Wacken Open Air
After two years of pandemic-related silence the biggest Metal festival returned to the holy ground of the mighty Wacken Open Air.
And it returned with several attractions: Judas Priest celebrated their „50 Heavy Metal Years“, Slipknot and Powerwolf replacing Lindemann were the other big stage headliners of a high-ranked billing.
The organizers changed several aspects of the festival area. The Louder Stage switched to the former place of the huge Beergarden. There the program started with a special called Wacken Wednesday headlined by Tobias Sammet’s Avantasia. The W.E.T. Stage and the Headbanger Stage were still neighbors, but without any roof, after the former Bullhead City Tent got removed.
The sunny weather guaranteed the right summer atmosphere for this WOA return. The organizsation took care about enough water supply. The live production worked for another time very well. So the party we all had been waiting for could begin.
Even Germany’s most popular detective series by far, „Tatort“, filmed a couple of scenes for an episode at this year’s WOA, I witnessed one of them on the festival ground while live-action.
At this year’s Wacken Open Air more than 200 acts appeared on the eight regular stages besides three occasionally played stages in four days for 83400 visitors (Sold out!).
Wednesday
Louder Stage
Varang Nord The winners of the WOA Metal Battle 2019 and accordingly title holder over three years opened the big stage program. The Pagan Folk of the Latvians was the right sound to start the party by „Ale Warrior“ as „Beer And Vodka“.
Brothers Of Metal The Swedish Power Metal eightpiece including three singers opened by „The Death Of The God Of Light“. Suited as warriors they animated the crowd to participate which worked pretty well during „Yggdrasil“, „The Mead Song“ and the final „Defenders Of Valhalla“.
Gloryhammer Due to a canceled flight and a pure traffic chaos on their alternative route the Power Metal formation from the UK nearly arrived an hour too late. So they shortened their set to „Hootsforce“, „Universe On Fire“, „Angus McFife“ and „The Unicorn Invasion Of Dundee“. This massively reduced gig showed what could have been with many supporters celebrating. Hopefully they get the chance for another slot in Wacken next year again.
Epica The Dutch Symphonic Metal icon got welcomed by thousands of spectators when they opened by „Abyss Of Time – Countdown To Singularity“. The voice of Simone Simons matched with the grunts of the guitarist in collaboration with the instrumental fraction, so the audience celebrated „Cry For The Moon“, „The Obsessive Devotion“ as the final „Consign To Oblivion“. Another highlight was keyboarder Coen Janssen with his portable curvy instrument. Never seen anything like that!
Tobias Sammet’s Avantasia And the program of this wednesday evening stayed symphonic. Once started as a project of Edguy singer Tobias Sammet it had developped over ten albums to this WOA headliner show. He kept his promise he had announced in the beginning not to talk too much. The music spoke for itself. For this he got support by several special guests as Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids), Bob Catley (Magnum), Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Jorn Lande (Ark, Masterplan, etc.), Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear) as Adrienne Cowan (Seven Spires, Masters Of Ceremony) who alternately entered the stage to share the vocals with him for different titles. The two hours got concluded by „Lost in Space“ and the twin pack „Sign Of The Cross / The Seven Angels“ for which all special guests returned on stage to perform together resulting in much jubilation.
Thursday
Faster Stage
Cirith Ungol Founded right 50 years ago the Tolkien-fans made it to the huge stage in Wacken. It looked a bit like this stage was too huge for the Californians and another slot could have been more suitable for the fivepiece. Anyway, band as their supporters celebrated this appearance from the opener „Legions Arise“ to „Paradise Lost“.
Dirkschneider The German Tank and his band came to Wacken to play a pure Accept show with the most popular classics like „Breaker“, „Princess Of The Dawn“ as a medley consisting of „Restless And Wild“ and „Son Of A Bitch“ causing loud jubilation. This even raised during their show final with „Metal Heart“, „Fast As A Shark“ and „Balls To The Wall“. What a nostalgic trip!
Judas Priest It was time for the 50th anniversary of the NWOBHM-legend. Black Sabbaths „War Pigs“ as „Battle Hymn“ introduced the „Priest“ shouting fans into 105 minutes jubileum show. „You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’“, „Turbo Lover“, „Hell Patrol“, „Touch Of Evil“ and „Victim Of Changes“ enthused the fans singing out loud together with the metal god Rob Halford whose voice obviously was in good shape. Supported by an impressing light show this appearance fulfilled the high expectations of their fan army. Their hymn „Painkiller“ closed the regular set after which the band returned to perform the encores „Electric Eye“, „Hell Bent For Leather“, „Breaking The Law“ and „Living After Midnight“ causing loud jubilation again. So Queen’s „We Are The Champions“ as outro was well-deserved this evening.
Harder Stage
Skyline The ex-band of WOA-organizer Thomas Jensen traditionally opened the program on the biggest stages on thursday. Cover versions as „2 Minutes To Midnight“ (Iron Maiden), „You Shook Me All Night Long“ (AC/DC), „What I’ve Done“ (Linkin Park) „Detroit Rock City (Kiss) or „Wheels Of Steel“ (Saxon) took care about a good mood in the audience. Before their own composition „ This Is W.O.A.“ a scene got filmed for a series about Wacken history.
Grave Digger When the curtain fell, the audience saw a huge company of percussionists and pipers supporting the German Metal institution to its 40th anniversary which they had to celebrate two years later due to the pandemic break. This presentation gave „The Clansman’s Journey“ as „The Heart Of Scotland“ a bigger effect. Besides that „The Dark Of The Sun“, „Excalibur“, „Knights Of The Cross“ as „Rebellion (The Clans Are Marching)“ got the loudest support. The fans headbanged, sang along and celebrated this very special show getting finished by the classic „Heavy Metal Breakdown“.
Mercyful Fate Another cult-act awaited the metalheads as co-headliner of this year’s „A Night To Remember“. Supported by Amored Saint / Fates Warning bassist Joey Vera, a bombastic production as stage set and several costumes „The Oath“ opened into a 90 hours lasting classic set. Lead by King Diamond’s voice and Hank Shermann’s riffs „A Dangerous Meeting“, „Doomed By The Living Dead“, „Melissa“ as „Evil“ became pure pleasure for the jubilating fans. After „Come To The Sabbath“ the band left the stage to conclude their appearance by the encore „Satan’s Fall“.
Louder / Faster Stage Centre
Amon Amarth The changeover between King Diamond and Judas Priest seemed pretty long on the running order. It was supposed to get filled by „Guardians Of Asgard“. As many of you had guessed before nobody less was supposed to fill this surprise act alias as the leading Viking Metal band Amon Amarth. So „Guardians Of Asgard“ started on a small high stage between the biggest two WOA-stages this surprise act show. By the live debut of its title track and „Get In The Ring“ Johan Hegg & Co presented two new songs of their new output „The Great Heathen Army“ to be released the following day. The numerous fans celebrated „Pursuit Of Vikings“ and „Twilight Of The Thunder God“ marking the end of a succesful surprise act.
Louder Stage
GWAR While Judas Priest celebrated their huge headliner show there happened another live attraction in the neighborhood. Dressed in their monstrous costumes the intergalactic gang celebrated an incomparable show with lots of splatter as synthetic blood in different colors. Over 75 minutes President Biden, a Trump-redneck, some older lady, an 80ies Glam-Poser with keyboard, Xi Jinping, Putin and the Queen got butchered while Thrash-Punk-songs as the opener „Let Us Slay“, „Meat Sandwich“, Saddam A-Go-Go and the final AC/DC cover „If You Want Blood (You Got It) entertained acoustically. It was my first GWAR gig without the unforgettable Oderus Urungus, but it worked with Blothar as excellent.
Friday
Faster Stage
Blind Channel The setlist of the Finnish Metalcore shooting stars mainly based on their brandnew album „Lifestyles Of The Sick & Dangerous“. Lead by two agile fronters the band brought much action on stage. They got the loudest reactions for the Anastacia-cover „Left Outside Alone“ and the encore „Dark Side“ known from their appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest final 2021.
Kadavar The Stoner Rock trio from Berlin brought some Hippie-flair on stage. By their catchy sound as their agile performance Lupus, Dragón and Tiger caught the attraction of the present audience applauding to „Come Back Life“, „Black Sun“ and „All Our Thoughts“.
Clutch A formation coming from the city of Germantown (Maryland) seemed to predestined to play at Germany’s biggest Metal festival. But the fourpiece deserved the slot musically as well. They especially rocked by a cool cover version of Black Sabbath’s „Lord Of This World“. Besides that they presented by „Red Alert (Boss Metal Zone“) and „We Strife For Excellence“ two new songs from their forthcoming release.
Hypocrisy After At The Gates the next Melodic Death Metal icon from Sweden followed. The still filled festival area jubilated loudly when Peter Tägtgren and his bandmates entered the stage, but the sound didn’t seem to be the best friend of the quartet. Although the drums were much too loud the fans celebrated „Fire In The Sky“, „Eraser“ as the classic final consisting of „Fractured Millennium“ and „Roswell 47“.
In Extremo The Folk Metal sixpack from Berlin returned for another time to Wacken to entertain the huge jumping and partying crowd by „Vollmond“, „Liam“, „Sternhagelvoll“ as „Spielmannsfluch“ with loud singalongs by thousands of voices. The absolute atmospheric highlight of this gig became when during their closure „Pikse Palve“ this year’s WOA-fireworks started across as besides the stage.
The Halo Effect The collaboration of former as acitve members of the Melodic Death Metal icons In Flames and Dark Tranquillity played their first show in Germany as their fourth in general. Jesper Strömblad couldn’t appear with them, so he got replaced by Patrik Jensen (The Haunted, Witchery) for this show. Powered by the agile fronter Mikael Stanne the band performed a strong show containing all songs of their debut album even one week before its release. Stanne thanked the enthused fans for several times and pointed out on this output that will surely be heard by many of them in the following months.
Harder Stage
Kissin’ Dynamite The fivepiece from Southwest Germany entertained by their Hardrock while it started to rain. Band as their supporters didn’t seem to care and celebrated by „Only The Dead“ as the title track from their new output „Not The End Of The Road“.
Lacuna Coil With make-up and in black-white-colored costumes the quintet from Milano returned to Wacken opening with „Blood, Sweat, Tears“. Lead by the shouts of Andrea Ferro and the beautiful voice of Cristina Scabbia the meanwhile filled festival area celebrated „Trip The Darkness“, „Heaven’s A Lie“, „Our Truth“ as „Nothing Stands In Our Way“.
At The Gates Under a blue sky and a shining sun ideal outdoor conditions were set for the Melodic Death Metal founders from Gothenburg performing their cult masterpiece „Slaughter Of The Soul“ in its entirety from „Blinded By Fear“ to „The Flames Of The End“ after which they added „The Night Eternal“. Animated by fronter Tompa Lindberg lots of fans celebrated this epic show by headbanging as moshpits.
Behemoth In contrast to Hypocrisy on the neighbored stage right before Poland’s finest played under best sound conditions from the opener „Pro Ora Nobis Lucifer“ on. After an inspiring announcement about solidarity with the Ukraine and against the war Nergal, who had appeared with „Me And That Man“ a few hours before on a smaller stage, and his comrades played by „Off To War!“ besides „Ov My Herculean Exile“ two new songs from their forthcoming album. Furthermore „Ov Fire And The Void“, „Chant For Eschaton 2000“ and the final „O Father O Satan O Sun!“ got celebrated by lots of headbangers.
Slipknot After the Wacken-fireworks the Nu Metal eightpiece from Iowa started their WOA-debut by „Disasterpiece“. And from the first tones on band and crowd acted as a union singing and jumping together. Supported by a great sound as a huge stage set over several floors the following hit „Wait And Bleed“ raised the decibel level enormously. By „The Dying Song (Time To Sing) the band presented one new song from the forthcoming album. After „Spit It Out“ fronter Corey Taylor and his acoustic gang returned to fulfill this successful show by the encores „People = Shit“ and „Surfacing“.
Feuerschwanz The Bavarian Folk Metal combo invited for one last main stage party for this friday night. Many spectators had left the festival area, but there still were enough supporters to take part in. Atomospheric hightlights became the cover versions „Dragostea Din Tei“ (O-Zone) and „Warriors Of The World United“ (Manowar).
Louder Stage
Venom The third biggest stage got headlined by noone less than the Black Metal icon from Newcastle this evening. An no joke, they opened by their hymn „Black Metal“. Lead by mainman Cronos the trio let follow a best of set containing „Bloodlust“, „Countess Bathory“, „Warhead“ and „Witching Hour“ while lots of maniacs headbanged. Just said, that the band didn’t use the last ten minutes of their play time.
Saturday
Faster Stage
Neaera The live festival return after their self-titled comeback-album had to wait after its release in 2020, but the pandemic had other plans. Even more motivated the Deathcore fivepiece from Münster started with „Spearheading The Spawn“. During the following „Torchbearer“ shouter Benny Hilleke crowdsurfed, for a couple of seconds head over heels. After this he stood on the shoulders of a fan inside a circle-pit. With this commitment the band won the audience moving to „Ours Is The Storm“, „Armamentarium“ until the final „Let The Tempest Come“.
Life Of Agony Opening by the debut pearls „Respect“, „My Eyes“ and „River Runs Red“ was the right decision winning the audience from the beginning. Mina Caputo got the main focus while Veronica Bellino impressed by her tight drumming. but the riff section set the musical ground for their Hardcore-classics. Adding the backing vocals made „Method Of Groove“ to another special moment. So „This Time“, „Through And Through“ and „Underground“ marked the end of a stirring show.
As I Lay Dying It had been a long way before San Diego’s Metalcore icon returned to stage. After becoming one of the most successful bands of the genre in the first decade after the millennium the second one got a fatal one. Shouter Tim Lambesis spent three years in prison after he had tried to order a killer against his wife and his bandmates had dissociated from him. In 2019 the band reunited, but in this year Nick Hipa, Josh Gilbert and Jordan Mancuso left the band. So there were many questions about the status of the band. Together with original guitarist Phil Sgrosso the new sixstringer Ken Susi, coming as drummer Nick Pierce from Unearth, the band still got strong riff power, but the backing vocals of bassist Ryan Neff (Miss May I) weren’t an appropriate replacement for Gilberts voice. From „Blinded“ over „Within Destruction“, „The Sound Of Truth“, „Through The Darkest Nights“, „Parallels“ to „94 Hours“ they performed a strong setlist, but I missed the spirit. Besides that they had to deal with technical problems. Lambesis thanked for this second chance for several times, and they finished by „Nothing Left“ and „Confined“.
Arch Enemy The Melodic Death Metal institution showed from the beginning „The World Is Yours“ they’re a high-levelled live constant. Although one week before the release of „Deceivers“ they introduced by „Deceiver, Deceiver“, „In The Eye Of The Storm“, „House Of Mirrors“ and „The Watcher“ four new songs of their new album which worked very well. Even louder jubilated got „Ravenous“, „War Eternal“, „My Apocalyse“, „As The Pages Burn“ and „Nemesis“. No wonder with such a fronter as Alissa White-Gluz and such high-skilled instrumentalists.
Lordi The second Finnish participant on a Eurovision Song Contest finalist was supposed to perform after Blind Channel did so the day before. But this time it was a winner (2006), and so there were still numerous supporters left to watch the Monster-masked Hard Rockers. Their 75 minutes entertained well ending with the classics „Hard Rock Hallelujah“ and „Would You Love A Monsterman?“
Harder Stage
Bleed From Within The last day of the WOA-comeback began by the Metalcore-fivepiece from Glasgow on the big stage area. Considering with the opener „I Am Damnation“, „Stand Down“ and „Levitate“ from their brandnew album „Shrine“ those ones as older tracks motivated the crowd for the first circle-pits on saturday.
Orden Ogan What a nice gimmick for me: The Melodic Power Metal formation’s appearance started with the „Sauerland“-anthem (Zoff) where band as me come from. After this they played by the opener „F.E.V.E.R.“, „Gunman“ and „The Things We Believe In“ a couple of bangers which filled the festival ground pretty quick.
Tarja When the Finnish opera queen entered the stage the crowd jubilated loudly. She’s one of Wacken metalheads’ darlings, so much was clear for another time, when she and her band opened by „Dead Promises“. Although her opera voice isn’t my favorite one, I need to say she hit every tone. Highlight became her cover version of Gary Moore’s „Over The Hills And Far Away“.
Hämatom The corpsepainted Bavarians performed their Rock in German language probably in front of the hugest crowd of their career. The numerous supporters participated by loud singalongs. Highlights became the introduction of the new track „Es Regnet Bier“ from the forthcoming output, live corporation with the two Rappers of 257ers performing their „Ficken Unsren Kopf“ as the cover versions „Kids (2 Finger An Den Kopf)“ of Marteria and „Bleib In Der Schule“ of Trailerpark.
Powerwolf The wolves reached the headliner position on the biggest Metal festival after Lindemann got canceled right before. And they took their chance, supported by a great light show and lots of pyros „Army Of The Night“, „Amen & Attack“ as „Armata Strigoi“ became pure experience. Animated by vocalist Attila Dorn the audience mobilized all their reserves to give all by their necks as lungs on this last night of WOA 2023. This triumphant show resulted in the amazing final consisting of „Werewolves Of Armena“, „Resurrection By Errection“, „Blood For Blood (Faloadh)“, „Sanctified By Dynamite“ and „We Drink Your Blood“. Wacken-Headliner mission accomplished!
Louder Stage
New Model Army After 2015 the Independent quartet returned to Wacken and just started by the classic „I Love The World“ after which bandleader Justin Sullivan held a little speech about the Ukrainian courage and against imperialisam. Lots of supporters watched a tight appearance of a still kicking legend that got supported by a voilinist for a few songs. The band convinced by a sympathic as well-played performance of „Here Comes The „War“, „Purity“, „No Rest“ and the classic „Vagabonds“ as finisher. Like in 2015 they didn’t play „51st State“. Anyway, these 90 minutes were magic.
Conclusion:
What a comeback!
The weather worked well, there were no short-term cancelations and 83400 visitors came together to celebrate numerous amazing shows peacefully.
The prices for food and beverages raised as they currently do everywhere. 5,- € for a beer or softdrink isn’t more expensive than on any other big festival. By the way, the new chip system worked very well making those things much more uncomplicating as safer.
Saturday night the Wacken organizers announced the first for WOA 2023 inside a monstrous show. Masters Of Ceremony around Adrienne Cowan and Sascha Paeth appeared on the high stage (Look at the suprise act of thursday) between the two biggest stages on which horror figures fought a battle against vikings who of course won. The confirmed bands are: Megadeth, Nervosa, Pentagram (50th anniversary show), Two Steps From Hell, Dropkick Murphys, Beartooth, Burning Witches, Jinjer, Deicide („Legion“ show), Ensiferum, Wardruna and Iron Maiden. The last announced legend caused loud jubilation. More confirmations about published bands will follow soon.
We enjoyed our Wacken 2022! So see you in Wacken 2023 – rain or shine which will be the 25th WOA-visiti for the writer of these lines! Special thanks go out the WOA-team & ICS Marketing GmbH! At the Wacken Open Air rocked, drank and partied Tobi Wan Kenobi and Mr. Welldone!