{"id":1779,"date":"2015-06-29T08:41:41","date_gmt":"2015-06-29T07:41:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/?page_id=1779"},"modified":"2015-06-29T08:41:41","modified_gmt":"2015-06-29T07:41:41","slug":"wacken-2014-review","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/?page_id=1779","title":{"rendered":"Wacken 2014 Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wacken Open Air<\/strong>
\nCongratulations to the 25th edition of Wacken Open Air!
\nEspecially the two founders and still organizers of this worldwide leading as inspiring Metal Festival probably had never imagined how huge their festival should become after starting in 1990 with six bands playing for 800 spectators the open air raised enormously to its nowadays dimensions hosting metalheads from all over the world. We ourselves joined the festival from 1997 on experiencing the Wacken evolution over the latest 18 editions.
\nThis time it was up to Accept, Saxon, Slayer, Mot\u00f6rhead, Avantasia and Megadeth two headline the birthday billing. Besides that special shows like the one of Hammerfall playing their debut completely or that one of Emperor performing their debut album for its 20th anniversary raised the exclusiveness of the line-up. In comparison to the years before the festivalsite got rearranged offering more space two reach the different stages much quicker during the changeovers. For another time the organization worked very well. The clean restrooms were for free use and the variety of food and beverages was huge. Next to the Wackinger Village they placed the Wasteland interfering some postapocalyptic atmosphere known from movies like \u201eMad Max\u201c. The Metal Heart – flirt zone was another location offering an alternative to spare some festival time. After last year’s extremely hot temperatures every Full Metal Bag – owner got a plastic bottle which everyone was allowed to bring to the festival area. The organization preferred to take care about their visitors than just to focus on their money. This was a very exemplary action! This year’s weather was very moderate in its temperatures and included no rain.
\nAt this year\u2019s Wacken Open Air 124 bands appeared on the five regular stages (besides several shows on the Beer Garden Stage and the Wackinger Stage) in three days for about 75000 visitors (Sold out just a few days after this year’s edition!).
\nFinally we need to express our condolences for one young visitor who died on the street getting hit by a car. Sad story which could have happened everywhere, but nevertheless tragic. Our condolences go out to the family and friends of the man.<\/p>\n

Thursday<\/strong>
\nTrue Metal Stage<\/strong>
\nB\u00fclent Ceylan<\/strong> The popular comedian performed for the second time in Wacken. He took care about some laughter on the infield and joined headbanging as crowdsurfing.
\nSteel Panther<\/strong> More Glam and Sleaze is impossible: The Hardrock band opened like their new album does by \u201ePussywhipped\u201c and \u201eParty Like Tomorrow Is The End Of The World\u201c whose titles especially showed about what these 75 minutes were supposed to be about. I have never seen so many female breasts while a gig, but whoever was shown by the camera on a video screen the lady just joined the boobs-out-contest. Anyway, the Californians knew how to convince musically as well by \u201eJust Like Tiger Woods\u201c, \u201eEyes Of A Panther\u201c, \u201eDeath To All But Metal\u201c and the final message \u201eParty All Day (Fuck All Night)\u201c. Just the fact that despite the vocalist all musicians wore perukes is discussable. The rest is show, like it or hate it!
\nAccept <\/strong>The big discussion about the teutonic Metal legend appearing in their nowadays line-up in a headliner position stopped when it was showtime. Starting with the world live premier of \u201eStampede\u201c from their forthcoming release \u201eBlind Rage\u201c the numerous fans celebrated their faves by collective headbanging. The setlist including \u201eBreaker\u201c, \u201eRestless And Wild\u201c, \u201eFast As A Shark\u201c, \u201eMetal Heart\u201c, the newer hit \u201eTeutonic Terror\u201c, \u201eBalls To The Wall\u201c and \u201eBurning\u201c spoke for itself and after the show everyone talked about the overwhelming gig except me. To me this line-up doesn’t work in comarison to that one with the german tank Udo Dirkschneider behind the microphone, but in this night my opinion wasn’t really representative.<\/p>\n

Black Stage<\/strong>
\nSkyline <\/strong>In 1990 this band played on the first WOA edition including one of the organizers. In the latest years it had become the tradition the music program got opened by Skyline playing some cover versions each year. So they did again by Manowar’s \u201eWarriors Of The World United\u201c, Iron Maiden’s \u201eFear Of The Dark\u201c, Rammstein’s \u201eEngel\u201c, etc..
\nHammerfall <\/strong>On my personal first WOA I had the opportunity to watch this fivepiece just on their first show outside their home country Sweden. So it became like a little time jump when they played their whole debut album \u201eGlory To The Brave\u201c completely assisted by the former members Stefan Elmgren (\u201eStone Cold\u201c), Patrik R\u00e4fling (\u201eUnchained\u201c) and Jesper Str\u00f6mblad (\u201eThe Dragon Lies Bleeding\u201c) before enthusing their fans by the encores \u201eAny Means Necessary\u201c, \u201eBlood Bound\u201c, the first time live performed\u201eBushido\u201c from the forthcoming record \u201e(r)Evolution\u201c and their hit \u201eHearts On Fire\u201c.
\nSaxon <\/strong>The NWOBHM – legend of course shouldn’t miss on the Wacken birthday. And the stage set with different levels showed what to expect. Supported by lots of pyros and other show effects Biff Byford & Co played a strong set starting with \u201eMotorcycle Man\u201c, the title track from the recent release \u201eSacrifice\u201c, \u201eHeavy Metal Thunder\u201c, \u201eSolid Ball Of Rock\u201c, \u201eWheels Of Steel\u201c and \u201e747 (Strangers In The Night)\u201c. After this rocking first half of the show the band got supported by a little orchestra fraction. This was a nice idea for this anniversary, but the interpretations of their classics like \u201eCrusader\u201c, \u201eThe Eagle Has Landed\u201c, \u201ePrincess Of The Night\u201c and \u201eDenim And Leather\u201c reduced their heaviness factor, so they didn’t really rock as they usually do in their original versions.<\/p>\n

Friday<\/strong>
\nTrue Metal Stage<\/strong>
\nSkid Row<\/strong> The Hardrock sensation of the late eighties and the early nineties appeared for the first time in Wacken and populated the festival area by lots of fans. Most of them still probably connected the quintet from New Jersey with Sebastian Bach not realizing the \u201enew\u201c singer Johnny Solinger has been band member from 1996 on. And he did a geat job. Just the songs of this newer era like the opener \u201eLet’s Go\u201c, \u201eThick Is The Skin\u201c, \u201eKings Of Demolition\u201c and \u201eWe Are The Damned\u201c just played a filler role. Of course nearly all fans waited for \u201eBig Guns\u201c, \u201eMakin’ A Mess\u201c, \u201ePiece Of Me\u201c, \u201eMonkey Business\u201c, \u201eSlave To The Grind\u201c as for the the ballads \u201e18 And Life\u201c and \u201eI Remember You\u201c which got interpreted by Solinger very fine. They dedicated the Ramones cover version \u201ePsycho Therapy\u201c for the passed Johnny Ramone. The great final got marked by their hymn \u201eYouth Gone Wild\u201c which got sung loudly by the masses.
\nFive Finger Death Punch<\/strong> Suited in a German soccer jersey, of course with the fourth star for the youngest world championship title fronter Ivan Moody had all spectators in the infield on his side. But this wouldn’t have been necessary. The combination of a strong tight performance, great melody hooks and cool announcements were more than enough attraction. By \u201eUnder And Over It\u201c, \u201eBurn It Down\u201c and \u201eHard To See\u201c they got the crowd in motion from the beginning which didn’t change over the following hour while the cover hymn \u201eBad Company\u201c, \u201eNever Enough\u201c and the set closing \u201eThe Bleeding\u201c.
\nHeaven Shall Burn<\/strong> The leading German Metalcore band let the thousands of fans go crazy for the fifth time resulting in a huge circle pit around the sound towers. The fans just seem to had been watiting for the beginning of this show marked by \u201eCounterweight\u201c. \u201eLand Of The Upright Ones\u201c, \u201eGodiva\u201c and the new hit \u201eHunters Will Be Hunted\u201c from the current album \u201eVeto\u201c got as much celebrated as \u201eCombat\u201c, \u201eVoice Of The Voiceless\u201c, or \u201eEndzeit\u201c. For the Edge Of Sanity cover \u201eBlack Tears\u201c they even got the support of EOS-mastermind Dan Swan\u00f6. And by another cover they left the stage interpreting Blind Guardian’s \u201eValhalla\u201c.
\nApocalyptica <\/strong>The Cello Finns played for the first time assisted by an orchestra on an open air festival. Musically there was no doubt, but somehow this classic interlude seemed a bit wrong positioned in comparison to the latest participations when they had appeared deep in the night. So just the Metal cover versions of Metallica (\u201eFight Fire With Fire\u201c, \u201eNothing Else Matters\u201c) and Sepultura (\u201eInquisiton Symphony\u201c) earned mentionable support.
\nSlayer <\/strong>The discussions about the headliner and Thrash Metal icon from the Bay Area had lead to a maximum before the quartet gave the clear answer on stage. From the beginning by \u201eHell Awaits\u201c and \u201eThe Antichrist\u201c they showed all talk was cheap waste of time. Exodus guitarist Gary Holt got integrated well as Hanneman-successor and rocked as much as full bearded fronter Tom Araya. The fans theirselves supported \u201eMandatory Suicide\u201c, \u201eWar Ensemble\u201c, \u201eSeasons In The Abyss\u201c, \u201eDead Skin Mask\u201c, the band hymn \u201eRaining Blood\u201c, \u201eSouth Of Heaven\u201c and the finisher \u201eAngel Of Death\u201c in huge moshpits. No question(s) left!
\nW.A.S.P<\/strong>. Deep in the night Blackie Lawless and his band entered the stage to rock Wacken by a fantastic set. From \u201eOn Your Knees\u201c over the The Who cover \u201eThe Real Me\u201c, \u201eL.O.V.E. Machine\u201c, \u201eWild Child\u201c the silent tones of \u201eSleeping In The Fire being combined with \u201eForever Free\u201c to their hit \u201eI Wanna Be Somebody\u201c the quartet left no wishes open till the middle of the set to let follow \u201eThe Titanic Overture\u201c and \u201eThe Idol\u201c from the \u201eThe Crimson Idol\u201c masterpiece. By \u201eBlind In Texas\u201c Blackie & Co finished a hard rocking set.<\/p>\n

Black Stage<\/strong>
\nChthonic <\/strong>The early noon offered an exotic act by Black Metal from Taiwan. They mainly concentrated on their recent release \u201eB\u00fa-Tik\u201c by \u201eSupreme Pain For The Tyrant\u201c or \u201eSail Into The Sunsets Fire\u201c without ignoring the older ones as the opener \u201eOceanquake\u201c or \u201eSouthern Cross\u201c. Meanwhile the stageacting and the worn masks turned out a bit ridiculous. Or was it too much culture clash to me?
\nEndstille <\/strong>The switchover to German Black Metal didn’t turn the atmosphere to a much more serious one on this stage. \u201eBastard\u201c, \u201eRipping Angelflesh\u201c, \u201eConquest Is Atheism\u201c and \u201eFr\u00fchlingserwachen\u201c were meant to animate the crowd, but they just reached a couple of diehard supporters.
\nBring Me The Horizon<\/strong> The fivepiece from Sheffield brought by the following 60 minutes the evidence they’re more than just a young girls’ band. Their melodies combined with the breakdowns and the atmospheric parts resulted in a strong performance lead by shouter Oliver Sykes. And so not even young spectators celebrated the band mainly concentrating on their current release \u201eSempiternal\u201c by the opener \u201eShadow Moses\u201c, \u201eThe House Of Wolves\u201c, \u201eGo To Hell, For Heaven’s Sake\u201c, \u201eAnd The Snakes Start To Sing\u201c, \u201eEmpire (Let Them Sing)\u201c, the hit \u201eCan You Feel My Heart\u201c, \u201eAntivist\u201c and the final \u201eSleepwalking\u201c just considering with \u201eDiamonds Aren’t Forever\u201c and \u201eChelsea Smile\u201c two older tracks.
\nChildren Of Bodom<\/strong> In contrast to BMTH the Finns played a best of program consisting of the opener \u201e24\/7 Needled\u201c, \u201eHatecrew Deathroll\u201c, \u201eAre You Dead Yet\u201c, \u201eHate Me!\u201c, \u201eBodom After Midnight\u201c and just considered by \u201eHalo Of Blood\u201c one track from their latest so-called output. The fivepiece got jubilated for their performance, just Alexi Laiho’s several \u201efuck\u201c-talk-bullshit stuck on my nerves.
\nMot\u00f6rhead <\/strong>The festivalsite got pretty packed when the Rock ‘n’ Roll trio entered the stage after they had left it too early due to Lemmy Kilmister’s health problems under the hot sun last year. The question was: Is he well again to perform a whole 75 minutes lasting show. The answer was: Yes! Of course Lemmy wasn’t as agile as ten years ago, but there was no fear of experiencing another breakup this evening. So this turned out to a rocking party from \u201eDamage Case\u201c over \u201eMetropolis\u201c, \u201eLost Woman Blues\u201c until the great final consisting of \u201eGoing To Brazil\u201c, \u201eKilled By Death\u201c being co-assisted by Doro\u201c, \u201eAce Of Spades\u201c and the encore \u201eOverkill\u201c.
\nKing Diamond<\/strong> The great master of Shock Heavy Metal is back! But as while his predecessor during this show it became clear the king hadn’t become younger. And in this context the performance as his high helium voice didn’t seem less ridiculous than before. So parts of the audience left the infield which looked clearer then. The diehard fans didn’t care celebrating \u201eNever Ending Hill\u201c, \u201eThe Puppet Master\u201c, \u201eAt The Graves\u201c and \u201eEye Of The Witch\u201c as much as the Mercyful Fate songs \u201eEvil\u201c and \u201eCome To The Sabbath\u201c. After the three encores \u201eCremation\u201c, \u201eThe Family Ghost\u201c and \u201eBlack Horsemen\u201c the spook was over.<\/p>\n

Party Stage<\/strong>
\nRusskaja <\/strong>It was up to the sevenpiece from Vienna to wake up the crowd in the late morning by their Kasatchok Rock Crossover. Of course the opener \u201eEnergia\u201c, \u201eChange\u201c, \u201eTraktor\u201c and the Avicii cover \u201eWake Me Up\u201c are party-orientated, but too me this kind of humor felt a bit too mundane.
\nKnorkator <\/strong>Much more subtile is the humor of Knorkator which isn’t obvious on the first view on titles or costumes. The populated Party Stage area showed the popularity of Stumpen, Alf Ator, Buzz Dee & Co starting furiously with \u201eDing Inne Schnauze\u201c, \u201eDu Bist Schuld\u201c and \u201eBuchstabe\u201c. Besides a cool setlist the band organizes a crowdsurfing wheelchair user, backwards crowdsurfing, Stumpen got shot inside a huge transparent gum ball over the audience and \u201eArschgesicht\u201c got sung by Alf Ator’s son. No wonder the well-entertained audience celebrated the new \u201eWe Want Mohr\u201c songs \u201eZoo\u201c, \u201eL\u201c and \u201eKonrad\u201c as classics like \u201eAlter Mann\u201c, \u201eDu Nich\u201c, \u201eDer Ultimative Mann\u201c, \u201eWir Werden Alle Sterben\u201c and the finishing Boney M. cover \u201eMa Baker\u201c.
\nHellyeah <\/strong>The band of ex-Pantera-drummer Vinnie Paul had the difficult mission to get the audience in motion while it had become very hot in the meantime. With the identic beginning of their new album \u201eBlood For Blood\u201c by \u201eSangre Por Sangre (Blood For Blood)\u201c and \u201eDemons In The Dirt\u201c they didn’t really impress too much spectators, but that changed while the show. So \u201eDrink Drank Drunk\u201c, \u201eCross To Bier (Cradle Of Bones)\u201c, \u201eBand Of Brothers\u201c and the self-titled finisher \u201eHellyeah\u201c got more support.
\nSantiano <\/strong>I don’t know whose idea it was to bring the Pirate Pop on one of the three big stages, but it is one which should be improved. \u201eGott Muss Ein Seemann Sein\u201c, \u201eWarten Bis Der Wind Bl\u00e4st\u201c and their very own interpretation of \u201eThe Irish Rover\u201c should be played on a retiree cruise, but not on the Party Stage.
\nCarcass <\/strong>It was their second WOA participation after their reunion in 2008. The Death Grind legend around Jeff Walker, Bill Steer & Co had the opponent position to Mot\u00f6rhead and they nevertheless filled the Party Stage field. Those fans decided for the much more agile show and got rewarded by an amazing performance of a tight band in which the new guitarist and Amott-scuccessor Ben Ash did a good job, and so did the other new member Daniel Wilding on the drums as well. By \u201eCadaver Pouch Conveyor System\u201c, \u201eThe Granulating Dark Satanic Mills\u201c and \u201eCaptive Bolt Pistol\u201c three songs from the recent album \u201eSurgical Steel\u201c found their way into the set which got ended by \u201eHeartwork\u201c causing much headbanging action on as in front of the stage.
\nSaltatio Mortis<\/strong> The Folk Rock eightpiece had the excercise to hold the people on the infield. But as their neighbour(s) King Diamond they didn’t attract that many visitors. So just a couple of fans waited until the final \u201eSpielmannsschwur\u201c.<\/p>\n

Saturday<\/strong>
\nTrue Metal Stage<\/strong>
\nSodom <\/strong>Despite the fact to appear in the hot temperatured noon the German Thrash Metal icon attracted numerous fans to fill the infield. And after a mostly hard long night the fans were motivated to celebrate an hour of classics consisting of the opener \u201eAgent Orange\u201c, \u201eOutbreak Of Evil\u201c, \u201eThe Saw Is The Law\u201c, \u201eWachturm\u201c, etc.. By \u201eStigmatized\u201c one track from the current \u201eEpitome Of Torture\u201c release got considered. And that was the right decision because the crowd wanted a best of program which got closed by \u201eBlasphemer\u201c, \u201eRemember The Fallen\u201c and \u201eAusgebombt\u201c.
\nDevin Townsend Project<\/strong> What followed was the most bombastic as approached performance of this weekend. Probably the last named issue was the reason the infield was just half-filled. Devin Townsend and his band started with the classics \u201eSeventh Wave\u201c, \u201eWar\u201c and \u201eBy Your Command\u201c followed by the wonderful atmospheric \u201eDeadhead\u201c and everyone who had stayed had no wishes left. Supported by his funnny self-ironic announcements Devin had all present spectators on his side. And those ones freaked out to newer compositions like \u201eJuular\u201c and \u201eGrace\u201c as to the classics \u201eKingdom\u201c and \u201eBad Devil\u201c.
\nAmon Amarth <\/strong>A few years ago it seemed like the five vikings playing everywhere, but they changed this. So this Wacken show had kind of a rarer aspect in comparison to back then. They began by the first three tracks of their recent output \u201eDeceiver Of The Gods\u201c, \u201eFather Of The Wolf\u201c, its title track and \u201eAs Loke Falls\u201c before the classics \u201eGuardians Of Asgaard\u201c, \u201eCry Of The Black Birds\u201c, \u201eAsator\u201c and \u201eVictorious March\u201c kept thousands in motion by headbanging. This state got increased by the encores \u201eTwilight Of The Thunder God\u201c and \u201eThe Pursuit Of Vikings\u201c.
\nAvantasia <\/strong>For the fourth time Tobias Sammet’s metal opera appeared which had never been supposed to play anywhere till the first time. With the help of Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Bob Catley (Magnum), Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids), Michael Kiske (Unisonic, Place Vendome, ex-Helloween) and Amanda Somerville (known from several bands) the songs got its right live transformation. To me it became much too cheesy as Sammets foolish comments as well.
\nSchandmaul <\/strong>Again it was up to the Folk Rock sevenpiece to keep the left crowd in motion for one last time. And this plan worked well: The crowd jumped and sang along to \u201eTeufelsweib\u201c, the new \u201eUnendlich\u201c tracks \u201eTrafalgar\u201c, \u201eKaspar\u201c and \u201eDer Teufel…\u201c as the the regular set closing \u201eWalpurgisnacht\u201c. The encore part started by the cool political statement \u201eBunt, Und Nicht Braun\u201c before \u201eDein Anblick\u201c und \u201eAuf Euch\u201c finished the party.<\/p>\n

Black Stage<\/strong>
\nArch Enemy<\/strong> It was astonishing to see the Melodic Death Metal faves of many fans opening the daily program even after they had got the promo push by the joining of new female vocalist Alissa White-Gluz. But the plan worked well: The infield had never been that packed so early. And without any compromise the quintet started with \u201eYesterday Is Dead And Gone\u201c and the title track from the new album \u201eWar Eternal\u201c to let follow the smashers \u201eRaveonous\u201c and \u201eMy Apocalypse\u201c while the first fifty rows comitted collective headbanging. After this the third new track \u201eYou Will Know My Name\u201c showed the new line-up composed well at last. The live-performance rocked. Especially Alissa as banging beauty banned most views on herself. So \u201eWe Will Rise\u201c and \u201eNemesis\u201c were the optimal end to lead into the last day of this weekend.
\nBehemoth <\/strong>Behemoth are back! Nergal and his three bandmates began by \u201eBlow Your Trumpets Gabriel\u201c and \u201eOra Pro Nobis Lucifer\u201c with new \u201eThe Satanist\u201c material. The huge crowd directly took part in headbanging. And this interaction increased during the show. Supported by several pyro effects especially \u201eOv Fire And The Void\u201c, \u201eAt The Left Hand Ov God\u201c and the encore \u201eO Father O Satan O Sun!\u201c became majestic.
\nEmperor <\/strong>A very rare as exclusive hour of Black Metal history got offered by the following 60 minutes. Emperor reunited for the 20th anniversary of their cult debut \u201eIn The Nightside Eclipse\u201c. Ihsan, Samoth, Trym & Co performed this masterpiece that tight like they had never been away. The numerous fans headbanged from \u201eInto The Infinity Of Thoughts\u201c till \u201eI Am The Black Wizards\u201c and \u201eInno Satana\u201c. The encore part wasn’t less exclusive: With the \u201eAncient Queen\u201c and the title track of the even older \u201eWrath Of The Tyrant\u201c demo they surprised most of the fans and added with the \u201eA Fine Day To Die\u201c cover of Bathory which had got published as bonus track on the re-issue of their debut. And although mastermind Ihsan pointed out this was the last live show of Emperor I hope they will do the same with the 20th anniversary of their even greater \u201eAnthems To The Welkin At Dusk\u201c masterpiece in 2017!
\nMegadeth <\/strong>Finally the time had come the Thrash Metal legend from California appeared in Wacken. And Dave Mustaine and his strong manned band blew an awsome opening into the infield by \u201eHangar 18\u201c, \u201eWake Up Dead\u201c, \u201eIn My Darkest Hour\u201c, \u201eSkin O’ My Teeth\u201c and \u201eSweating Bullets\u201c. But after this awesome first half an hour the fourpiece couldn’t hold this high level. They considered newer material and the crowd became silent. Just \u201eShe-Wolf\u201c from the latest amazing album \u201eCryptic Writings\u201c animated the fans to take part in. The Thin Lizzy cover \u201eCold Sweat\u201c broke the ice after which the band hymns \u201eSymphony Of Destruction\u201c and \u201ePeace Sells\u201c found loud and active support of thousands of fans. After this the band returned to set by the final encore \u201eHoly Wars \u2026 The Punishment Due\u201c the final point.
\nKreator <\/strong>Two masked men stormed the stage with Bengal fires lighten up the ambience before the fourpiece entered the stage to open by \u201ePhantom Antichrist\u201c. And there still were numerous supporters with much energy left to built up several moshpits to \u201eEndless Pain\u201c, \u201ePleasure To Kill\u201c, \u201eHordes Of Chaos (A Nercologue For The Elite)\u201c, \u201ePhobia\u201c, \u201eEnemy Of God\u201c and \u201eViolent Revolution\u201c. With the great final consisting of \u201eFlag Of Hate\u201c and \u201eTormentor\u201c the Essen Thrash attack finished another amazing show. Just the announcements of fronter Mille could have been less pathetic.<\/p>\n

Party Stage<\/strong>
\nProng <\/strong>The trio from L.A. had the big disadvantage to play against the sound wall of Arch Enemy appearing on the neighbored Black Stage. Besides this circumstance Tommy Victor and his both colleages performed a cool wake-up-gig in the sunny noon. The title song and \u201eTurnover\u201c from the new album \u201eRuining Lives\u201c found warm applause and \u201eBeg To Differ\u201c, \u201eWhose Fist Is This Anyway?\u201c as \u201eSnap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck\u201c took care of the first headbangers and moshpits.
\nAugust Burns Red The much younger fivepiece from Pennsylvania just needed a few minutes to get the first circle-pits started. Is this fair in comparison to Prong’s credits? Surely not, but anyhow shouter Jake Luhrs and his colleges deserved it inspiring numerous fans by \u201eMariannas Trench\u201c, \u201eEmpire\u201c and \u201eComposure\u201c.
\nHatebreed <\/strong>Even more thousands of motivated fans awaited the leaders of nowadays US Hardcore. The fivepiece from Connecticut had easy game to suceed. Fronter Jamey Jasta animated the supporters to huge moshpits celebrating \u201eHonor Never Dies\u201c, \u201eI Will Be Heard\u201c, \u201eBorn To Bleed\u201c, \u201eEveryone Bleeds Now\u201c, \u201eDestroy Everything\u201c and \u201eLive For This\u201c.
\nJ.B.O.<\/strong> From now on the name of the Party Stage could had been switched to Comedy Stage. The main color on as in front of the stage turned to pink, and many supporters sang along to the opener \u201eJetzt Isser Drin\u201c as to the following \u201eIm Verkehr\u201c, \u201eEin Fest\u201c and \u201eI Don’t Like Metal\u201c. By \u201eVier Finger F\u00fcr Ein Hallelujah\u201c even a number from the forthcoming new record \u201eNur Die Besten Werden Alt\u201c being released two weeks later found consideration. By \u201eBolle\u201c, \u201eEin Guter Tag Zum Sterben\u201c, \u201eBimber Bumber D\u00f6del Dei\u201c and \u201eVerteidiger Des Bl\u00f6dsinns\u201c a jubilated show found its end.
\nVan Canto<\/strong> Some kind of unintended comedy became the last concert on this stage. What had started eight years ago as a nice exotic idea stuck nowadays on my nerves. The only exclusive moments happened when ex-Nightwish-siren Tarja Turunen entered the stage to support the a-capella-formation, which got just supported by a drummer, while her probably biggest single \u201eWishmaster\u201c., ex-Angra-voice Andre Matos supported them while Angra’s \u201eCarry On\u201c and Grave-Digger-fronter Chris Boltendahl supported them while his own band’s classic \u201eRebellion (The Clans Are Marching)\u201c. The gig got finished by another cover, \u201eFear Of The Dark\u201c from Iron Maiden.<\/p>\n

Conclusion:<\/strong>
\nAfter the 2012-monsoon and last year’s tropical heat this WOA-edition happened under moderate dry climate comditions to our all pleasure. As mentioned the organization worked well. The visitors always got informed over the LED-walls. In general there didn’t happen any mentionable change or short-term cancelation. The only change was the planned re-organisation of the infield. The prices for food and beverages stayed the same as last year (e.g. 3,00 \u20ac for a 0,3 l beer or softdrink).<\/p>\n

On saturday night the Wacken organizers announced the first bands for 2015:
\nSavatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, In Flames, Running Wild, Sabaton, Powerwolf, U.D.O., Amorphis, Death Angel, Ensiferum, Kataklysm, Cannibal Corpse, Ensiferum, Thyrfing and In Extremo! Especially the first named ones were a real sensation which left several mouths open after its announcement on the press conference.<\/p>\n

We enjoyed our Wacken 2014! So see you in Wacken 2015 \u2013 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, Lotte, Babyarm and Bock!!!!!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wacken Open Air Congratulations to the 25th edition of Wacken Open Air! Especially the two founders and still organizers of this worldwide leading as inspiring Metal Festival probably had never imagined how huge their festival should become after starting in 1990 with six bands playing for 800 spectators the open air raised enormously to its … <\/p>\n

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