Everything“ and „Live For This“.
J.B.O. From now on the name of the Party Stage could had been switched to Comedy Stage. The main color on as in front of the stage turned to pink, and many supporters sang along to the opener „Jetzt Isser Drin“ as to the following „Im Verkehr“, „Ein Fest“ and „I Don’t Like Metal“. By „Vier Finger Für Ein Hallelujah“ even a number from the forthcoming new record „Nur Die Besten Werden Alt“ being released two weeks later found consideration. By „Bolle“, „Ein Guter Tag Zum Sterben“, „Bimber Bumber Dödel Dei“ and „Verteidiger Des Blödsinns“ a jubilated show found its end.
Van Canto Some kind of unintended comedy became the last concert on this stage. What had started eight years ago as a nice exotic idea stuck nowadays on my nerves. The only exclusive moments happened when ex-Nightwish-siren Tarja Turunen entered the stage to support the a-capella-formation, which got just supported by a drummer, while her probably biggest single „Wishmaster“., ex-Angra-voice Andre Matos supported them while Angra’s „Carry On“ and Grave-Digger-fronter Chris Boltendahl supported them while his own band’s classic „Rebellion (The Clans Are Marching)“. The gig got finished by another cover, „Fear Of The Dark“ from Iron Maiden.
Conclusion:
After the 2012-monsoon and last year’s tropical heat this WOA-edition happened under moderate dry climate comditions to our all pleasure. As mentioned the organization worked well. The visitors always got informed over the LED-walls. In general there didn’t happen any mentionable change or short-term cancelation. The only change was the planned re-organisation of the infield. The prices for food and beverages stayed the same as last year (e.g. 3,00 € for a 0,3 l beer or softdrink).
On saturday night the Wacken organizers announced the first bands for 2015:
Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, In Flames, Running Wild, Sabaton, Powerwolf, U.D.O., Amorphis, Death Angel, Ensiferum, Kataklysm, Cannibal Corpse, Ensiferum, Thyrfing and In Extremo! Especially the first named ones were a real sensation which left several mouths open after its announcement on the press conference.
We enjoyed our Wacken 2014! So see you in Wacken 2015 – rain or shine! Special thanks go out to Anna Lorenz and the WOA-team!!!!! At the Wacken Open Air rocked, drank and partied Tobi Wan Kenobi, Lotte, Babyarm and Bock!!!!!