{"id":345,"date":"2011-03-07T17:18:43","date_gmt":"2011-03-07T16:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/?page_id=345"},"modified":"2011-03-07T17:18:43","modified_gmt":"2011-03-07T16:18:43","slug":"wacken-2008-review","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/?page_id=345","title":{"rendered":"Wacken 2008 Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

WACKEN OPEN AIR 2008<\/strong>
\nWe remember the WOA-edition of 2007 when an endless rain had impeded the festival preparations and had flooded several camp grounds as the festivalsite right before the WOA started. With immense organization abilities the organizers took care about another big success of their festival. A year later the fans reacted with a sold-out in march, as early as it never had been before!<\/p>\n

This year the organizers weren\u2019t forced to fight against extreme weather conditions, so they were able to concentrate all their logistic know-how on the WOA 2008 in a regular setting.<\/p>\n

The WOA-organization improved the festivalsite by raising the access between the two biggest stages and the Party Stage which had become an extra place last year. It turned out to a very comfortable improvement. Another upgrade got reached by the organizers decision to offer clean restrooms for free. Generally the organization impressed on a high level for another time, so there are just little improvements possible.<\/p>\n

This year the WOA offered one of the best billings ever: The Eurovision Grand Prix \u2013 winner Lordi, the shooting stars Primordial as Airbourne, the live-reunions of At The Gates, Carcass, Cynic as Headhunter, the live-premier of Avantasia, the live-introcuction of Nightwish\u2019s new singer, the newer so-called Metalcore \u2013 bands Hatebreed, Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying as Unearth and of course the biggest Heavy Metal \u2013 band of the world: Iron Maiden! To me I completed with the WOA 2008 \u2013 edition my first dozen of twelve WOA-participations in a row since the beginning in 1997 rocking for the next WOA-dozen!<\/p>\n

At this year\u2019s Wacken Open Air 87 bands (plus the all-evening Mambo Kurt, Rokken (cover-band) and W:O:A Firefighters (Except for Friday) – sessions in the beergarden) appeared on four stages in the three days for about 75000 visitors (Sold out in march!).<\/p>\n

Thursday<\/strong>
\nTrue Metal Stage<\/em>
\nIron Maiden<\/strong> Wow, what an event! For the first time in the WOA-history the True Metal Stage got opened on Thursday! An honor one of the biggest Metal-bands ever definitely deserved! The festivalsite was completely crowded, nobody wanted to miss them! And it was worth it! The quintet performed their golden ages around the late eighties in front of their legendary \u201cPowerslave\u201d \u2013 stage setting. After the intro \u201cChurchill\u2019s Speech\u201d they started with \u201cAces High\u201d and \u201c2 Minutes To Midnight\u201d into a two hours lasting set. After this singer Bruce Dickinson held an announcement with the demand: \u201cMove the fuckin\u2019 crane!\u201d He meant the camera crane he felt disturbed by. After a short discussion the camera team complied with Bruce\u2019s will. So the show was continued by \u201cRevelations\u201d and \u201cThe Trooper\u201d while Bruce performed in a uniform to swing a union jack \u2013 flag. The fans started the first Mexican wave before Steve Harris & Co let follow \u201cWasted Years\u201d, \u201cThe Number Of The Beast\u201d assisted by some devil, their probably most commercial hit \u201cCan I Play With Madness?\u201d and \u201cRime Of The Ancient Mariner\u201d supported by some kind of a potato sack. To the title track of the visually ubiquitous \u201cPowerslave\u201d \u2013 album Bruce wore a very strange costume. The band performed the \u201cSomewhere In Time\u201d \u2013 track \u201cHeaven Can Wait\u201d with 20 fans on stage for a while of the song. The regular set got completed by the classic \u201cRun To The Hills\u201d, \u201cFear Of The Dark\u201d sung by the probably loudest choir on earth and the self-titled \u201cIron Maiden\u201d after which the band left the stage. The six protagonists returned with the encores \u201cMoonchild\u201d, \u201cThe Clairvoyant\u201d in which guitarist Janick Gers fought his fight against Future Eddie to finish a memorable gig with the hammer \u201cHallowed Be Thy Name\u201d. The NWOBHM-legend played a fantastic show the attendant crowd will probably never forget!<\/p>\n

Black Stage<\/em>
\nGirlschool<\/strong> The oldest rockin\u2019 all-girl-band opened the program on the big stages. Although Kim McAuliffe played classics like \u201cHit And Run\u201d as material from their forthcoming album, but in my opinion the four actresses had shown more inspiring appearances than this one in their 20 years lasting career.<\/p>\n

Lauren Harris <\/strong>The daughter appears at most festival locations where her father and Iron Maiden \u2013 band-leader Steve Harris appears. Filling the set with tracks from the debut-output \u201cCalm Before The Storm\u201d she and her band played a boring set. Lauren Harris is cute as sympathic, but she doesn\u2019t have any of her father\u2019s talent yet.<\/p>\n

Airbourne<\/strong> It was time for the shooting stars of Rock \u2018n\u2019 Roll from Australia in the tradition of the mighty AC\/DC when Rose Tattoo\u2019s (another Australian legend) \u201cBad Boy For Love\u201d started as their intro. The guys rocked definitely by \u201cFat City\u201d, \u201cRunnin\u2019 Wild\u201d or \u201cHellfire as by their performance. Its highlight: While \u201cGirls In Black\u201d singer and guitar-weirdo Joel O\u2019 Keefe climbed up the stage on top of the lights letting himself hang down with his head ahead to play the solo totally unsecured. Crazy!<\/p>\n

Avenged Sevenfold<\/strong> The Glam-Rockers from L.A. also showed how to rock. If \u201cThe Beast And The Harlot\u201d and \u201cTrashed And Scattered\u201d from their \u201cCity Of Evil\u201d \u2013 breakthrough or \u201cScream\u201d, \u201cGunslinger\u201d and \u201cAfterlife\u201d from their current self-titled album, this band was worth each of the 60 minutes they appeared. And for another time singer M. Shadows and lead guitarist Synyster Gates impressed by their huge talent.<\/p>\n

Hellfest Stage \/ Party Stage<\/em>
\nMustasch<\/strong> Note this Swedish band and keep it in mind! Always heard about the name, never really watched and after this gig caught by one of the greatest Rock \u2018n\u2019 Roll \u2013 bands of nowadays. Lead by their sympathic as charismatic fronter Ralf Gyllenhammer who even showed some of his German lesson experiences from school the quartet rocked by \u201cBring Me Everyone\u201d and their hit \u201cDouble Nature\u201d from their \u201cThe Latest Version Of The Truth\u201d-album as by their classics \u201cBlack City\u201d and \u201cDogwash\u201d. Cool!<\/p>\n

Nashville Pussy<\/strong> This band just tried to rock like the praised Swedes before had done. Besides their visual show there was nothing special in this appearance of an over-estimated combo. They didn\u2019t convince more than the parallel acting Lauren Harris.<\/p>\n

Sturm & Drang<\/strong> Watching the shooting stars in Melodic Metal lead to one result about the question why they were hyped that much: Just because of their very young age and because of nothing else! Their music as their stage-acting turned out to be averaged ones. The Finnish teenies played two cover-versions by Judas Priest\u2019s \u201cBreaking The Law\u201d and Iron Maiden\u2019s \u201cFear Of The Dark\u201d just about four hours it should have been played by its creators\u2019. But anyway this young band wasn\u2019t worth to appear in Wacken, maybe some day they will be.<\/p>\n

Leaves\u2019 Eyes<\/strong> Backed by a gigantic stage setting with a Viking boat which had required much logistic know-how to get transported to Wacken the Gothic Metal \u2013 band around Liv Kristine and her husband as Atrocity-fronter Alex Krull began by \u201cFarewell Proud Men\u201d. But besides their stage setting their show didn\u2019t inspire the crowd that much. Even their fans in the first rows needed some time to create something like atmosphere. So the gig didn\u2019t impress me that much despite tracks like their probably most well-known one \u201cElegy\u201d, but in the end the show earned more and more applause. But please renounce those Viking-actors just being rediculous!<\/p>\n

W.E.T. Stage<\/em>
\nVoodoo Kungfu<\/strong> (Metal Battle China) It just took a few seconds to find out that this group won\u2019t win the Metal Battle \u2013 final! Lead by a fronter looking like a mixture between a hippie, a chief, Dracula himself and something they performed tracks like \u201cBruce Lee\u201d in a very psychic as ridiculous way. Sounding like an average crossover between Nu Metal and Visual Kei the combo presented itself totally untalented as displaced on this venue. It felt like they acted in service of the Chinese regime to torture us by this performance. Hopefully the Chinese scene has more to offer than that.<\/p>\n

Negura Bunget<\/strong> I was very curious about the show of the innovative Ambient\/Black Metal \u2013 band from Romania. So did the whole crowd in the pretty filled up tent shouting Negura-chants several minutes before the band entered the stage. First of all the five men and one woman had to fight with a dirty sound including a too low voice. They impressed by songs from their current \u201cOm\u201d-album \u201cTesarul De Lumini\u201d as by older compositions like \u201cWorldless Knowledge\u201d enhanced by different Romanian Folk-instruments turning this performance out to something really special as the wooden knock-wall getting beaten by an also wooden hammer while the mentioned \u201cWorldless Knowledge\u201d. Outstanding!<\/p>\n

Friday<\/strong>
\nTrue Metal Stage<\/em>
\nMortal Sin<\/strong> The Australian Thrash Metal \u2013 icon opened with \u201cBlood Death Hatred\u201d from their \u201cMayhemic Destruction\u201d \u2013 debut released in 1986 to let follow by \u201cDeadman Walking\u201d a track from the \u201cAn Absence Of Faith\u201d \u2013 return. While there weren\u2019t that many fans supporting the band the musicians brought a respectable show containing Thrash-classics being published throughout their career like \u201cI Am Immortal\u201d, \u201cLebanon\u201d and the title-track of their mentioned debut-record.<\/p>\n

Unearth<\/strong> When the Metal-machine from Boston entered the stage the rain started and stayed for some time getting pretty intense. But not nearly as intense as this show was supposed to become. The real metalheads didn\u2019t care about the weather creating several moshpits and circle-pits to a set mainly consisting of songs from their latest masterpiece \u201cIII: In The Eyes Of Fire\u201d as \u201cThis Glorious Nightmare\u201d causing a big circle-pit or \u201cGiles\u201d and smashers from their former hit-album like \u201cZombie Autopilot\u201d with hundreds of crowdsurfers, the directly following \u201cThis Lying World\u201d and the two finishing hymns \u201cThe Great Dividers\u201d and \u201cBlack Hearts Now Reign\u201d! Besides that the fivepiece introduced by \u201cMy Will Be Done\u201d a song from their forthcoming album to the crowd. The band performed very hard and agile, took care about the fans on the festival ground stayed crowded by animated fans going wild to an overwhelming show. Meanwhile my cell phone got damaged that much by the rain which cost some money, but it was worth every cent! Best festival-appearance! Bring \u2018em back!<\/p>\n

Kamelot<\/strong> In front of an astonishing crowd the Melodic Metal \u2013 band began supported by massive pyros with the intro \u201cSolitaire\u201d, \u201cRule The World\u201d (both tracks from their latest album \u201cGhost Opera\u201d) and \u201cWhen The Lights Are Down\u201d got celebrated for each track. The band from Florida had become a very international band. Besides the charismatic singer Roy Khan coming from Norway they got support from Germany by a keyboarder and a beautiful female backing singer who switched her dresses (Unfortunately not on stage!) in her breaks and got mixed much too low. Anyway the sixpiece earned much applause for the also newer \u201cGhost Opera\u201d \u2013 songs \u201cThe Human Stain\u201d and \u201cEden Echo\u201d, \u201cCenter Of The Universe\u201d, their hymn \u201cThe Haunting\u201d, \u201cGhost Opera\u201d itself, the ballad \u201cForever\u201d and the final \u201cMarch Of Mephisto\u201d which got co-fronted by Atrocity-\/Leaves\u2019 Eyes-fronter Alex Krull intoning the darker grunt vocals. Melodic Metal at its best! <\/p>\n

Sonata Arctica<\/strong> Melodic Metal at its best is a label you can also use for the guys from Finland. Right now much more successful than their former inspiration Stratovarius the band with new sixstringer Elias Viljanen played a wonderful best of \u2013 setlist starting with \u201cPaid In Full\u201d and \u201cKingdom For A Heart\u201d. Their numerous fans were motivated as vocalist Tony Kakko & Co celebrating \u201cBlack Sheep\u201d, \u201cThe Cage\u201d, the hit-ballad \u201cReplica\u201d sung by thousands of metalheads and the usual final \u201cVodka\u201d. Supported by a pyro show it was pure fun to watch the band for another time in Wacken!<\/p>\n

Children Of Bodom<\/strong> For the first time the formation around mainman Alexi Laiho acted as the day\u2019s headliner of the biggest stage in Wacken. And the guys from the Bodom lake performed by \u201cHellhounds On My Trail\u201d, \u201cBanned From Heaven\u201d, \u201cOne Day You Will Cry\u201d and the title track four songs from their new \u201cBlooddrunk\u201d \u2013 release. But of course the Finns got the most support for their classics like the opener \u201cSixpounder\u201d, \u201cSilent Night, Bodom Night\u201d, \u201cFollow The Reaper\u201d, \u201cNeedled 24\/7\u201d, the \u201cMask Of Sanity\u201d \/ \u201cDeadnight Warrior\u201d \u2013 medley, \u201cHate Me!\u201d, \u201cAngels Don\u2019t Kill\u201d and \u201cHatecrew Deathroll\u201d. They mobilized masses supporting them, to me it was the same procedure as every time. Nothing special, but entertaining!<\/p>\n

Avantasia<\/strong> After the third album the Metal \u2013 opera \u2013 solo-project of Edguy-vocalist Tobi Sammet it was the first live-appearance for this sumptuous project involving many different well-known metal-voices of the scene. For Wacken Tobi found a way providing several of those singers and to transport the sound from the record on stage. Cooperating with Jorn Lande (\u201cSerpents In Paradise\u201d), Bob Catley (\u201cThe Story Ain\u2019t Over\u201d), Andr\u00e9 Matos (\u201cReach Out For The Light\u201d), Amanda Somerville (\u201cFarewell\u201d) or Uli Jon Roth on guitar showed an excellent team. But to me this appearance didn\u2019t convey any real band-feeling and the musical material didn\u2019t convince me as for example Arjen Anthony Lucassen\u2019s Ayreon does. Tobi Sammet and his numerous vocalists as musicians reached their fans by the new video-single \u201cLost In Space\u201d or by the final medley \u201cSign Of The Cross\u201d \/ \u201cThe Seven Angels\u201d.<\/p>\n

Black Stage<\/em>
\nGrave<\/strong> At 11 a.m. the Death Metal \u2013 institution from Stockholm opened the day while pretty hot temperatures. As you may reason from these facts nobody would have taken a notice about this gig you\u2019re totally wrong. The festival area was filled with thousands of Death Metal \u2013 maniacs celebrating Ola Lindgren & Co playing \u201cBurn\u201d and \u201cYou\u2019ll Never See\u201d.<\/p>\n

Job For A Cowboy <\/strong>The Metalcore-related but Death Metal-interpreting fivepiece convinced for another time by their live qualities animating the crowd to a wall of death, circle-pits and crowdsurfing-action. Their setlist consisted of their debut-record \u201cGenesis\u201d and it left outpowered supporters.<\/p>\n

Ensiferum<\/strong> The Pagan Folk Metal of the Finns is still en vogue. Sad but true. So the sixpack entertained basically younger supporters by \u201cOne More Magic Potion\u201d and the finisher \u201cIron\u201d celebrating and singing the verses, and I got bored for another time.<\/p>\n

Soilwork<\/strong> Helsingborg\u2019s finest had become steady guests in Wacken. With their mixture of great Swedish Melodic Death Metal meets live-power no wonder. Also this time Bj\u00f6rn \u201cSpeed\u201d Strid who had become even more the main identification after the two guitarists had quit the band and his five comrades offered a setlist full of hits like \u201cAs We Speak\u201d, \u201cBastard Chain\u201d, \u201cFigure Number Five\u201d with a wall of death, \u201cRejection Role\u201d including a circle-pit on the festival ground and \u201cThe Pittsburgh Syndrome\u201d and \u201cAs The Sleeper Awakes\u201d from the current \u201cSworn To A Great Divide\u201d \u2013 album. This was another good appearance, but not as good as they are known for. I missed the special vibe. Somehow Peter Wichers was missed.<\/p>\n

Opeth<\/strong> The gods of Prog Death Metal started with the usual finisher \u201cDemon Of The Fall\u201d into their set. Mikael Akerfeldt and his bandmates had to play against a bad sound even handicapped by the wind. They continued with \u201cBeneath The Mire\u201d, Master\u2019s Apprentices\u201d and the only new played \u201cWatershed\u201d-track \u201cHeir Apparent\u201d. Between the compositions Mikael entertained with mad comments referring to conjunctions between a played song and sexual practices. With \u201cWreath\u201d and \u201cThe Drapery Falls\u201d the five geniuses said farewell and left the stage with another astonishing performance, but without any proper sound.<\/p>\n

Corvus Corax<\/strong> The Gothic Folk \u2013 ensemble was supposed to perform the second part of their \u201cCantus Buranus\u201d \u2013 opera. And they organized much spectacle and show elements on stage. But after a few songs it turned out to get boring. The musical ideas weren\u2019t as interesting as the show elements, and those repeated themselves.<\/p>\n

Gorgoroth<\/strong> The Norwegian Black Metal \u2013 combo started with the probably most ridiculous stage setting I\u2019ve ever seen: Four crosses got placed on stage with two completely naked masked men and women bound to it. How evil! Gaahl, King & Co should better have concentrated on their music. Their live-performance failed as their show did. Of course there were enough Blackies supporting \u201cIncipit Satan\u201d or \u201cUnchain My Heart\u201d. To me this show completely sucked!<\/p>\n

Party Stage<\/em>
\nPrimordial<\/strong> The Irish shooting stars mainly concentrated on material from their new breakthrough \u2013 album \u201cTo The Nameless Dead\u201d. So they began by the two openers of this album \u201cEmpire Falls\u201d and \u201cGallows Pole\u201d before performing the \u201cSpirit The Earth Aflame\u201d – classic \u201cGods To The Godless\u201d to continue with the new smasher \u201cAs Rome Burns\u201d, \u201cThe Gathering Wilderness\u201d \u2013 hit \u201cThe Coffin Ships\u201d and to finish by the also new \u201cAs Heathen Tribes\u201d. Alan A. Nemtheanga animated the crowd with his typical \u201cAre you with us?\u201d \u2013 shouts and the crowd waving with several Ireland-flags definitely was. A good performance, but I had seen them even better as much more energetic before.<\/p>\n

Cynic<\/strong> Wow, my long-awaited reunion of the Progressive Death Metal \u2013 gods happened. And the quartet opened with their absolute \u201cFocus\u201d – classic \u201cVeil Of Maya\u201d to continue with \u201cEvolutionary Sleeper\u201d which is a song from the forthcoming album \u201cTraced In Air\u201d. The band fascinated by the other song played from this album was \u201cIntegral Birth\u201d as by \u201cFocus\u201d \u2013 classic \u201cHow Could I?\u201d Paul Masvidal and his colleges completely acting with headless guitars \/ bass didn\u2019t run around which would have disturbed the art created on stage. With loud jubilations the band left the venue after a fascinating gig.<\/p>\n

Headhunter<\/strong> Thrash Metal \u2013 fans know Destruction\u2019s mainman Marcel Schirmer alias Schmier founded another band in the early 90\u2019s. After a lot of fans\u2019 wishes to reanimate this one those got fulfilled in Wacken. Songs like \u201cRead My Lips\u201d, \u201cSilverskull\u201d, the title track of their debut record \u201cParody Of Life\u201d or \u201cSigns Of Insanity\u201d showed a much more variable sound than Schmier\u2019s main band which I preferred much more. To my surprise Schmier performed the clean vocal parts pretty confident. I hope they continue with this band!<\/p>\n

Sabaton<\/strong> The Swedes play some kind of True Metal I usually don\u2019t appreciate. But in contrast to other acts of this genre they don\u2019t take themselves that serious and take care about partying with the audience. So they did this time and the crowd celebrated \u201cRise Of Evil\u201d, \u201cPanzer Battalion\u201d, \u201cAttero Dominatus\u201d, \u201cPrimo Victoria\u201d and \u201cThe Art Of War\u201d. The band, completely suited in military clothes, as fans had fun.<\/p>\n

Massacre<\/strong> In the early evening it was time for old school – Death Metal from Florida. The band around mainman Kam Lee mainly concentrated on material from their \u201cFrom Beyond\u201d \u2013 classic like its title track, \u201cBiohazard\u201d, \u201cDefeat Remains\u201d, \u201cProvoked Accurser\u201d and \u201cCorpsegrinder\u201d. Tracks that usually should guarantee a great show, but they didn\u2019t. Kam Lee, suited in a skeleton outfit, just did one stupid announcement after another, his bandmates seemed to be pretty unmotivated and the sound didn\u2019t rule at all. So this gig turned out to a long awaited as disappointing one.<\/p>\n

The Haunted<\/strong> The fivepiece from Helsingborg opened by the video-single \u201cThe Flood\u201d from their latest album \u201cThe Dead Eye\u201d in a smashing set. This contained with \u201cMoronic Colossus\u201d a new song from the next release. The rest turned out to a best of \u2013 show considering all phases of The Haunted by another track from the current album \u201cThe Failure\u201d, \u201cShadow World\u201d, \u201cHollow Ground\u201d, \u201cAll Against All\u201d and the final double-shot \u201cDark Intensions\u201d \/ \u201cBury Your Dead\u201d. What a setlist! By the way: To those who thought this The Haunted \u2013 slot would just happen as a warm-up for the next day\u2019s At The Gates \u2013 reunion got proved wrong. The complete band including the Bj\u00f6rler – brothers performed an intense show.<\/p>\n

Crematory<\/strong> The German Gothic Metal \u2013 band had become a steady guest in Wacken after all these years. And even deep in the night they filled up the festival ground in front of the Party Stage. Fronter Felix & Co played all their hits and reached much applause for those. I felt bored while the numerous of fans celebrated their darlings.<\/p>\n

W.E.T. Stage<\/em>
\nBloodwork<\/strong> (Metal Battle Germany) After I had experienced these hopefuls from Paderborn in their first Metal Battle West Germany \u2013 round they also won the German final. So I was curious about how they would be able to transform these club \u2013 successes on a festival including being part of the international final. And the five guys rocked! They performed by \u201cDemonic\u201d, their hit \u201cSilent Revolution\u201d, \u201cHellbound\u201d, \u201cDeadlock\u201d and \u201cInsufficient\u201d Melodic Death Metal \u2013 songs with catchy choruses which caught the attraction as sympathy of the people attending in the tent who celebrated this professional performance.<\/p>\n

Autumn<\/strong> I discovered this Dutch Gothic Metal \u2013 band for the first time as a newcomer opening the Dynamo Open Air 2002 on its Tent Stage. Last year they signed at Metal Blade releasing by \u201cMy New Time\u201d a wonderful new album. On material from this the musicians put their main focus playing \u201cClosest Friends Conspire\u201d, \u201cAngel Of Desire\u201d, \u201cSatellites\u201d, \u201cBlue Wine\u201d, the title track and \u201cState Of Mind\u201d. By the way the band introduced their very new singer Marjan Welman known from Ayreon. She had a great voice as life-presence sometimes reminding of ex \u2013 The Gathering \u2013 voice Anneke van Giersbergen. The band also presented a new song written with her for the next album. With the title track of their second output \u201cSummer\u2019s End\u201d they finished a very good show in front of a small, but completely entertained crowd.<\/p>\n

Excrementory Grindfuckers<\/strong> Astonishing! The Grind Party \u2013 band filled up the tent deep in the night. With funny own songs like greetings to the fronter of the Japanische Kampfh\u00f6rspiele by \u201cHey Boni\u201d and grinding interpretations of well-known Pop- and Schlager-hits like \u201cEin Bisschen Grind Muss Sein\u201d, \u201cFata Morgana\u201d and the final \u201cNationalgrind Nr. 1\u201d the quintet with two frontiers spread fun and took care of one big party. What a cool final act closing the Wacken \u2013 Friday!<\/p>\n

Saturday<\/strong>
\nTrue Metal Stage<\/em>
\nSweet Savage<\/strong> After the cancelation of the The Darkness – successors Stone Gods Exodus switched on their position playing two hours later and Sweet Savage replaced their slot after they had played on the Wednesday\u2019s warm-up. But most of the fans went to the stage to see Bay Area Thrash instead of the Rock \u2018n\u2019 Roll of the Irish band and departed. So Sweet Savage didn\u2019t win that much support.<\/p>\n

Exodus<\/strong> Wow, what a beginning! The Bay Area Thrash Metal \u2013 institution did this by their hymn \u201cBonded By Blood\u201d followed by the classics \u201cA Lesson In Violence\u201d. The crowd reacted with a wild moshpit and this appearance could have become a great one. But the voice of new fronter Rob Dukes turned out to a sucking one on stage in contrast to his achievement on the new \u201cThe Atrocity Exhibition Exhibit A\u201d \u2013 release. But this got undercut by his stageacting: Looking with his star-spangled shorts ridiculous enough Rob Dukes did an anti-Islam announcement. Idiot, it\u2019s time for Another Lesson In Intelligence!<\/p>\n

As I Lay Dying<\/strong> San Diego\u2019s finest offered Melodic Death Metal and found thousands of willing supporters who seemed just awaiting this hour in the late afternoon. From the beginning with the intro (\u201cSeparation\u201d) and the opener (\u201cNothing Left\u201d) of the current hammer-album \u201cAn Ocean Between Us\u201d the quintet ruled the festival area. Each song of the tracklist consisting of their latest three albums got celebrated: \u201cConfined\u201d, \u201cForever\u201d, \u201cWithin Destruction\u201d with a huge circle-pit, \u201cForsaken\u201d, \u201cThe Darkest Nights\u201d, \u201cDistance Is Darkness\u201d, \u201cMeaning In Tragedy\u201d, the title track of their new mentioned masterpiece, the rare played classic \u201cElegy\u201d, \u201cThe Sound Of Truth\u201d supported by Neaera-shouter Benny from the middle of the song and the a wall of death creating \u201c94 Hours\u201d, band as fans were still in action celebrating an overwhelming show. With \u201cThrough Struggle\u201d the band bid farewell to an outpowered, but happy crowd. Like I already wrote: Overwhelming!<\/p>\n

Killswitch Engage<\/strong> Another band celebrating their appearance becoming a triumphant march was the Melodic Death Metal \u2013 band from Massachusetts. Starting with the current album-opener and title track \u201cDaylight Dies\u201d the quintet fascinated the masses. Those raged throughout \u201cThe Arms Of Sorrow\u201d, \u201cBreathe Life\u201d, \u201cRose Of Sharyn\u201d with a huge wall of death, \u201cMy Curse\u201d, \u201cA Bid Farewell\u201d and \u201cLife To Lifeless\u201d. Howard Jones impressed by his very variable voice combining all shouts, grunts as wonderful sung clean vocals and guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz entertained by running miles on stage, making grimaces and his announcements like his Emo-Pussy-comment. Those guys live their music and love to perform this live. So the band finished a much supported and celebrated appearance by \u201cThis Is Absolution\u201d causing another big circle-pit, the classic semi-balad \u201cMy Last Serenade\u201d and the Dio-cover \u201cHoly Diver\u201d. Outstanding!<\/p>\n

Nightwish<\/strong> The Finish band returned after several WOA-participations introducing their new singer Anette Olzon. She rocked, acted and sang convincing. Although she probably didn\u2019t win any Tarja Turunen \u2013 die-hard-fan most fans accepted and celebrated her performance. But in contrast to the acts before the fivepiece had several sound problems throughout their showcase containing new \u201cDark Passion Play\u201d – material (\u201cAmaranth\u201d, \u201cBye Bye Beautiful\u201d) and classics (\u201cNemo\u201d, \u201cWishmaster\u201d) . So this one didn\u2019t become a real new breakthrough. Just the immense light show and the pyro \u2013 show effects completely worked well these 90 minutes. Sad but true!<\/p>\n

Lordi<\/strong> It was on to the Finish sensation to finish this year\u2019s Wacken after they had canceled last year\u2019s appearance. And the masked band entertained by all their gimmicks and special effects like the chainsaw and lots of pyros throughout their show considering the opener \u201cBringing Back The Balls To Rock\u201d, \u201cThe Kids Who Wanna Play With The Dead\u201d, \u201cRock The Hell Outta You\u201d with an axe throwing out sparks, \u201cLose Your Daddy\u201d, \u201cWho\u2019s Your Daddy?\u201d, \u201cIt Snows In Hell\u201d and \u201cBlood Red Sandman\u201d. With \u201cWould You Love A Monsterman?\u201d and the Grand Prix d\u2019Eurovision \u2013 victory \u2013 hit \u201cHard Rock Hallelujah\u201d including many special effects Mr. Lordi and his monsters finished a spectacular show as the Wacken Open Air!<\/p>\n

Black Stage<\/em>
\n3 Inches Of Blood<\/strong> True Metal which had got promoted as Metalcore in the past appearing on the Black Stage is not an ordinary phenomenon. While the grunts of guitarist Justin Hugberg sounded pretty okay to my ears the high pitched vocals of Cam Pipes cut them nearly off. So many curious metalheads went away after a few tracks. Just a few stayed to support new \u201cFire Up The Blades\u201d \u2013 material (\u201cForest King\u201d) as tracks from the both longplayers before (\u201cRide Darkhorse Ride\u201d, \u201cDeadly Sinners\u201d). To me it was horrible!<\/p>\n

Holy Moses<\/strong> The German Thrash \u2013 icon around Sabina Classen followed. Their setlist considered tracks from their new \u201cAgony Of Death\u201d \u2013 output like \u201cWorld in Darkness\u201d and \u201cBloodbound Of The Damned\u201d as many old classics like \u201cEarth Destroyer\u201d or the finishing \u201cStrength, Power, Will, Passion\u201d – song \u201cEnd Of Time\u201d. The group was motivated offering a good show, but to me they\u2019re still pretty average musically!<\/p>\n

Hatebreed<\/strong> The nowadays most popular Hardcore \u2013 band appearing in Wacken: A few years ago this idea would have been unimaginable. But the WOA evolved as the whole metal-community and that\u2019s good this way! The festival area turned out to a huge mosh-pit and even the band was pretty astonished causing such reactions on unknown territory. Fronter Jamey Jasta emphasized for several times how much that means to the band, and it looked as felt authentic. With their smashers \u201cLive For This\u201d, \u201cTo The Threshold\u201d or \u201cI Will Be Heard\u201d they kept thousands of fans in motion.<\/p>\n

Carcass<\/strong> The Death Metal \u2013 legend is back! So long all of their numerous fans as me had been waiting for this happening. Jeff Walker, Bill Steer, Michael Amott and Daniel Erlandsson opened their show with \u201cInpropagation\u201d, \u201cBuried Dreams\u201d and \u201cCorporal Jigsore Company\u201d. After this strong beginning added by \u201cCarnal Forge\u201d the Swedes got assisted by Arch Enemy \u2013 vocalist Angela Gossow during \u201cIncarnate Solvent Abuse\u201d which was pretty unnecessary. \u201cNo Love Lost\u201d brought the performance back to the high level. The highlight of the show happened when the original drummer Ken Owen who supported his comrades for a short while. He wasn\u2019t able to play a full show because of sanitary reasons. Their set considered different phases from their career. So by classics like \u201cKeep On Rotting In A free World\u201d, \u201cExume To Consume\u201d and the final \u201cHeartwork\u201d they took care of their headbanging fan-crowd.<\/p>\n

At The Gates<\/strong> The next long awaited reunion was that one of the Melodic Death Metal \u2013 Gothenburg \u2013 sound \u2013 founders. And this one turned out to remain as a very special stirring one! Their setlist contained songs of all their releases with the main focus on their \u201cSlaughter Of The Soul\u201d \u2013 masterpiece. With its title track they began the show followed by \u201cRaped by The Light Of Christ\u201d and \u201cUnder A Serpent Sun\u201d. The motivated band including the next Erlandsson (Adrian) on drums performed a rare show with a setlist that should have fulfilled most whishes supported by a great sound. So they earned massive support by many thousands of fans for \u201cThe Red In The Sky Is Ours\u201d, \u201cWorld Of Lies\u201d, \u201cBurning Darkness\u201d, \u201cNausea\u201d, \u201cThe Beautiful Wound\u201d, \u201cAll Life Ends\u201d from their debut \u2013 EP \u201cGardens Of Grief\u201d and \u201cNeed\u201d before the band left the stage. They returned for the much celebrated encores \u201cBlinded By Fear\u201d, \u201cSuicide Nation\u201d and \u201cKingdom Gone\u201d to close an excellent performance lead by a very strong as sympathic frontman Thomas \u2018Tompa\u2019 Lindberg and the two Bj\u00f6rler \u2013 brothers. What an overwhelming show! I hope they will return as soon as possible!<\/p>\n

Kreator<\/strong> The Thrash \u2013 icon from Essen performed a stirring show in the deep night in front of a pretty huge crowd. After beginning with \u201cViolent Revolution\u201d, \u201cPleasure To Kill\u201d, \u201cEnemy Of God\u201d and \u201cPeople Of The Lie\u201d fronter Mille showed for another time he\u2019s belonging to the thinking heads of the Metal scene doing a clear anti-racism-announcement: \u201cMetal and racism don\u2019t work together!\u201d After getting jubilated loudly for this the quartet continued their best-of-set consisting of \u201cTerror Zone\u201d, \u201cExtreme Aggressions\u201d, \u201cPhobia\u201d and \u201cBetrayer\u201d before they left stage. Mille & Co entered it again for performing the encores \u201cReconquering The Throne\u201d and \u201cFlag Of Hate\u201d \/ \u201cTormentor\u201d. Supported by a cool light show and some pyros the fourpiece succeeded. Especially the pyro effect after the last played tone showed all fans between stage and sound tower how hot hell must be. Just Mille\u2019s long announcement before \u201cFlag Of Hate\u201d became a little bit too cheesy. Anyway: Strong show!<\/p>\n

Party Stage<\/em>
\nMachine Men<\/strong> The Finish Melodic Metal \u2013 band opened the last day of this year\u2019s WOA in front of a pretty rare filled festival area. Another band from Suomi belonging to this sub-genre? Yes, but they weren\u2019t similar to Stratovarius and Sonata Arctica. Instead of that the quintet sounded pretty Iron Maiden \u2013 influenced. They promoted their current \u201cCircus Of Fools\u201d \u2013 album by its title track \u201cThe Shadow Gallery\u201d, \u201cTalk To The Seasons\u201d and \u201cNo Talk Without The Giant\u201d. Those as songs from their first two longplayers like \u201cFalling\u201d or \u201cApathy\u201d entertained these few spectators well which spent applause.<\/p>\n

Mercenary<\/strong> The next Melodic Metal \u2013 act magnetized numerous fans in front of their stage. Of course, the Danish band already had their breakthrough. Lead by the clean vocals of Mikkel Sandager, the guitar riffs as solos by Martin Buus and the grunts of second sixstringer Rene Pedersen the band performed their \u201cThe Hours That Remain\u201d- (\u201cRedefine Me\u201d, \u201cLost Reality\u201d, \u201cMy Secret Window\u201d) and \u201c11 Dreams\u201d- (the title track, \u201cFiresoul\u201d) based set very well, but just the sound didn\u2019t work well at all. The variable band also introduced with \u201cExecution Style\u201d a brandnew song from their forthcoming album.<\/p>\n

Obituary<\/strong> Florida\u2019s Death Metal \u2013 legend appeared in the late afternoon. So not the worst position in the billing you might think. But the band acted pretty unmotivated and John Tardy didn\u2019t really communicate with the fans. So those just chose the left option to headbang to \u201cTurned Inside Out\u201d, \u201cCause Of Death\u201d, \u201cEvil Ways\u201d and the Celtic Frost \u2013 cover \u201cDethroned Emperor\u201d. Anyway this was disappointing, but we know usually they can do much better!<\/p>\n

Krypteria<\/strong> What followed was one of the worst Gothic Rock\/Metal \u2013 appearances ever. The fourpiece let miss any originality and bored on stage. Their singer Ji-In Cho showed a pretty thin voice and stuck on my nerves with her gothic-somewhat-stageacting. That\u2019s probably why the German fourpeace didn\u2019t achieve any louder reactions for their debut-tracks like \u201cThe Promise\u201d, \u201cAll Systems Go\u201d, \u201cLost\u201d and \u201cSomebody Save Me\u201d.<\/p>\n

Girug\u00e4mesh<\/strong> After Mucc, Despair\u2019s Ray and Dir En Grey over the latest three WOA-editions this time Girug\u00e4mesh appeared in Wacken playing music from their new release \u201cMusic\u201d like \u201cAlive\u201d or \u201cFreaks\u201d. As the last mentioned title the bandmembers looked like. Playing a style between Melodic Punk Rock, Emo and Gothic the Japanese band just interested the first few rows.<\/p>\n

Axxis<\/strong> To its 20th anniversary the German Hardrock \u2013 institution played a best-of-show interesting many people in front of the stage. Besides the title track of the current \u201cDoom Of Destiny\u201d \u2013 record singer Bernhard Wei\u00df & Co performed classics like \u201cLiving In A World\u201d, \u201cBrother Moon\u201d, \u201cTouch The Rainbow\u201d and \u201cKingdom Of The Night\u201d. Their fans took part in the rocking party which entertained very well!<\/p>\n

W.E.T. Stage<\/em>
\nTorture Squad<\/strong> I was curious about the Brasilian WOA – Metal Battle 2007 \u2013 winner. Presenting their brandnew release \u201cHellbound\u201d the fourpiece convinced by their high motivation, but their music sounded much too old-school-forced and fatuous. A bunch of guys banged their heads, but most people seemed to share my opinion. Anyway they turned out to be a sympathic band because of their ambition, but this isn\u2019t quite enough to convince at all.<\/p>\n

Conclusion:<\/strong>
\nAs I mentioned in the introduction the organization worked very well still achieving improvements for the visitors like raising the access to the Party Stage \u2013 area a lot!<\/p>\n

This years WOA-billing was probably the best ever combining top bands of all different sub-genres, successful Metal-giants as hopeful newcomers in each of them! And after having with Iron Maiden the biggest Metal-band so far in Wacken rumors mention names like AC\/DC, Metallica and Ramstein! We\u2019ll see what happens and keep you informed about for sure!<\/p>\n

The prices for food and beverages stayed the same as the years before (e.g. 3,00 \u20ac for a o,4 l beer or softdrink).<\/p>\n

We enjoyed our first dozen of Wacken-participations and are looking forward to our 13th one! See you in Wacken 2009 \u2013 rain or shine!
\nSpecial thanks go out to Britta Kock, Sheree Hesse and the WOA-team!!!!!<\/p>\n

At the Wacken Open Air rocked, drank and partied Tobi Wan Kenobi, Sebi Sebericks, Dumbo and Nic!!!!!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WACKEN OPEN AIR 2008 We remember the WOA-edition of 2007 when an endless rain had impeded the festival preparations and had flooded several camp grounds as the festivalsite right before the WOA started. With immense organization abilities the organizers took care about another big success of their festival. A year later the fans reacted with … <\/p>\n

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