Wacken 2016 Review

Wacken Open Air
After two editions in a row with rain and mud as still lots of Rock and Metal this year it seemed like the visitors from all over the world could handle with moderate conditions. So we arrived on a dry wednesday, but strong rain should cause a soft floor turning into mud by the fan masses although the organizers invested much into a new drainage. But this turned out as too much water as too many people in too less time. By time it became dryer, and so did the floor on saturday becoming a harder ground.
The fans reacted cool as always and celebrated this very well-organized „Metal-Mekka“ which could offer for another time a strong billing lead by Megadeth, Alice Cooper, Volbeat, Amon Amarth, Marilyn Manson and Kreator. Furthermore the 2018-edition included special shows like Accept with an orchestra, Emperor performing their „Anthems To The Welkin’ At Dusk“ classic due to its 20th anniversary in its entirety, so did the Cavalera-brothers to the also 20th anniversary of the Sepultura-classic „Roots“, Apocalyptica interpreted Metallica-classics as the WOA-debuts of Psychotic Waltz, Katatonia and the Classic Rock icon Status Quo. The biggest change were the three big Open Air Stages on the main infield which got renamed by the Wacken slogan into Faster Stage, Harder Stage and Louder Stage. Besides the new drainage and the renamed stages the third remarkable novelty was the built beer pipeline which spared the organization lots of trucks driving to the main transport stations on the area, especially while the the wetter days on the moist floor.
At this year’s Wacken Open Air 122 bands appeared on the five regular stages (besides several shows on the Beer Garden Stage, the Wackinger Stage, Metal Church, etc.) in four days for about 75000 visitors (Sold out!).

Wednesday
W:E:T Stage
Ugly Kid Joe After their WOA-debut in 2015 the fivepiece from South California returned as one of the main wednesday acts. The Hardrock sensation of the early 90ies still knew how to rock. Lead by the agile Withfield Crane the filled tent celebrated „Non One Survives“, „Milkman’s Son“, as „Goddamn Devil“ and especially sang along with their hits „Cats In The Cradle“ as „Everything About You“. And so they did during the Motörhead cover „Ace Of Spades“.

Headbangers Stage
Annihilator Canada’s finest returned to set the tent on fire. The quartet around mastermind Jeff Waters started with the newer „Suicide Society“ before giving the fans their Thrash Metal best of by „King Of The Kill“, „Set The World On Fire“, and the mighty classic „Alison Hell“ which of course earned the loudest jubilations. After „Phantasmagoria“ the band left to return with the encore „Human Insecticide“ finishing a tight as inspiring show.

Thursday
Faster Stage
Skyline Traditionally the cover formation from Wacken started the open air program with cover interpretations of Metal classics. And so they did by the surprising „Bombtrack“ from Rage Against The Machine, as by Iron Maiden’s „The Trooper“ and Savatage’s „Gutter Ballet. In the end Doro entered the stage to perform the WOA anthem „We Are The Metalheads“ together to add Warlock’s „All We Are“.
Europe The Swedish Hardrock institution opened with the first two songs from the current „War Of Kings“ – album by the title track and „Hole In My Pocket“ to let follow by „Rock The Night“ the first classic sang by lots of supporters. After this Joey Tempest, John Norum & Co performed very professional through their discography, but the majority of the audience waited for the hits. And finally „Superstitous“ and the undying „The Final Countdown“ marked the much celebrated end of this show.
Accept & Orchestra The WOA presented for another time a very special as rare show for „The Night To Remember“ on thursday: In the sunset the German Heavy Metal legend collaborated with the Czech National Symphonic Orchestra from Prague for the very first time live. First of all the band started alone presenting by the opener „Die By The Sword“ and „Koolaid“ two live premieres from the „Rise Of Chaos“ – album to be released the following day and also performed by „Restless And Wild“ the first classic. In The middle section guitarist Wolf Hoffmann interpreted with the orchestra Classic opuses of Mussorgsky, Chopin, Prokofiev, von Beethoven, Vivaldi and Mozart as he had done on his solo output „A Headbanger’s Symphony“. After this the most awaited part followed when the band performed with the orchestra their Metal evergreens „Princess Of The Dawn“, „Breaker“, „Fast As A Shark“, „Metal Heart“ as the final „Balls To The Wall“. The interaction between band and orchestra worked well, so the fans celebrated a tight as unique concert.

Harder Stage
Ross The Boss The former Manowar sixstringer played with a few sidekicks a complete Manowar classics appearance. From „Blood Of The Kings“ over „Kill With Power“ up to „Hail And Kill“ this turned out to a solid played gig, but somehow a boring one as well. The ridiculous celebration of an award probably nobody ever had heard of in the end of the show without any explanation turned out unnecessary.
Status Quo Nobody had ever expected to watch the Classic Rock icon from Great Britain in Wacken someday. So especially the older fans felt like a dream had come true. And those partied during the opener „Caroline“, the Bolland & Bolland cover „In The Army Now“, „Whatever You Want“ and the John Fogerty – cover „Rockin’ All Over The World sang along with thousands of supporters. The new guitarist Richie Malone replacing the charismatic Rick Parfitt acted tight. So mainman Francis Rossi and his younger bandmates could declare their trip to Wacken as a successful one.
Volbeat After two hours of Metal and Classic on the neighbored stage the „Night To Remember“ was about to end with Rock ‘n’ Roll. A couple of Accept supporters had left, but still thousands cried out when the bell rang for the Danish fourpiece beginning with „The Devil’s Bleeding Crown“. The first highlight happened when „Ring Of Fire“ of Johnny Cash warmed up for the hit „Sad Man’s Tongue“ getting sung by thousands of voices. Later front entertainer Michael Poulsen dedicated „Goodbye Forever“ to the passed Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, Audioslave) and Chester Bennington (Linkin Park). Assisted by Napalm Death’s Barney Greenway who had just appeared an hour before with his band on the Headbanger Stage in the tent the regular set got closed before the Danish musicians returned with the encores „Fallen“ and „Still Counting“ marking the end of a great night.

Friday
Faster Stage
Memoriam The wake-up-call in the forenoon at 11:00 a.m. turned out to a brutal one. A couple of fans were in front of the stage on time to watch this new Birmingham-collaboration of ex-members from Bolt Thrower and Benediction. Their set of course consisted of their new debut „For The Fallen“, and its smashers as Karl Willet’s charismatic voice caused the first headbangers for the day.
Sanctuary Against wind as rain Seattle’s finest had to play against, so the opener „The Year The Sun Died“ couldn’t have been chosen better. But a few thousand fans continued supporting Warrel Dane and his comrades who performed a well-balanced set between recent songs like „Question Existence Fading“ as „Soldiers Of Steel“ and Die For My Sins“ from the new album „Inception“ as jubilated classics like „Taste Revenge“ and „Future Tense“.
Sonata Arctica After the cancelation of Morbid Angel they got replaced by Sonata Arctica who promoted on the running order from the Headbangers Stage in the tent on the big open air stage. Their Melodic Metal seemed to touch the mood of the audience by their catchy songs as „Full Moon“, „Tallulah“, „Black Sheep“ and „Don’t Say A Word“ after which the musicians left the stage while some Vodka-song-outro.
Trivium This fourpiece showed for another time they are a live machine. Their Modern Metal as the animating fronter Matt Heafy kept that many visitors in motion as it had seemed impossible due to the muddy floor conditions. So the audience sang and jumped to „Strife“, „Down From The Sky“, „Built To Fall“ as „Kirisute Gomen“. By „The Sin And The Sentence“ the quartet presented a new song from the forthcoming album. After „Like Light To The Flies“ they left the stage to return and let the audience jump for another time to the stirring encore „In Waves“.
Emperor Three years after celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut „In The Nightside Eclipse“ the time had come for the same anniversary of the mighty „Anthems To The Welkin’ At Dusk“ which got performed in its entirety as well. So this rare appearance began with „Ye Entrancemperium“ as „“Thus Spake The Nightspirit“, and the old magic was directly back. These Black Metal hymns hadn’t lost anything of its power. So the crowd completely supported this pyro-assisted show resulting into „Emperor“-chants while Ihsan, Samoth, Trym and their two sidekicks performed tight. After the album set there was still time for further classics in the encore section, and so „Curse You All Men!“, „I Am The Black Wizards“ and „Inno A Satana“ marked the end of an overwhelming as historic show.
Marilyn Manson The WOA-debut of the „Antichrist Superstar“ was supposed to become another rare highlight, but Mr. Manson must had got his beer intravenous from the pipeline plus a few other drugs. After three intros, smoke and more smoke the audience got smaller. And those who had stayed shouldn’t become happier when the indisposed wannabe-star completely sucked on stage. Laying down on the floor and letting some woman read announcements turned out completely ridiculous. It could have become a good show: Besides presenting by the opener „Revelation #12“ and „We Know Where You Fucking Live“ new tracks from the forthcoming record the setlist contained by „This Is The New Shit“, „The Dope Show“, the Eurythmics-cover „Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)“ and „The Beautiful People“ hits, but Mr. Manson decided for the complete opposite.

Harder Stage
Lacuna Coil The whole stage set as especially costumes of the six Italians looked like a spooky mental hospital being focussed on the concept of the recent album „Delirium“. So they set a main accent on songs of this release as well by the opener „Ultima Ratio“, „Blood, Tears, Dust“, „My Demons“, „Ghost In The Mist“ and the final „House Of Shame“. Lead by the front duo consisting ot the male voice Andrea and the beautiful as powerful singing Cristina the fans spent much applause and especially celebrated „Spellbound“, the hit „Heaven’s A Lie“, „Trip The Darkness“, the Depeche Mode cover „Enjoy The Silence“ as „Our Truth“.
Grave Digger The first friday act who appeared under moderate as especially dry weather conditions was the German Heavy Metal institution around fronter Chris Boltendahl. Surrounded by an atmospheric stage set with several coffins as reaper sculptures they began by the title track of the new output „Healed By Metal“ after which they let follow a best of set containing „Knights Of The Cross“, „The Ballad Of Mary (Queen Of Scots)“, „Excalibur“, „“Rebellion (The Clans Are Marching)“ and the classic „Heavy Metal Breakdown“ accompanied by several singalongs as much headbanging.
Saltatio Mortis I have no idea why this overrated Folk combo got this slot in Wacken while many other much more talented bands filled the tent appearing on the W.E.T. Stage or the Headbangers Stage. Anyway, they had their sale rates, and so many visitors supported them from „Früher War Alles Besser“ to „Spiel Mit Dem Feuer“, and their fronter enjoyed crowdsurfing over them.
Apocalyptica Celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut „Plays Metallica by Four Cellos“ the four instrumentalists played a set exclusively consisting of songs from this album as further Metallica-interpretations by their four cellos. Assisted by a drummer the four Finns started with „Enter Sandman“ and „Master Of Puppets“. The audience applauded and interacted as choir adding the vocals of „Sad But True“, „Creeping Death“, „For Whom The Bell Tolls“ and „Battery“. So the mighty „One“ set the end of this remarkable show.
Megadeth Dave Mustaine and his band appeared for the second time in Wacken after their premier three years ago. By the opening classic-triple consisting of „Hangar 18“, „Wake Up Dead“ and „In My Darkest Hour“ the quartet astonished and ruled from the start. Besides their classics they considered by „The Threat Is Real“, „Lying In State“, „Poisonous Shadows“, „Fatal Illusion“ and its title song five tracks from their current album „Dystopia“ they seemed very convinced about. All of them earned applause, but besides the great „Trust“ the mentioned opening triple and the final one consisting of „Symphony Of Destruction“, „Mechanix“ and „Peace Sells“ of course earned the most support, and so did the encore „Holy Wars… The Punishment Due“. Dave’s voice was in a goot mood, the band performed tight and the fans got satisfied. Wonderful!
Asp After the ridiculous Manson-show the Gothic fraction of the Wacken-visitors could stay to watch the German Gothic Rock formation. Many of them did, experiencing their opener „Schwarzes Blut“, „Bernsteinmeerengel“ and the well-known „Ich Will Brennen“.

Louder Stage
Kadavar The German Stoner Rock trio started the day on the third biggest stage by „Come Back Life“. The first couple of fans enjoyed the groovy wake-up-call by „Doomsday Machine“, „Black Sun“ and „Thousand Miles Away“ before the Beatles cover „Helter Skelter“ marked the end of the show.
Clawfinger For the first time the Crossover icon appeared in Wacken. Their latest release is seven years old, but the six Swedes still attracted many fans in front of the stage. Fronter Zak Tell wore a jacket full of TV test patterns, joked about appearing on this oldies festival and showed he hadn’t anything lost of his agility. And slipping on as falling from a wet monitor box couldn’t stop him. After „The Price We Pay“ and „Recipe For Hate“ the band enthused by their classics „Rosegrove“, „Biggest & The Best“, their hit „Nigger“ and „The Truth“. In front of their backdrop pointing out on „Rap Metal Since 1993“ the whole crowd sang along with the final „Do What I Say“.
The Amity Affliction By the well-fitting „I Bring The Weather With Me“ the formation from Brisbane started into their first WOA-appearance after the weather had become dry. Instead of keeping the masses in motion by blastbeats their melancholic, melodic as heavy sound took care about a cool atmosphere. „Shine On“, „Pittsburgh“ and the finisher „This Could Be Heartbreak“ convinced completely. Hope they’ll come back soon from down under.
Paradise Lost The Gothic/Doom Metal icon from Great Britain performed a well-balanced best-of-set with songs from all of their eras and took care of several nostalgic moments by „Pity The Sadness“, „Gothic“, „True Belief“ and „Enchantment“. Nick Holmes entertained by his British humor („Make smoke, Mr Smokeman!“) joking about the party-credibility of the Doom-track „The Longest Winter“ which was one of two played new songs besides „Blood & Chaos“ from the forthcoming album. „The Last Time“ finished an amazing show.
Architects Probably just the hardest fans could have known how overwhelming these following 75 minutes became. From „Nihilist“ and „Deathwish“ on the British quintet kept the crowd in motion. The fans celebrated „These Colours Don’t Run“, „Doomsday“, „Phantom Fear“ and „Gravity“ with many crowdsurfers, a huge moshpit and several walls of death. Vocalist Sam Carter honored the passed guitarist Tom Searle and the band lead follow „Gone With The Wind“. Awesome!
Turbonegro The Rock ‘n’ Roll commando from Oslo had to enthuse the audience for one last time in this night, but somehow their appearance turned out pretty uninspiring. The Queen tribute medley of „Bohemian Rhapsody“ and „We Will Rock You“, the House Of Pain cover „Jump Around“ as their own hits „Get It On“ and „Are You Ready (For Some Darkness)“ got more than enough potential to start a party, but the Norwegians didn’t.

Saturday
Faster Stage
Possessed The Death Metal icon from San Francisco had to open the last day of this year’s WOA-edition. So they did showing a best-of-program considering their three releases from the mid-eighties. The couple of fans were happy to experience „Burning In Hell“, „Confessions“, „Fallen Angel“ and „The Exorcist“ during this rare performance.
Max & Igor Cavalera With their „Return To Roots“ tour the Cavalera-brothers celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Sepultura-classic „Roots“. And the opener „Roots, Bloody Roots“, „Attitude“, the tribal-hit „Ratamahatta“ as „Itsári“ still have the power to move the masses, and so the brothers and their sidekicks did. After they had finished the „Roots“-material they also inspired by the „Beneath The Remains“/„Desperate Cry“/„Orgasmatron“-medley as by the covers „Iron Man“ of Black Sabbath and „Ace Of Spades“ of Motörhead. And the first title was supposed to be performed as the last one again by „Roots, Bloody Roots“.
Powerwolf Meanwhile the fivepiece belongs to the favorites of the Wacken-fans. And I’m sure this year no other band achieved that much singalong support than this one by „Coleus Sanctus“, „Amen & Attack“, „Ressurrection By Errection“, „Werewolves Of Armenia“ and „All We Need Is Blood“. Vocalist Attila Dorn showed by his ironic comments for another time his entertainer qualities, so „We Drink Your Blood“ marked the end of a jubilated show.
Amon Amarth The worldwide leading Viking Metal formation could call that many hits their own it was no difficulty to put „The Pursuit Of Vikings“ to the beginning of the set. So the fans started with their faves furious. Many headbangers saluted to „Cry Of The Black Birds“, „Deceiver Of The Gods“ and „Death In Fire“. Another highlight happened when Metal queen Doro Pesch entered the stage to perform with Johan Hegg, who might have the double size of her, „A Dream That Cannot Be“ as on record. Further special guests were the Iomsviking action group and the huge Asgard-snake who god striked dead by Hegg with Thor’s hammer. The visual elements convinced as well by the enormous viking helmet as drumriser and several pyro effects. So „Guardians Of Asgard“ and the encore „Twilight Of The Thunder God“ finished an impressive gig.
Kreator The German Thrash Metal icon was the last big band in this year’s Wacken-billing. And from the beginning by „Hordes Of Chaos (A Necrologue For The Elite)“ and „Phobia“ the fourpiece from Essen left no doubt another highlight was offered to experience. „Satan Is Real“, the title track, „Fallen Brother“ (including visualized passed musicians), „World War Now“ and „Hail To The Hordes“ from the new release „Gods Of Violence“ earned its jubilation which raised when Mille & Co performed the classics „People Of The Lie“, „Phantom Antichrist“ and „Enemy Of God“. „Violent Revolution“ and „Pleasure To Kill“ meant the end of another amazing show of this Thrash Metal machine.

Harder Stage
Beyond The Black After her former bandmates had quit the band to reunite their former one Cypecore, vocalist Jennifer Haben got a new backing band. Lead by her voice the opener „Lost In Forever“, the Motörhead cover „Love Me Forever“, „In The Shadows“, „When Angels Fall“ entertained well and took care the applauding audience had a good time.
Heaven Shall Burn For the sixth time Germany’s leading Metalcore formation participated on the WOA. No wonder that such an intense band populated the infield. They welcomed the masses by the „Wanderer“-double „The Loss Of Fury“ and „Bring The War Home“ resulting in the first mosphits and headbangers. Shouter Marcus Bischoff coquetted with the especially in Wacken banned circle-pits and walls of death. But the organizers were right, the intensity of this show reached a maximum level anyway. „Voice Of The Voiceless“, „Forlorn Skies“, „Corium“, „Combat“ and „Hunters Will Be Hunted“ earned much support by their restless fans. After „Endzeit“ the quintet left the stage to return with the overwhelming encores „Godiva“ and the Edge Of Sanity – cover „Black Tears“. What a show!
Alice Cooper For the third time and in the astonishing age of 69 years Alice Cooper returned with his band presenting a nostalgic show filled with numerous special effects and gimmicks. So he got beheaded under the guilotine for another time. Musically he got the support by the brilliant guitarist Nita Strauss performing „No Mr. Nice Guy“, „Poison“, „Feed My Frankenstein“ and „I’m Eighteen“ very tight. And so they did during „School’s Out“, in which they integrated the chorus of Pink Floyd’s „Another Brick In The Wall“. They bid farewell by the Motörhead-cover „Ace Of Spades“ well sung by bassist Chuck Garric. Hope to see Alice Cooper in Wacken again after his 70th birthday.
Avantasia The follwing two hours belonged to Tobias Sammet’s project Avantasia with many special guests known from the albums to transfer the Rock opera live on stage. They startet with „Mystery Of A Blood Red Rose“ which also had been a candidate for the German qualification for the Eurovision Song Contest. After this Magnum’s Bob Catley, Mr. Big’s Eric Martin, Queensryche’s Geoff Tate as Herbert Langhans, Jorn Lande and Amanda Somerville joined the vocalist slot. During this several visitors left the infield. Those ones who had stayed saw all named artists coming back on stage to perform „Sign Of The Cross“/„The Seven Angels“ to the set closing end.
Subway To Sally The sevenpiece from Potsdam can be called one of the most familiar WOA-bands. I watched them on my very first Wacken-visit in 1997. Since then they have appeared there for many times, and since a decade they have had the last open air position in the billing every second year. So their fans for sure were used to not leaving Wacken too early. And for another time they shouldn’t regret that celebrating „Henkersbraut“, „Kleid Aus Rosen“, „Falscher Heiland“ as „Maria“. The Folk Rock animated to dance, sing along and headbang. So „Sieben“ and „Veitstanz“ marked an euphoric end of this years WOA-program.

Louder Stage
Rage The sun shined and the floor got harder. Best conditions for the opener „Don’t Fear The Winter“ which couldn’t have been chosen better. Peavy Wagner and the refreshed line-up of his trio got the right combination of melody and heavyness to get the woken up metalheads in motion. Besides the brandnew „Season Of Black“ from the similar titled „Seasons Of Black“ album which had got released just the week before the band motivated headbangers to take part in „End Of All Days“, „From The Cradle To The Grave“, „Straight To Hell“ and „Black In Mind“. In the final „Higher In The Sky“ they integrated Dio’s „Holy Diver“ into the extended chorus. Well done!
Russkaja The Russian-Austrian collaboration presented with their mixture between different music styles a contrast to the Metal-all-day-program. And the audience respected as thanked for that by supporting the sevenpiece from Vienna which showed courage playing by the opener „Hello Japan“, „Hey Road“, „Alive“ and „Volle Kraft Voraus“ four new tracks from the new release „Kosmopoliturbo“. The Avici-cover „Wake Me Up“ astonished as well. After the other encore „Gop-Stop“ their 75 minutes felt over pretty fast.
Hämatom With their make-up the four Bavarians looked a bit like Slipknot while their sound reminded of Rammstein. But the fan base had erased enormously in the latest years, as it was easy to see by the numerous supporters in front of the stage celebrating „Auge Um Auge“, „Made In Germany“ and the Marteria-cover „Kids (2 Finger An Den Kopf)“.
Katatonia Who didn’t experience these 75 minutes did a big mistake. Because of Amon Amarth appeared on the neighbored stage it wasn’t that crowded nearby. Singer Jonas Renkse thanked for those ones deciding for the quintet and emphasized twice this was the WOA-debut of Katatonia. And this got celebrated a lot by „Criminals“, „Teargas“, „Evidence“, „Ghost Of The Sun“, „Forsaker“, „Leaders“ as „My Twin“ more than worthy. The fans noticed watching a very remarkable show with each second to enjoy which got finished by the newer „Lethean“ and „July“. Outstanding!
J.B.O. Who searched in these final hours of this WOA-edition for something less serious instead of the parallel performing Kreator was right at this Comedy Metal formation which had performed in Wacken for several times. The fourpiece entertained by their funny announcements as by „Geh Mer Halt Zu Slayer“, the new „Panzer Dance“, „Ein Fest“, „I Am Sailing“, „Wir Ham Ne Party“, „Bolle“ as „Im Verkehr“.

Conclusion:
In comparison to the two years before the rain as mud conditions weren’t as extreme as it had been before although they weren’t perfect. But this is a circumstance impossible to influence. Influenceable is the billing as the organization, and this excercise got solved by the WOA for another time brilliantly.
The only mentionable change in the program was the canceling Morbid Angel, their position got replaced by Sonata Arctica promoting from their Bullhead City Tent slot. The beverage cans increased to 0,4l, and logically so did the prices from 3,50 € to 4 €. The return to the bigger cans definitely was the right decision. After testing this in 2016 in the VIP exclusively the WOA offered to pay by a Wacken card after loading it with money at a couple of stations and getting the rest of the money back whenever you want which turned out totally uncomplicated. But each visitor decided for how he/she wanted to pay.
On saturday night the Wacken organizers announced the first bands for 2018: Nightwish, Running Wild, Arch Enemy, Dirkschneider, Doro, In Extremo, Sepultura, Amorphis, Epica, Watain, Knorkator, Belphegor, Firewind, Deserted Fear and Bannkreis! More announcements about confirmed bands will follow soon. We enjoyed our Wacken 2017! So see you in Wacken 2018 – 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, Jutzen and Alex!!!!!