Wacken Open Air
After the two moist and last year’s moderate editions the WOA 2019 should become a dry as hot long weekend. As always the fans reacted relaxed as well-prepared dealing with the weather conditions, and so did the organization. Especially the multiple options to get water helped a lot during these hot tempered days. Regarding the stage section the most obvious aspect was the enlarged Bulhead City Circus tent which got pretty packed while Wendnesday’s headliner Sepultura. To start with the Louder Stage on thursday like on the other two big open air stages was another good decision offering Metal on all stages then.
The 30th Wacken Open Air attracted musically by the metal gods Judas Priest as „Night To Remember“ – headliner, Nightwish, In Flames as rare shows of Danzig, Running Wild and Helloween by their „Pumpkins United“ show. The cancelations of Adler’s Appetite and Sons Of Apollo got by Thundermother and Dark Tranquillity more than well replaced.
At this year’s Wacken Open Air 125 bands appeared on the five regular stages (besides several shows on the Beer Garden Stage, the Wackinger Stage, Wasteland Stage, Metal Church, etc.) in four days for about 75000 visitors (Sold out!).
Wednesday
W:E:T Stage
Sepultura The Thrash Metal icon from Belo Horizonte welcomed a full tent. After opening by „I Am The Enemy“ and „Phantom Self“ from the current „Machine Messiah“ album the crowd got in motion by the following „Kairos“ and „Territory“. And after several tracks from the now 20 years with the agile Derrick Green on vocals the classics „Refuse/Resist“, „Arise“, „Ratamahatta“ and „Roots Bloody Roots“ became the final punch of the show as the first of many following live highlights.
Thursday
Faster Stage
Dokken The quartet from Los Angeles brought with their classic Hardrock the right sound for the heat on the festival area. „Breaking The Chains“, „Maddest Hatter“ and „It’s Not Love“ including snippets of Free’s „All Right Now“ and The Doors’ „The End“ turned out to the right entertainment by band leader Don Dokken and his band.
Dirkschneider After Vince Neil covering songs of its ex-band Mötley Crüe on the neighbored stage it was time to do the same for Udo Dirkschneider with the Accept-classics. And the german tank inspired by undying classics like „Princess Of The Dawn“, „Restless And Wild“ as „Son Of A Bitch“. Assisted by returned guitarist as former Accept-drummer Stefan Kaufmann and thousands of metalheads this show could just turn out to a triumphant one finished by the encores „Metal Heart“, „Fast As A Shark“, „I’m A Rebel“ and „Balls To The Wall“.
Danzig Another prominent personality of the Hard ‘n’ Heavy scene became part of this year’s „Night To Remember“. After „Eyes Ripping Fire“ and „Devil On Hwy9“ from the recent output „Black Laden Crown“ the classics program started by „Twist Of Cain“ to let follow „Am I Demon“ and „On Her Black Wings“ sung by many fans. Obvious became Glenn Danzig took deeper and deeper breaths between the songs. Generally he didn’t seem to be in his best condition, maybe the heat had its influence as well. Nevertheless it was a pleasure to celebrate „How The Gods Kill“, „Dirty Black Summer“ and the regular set closing hit „Mother“ although the vibe didn’t seem to reach all spectators. The encores „She Rides“ and „Snakes Of Christ“ marked the end of the show.
Harder Stage
Skyline The traditional opener of each WOA-open-air-stages-program entertained by another cover setlist from Deep Purple’s „Burn“ over Iron Maiden’s „2 Minutes To Midnight“ to Rammstein’s „Asche“.
Vince Neil The former Mötley Crüe singer had become not just a bit wider, but his vocal performance didn’t seem to have a relation to his visual one. By „Dr. Feelgood“, „Shout At The Devil“ and „Looks That Kill“ he and his backing band from Slaughter (minus the singer of course) didn’t hesitate to play classics after which Vince dedicated the following ballad „Home Sweet Home“ to his just passed mother. The whole set consisted of Mötley Crüe songs except for the Led Zeppelin cover „Whole Lotta Love“ and the little „Heaven And Hell“ interlude within „Kickstart My Heart“. So „Girls, Girls, Girls“ and „Wild Side“ closed an entertaining set.
Belphegor The fourpiece from Gdansk had always been a safe live option, and this time they performed well again, but the sound let miss any guitars. During „Ov Fire And The Void“, „Demigod“ and „Ora Pro Nubis Lucifer“ were just drums and Nergals vocals noticible. Bad luck, especially because they introduced by „God = Dog“ and „Wolves Ov Siberia“ from their forthcoming release. But most fans recognized the performance quality and celebrated „At The Left Hand Ov God“, „Chant For Eschaton 2000“ and „O Father O Satan O Sun!“. Just the moderate corpsepaint didn’t seem to be the right choice while those temperatures.
Judas Priest The NWOBHM legend returned to Wacken, and thousands of fans were ready for their heroes. After beginning by the title track of the new record „Firepower“ their motion raised while „Grinder“, „The Ripper“ and „Turbo Lover“. Vocalist Rob Halford presented his voice in its best condition and hit all notes. So „You’v Got Another Thing Comin“, „Hell Bent For Leather“ and the band hymn „Painkiller“ became a real pleasure. The new guitar duo Richie Faulkner and Andy Sneap convinced by playing tight and reproducing the classic Priest-guitar-sound. And for the encores they got support by original guitarist Glenn Tipton performing „Metal Gods“, „Breaking The Law“ and „Living After Midnight“ together. What a show which shouldn’t have left any fans’ wishes open.
Louder Stage
Tremonti An interesting setlist concept got presented by the trio from Detroit: They performed a best of set of their known tracks to consider „Bringer Of War“, „Throw Them To The Lions“ and the title song of the brandnew album „A Dying Machine“ in the end right before the finisher „Wish You Well“. If old or new, the band convinced by their fresh Melodic Metal.
Oomph! The German Goth Rock band returned to Metal Mekka Wacken and assembled for another time a huge audience in front of their stage. And they came to party to „Gott Ist Ein Popstar“, „Träumst Du“, „Labyrinth“ and of course the final hit „Augen Auf!“.
Hatebreed Once the Hardcore fivepiece from Connecticut was an exotic participant in Wacken, but over the years they’ve got a well-established member of the biggest Metal festival. And the crowd left not doubt about that jumping, shouting and moving to „In Ashes They Shall Reap“, „Destroy Everything“ and „I Will Be Heard“.
Friday
Faster Stage
Thundermother The four ladies from Stockholm replaced the canceling Adler’s Appetite. They started by „Whatever“, „Rip Your Heart Out“ and „Revival“ from their new self-titled release. Their fresh Hardrock was the right sound to wake up the visitors spending their first applauses of the day. So „We Fight For Rock ‘n’ Roll“ was the right final statement of this gig.
Amorphis „Wow, what a strong, clear and ass-kicking sound“ was my first thought when Amorophis started. Vocalist Tomi Joutsen had a little problem to remember the name of their new „Queen Of Time“ masterpiece when he wanted to announce it. Anyway, he sang its considered compisitions „The Bee“, „The Golden Elk“, „Wrong Direction“ and „Daughter Of Hate“ very well. The fans were numerous present although Dark Tranquillity might have attracted a couple of them to the neighbored stage. And so they celebrated „Silver Bride“, „Against Widows“ and „The Castaway“. „House Of Sleep“ marked the end of a tight wonderful show, and the Amorphis-tribute „Vaivastalossa“ of Eläkeläiset followed as the matching outro.
Epica The nowadays leading formation of the so-called Symphonic Metal scene opened, after WOA-organization-advice to take care about each other while these hot temperatures, by „Edge Of The Blade“ and „The Essence Of Sorrow“. Vocalist Simone Simons as the tight band presented themselves in a top-condition and achieved applauses as headbangers for „Cry For The Moon“, „Terra Sancta“ and „Consign To Oblivion“.
Children Of Bodom The billing position of the Finns showed the quality of the line-up: At other festivals they headline, in Wacken they enthused in the early evening. And so they did by a greatest hits setlist containing the opener „Are You Dead Yet?“, „Angels Don’t Kill“, „Needled 24/7“, „Hate Me!“ as „Everytime I Die“. Mainman Alexi Laiho mentioned as many fucks in his announcements as possible. A usual COB show!
Nightwish After Doro on the neighbored stage the time had come for the next female power voice. And the Dutch Floor Jansen (formerly known of After Forever) convinced during the whole set with her variable singing. Supported by pyros and several sequences on the video screen behind them they celebrated a best of set from the opener „End Of All Hope“ over „Wish I Had An Angel“, „Amaranth“, „I Want My Tears Back and the hit „Nemo“ and excited their fans.
In Flames Right after midnight the Gothenburg Melodic Death Metal icon didn’t hesitate and started furious by „My Sweet Shadow“, „Pinball Map“ as „Delight And Angers“. Supported by several pyros and a light show illuminating both huge stages (the Harder and the Faster Stage) „Cloud Connected“, „The Chosen Pessimist“, „The Mirror’s Truth“ and their band anthem „Only For The Weak“ got the right visual support to astonish the thousands of fans freaking out. So the band finished as strong as they had started by „Take This Life“, „Deliver Us“ and „The End“.
Harder Stage
Cannibal Corpse The track-trio „One Will Die“, the title track and „Code Of The Slashers“ from their new output „Red Before Black“ set the early brutality factor from the beginning of this appearance. The US-Grindcore fourpiece and especially their fronter Corpsegrinder inspired their supporters to headbang to „The Wretched Spawn“, „Make Them Suffer“, „Stripped, Raped And Strangled“ and the finisher „Hammer Smashed Face“.
Korpiklaani The Eläkeläiset-outro on the neighbored stage was the right Polka-interlude for the Folk Metal sixpack from Lahti. After opening by „Wooden Pints“ they introduced by „Henkseliopoika“ a new song from the forthcoming output. You can doubt about titles like „Happy Little Boozer“, „Tequila“, „Beer Beer“ or Vodka“ while such heat, but their supporters partied to these ones.
Schandmaul 15 years after the sixpack had played for their very first time in Wacken on the much smaller Party Stage they assembled lots of fans in front of the much huger one. More than huge enough for a sign language interpreter for deaf people supporting the band during the whole set including „Lichtblick“, „Vogelfrei“, „Walpurgisnacht“ and „Dein Anblick“.
Doro The metal queen started impressing by the Warlock classics „I Rule The Ruins“ and „Burning The Witches“. And it shouldn’t become less surprising. Doro welcomed several guests during her show: She interpreted with Andy Scott and Peter Lincoln their Sweet song „Ballroom Blitz“, for the Warlock tracks „East Meets West“ and „Für Immer“ she and her backing band got support by original guitarist Tommy Bolan (who should return later for the soon to be on the following album released „All For Metal“ and the Wacken anthem „We Are The Metalheads“). A special surprise turned out to be the guest-appearance of Johan Hegg of Amon Amarth to perform together „If I Can’t Have You – No One Will“ as to cover Amon Amarth itself by „A Dream That Cannot Be“. After several Doro participations in Wacken this one became a special one which got finished by the Judas Priest cover „Breaking The Law“ for which Doro got support by guitar genius Jeff Waters from Annihilator.
Running Wild Where’s the backdrop? Sorry, a band with their importance should have one, especially while playing on the biggest Metal festival as their home game being pretty close to their home town Hamburg. Anyway, besides newer tracks as by „Stargazer“ an unreleased one Rock ‘n’ Rolf & Co enthused their fans by „Bad To The Bone“, „Uaschitschun“, „Riding The Storm“, „Port Royal“, „Blazon Stone“, „Raging Fire“ as the finishing band hymn „Under Jolly Roger“ and rewarded the headbangers by the encores „Soulless“ and „Stick To Your Guns“.
Ghost The nowadays hottest band in Metal had to play the final night set. For this late hour they attracted a remarkable number of supporters on the open air stage area. Their show began by „Ashes“ and „Rats“ like their new release „Prequelle“ does. To me their mask concept as their soft music felt a bit boring by the time, but numerous spectators celebtrated these 75 minutes until the encore „Monstrance Clock“.
Louder Stage
Amaranthe 11 a.m. is a hard time to perform on a festival, but the Swedes did their job well. Their modern version of Gothic Metal with a male and female voice was the right sound for a fresh start into the day. So „Maximize“, „Amaranthine“ as the encores „Boomerang“, „Drop Dead Cynical“ and „The Nexus“ caused the first applauses on friday.
Dark Tranquillity The Melodic Death Metal institution from Gothenburg replaced the canceling Sons Of Apollo and had the little problem to play on their position against Amorphis on the neighbored stage they probably share a lot of fans with. Anyway, the band performed for another time an awesome set consisting of „Monochromatic Stains“, „Final Resistance“, „Atoma“, „Terminus (Where Death Is Most Alive)“, „The Wonders At Your Feet“ as „ThereIn“. Fronter Mikael Stanne probably ran another couple of miles and did very sympathic statements between the songs.
Mr. Big The Hardrock qartet celebrated its WOA-premier. And they astonished from the beginning letting guitar-weirdo Paul Gilbert and bass-veteran Billy Sheehan play their instruments by cordless electric screwdrivers while opening by „Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy“. Both high-skilled musicians had their solo moments without destroying the band vibe or killing any songs in the setlist. Singer Eric Martin showed his voice in best condition and pointed out on drummer Pat Torpey who had passed this february. „Alive And Kickin’“, „Green-Tinted Sixties Mind“, the Cat Stevens cover „Wild World“ and of course the ballad-hit „To Be With You“ guaranteed a great show and jubilating fans.
2 Cellos The Croatian duo had been unknown to me before they entered the stage to perform several Rock and Metal classics by their cellos. From Avicii over The Prodigy, Michael Jackson, U2, Nirvana, Iron Maiden up to four AC/DC compositions showed their variety. So Guns ‘n’ Roses „Welcome To The Jungle“ finished this classic versions of those evergreens.
Clawfinger After their Wacken premier last year the Swedes returned to celebrate the anniversary of their killer debut „Deaf Dumb Blind“. This offered the opportunity to experience besides „Nigger“, „The Truth“ and „Rosegrove“ the rare live diamonds „I Need You“, the nowadays still current „Warfare“ as „Sad To See You Sorrow“. After this classic set the Crossover party continued by „Nothing Going On“, „Recipe For Hate“, „The Best“ and „Do What I Say“. Fronter Zak Tell and his band were in constant motion (especially helicopter jump bass-banger Andre Skaug), and so did the audience.
Otto & Die Friesenjungs The North German comedian Otto Waalkes attracted a filled area in front of the stage like nobody had expected, especially deep in the night. The seventy-year-old local hero covered with his backing band songs of Foreigner, Billy Joel and AC/DC in his lyrical interpretations besides own tracks and was the right act for the night party.
Saturday
Faster Stage
Betontod While the hot noon the German Punk Rock institution did the wake-up-call for the last day of this year’s WOA. „Kinder Des Zorns“, „Viva Punk!“ and „Hömmasammawommanomma“ brought the (punk)rocking sound back on the festival area.
Alestorm The Folk Metal fivepiece from the UK continued the party-relevant program. They combined newer „No Grave But The Sea“ material („Alestorm“, „Mexico“, the title track, „Bar Und Imbiss“, the final „Fucked With An Anchor“) with older ones („the opener „Keelhauled“, „The Sunk’n Norwegian“, „Hangover“, „Captain Morgan’s Revenge“, „Shipwrecked“) and motivated all to take part in when they turned „Rumpelkombo“ into „The Drunken Sailor“. Not my personal sound, but a good mood generator for the crowd.
Gojira The Tech Death quartet from Bayonne set complete different standards that day so far. These high-skilled musicians with their unique sound fascinated the whole festivals area. Even more than that: „The Heaviest Matter Of The Universe“, „Stranded“, „Flying Whales“, „Backbone“ and „L’enfant Sauvage“ caused countless headbangers, crowdsurfers and a couple of moshits. The encores „Silvera“ and „Vacuity“ set the end of this best show of the whole weekend.
Arch Enemy You know what you get at an Arch Enemy show, it’s a constant with all advantages as disadvantages. It was a good effect Aliza White-Gluz showed female performance power right after Steel Panther. Assisted by the great riffs and a tight rhythm section „Ravenous“, „War Eternal“, „My Apocalypse“ and „You Will Know My Name“ caused lots of headbangers celebrating the Melodic Death Swedes with their Canadien voice. After „We Will Rise“ the quintet returned with the encores „Avalanche“, „Snow Bound“ and „Nemesis“.
Dimmu Borgir 21 years ago I watched the Norwegians for the first time in Wacken under very hot conditions. This time it was about as hot, but the Black Metal institution had the night slot which worked much better, also relating the make-up as stage clothes. Besides that it created the right atmosphere for their bombastic Black Metal show starting with the two new „Eonian“ songs „The Unveiling“ and „Interdimensional Summit“. Unfortunately the sound didn’t work too well while this show which could count with „The Serpentine Offering“, „Puritania“, the live debut of „Archaic Correspondence“, „Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse“ and the final band hymn „Mourning Palace“ got celebrated by numerous heabangers.
Harder Stage
Wintersun After many years the fivepiece from Helsinki returned to Wacken and their paganized Melodic Death Metal still attracted enough fans. Those ones celebrated the opener „Awaken From The Dark Slumber (Spring)“ and „The Forest That Weeps (Summer) from the recent „The Forest Seasons“ output as the older „Battle Against Time“ or „Sons Of Winter And Stars“.
Skindred Time for another kind of party: Not that Folk/Pagan thing, „the party of life“ as fronter Benji announced. Their Crossover animated numerous supporters to jump and to follow Benji’s interaction advices. After „The Imperial March“ intro and the title track of the current „Big Tings“ they played a best of and surprised with a „Back In Black“ interlude within „Pressure“. So they did with „Out Of Space“ during „Kill The Power“. After the Black Sabbath cover „War Pigs“ the Welsh quintet bid farewell by „Warning“.
Steel Panther In times of #metoo the following 90 minutes felt not just a bit like an anachronism to the modern, enlightened times. Anyway: Nobody was forced to do anything. When the band invited for „17 Girls In A Row“ as much more or less clothed women minimum on stage while several other ones showed their breasts in the crowd I thought for another time about the question if those ones thought about the following weeks getting confronted with the video takes being made while this. So they danced and celebrated the appearance as all fans with clothes did. After The Kinks cover „You Really Got Me“ they finished by their hits „Death To All But Metal“ and „Party All Day (Fuck All Night)“.
Helloween Pumpkins United Finally: The „Pumpkins United“ headliner show which brought the nowadays Helloween line-up together with famous ex-members like the singers Kai Hansen or Michael Kiske had been long awaited. And they astonished starting with their classics „Halloween“ and „Dr. Stein“. Between the songs great cartoons with the pumpkins as protagonists took care about the entertainment factor. Letting the current drummer Dani Loebles play with the virtual overplayed passed ex-drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg a drum solo/duo was the most emotional moment for most of the fans. Also emotional in a different way was the Kai Hansen – sung medley consisting of „Starlight“, „Ride The Sky“ and „Judas“. The numerous fans sang along and celebrated these unique 150 minutes which got fulfilled by the encores „Eagle Fly Free“ and „Keeper Of The Seven Keys“. And because this still wasn’t the end the musicians returned with a second encore section containing „Future World“ as „I Want Out“.
In Extremo For another time Folk Metal finished the open air program. After Subway To Sally last year it was up to In Extremo again celebrating the last party of this year’s edition. And so they did by „Störtebeker“, „Herr Mannelig“, „Spielmannsfluch“, „Liam“ and the last title „Pikse Palve“ motivating the left crowd for one final dance.
Louder Stage
Riot V Nostalgy reigned for the following hour. The US-quartet performed the first half of their show classics from „Thundersteel“ celebrating its 30th anniversary. Several mainly older fans with tears in their eyes could be seen. By „Victory“ and „Angel’s Thunder, Devil’s Reign“ they also recognized songs from their new album „Armor Of Light“. In the end Swords And Tequila“ as „Warrior“ earned the most jubilation as interaction.
Knorkator The Comedy Metal band from Berlin filled up the area in front of the third biggest stage. Just after the opener „Alter Mann“ vocalist Stumpen invited the photographers from the pit onto the stage to do some slapstick with them. Three songs later he introduced their bus driver Jule dedicated the following „Du Bist Schuld“ to her. Just a few crazy ideas besides that one as animating the spectators to count up and throw the crowdsurfers and songs like „Buchstabe“, „Böse“, „Zähneputzen, Pullern Und Ab Ins Bett“, „Wir Werden Alle Sterben“ and the encore „Eigentum“ they fulfilled another funny hour.
Die Apokalyptischen Reiter „Wir Sind Zurück“ from their current output „Der Rote Reiter“ was the right beginning. As always the fivepiece attracted numerous fans to their show celebrating together „Es Wird Schlimmer“, „Reitermania“, „Friede Sei Mit Dir“ as the encores „The Great Experience Of Ecstasy“ and „Wir Reiten“. Especially the rubber boat race over the fans’ heads was entertaining. Rafting 2.0!
Ensiferum The Finns began by „For Those About To Fight For Metal“ and the title track of their current release „Two Paths“. Their fans were ready for the Pagan Party and supported „Heathen Horde“, „Token Of Time“, „From Afar“, „Lai Lai Hei“ and „Iron“. But where was their female accordeonist left?
Eskimo Callboy To just sum up how the Emocore formation had evolved you just needed to watch the crowd celebrating them right after midnight for the following 75 minutes singing along with and getting in motion to „The Scene“, „Crystals“ and „MC Thunder“ .
Conclusion:
The weather conditions were good, sometimes maybe too good, but organizers as visitors surely prefer these conditions instead of the strong rain and mud two as three years ago. So the organization ran well. Within more than hundred bands we just noticed the two mentioned cancelations which got replaced more than well. The prices for food and beverages stayed about the same like a 0,4 l can beer or softdrink still costed 4,- €. The pay system was held flexible to let the visitors choose between cash or a card system with loading stations.
On saturday night the Wacken organizers announced the first bands for 2019: Airbourne, Avatar, Dark Funeral, Demons & Wizards, Krokus, Meshuggah, Parkway Drive, Powerwolf, Rose Tattoo, Sabaton & Within Temptation! More announcements about confirmed bands will follow soon. We enjoyed our Wacken 2018! So see you in Wacken 2019 – 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, Mr Welldone, Ben and Jutzen!!!!!