Wacken 1999
2 days – 5 stages – over 90 bands …and just 2 eyes and ears to se and watch! 😉 So here you´ll find just my impressions – I have not seen all bands – so maybe you´re missing one or more…
Thursday / Warming up party with Tankwart (the fun project of Tankard) and Skyclad at the history tent stage:
As usual Wacken starts with the warming up party on thursday. After a band/press against fans football match the first band on stage was Tankwart. The small tent the bands played in was full of people and they got a great party – but i don´t like Tankwart! Skyclad is one of my favorite bands – and the show was fantastic. Martin and his guys (and the one girl) are a fantastic live band and i guess everybody who´s seen the show will agree!!!
Friday:
Wow – today i have to take a look at 5 stages! No problem!!!
Lets´s start with the True metal stage:
U.D.O.: Udo Dirkschneider (former Accept singer) and his band were the first band for me at the true metal stage. Udo with the “strange voice” and his band played some Accept songs (“Fast as a shark”, “Balls to the walls”) as well as highlights from the UDO cd´s and the well performed Judas priest cover “Metal gods”.
Hammerfall: After UDO Hammerfall entered the True metal stage. They presented their standard show – really good songs but no changes in comparison with their last few gigs!
Rage: Then the first Rage gig with their new line-up. Peavy (bass) , Mike Terrana (drums) and Victor Smolski (guitar) played for the most part old stuff – but they also presented songs from their upcoming cd “Ghosts” (“Back in time”). At the beginning the guys were a little bit nervous – but in the end they got a good gig!
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Saxon:“Hey you fucking heavy metal maniacs, fuck dynamo -THIS is the place where heavy metal is being played” – with this announcement Biff started the show. And the show was a fantastic metal show – everybody was really excited about the show – except of me – i don´t like Saxon!
Black metal stage:
Mayhem: Help, help – Mayhem is coming up – I was so afraid of them!!! Hehehehehe – the show was ridiculous, the sound absurd and terrible – but all the “evil” fans celebrate the band! They all must be blind and dumb! Nothing more to say about!
Mercyful fate: The king is coming to show bands like Mayhem how to make a great show! Hopefully Mayhem watched the show – they can learn sooo much fom the king!!! FANTASTIC GIG !!!
Party stage:
Powergod: Powergod got their first gig at all at the Wacken! Riff Randall (Andy Brings – former sodom guitarist), Hama Hart und Leo L. Sing (so their pseudonyms) played stereotyped power-poser-metal. But it was ok – a good start of the day at the party stage.
Saturday:
True Metal stage:
D:A:D: The substitute for Dee Snider (he got problems with the copyrights of the name “Twisted sister” and was not allowed to play!!! 🙁 ) from Denmark brought a very good show to Wacken – but they´re no headliners for a metal festival…
Therion: “Theli” is one of my favorite albums and I really like all the CD´s of Therion – but i was very disappointed about this gig… No power and too much orchestra stuff (from the DAT tape) made this show very boring!!!
Black stage:
Tristania: Tristania is a fantastic band – but they were definetely displaced on this stage at noon while sun shining on them. This is not the right atmosphere for gothic metal… but their show was ok and they will go their way…
In flames: In flames are also fantastic – their melodic death metal became very popular in germany within the last years and so the reactions of the audience were enthusiastic. They played all their hits ( like Episode 666 – my fave) – great gig – can´t await to hear their new stuff.
The Gathering: I really like the voice of Anneke – and of course she´s very cute. But I don´t like the new songs of The gathering – in my opinion the songs are boring and too experimental. But songs like “Strange machines” from the Mandylon album are great!!!
Party stage:
Threshold: Im not very familiar with the music of Threshold – ok – I don´t know any of their songs. But I really liked their show at the Wacken open air. Good/great prog metal and a fantastic singer who can stand on one hand while holding the microphone with the other hand and while he´s singing !!! Can´t believe it ….
Dark tranquillity: Wow – Great – Fantastic – Can´t believe it !!! Dark tranquillity are awesome!!! Their Projector album live – GREAT. I´ve never expected such a great and fantastic show. Anders ( singer of In flames ) was standing next to me during the show and I think he also couldn´t believe this great show…. Maybe he learned something from DT … 😉
Axxis: Wow – Axxis took me back about seven years in time – back when I was 16 !!! At this age Axxis was one of my favorite bands. They played a great gig – all the people singing their hits – GREAT !!!
Nevermore: Nevermore always offers “value for money” – always great show and perfect performance…
Wet stage:
Lefay: I think Lefay (former Morgana Lefay) were one of the highlights of the festival – Charles Rytkönen and his guys look very professional on stage and their songs are really fantastic. So check out their new cd !!!
Solitude aeturnus: The last band of this year´s Wacken I´ve seen was Solitude aeturnus. They were worthy conclusion of the festival – with their doom metal performance they drove the audience into other spheres – can´t believe it (maybe the beer contributes a bit to my “spherica” mood!!! 😉 )
My final conclusion of Wacken 1999:
Wacken is Heavy Metal Heaven – Great bands, fantastic atmosphere and still the best metal festival in Germany / maybe in the world!!!
So every metal fand has to visit Wacken 2000 !!!!
Thanx to Mirko and CMM and the whole Wacken Open Air !!