Wacken 2002
2 days – 4 stages – over 80 bands …and just 4 eyes and ears to see and watch! 😉 So here you´ll find our impressions – We haven’t seen all bands – so maybe you´re missing one or more…
Thursday / A night to remember:
Doro „Wacken – Rain Or Shine”: Thursday evening there was enough rain to cover the whole festival area into a mud ground, but not enough to stop the Doro fan community. About 15000 spectators watched the gig of the metal queen and evergreens like „Burning The Witches”, „All We Are” and the ballad „Für Immer”. As long as one of my friends was searching in the mud for the lost key of his car, in which he had planned to sleep, me and my other friends were entertained well – from both actors, huhu!
Rose Tattoo Without guitar original Pete Wells who stayed in Down Under because of cancer Angry (Lotte would say: Friendly) Anderson and his „kangaroos” including Well’s substitute Greg Jordan didn’t reach the same euphoria like Doro, but they were a worthy „A Night To Remember” – headliner. They introduced six new songs and reached the best reactions with their hit „Nice Boys Don’t Play Rock ‘n’ Roll”.
Friday
True Metal Stage
Angra The first time I had the opportunity to watch the brasilian melodics without their charismatic ex-singer André Matos and instead of him with the new guy at the micro Eduardo Falaschi. With their only original members left the both guitarists Kiko Loureiro and Rafael Bittencourt the group convinced with mainly songs from the new album „Rebirth“ and the classics „Angel’s Cry“, „Carry On“ and „Nothing To Say“.
Pretty Maids The Melodic Metal legend from Danmark around singer Ronnie Atkins and guitarist Ken Hammer fascinated with a good combination of songs from the earlier days like „Future World“ and „Back To Back“ and newer tracks like „Destination Paradise“ and finished their set with the title track from their debut album „Red, Hot and Heavy“. It was an enthusiastic gig, but the keyboard sound could have been a little bit more lower.
Savatage The headliner from „Wacken 1998“ performed another time like a, no like the headliner of the festival. After a, compared to Savatage conditions, disappointing album and a poor tour in january it was a little surprise the legend from Tampa found back to old strength with such intense. With their new singer Damon Jiniya and supported by „Annihilator“-guitarist Jeff Waters this gig became phenomenal by old classics („Sirens“, „Power of The Night“, „Gutter Ballet“) songs form the Zakk Stevens-era („Edge Of Thorns“, „A Hanful Of Rain“, „Chance“) and tracks from the new album „Poets And Men“ („Commissar“, „Morphine Child“). Highlight of this gig and the whole festival was the Criss Oliva – remembrance hymn sung by his brother Jon and thousands of fans. The definite best gig of „Wacken 2002“!
Bruce Dickinson The „Iron Maiden“-frontman opened his appearance with “Silver Wings“ and „Back From The Edge“. He killed the masses with own hits („Road To Hell“, „The Tower“, „Darkside Of Aquarius“, „Tears Of The Dragon“, „Laughing In The Hiding Bush“, „Tattoed Millionaire“) as with Maiden-classics („Revelations“, „Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter“, „The Prisoner“, „Powerslave“). Bruce finished his set with the „Tom Jones“-song „Delilah“. Compliment to my swedish friend Mikael, who was able to sing every verse, every word and even every syllable in the right term!
Warlord The legend around its founding members Bill Tsamis and Fates Warning-drummer Mark Zonder played their first gig ever which became a big disappointment because of the guest musicians recruited by Hammerfall-singer Joacim Cans and by Black Jester- and Sigma-members. They posed too much and turned their appearance into a ridiculous one. Hymns like „Lost And Lonely Days“ and „Child Of The Damned“ couldn’t change my miserable impression of this gig.
Black Stage
Dying Fetus The US-Death-Grinder around their frontman and bandleader John Gallagher grunted Wacken down with old school Death Metal like Melli enjoys it. With a tight set they kept the crowd banging their heads with old („Kill Your Mother, Rape Your Dog”, „Grotesque Impalement”) and new („Schematics”).
Borknagar My first chance to watch the norwegians with their new, but well-known from his own self-titled band, singer Vintersorg, who is the only logic successor to ex-fronter Simen (Dimmu Borgir). There is no problem to him to interpret old songs („The Eye Of Oden“, „Oceans Rise“, „Ruins of The Future“, „Colossus“) and to add songs from the current album „Empiricism“ („The Genuine Pulse“, „Gods Of My World“). The band around Oystein G. Brun did their best, but they had the big disadvantage of a miserable sound.
Children Of Bodom After three albums it’s not a matter of course being that popular like the Bodom sea band. The crowd was loud before, while and after tracks like „Deadnight Warrior”, „Warheart”, „Lake Bodom” and „Everytime I Die”.
In Extremo Germans biggest middle ages band besides „Subway To Sally” astonished with their combination of Metal sound, medieval instruments and a pyro-fire show. „Ai vis lo lop”, „Villeman og magnhild”, „Herr Mannelig”, „Spielmannsfluch”, „Vollmond”: All medieval songs with a special festival flair followed by a choir of thousands deep in the night.
Party Stage
Megaherz The „Neue Deutsche Härte”-Band (comparable to „Rammstein”) opened their set with „Heute schon gelebt”, „Beiß mich” and „Glas und Tränen”. They offered a contrast programm to most other bands of the Wacken 2002 billing. The Comedy Highlight of the festival happened after „I.M. Rumpelstilzchen” when singer Alexx proclaimed: „You all seem to be ‘prosperity kids’. Become artists, you won’t get any food at all.” With his statement he pointed out on a guy who looked like a humanimal version of the little ‘Michelin man’, while about ten securities tried to heave him out of the crowd.
Dragonlord Black Metal from the Bay Area while sunshine: In Wacken there is still place for exotic combinations. The sideproject of Testament’s sixstringer Eric Peterson, who croaked the hell out of him, presented songs of their debut „Rapture“ in a very competent way, but didn’t earn that big resonances.
Pungent Stench The austrian Death Metal-attack appeared in an s/m-outfit and they were simply fast and loud. Their fans reacted with a hay-moshpit.
My Dying Bride What a grandiose gig done by a band that had been criticised so often because of their missing live intensity in the past. But nevermind about this. The british Dark Metal phenomenon started with „My Hope, The Destroyer“ from the current „The Dreadful Hours“-album. Drifted ashore by a very euphoric audience singer Aaron, who had become a much more extroverted fronter than before, and his band changed between melancholy and aggression by songs like „Black Heart Romance“, „She Is The Dark“, „The Cry Of Mankind“ and „Turn Loose The Swans“. Dark Metal in the dark night at its best!
Red Aim Party Rock ‘n’ Roll on the Party Stage: A combination that worked in front of a smaller audience because of the late time. The group from Southern Germany, who wore a crazy red outfit, created a metal-polonaise in the spectatorship. Another cool creation done by the band was the Iron Maiden-cover „The Trooper“ played with an organ. But the highlight of the gig happened when singer Dr. Rogers oppened his shirt and presented his not too small belly. So one very drunk friend of mine, who emphasized every three minutes he had fallen in love with some girl, and me had much fun.
W.E.T.-Stage
Withering Surface They are red, they are white, they are Danish Dynamite! The Melodic Death Metal band presented material from their new album „Walkin’ On Phantom Ice“. By songs like „Breed What You Kill“ and „Suite 304“ frontman Michael H. Andersson showed his variable voice between aggressive and melodic parts. The mixture of great songs and an active as sympathic stageacting convinced the crowd.
Saturday
True Metal Stage
Vicious Rumors The Power Metal-pioneers from the Bay Area around guitar-genius Geoff Thorpe and his new guitar-duel-sidekick „Mr Very-Longhair“ Ira Black were the first highlight on Saturday. Supported by clear sound they recorded a live album. The fivepiece celebrated their hits („Soldiers Of The Night“, „Digital Dictator“, „Don’t Wait For Me“, „Abandoned“, „March Or Die“, „You Only Live Twice“) and confirmed my impression form the january-tour with Savatage and Blaze: Singer Brian O’ Connor deserves to carry on the spirit of Carl Albert which still lives in every song.
Nuclear Assault Thrashback in Wacken: The New Yorker around shouter John Connelly and the tall fourstringer Danny Lilker started with „Live, Suffer,Die“ and „Sin“ into their reunion-set. John was in a good mood and entertained with humor („Leave your arms down – it stinks“) while his voice still sounds like in the late eighties. Me and my friends organised a big antisocial moshpit, but not everybody around us was amused. The fourpiece finished with „My America“ and „Hang The Pope“. Not too bad!
Blind Guardian Krefeld’s finest began with „Welcome To Dying“ and „Nightfall“. In comparison to their tour the Fantasy Metaler had little changes in their setlist with surprises (the both classics „Lord Of The Rings“ and „ Majesty“). Another highlights were „… And Then There Was Silence“ and a short version of the „Bard’s Song“. In two hours Hansi Kürsch & Co. fascinated the extremely crowded festival area supported by a bombastic sound and an impressing big backline.
U.D.O. Our „Metal-Uncle“ Udo Dirkschneider in Wacken is still an event, it doesn’t matter at which time. 1997 he performed in the afternoon, 1999 in the evening and finally this year in the deep night. Udo and his backing band still fascinate with a good combination between solo-tracks („Holy“, „Animal House“, „Independence Day“) and Accept-classics („Metal Heart“, „Restless And Wild“, „Princess Of The Dawn“, „Balls To The Wall“, I’m A Rebel“). Udo is cult!
Black Stage
Amon Amarth What a surprise the swedish Death Metal band were able to play in front of such a big mass in the early noon. Supported by a clear sound they introduced with „I’m On Fire” a new song and finished their set with the hymn „Victorious March”.
Immortal Without an intro one of the biggest norwegian Black Metal bands played a tight set, but they had no luck with their sound. Abbath and his corpsepainted bandmates fascinated a big crowd with “Damned In Black”, “One By One” and “Silent Storms In The North Abyss”, while the sun shined very hot, maybee too hot for a few stracciatella faces from the panda bear planet.
Hypocrisy „Hypocrisy Destroys Wacken”: But not with that quiet sound. Anyway Peter Tägtgren is pro enough to cover up those problems. Hits like „Roswell 47″ or the encore „Fractured Millennium” were celebrated by their fans.
Cannibal Corpse The Death Metal-institution from Florida started with „Savage Butchery”, „Devoured By Vermin” and „Compelled By Lacerate”. Suitable to the bloodred sky they performed songs like „Pit Of Zombies”, „Fucked With A Knife”, „I Will Kill You” and „Perverse Suffering”. But in spite of a good sound the gig had no special feeling and became boring. Their fans demanded old forbidden classics, especially „Hammer Smashed Face”, but fronter George „Corpsegrinder” Fisher pointed out they are not allowed to.
Kreator 45 very short minutes of german Thrash Metal at its best! Mille and his comrades performed hammers like „Violent Revolution“, „All Of The Same Blood“, „Servant In Heaven – King In Hell“, „Phobia“ and „Extreme Aggressions“ while the heaven was still covered bloodred. Essen’s finest appeared in Wacken for the first time after the canceled one in 1998 and they blew the audience away.
Onkel Tom It is always a great pleasure to end the „Wacken chapter“ with the „Onkel“ and his setlist consisting of mainly drink song covers and a few own drink songs, especially because the writer of this review was one of those fans who performed with Tom on stage. So it was on me, myself and I to sing some passages into the micro, run around on the stage (It must have been cilometres altogether!) and pose the fuck out of me to evergeens like „Es Gibt Kein Bier Auf Hawai“, „Der Teufel Hat Den Schnaps Gemacht“ and the „Medley“. Great!!!
Party Stage
Evergrey As one of the two Prog Metal Bands besides „Vanden Plas“ the music of bandfounder Tom S. Englund seemed kind of exotic in the billing. Nevertheless the Swedes acted very aggressive on stage and presented their new masterpiece „In Search Of Truth“ by songs like „The Encounter“ and the hit „The Masterplan“.
Shakra Nice Hardrock from Suisse (comparable to earlier Gotthard) in the sunshine with suitable songs like „The Sun Will Shine“ spreaded good mood in the small spectatorship. The band introduced their new singer Mark Fox to the crowd and celebrated their Goodtime-Rock ‘n’ Roll with them.
Falconer What a good decision to play live on a few festivals. So this was a rare chance to me and many other fans watch the Swedes with their very own Power Metal-style. It was obvious they just played their third gig together, so the band (especially singer Matthias Blad) have to overwork their stageacting. Musically their was no doubt.
Sinergy But there definitely is about this band from Finland. We awaited to watch „Vanden Plas“, but instead of great Prog Metal we were forced to experience True Metal at its worst. Their female fronter sounded much more horrible then her most embarassing male colleges and looked like the newest „Save The Wale”-„Greenpeace”-campaign.I have to add that her apperance reached the same sympathy at me as her look did. She came on stage and shouted „The Bitch Is Back” („But who wants to pay for?”) and played the so called song. Before „Spite On My Grave” the singer demanded the crowd to spit in front of them and some of the security guys accepted wet shirts astonishing relaxed. My friend and me tried to escape to the other end of the festival area, but there we still heard that cruel music. Shit!
Vanden Plas The Prog Metal-band from Southern Germany presented their new album „Beyond Daylight” („Free The Fire”, „Healing Tree”) combined with older tracks („I Can See”, „Rainmaker”). A great appearance by a very talented band was celebrated by enthusiastic fans.
Unleashed Stockholm’s Death Metal-legend is back. „Never Ending Hate”, „Hell’s Unleashed” and „Death Metal Victory” was sung by Johnny and thousands of fans, but to me their appearance was kind of simple and boring. Nevertheless the fans shouted out for more a long time after the gig was over.
Sabbat Another postponement in the timetable because the japanese Thrash Metal-band played a few hours later than it had been planned. The singing bassist Gezol had a funny outfit: He wore black leather short pants and nothing more. So we had to laugh about that and the pose-acting, but that was it.
Green Carnation The sevenpiece from Kristiansand presented their complete one-track-album „Light Of Day, Day Of Darkness” with a few variations of the different parts. Singer Kjetil Nordhus had problems with his voice and the whole gig didn’t convince me. Maybe another time.
Haggard The Munich combo around Asis Nasseri appeared again with a whole orchestra and presented their fascinating mixture of Folk, Classic and Melodic Death Metal mainly consisting of their two latest albums „And Thou Shalt Trust…The Seer” and „Awaking The Centuries”. But this phenomenous performance was disturbed by a few reasons: First they had to start later because of technical problems, the sound had no chance against „Onkel Tom” from the Black Stage and finally the sound was switched off punctual at three o’ clock while band was playing a song and the fans didn’t feel done, too.
W.E.T.-Stage
Hollenthon The combo from Austria balanced their set between their debut „Domus Mundi” and their new masterpiece „With Vilest Of Worms To Dwell”. The tent was crowded, it was hot and the band won their „heat-battle”.
Conclusion:
Well, there has been a lot of citicism about the organisation after W.O.A. 2002. We are not in the position to judge over most of the mentioned aspects. There won’t be any festival which is able to avoid specific weather and problems resulting because of massive rain. We just recognized there was a toilet-problem on the festivalsite. Moreover there happened a few changes in the running order which caused that we couldn’t watch „Candlemass” and „Heathen”. But these are little problems which can be solved by the W.O.A.-team. Whatever watched a lot of excellent appearances and had great fun!
So see you in Wacken 2003 – Rain or Shine!!!
In Wacken 2002 rocked, drank and partied: Tobi Wan Kenobi, Melli and Lotte!!!!!