Wacken Open Air<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the rain and mud armageddon in 2023 everything was set for the yearly spectacle in the mostfamous Metal village of the world. The weather was with the organizers, bands as fans experiencing avery well-organized huge festival.
This year the metalheads got to plan their arrivals in time slots which made it much easier and quicker toarrive on the area and built up their tents. From sunday on they had the opportunity to enter the holyground.
After several shows on the smaller stages the days before the official program started on wednesday. Lead by Korn, Amon Amarth, Blind Guardian, In Extremo and Accept the attractive billing included several interesting bands the visitors were waiting for.
At this year\u2019s Wacken Open Air more than 200 acts appeared on the ten regular stages besides three occasionally played onees in four days for 85000 visitors (Sold out!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wednesday<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Faster<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n B\u00fclent Ceylan<\/strong> Ten years after his first WOA-participation the comedian returned to Wacken. This timehe performed with a backing band. Highlight of the show became the guest-appearances of Saltation Mortis for \u201eBr\u00fcder\u201c and Peter Maffay for \u201eAnders Gleich\u201c chanting a strong statement against racism. Louder<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Crystal Viper<\/strong> The fourpiece from Katowice started the \u201eladies day\u201c on the Louder Stage and considered by their traditional Metal most outputs of their earlier band history. By the opener \u201eFever Of The Gods\u201c and its title song they introduced two tracks from their brandnew release \u201eThe Silver Key\u201c as well. Lead by their front voice \/ guitarist Marta the band enthused the crowd. Thursday<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Faster<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Skyline <\/strong>The traditional thursday infield opening by the Wacken home band happened by the Airbourne cover \u201eRunnin’ Wild\u201c. This year’s highlight became their cover versions of the two Journey classics \u201eSeperate Ways (Worlds Apart)\u201c and \u201eWheel In The Sky\u201c which they performed together with Anthrax- vocalist Joey Belladonna. Harder<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Rage <\/strong>The trio from the Ruhr valley showed in the following hour what good Metal songs and pure live passion are about. After \u201eCold Desire\u201c and \u201eUnder A Black Crown\u201c from their new double-album \u201eAfterlifelines\u201c bandleader Peavy and his two comrades enthused by the classics \u201eSolitary Man\u201c, \u201eBlack In Mind\u201c as \u201eRefuge\u201c showing themselves still in best shape after 40 years. The fans celebrated them by headbanging, singing along and crowdsurfing. This interaction became even more during the show final consisting of \u201eEnd Of All Days\u201c, \u201eStraight To Hell\u201c, \u201eDon’t Fear The Winter\u201c and \u201eHigher Than The Sky\u201c which got sung by several fans on their way to the next stage. Louder<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Armored Saint <\/strong>The powerful Melodic Metal machine from Los Angeles was back in Wacken. Lead by the charismatic voice of John Bush the quintet showed they still have their punch after more than four decades. \u201eLast Train Home\u201c gained loud singalongs, \u201eMarch Of The Saint\u201c got celebrated as well. \u201eCan U Deliver\u201c, \u201eReign Of Fire\u201c and \u201eMad House\u201c finished an asskicking show enthusing all present spectators. Friday<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Faster<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sonata Arctica<\/strong> In front of a winter wonderland backdrop relating to their new album \u201eClear Cold Beyond\u201c the Finnish Melodic Metal quintet considered by the opener \u201eFirst In Line\u201c, \u201eDark Empath\u201c, \u201eCalifornia\u201c and \u201eAngeld Defiled\u201c four songs of it. By \u201eI Have A Right\u201c as the amazing final consisting of the ballad \u201eReplica\u201c, \u201eFullMoon\u201c and \u201eDon’t Say A Word\u201c (including \u201eVodka\u201c-reminiscense the nowadays greyer Tony Kakko & Co convinced their fans by his clean voice and a tight performance. Harder<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Amity<\/strong> Affliction To my surprise with Jonathan Reeves instead of Ahren Stringer on the bass as the clean vocals the quartet from Brisbane returned to Wacken. By \u201ePittsburgh\u201c, All My Friends Are Dead\u201c and \u201eDrag The Lake\u201c they directly started by a couple of their best melodic melancholic Metalcore- compositions attracting the interaction with the audience. Lead by the shouts of Joel Birch and a tight performance \u201eDon’t Lean On Me\u201c and \u201eSoak Me In Bleach\u201c finished a show which might have won several new fans. Louder<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ankor<\/strong> One of the big surprises of WOA 2023 returned to Wacken. Just well-known it was a risk for the Spanish Modern Metal quintet around the variable voice of British singer Jessie Williams to perform seven yet unknown songs from their forthcoming album between flowers decorating the stage. It worked anyway with the motivated crowd, so they did during older titles like \u201eWalking Dead\u201c and \u201eHill Valley\u201c. Saturday<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Faster<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tankard <\/strong>Right before noon the fourpiece from Frankfurt invited to a sympathic hour of 42 years old Teutonic Thrash Metal. Their backdropp entitled them \u201ethe kings of beer\u201c, and smashers like \u201eBeerbarians\u201c, \u201eA Girl Called Cerveza\u201c and \u201eFreibier\u201c as its celebration by the fans some kind of confirmed that. In the end the well-entertaining fronter Gerre shouted together with Holy Moses’ Sabina Classen \u201eEmpty Tankard\u201c. Harder<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Raven <\/strong>On my first Wacken-visit I watched the NWOBHM-icon on saturday night. This time the trio around the Gallagher-brothers in the noon of the latest day. For some reason it wasn’t that crowded as a band still kicking ass deserves after 50 years. Anyway the band acted motivated and got celebrated by the present supporters for \u201eRock Until You Drop\u201c, \u201eFaster Than The Speed Of Light\u201c as \u201eOn And On\u201c. Louder<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Emil Bulls<\/strong> Although vocalist Christoph did a charity bike ride for the Wacken Foundation from his home town Munich to Wacken he still was in good condition. The current album \u201eLove Will Fix It\u201c got considered by its title song, the rest of the one hour set contained classics like \u201eThe Age Of Revolution\u201c, \u201eThe Most Evil Spell\u201c, \u201eThe Jaws Of Oblivion\u201c as \u201eWhen God Was Sleeping\u201c and left their fans happy after singing their choruses with them. Conclusion:<\/strong> We enjoyed our Wacken 2024! So see you in Wacken 2025 \u2013 rain or shine which will be the 25th WOA-visit for the writer of these lines! Special thanks go out the WOA-team & ICS Marketing GmbH! At the Wacken Open Air rocked, drank and partied Mr. Welldone & Mr. Cellar!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Wacken Open Air After the rain and mud armageddon in 2023 everything was set for the yearly spectacle in the mostfamous Metal village of the world. The weather was with the organizers, bands as fans experiencing avery well-organized huge festival.This year the metalheads got to plan their arrivals in time slots which made it much … <\/p>\n
The Darkness<\/strong> The British Rock formation came to Wacken for their first time. Fronted by their voice Sam Hawkins – including highest tone-possibilities – the quartet attracted numerous spectators on the infield. The vocalist showed his entertainer abilities by his funny monologues between the songs. So they did by the Led-Zeppelin-cover \u201eImmigrant Song\u201c as by their debut-hits \u201eGet Your Hands Of My Woman\u201c and \u201eI Believe In A Thing Called Love\u201c.
Flogging Molly<\/strong> The sixpack around bandleader Dave King from Los Angeles presented a best of program of their Irish Folk starting with the classic \u201eDrunken Lullabies\u201c. The crowd applauded, danced and sang along during the following 75 minutes celebrating a nice early evening culminating in \u201eCrushed (A Hostile Nation)\u201c including a dedication to Sinnead O’ Connor. After \u201eSeven Deadly Sins\u201c Dave King announced the following headliner In Extremo.
In Extremo<\/strong> By their tenth WOA-appearance the sixpiece from Berlin could experience with their supporters a mentionable anniversary. And so they did, from the beginning they celebrated \u201eTroja\u201c, \u201eVollmond\u201c, \u201eK\u00fcss Mich\u201c as \u201eAi Vis Lo Lop\u201c. By its title track, \u201eWeckt Die Toten\u201c and \u201eUnser Song\u201c they presented three tracks from their forthcoming album \u201eWolkenschieber\u201c to be released in september. For the last named title vocalist Michael Rhein got support by Santiano’s fronter Bj\u00f6rn Both. \u201eSpielmannsfluch\u201c and \u201ePikse Palve\u201c as lots of pyros and fireworks marked the end of an inspiring headliner show. And the fans got the advise In Extremo will celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2025 with a festival at the Loreley, so they got another festival hightlight next year besides Wacken.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Butcher Babies<\/strong> Lady on microphone plus three guys as instrumentalists was the concept of the following act as well. But this time the sound was less traditional than quite more modern. After Carla Harvey had quit the band due to health reasons just the same month the left front lady Heidi Shepherd had to do the vocal job on her own, and she didn’t do well over the whole hour. Anyway, \u201eMagnolia Blvd.\u201c finished an energetic show resulting in much jubilation.
Girlschool <\/strong>The all-female-NWOBHM-icon couldn’t have missed on wednesday’s Louder Stage billing. Kim McAuliffe & Co mainly focussed on their 80ies classics and added by \u201eRace With The Devil\u201c of The Gun and \u201eBomber\u201c of Mot\u00f6rhead which gained the loudest reactions from the crowd.
The Warning<\/strong> The Villareal Velez sisters from Monterrey inspired by their fresh as tight sounding Hardrock. Mainly considering their brandnew album \u201eFed Me Up\u201c by the opener \u201eSICK\u201c, \u201eQu\u00e9 M\u00e1s Quieres\u201c, \u201eEscapism\u201c, \u201eSix Feet Deep\u201c, \u201eSharks\u201c, \u201eHell You Call A Dream\u201c and \u201eAutomatic Sun\u201c. The Mexican trio completely convinced by their three brilliant voices as by their instrumental abilities and became one of the big surprises of this year’s WOA.
Tina Guo<\/strong> The cellist from Los Angeles appeared with her backing band combining Metal and Classic Music in a pretty innovative way. The audience needed a couple of songs to get familiar with the sound spent more and more applause after each title. For \u201eWarrior\u201c from the \u201eDune\u201c-soundtrack the familiar Jennifer Haben of Beyond The Black assisted the formation getting the loudest jubilation.
Suzi Quattro<\/strong> The grande dame of Hardrock and probably the oldest artist of the festival (74 years old) populated the stage area by lots of spectators to witness the following 90 minutes. Besides own classics like \u201eStumblin’ In\u201c, \u201eCan The Can\u201c, \u201eDevil Gate Drive\u201c or \u201eIf You Can’t Give Me Love\u201c she and her numerous musicians enthused by their cover versions of Neil Young’s \u201eRockin’ In The Free World\u201c, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s \u201eBad Moon Rising\u201c as Chuck Berry’s \u201eSweet Little Rock ‘n’ Roller\u201c which marked the end of a nice time travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Axel Rudi Pell<\/strong> Nine years ago Bochum’s finest appeared for the last time in Wacken, so it was time for this show. Their drummer Bobby Rondinelli got replaced by Andree Schneider pretty well for this show due to surgical reasons. The biggest star of this performance was singer Johnny Gioeli impressing by his interpretation of Leonard Cohen’s \u201eHallelujah\u201c and making the questionable decision to cover this song a good one. By the opener \u201eForever Strong\u201c and \u201eDarkest Hour\u201c the quintet considered two songs from their brandnew album \u201eRisen Symbol\u201c. Johny Gioeli animated the audience to interact from \u201eStrong As A Rock\u201c on. So this show ending by \u201eFool Fool\u201c and \u201eRock The Nation\u201c, which the band interrupted by some kind of mannequin challenge for a few seconds, turned out to a successful Wacken-return of Pell & Co.
Accept <\/strong>Opening with \u201eThe Reckoning\u201c as the title track and letting follow \u201eStraight Up Jack\u201c the Teutonic Metal icon considered material from their new release. Of course the undying classics were the main subjects the numerous supporters were waiting for. Supported by a bombastic sound they celebrated \u201eRestless And Wild\u201c, \u201ePrincess Of The Dawn\u201c, \u201eMetal Heart\u201c and \u201eFast As A Shark\u201c together. This classic set found its ideal end by \u201eBalls To The Wall\u201c performed together with K.K. Priest’s vocalist Tim \u201eRipper\u201c Owens.
Growling Creatures<\/strong> The final thursday night happening on the infield was a drone show about endangered species. A surprising as good issue on a metal festival!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
KK’s Priest<\/strong> The ex-guitarist K.K. Downing and ex-siren Tim \u201eRipper\u201c Owens of the NWOBHM-legend Judas Priest welcomed a pretty filled infield. Besides material from their two outputs \u201eSermons Of The Sinner\u201c and \u201eThe Sinner Rides Again\u201c the numerouus supporters of course waited for Priest-classics. And they got what they demanded by \u201ePriest\u201c-chants. \u201eThe Ripper\u201c, \u201eNight Crawler\u201c, \u201eHell Patrol\u201c and \u201eBreaking The Law\u201c satisfying their needs for JP-classics. By the newer encore \u201eRaise Your Fists\u201c K.K., Tim & Co finished a successful huge stage comeback.
Scorpions <\/strong>The last time the German Hardrock-icon appeared in Wacken was on their farewell tour in 2012. Twelve years later they still rocked playing a remarkable headliner set. \u201eThe Zoo\u201c, \u201eBlackout\u201c, \u201eTease Me, Please Me\u201c as the ballad double of their megaseller \u201eCrazy World\u201c consisting of \u201eSend Me An Angel\u201c and \u201eWind Of Change\u201c with modified lyrics fitting to the current world situation got jubilated a lot. To its 40th anniversary Hannover’s finest performed most of the songs from their album classic \u201eLove At First Sting\u201c like \u201eBad Boys Running Wild\u201c, \u201eBig City Nights\u201c together with Doro as the encores \u201eStill Loving You\u201c and \u201eRock You Like A Hurricane\u201c. What an ideal set, just singer Klaus Meine sometimes didn’t seem to stand securely on his feet and looked a bit groggy. But this didn’t have any impact on his vocal performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr. Big<\/strong> Six years after their Wacken-premiere the Hardrockers from Los Angeles returned to the same stage (just at another location of the festival area) to play several classics in the beginning of their set by \u201eDaddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song)\u201c, \u201eAlive And Kickin’\u201c as \u201eGreen-Tinted Sixties Mind\u201c while ignoring their brandnew release \u201eTen\u201c completely. The most interaction with the fans of course happened during their hit ballad \u201eTo Be With You\u201c. After this the band being blessed having Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan on the six- as the four-stringed instruments performed cover versions of \u201eWild World\u201c (Cat Stevens), \u201eShy Boy\u201c (Talas) and \u201eBaba O’Riley\u201c (The Who) before leaving the stage.
Opeth <\/strong>Mikael Akerfeldt and his band had asked the fans about the setlist of their WOA-appearance, and so to nobody’s surprise it turned out to become a Progressive Death Metal show of the older days beginning with \u201eThe Grand Conjuration\u201c and \u201eDemon Of The Fall\u201c. Lots of fans shouted and headbanged probably witnessing the best show of the weekend. Besides celebrating one classic after another Mikael Akerfeldt showed his entertainer qualities for another time by pointing out on his missed luggage and announcing to auction his underwear after the following two weeks on tour. Playing the same time as The Scorpions on the Faster Stage he also asked why the fans aren’t there, advising he’s getting paid for being on the Louder Stage. Besides that he mentioned Scorpions-drummer Mickey Dee just kind of Swedish because he’s just from Gothenburg. The atmosphere between an outstanding performance, cool self-ironic statements and enthusiastic fans couldn’t have been better when \u201eDeliverance\u201c marked the end of this awesome performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beast In Black<\/strong> The Power Metal combo with the party approach from Helsinki welcomed many fans on the infield. A couple of them had fun with their sound, others got bored waiting till the \u201eEnd Of The World\u201c.
Feuerschwanz <\/strong>It was astonishing how this sixpiece (eightpiece with the two dancers) from Bavaria assembled the masses on the packed infield. On the one hand they had evolved over the years and performed a professional spectacle. On the other one it was still this party combo polarizing with its fun approach. Anyway, after finishing the set by the O-Zone cover \u201eDragosta Din Tei\u201c and \u201eDie H\u00f6rner Hoch\u201c the crowd jubilated their faves back to play the Manowar-cover \u201eWarriors Of The World United\u201c with their friends of Saltatio Mortis as by \u201eRohirrim\u201c and \u201eDas Elfte Gebot\u201c two further encores.
Blind Guardian<\/strong> Krefeld’s finest returned after eight years to Wacken and welcomed thousands of metalheads when entering the stage with \u201eImaginations From The Other Side\u201c. Band as fans seemed to be in best condition celebrating \u201eNightfall\u201c and \u201eThe Script For My Requiem\u201c together by much headbanging and loude singalongs. Between their songs vocalist Hansi K\u00fcrsch entertained by sympathic little stories before performinng the following hymns. After the epic ballad \u201eThe Bard’s Song – In The Forest\u201c, the classic \u201eMajesty\u201c and \u201eLost In The Twilight Hall\u201c the sixpiece returned to bid farewell by the encores \u201eSacred Worlds\u201c, \u201eValhalla\u201c and \u201eMirror, Mirror\u201c.
Avantasia <\/strong>The final 90 minutes belonged to Tobias Sammet and his Metal opera. On stage he got support by the voices of Seven Spires’ Adrienne Cowan, Pretty Maids’ Ronnie Atkins, H.E.A.T.’s Kenny Leckremo, Queensryche’s Geoff Tate, Magnum’s Bob Catley, Sinbreed’s Herbie Langhans and Moonlight Haze’s Chiara Trigarico performing in front of a detailed stage set including several costumes. The vocal duets satisfied the crowd’s expectations. After the encores \u201eLucifer\u201c and \u201eSign Of The Cross\u201c \/ \u201eThe Seven Angels\u201c the night ended with singalong chants of the audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spiritbox <\/strong>The shooting stars from Vancouver fascinated with their progressive Metalcore and the interplay between the voices of vocalist Courtney LaPlante and bassist\/backing vocals of Josh Gilbert (known from As I Lay Dying, Wovenwar, etc.) with their catchy choruses of \u201eAngel Eyes\u201c, \u201eRule Of Nines\u201c and \u201eHoly Roller\u201c. This atmosphere culminated before and with the first tones of \u201eCircle With Me\u201c by a remarkable wall of death. Great how, and they could have extended it 15 minutes longer instead of leaving the stage too early.
Gene Simmons Band<\/strong> One of the two KISS-mainmen appeared for the first time in Wacken. Musically classics like the opener \u201eDeuce\u201c, \u201eShout It Out Loud\u201c, \u201eI Love It Loud\u201c, \u201eCalling Dr. Love\u201c as newer own songs and other Hardrock-classics the band did a great job. But Gene Simmons’ longer monologues between the songs and the announced extension of the set over ten minutes became a bit ridiculous as respectless. This probably wasn’t the intention of the final \u201eRock And Roll All Nite\u201c when it had been written.
Korn <\/strong>After the more traditional Blind Guardian the icon of the so-called Nu Metal worked very well live in Wacken. \u201eA.D.I.D.A.S.\u201c as \u201eHere To Stay\u201c caused the first moshpits in the crowd. Instead of in front of a usual or digital backdrop the fivepiece from Bakersfield appeared under some kind of half screen which looked pretty cool as visual effect. The highlight became the middle section with \u201eBlind\u201c, \u201eGot The Life\u201c and \u201eFalling Away From Me\u201c with lots of crowdsurfers and circle-pits. Ra Diaz from Suicidal Tendencies replaced the pausing Fieldy pretty well on the fivestring bass. \u201eFreak On A Leash\u201c marked the end of successful WOA-premiere by Jonathan Davis & Co. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Knorkator <\/strong>The weirdos from Berlin returned to Wacken to entertain for another time by their crazy as always funny show. During that Stumpen and Alf Ator got support by their children for a few songs. By organising their very own \u201ewall of circle\u201c, destroying a keyboard and other mad actions they had the Louder Stage crowd on their side very quickly while appearing against Korn on the Faster Stage. Even international spectators hadn’t just fun during their interpretation of Boney M.’s \u201eMa Baker\u201c. After the encores \u201eEigentum\u201c and \u201eZ\u00e4hneputzen, Pullern, Ab Ins Bett\u201c everyone walked away smiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oomph! <\/strong>After the split with lontime vocalist Dero the German Industrial institution returned to Wacken. Their new fronter Der Schulz was able to perform newer material from \u201eRichter Und Henker\u201c he had participated on record as classics like \u201eTr\u00e4umst Du\u201c, \u201eLabyrinth\u201c, \u201eGekreuzigt\u201c and the final hit \u201eAugen Auf\u201c many spectators sang along with him.
Sebastian Bach<\/strong> The original Skid Row singer appeared for the very first time in Wacken. Supported by a tight band three songs from his new album \u201eChild Within The Man\u201c got considered. Most of the show contained Skid Row classics as \u201eSlave To The Grind\u201c, \u201e18 And Life\u201c, \u201eMonkey Business\u201c, the ballad- classic \u201eI Remember You\u201c as the hymn \u201eYouth Gone Wild\u201c. Sebastian Bach and his band performed them brilliantly. Just the weather wasn’t their companion, the only mentionable rain of the weekend. Anyway, musicians as fans gave their best.
Behemoth <\/strong>\u201eUnce Upon A Pale Horse\u201c and \u201eOra Pro Nobis Lucifer\u201c opened the gates (\u201eov\u201c hell) to a majetic Black Death Metal show. Supported by many pyros ascolumns of smoke and dressed in different costumes including a mitra during \u201eBartzabel\u201c. The crowd headbanged and started first moshpits. Nergal and his band acted very tight and created a bombastic live monster even working while daylight. After \u201eChant For Eschaton 2000\u201c the quartet returned for the mighty encore \u201eO Father O Satan O Sun!\u201c leaving no wishes open.
Architects <\/strong>After an impressive drone show announcing the first band wave of WOA 2025 there still were thousands of fans for the innovative Metalcor band starting with their new hymn \u201eSeeing Red\u201c in a singalong chant. After Josh Middleton returning to his own band Sylosis he got replaced by guitarist Martyn Evans. Moderated by the strong UK-dialect of vocalist Sam Carter \u201eBlack Lungs\u201c, \u201eHereafter\u201c, \u201eRoyal Beggars\u201c, \u201eDoomsday\u201c as \u201eMeteor\u201c completely thrilled. The quintet performed an inspiring show on a stage set on two floors with digital backdrop screens on each showing videos to the songs. The crowd completely interacted with the band finishing incredible 75 minutes by \u201eAnimals\u201c with further loud
chorus singalongs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dragonforce <\/strong>The Melodic Speedster from London probably had the most colorful stage set of the weekend. Between huge dragons and big arcade automats the instrumentalists showed their abilities storming through their set considering by \u201ePower Of The Triforce\u201c and \u201eDoomsday Party\u201c two tracks from their new release \u201eWarp Speed Warriors\u201c. By covering Celine Dion’s \u201eMy Heart Will Go On\u201c and Taylor Swift’s \u201eWildest Dreams\u201c the quintet included a party part before finishing with their classic \u201eThrough The Fire And Flames\u201c while it started to rain.
Testament <\/strong>The rain just stopped when the Bay Area Thrash fivepiece entered the stage. Over these 75 minutes Chuck Billy & Co completely focussed on their first two albums \u201eThe Legacy\u201c and \u201eThe New Order\u201c. Lead by the incredible six- as fourstringer fraction they showed pure passion and agility performing \u201eThe Preacher\u201c, \u201eTrial By Fire\u201c, \u201eFirst Strike Is Deadly\u201c, \u201eAlone In The Dark\u201c as \u201eDisciples Of The Watch\u201c. By \u201eOver The Wall\u201c and \u201eInto The Pit\u201c a successful back-to-the-roots-show ended.
Amon Amarth<\/strong> Surrounded by two huge statues and with drummer Jocke Wallgren throning on a huge viking helmet the Swedes even topped the special effects of Behemoth right before. Between lots of pyros even happening on the sound towers the fivepiece brought the crowd in motion right from the beginning by their classics \u201eGuardians Of Asgard\u201c, \u201ePursuit Of Vikings\u201c and \u201eDeceiver Of The Gods\u201c. The packed infield headbanged and sang along the vikings’ hymns while fronter Johan Hegg throned over the scenery even including viking actors. The encores \u201eCrack The Sky\u201c and \u201eTwilight Of The Thunder God\u201c set the end of more than 100 minutes of viking warriors in dragon boats with Death Metal sound.
H\u00e4matom vs. Finch<\/strong> The slugfest between the Bavarian combo and the rapper turned out pretty ridiculious, so many visitors left the infield to other stages or the own tent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bury Tomorrow<\/strong> The sixpiece from Southampton might be used to rainy weather because when they started into their set by the triple from their recent album \u201eSeventh Star\u201c by its title song, Abandon Us\u201c and \u201eBegin Again\u201c they had to deal with rainm working very well. Daniel Winter-Bates and his five bandmates presented themselves very agile and animated the crowd to move during \u201eBlack Flame, \u201eEarthbound\u201c, \u201eMan On Fire\u201c as \u201eChoke\u201c while the rain became less and finally stopped. Anyway, stong performance!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First of all the weather worked very well. Besides that there was no short-term cancelation, so 85000 vicitors could watch numerous great shows.
The prices for food and beverages raised a bit as they currently do everywhere. 5,50 \u20ac for a beer or softdrink isn\u2019t more expensive than on any other big festival. By the way, the cashless payment worked very well making those things much easier as safer.
Saturday night the Wacken organizers announced the first for WOA 2023 inside a cool drone show: Apocalyptica, Saxon, Within Temptation, Dimmu Borgir, Ministry, Michael Schenker \u201cMy Years With UFO\u201c Set, Peyton Parrish, Beyond The Black, Clawfinger, Grave Digger \u201c45th Anniversary Show\u201d, Obituary, August Burns Red, Windrose, Brothers Of Metal, Tarja & Marko Hietala, Hanabie, Decapitated, Destruction, Celeste, Orange Goblin \u201c30th Anniversary\u201d, Angel Witch,, Dominum, Exhorder \u201cSlaughter In The Vatican Show\u201d, Night Demon \u201cCurse Of The Damned 10th Anniversary Show\u201d, Mimi Barks, Seven Spires, Clowns, Dool, Crownshift, Midnight \u201cComplete & Total Hell Set\u201d. More confirmations about published bands will follow soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n