{"id":490,"date":"2011-03-09T20:21:59","date_gmt":"2011-03-09T19:21:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/?page_id=490"},"modified":"2011-03-09T20:21:59","modified_gmt":"2011-03-09T19:21:59","slug":"wacken-2002-review","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/?page_id=490","title":{"rendered":"Wacken 2002 Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wacken 2002<\/strong>
\n2 days – 4 stages – over 80 bands …and just 4 eyes and ears to see and watch! \ud83d\ude09 So here you\u00b4ll find our impressions – We haven’t seen all bands – so maybe you\u00b4re missing one or more…<\/p>\n

Thursday \/ A night to remember:<\/strong>
\nDoro<\/strong> \u201eWacken \u2013 Rain Or Shine”: Thursday evening there was enough rain to cover the whole festival area into a mud ground, but not enough to stop the Doro fan community. About 15000 spectators watched the gig of the metal queen and evergreens like \u201eBurning The Witches”, \u201eAll We Are” and the ballad \u201eF\u00fcr Immer”. As long as one of my friends was searching in the mud for the lost key of his car, in which he had planned to sleep, me and my other friends were entertained well \u2013 from both actors, huhu!<\/p>\n

Rose Tattoo<\/strong> Without guitar original Pete Wells who stayed in Down Under because of cancer Angry (Lotte would say: Friendly) Anderson and his \u201ekangaroos” including Well\u2019s substitute Greg Jordan didn’t reach the same euphoria like Doro, but they were a worthy \u201eA Night To Remember” \u2013 headliner. They introduced six new songs and reached the best reactions with their hit \u201eNice Boys Don’t Play Rock ‘n’ Roll”.<\/p>\n

Friday<\/strong>
\nTrue Metal Stage<\/em>
\nAngra<\/strong> The first time I had the opportunity to watch the brasilian melodics without their charismatic ex-singer Andr\u00e9 Matos and instead of him with the new guy at the micro Eduardo Falaschi. With their only original members left the both guitarists Kiko Loureiro and Rafael Bittencourt the group convinced with mainly songs from the new album \u201eRebirth\u201c and the classics \u201eAngel\u2019s Cry\u201c, \u201eCarry On\u201c and \u201eNothing To Say\u201c.<\/p>\n

Pretty Maids<\/strong> The Melodic Metal legend from Danmark around singer Ronnie Atkins and guitarist Ken Hammer fascinated with a good combination of songs from the earlier days like \u201eFuture World\u201c and \u201eBack To Back\u201c and newer tracks like \u201eDestination Paradise\u201c and finished their set with the title track from their debut album \u201eRed, Hot and Heavy\u201c. It was an enthusiastic gig, but the keyboard sound could have been a little bit more lower.<\/p>\n

Savatage<\/strong> The headliner from \u201eWacken 1998\u201c performed another time like a, no like the headliner of the festival. After a, compared to Savatage conditions, disappointing album and a poor tour in january it was a little surprise the legend from Tampa found back to old strength with such intense. With their new singer Damon Jiniya and supported by \u201eAnnihilator\u201c-guitarist Jeff Waters this gig became phenomenal by old classics (\u201eSirens\u201c, \u201ePower of The Night\u201c, \u201eGutter Ballet\u201c) songs form the Zakk Stevens-era (\u201eEdge Of Thorns\u201c, \u201eA Hanful Of Rain\u201c, \u201eChance\u201c) and tracks from the new album \u201ePoets And Men\u201c (\u201eCommissar\u201c, \u201eMorphine Child\u201c). Highlight of this gig and the whole festival was the Criss Oliva – remembrance hymn sung by his brother Jon and thousands of fans. The definite best gig of \u201eWacken 2002\u201c!<\/p>\n

Bruce Dickinson<\/strong> The \u201eIron Maiden\u201c-frontman opened his appearance with \u201cSilver Wings\u201c and \u201eBack From The Edge\u201c. He killed the masses with own hits (\u201eRoad To Hell\u201c, \u201eThe Tower\u201c, \u201eDarkside Of Aquarius\u201c, \u201eTears Of The Dragon\u201c, \u201eLaughing In The Hiding Bush\u201c, \u201eTattoed Millionaire\u201c) as with Maiden-classics (\u201eRevelations\u201c, \u201eBring Your Daughter To The Slaughter\u201c, \u201eThe Prisoner\u201c, \u201ePowerslave\u201c). Bruce finished his set with the \u201eTom Jones\u201c-song \u201eDelilah\u201c. Compliment to my swedish friend Mikael, who was able to sing every verse, every word and even every syllable in the right term!<\/p>\n

Warlord<\/strong> The legend around its founding members Bill Tsamis and Fates Warning-drummer Mark Zonder played their first gig ever which became a big disappointment because of the guest musicians recruited by Hammerfall-singer Joacim Cans and by Black Jester- and Sigma-members. They posed too much and turned their appearance into a ridiculous one. Hymns like \u201eLost And Lonely Days\u201c and \u201eChild Of The Damned\u201c couldn\u2019t change my miserable impression of this gig.<\/p>\n

Black Stage<\/em>
\nDying Fetus<\/strong> The US-Death-Grinder around their frontman and bandleader John Gallagher grunted Wacken down with old school Death Metal like Melli enjoys it. With a tight set they kept the crowd banging their heads with old (\u201eKill Your Mother, Rape Your Dog”, \u201eGrotesque Impalement”) and new (\u201eSchematics”).<\/p>\n

Borknagar<\/strong> My first chance to watch the norwegians with their new, but well-known from his own self-titled band, singer Vintersorg, who is the only logic successor to ex-fronter Simen (Dimmu Borgir). There is no problem to him to interpret old songs (\u201eThe Eye Of Oden\u201c, \u201eOceans Rise\u201c, \u201eRuins of The Future\u201c, \u201eColossus\u201c) and to add songs from the current album \u201eEmpiricism\u201c (\u201eThe Genuine Pulse\u201c, \u201eGods Of My World\u201c). The band around Oystein G. Brun did their best, but they had the big disadvantage of a miserable sound.<\/p>\n

Children Of Bodom<\/strong> After three albums it’s not a matter of course being that popular like the Bodom sea band. The crowd was loud before, while and after tracks like \u201eDeadnight Warrior”, \u201eWarheart”, \u201eLake Bodom” and \u201eEverytime I Die”.<\/p>\n

In Extremo<\/strong> Germans biggest middle ages band besides \u201eSubway To Sally” astonished with their combination of Metal sound, medieval instruments and a pyro-fire show. \u201eAi vis lo lop”, \u201eVilleman og magnhild”, \u201eHerr Mannelig”, \u201eSpielmannsfluch”, \u201eVollmond”: All medieval songs with a special festival flair followed by a choir of thousands deep in the night.<\/p>\n

Party Stage<\/em>
\nMegaherz<\/strong> The \u201eNeue Deutsche H\u00e4rte”-Band (comparable to \u201eRammstein”) opened their set with \u201eHeute schon gelebt”, \u201eBei\u00df mich” and \u201eGlas und Tr\u00e4nen”. They offered a contrast programm to most other bands of the Wacken 2002 billing. The Comedy Highlight of the festival happened after \u201eI.M. Rumpelstilzchen” when singer Alexx proclaimed: \u201eYou all seem to be ‘prosperity kids’. Become artists, you won’t get any food at all.” With his statement he pointed out on a guy who looked like a humanimal version of the little ‘Michelin man’, while about ten securities tried to heave him out of the crowd.<\/p>\n

Dragonlord<\/strong> Black Metal from the Bay Area while sunshine: In Wacken there is still place for exotic combinations. The sideproject of Testament\u2019s sixstringer Eric Peterson, who croaked the hell out of him, presented songs of their debut \u201eRapture\u201c in a very competent way, but didn\u2019t earn that big resonances.<\/p>\n

Pungent Stench<\/strong> The austrian Death Metal-attack appeared in an s\/m-outfit and they were simply fast and loud. Their fans reacted with a hay-moshpit.<\/p>\n

My Dying Bride<\/strong> What a grandiose gig done by a band that had been criticised so often because of their missing live intensity in the past. But nevermind about this. The british Dark Metal phenomenon started with \u201eMy Hope, The Destroyer\u201c from the current \u201eThe Dreadful Hours\u201c-album. Drifted ashore by a very euphoric audience singer Aaron, who had become a much more extroverted fronter than before, and his band changed between melancholy and aggression by songs like \u201eBlack Heart Romance\u201c, \u201eShe Is The Dark\u201c, \u201eThe Cry Of Mankind\u201c and \u201eTurn Loose The Swans\u201c. Dark Metal in the dark night at its best!<\/p>\n

Red Aim<\/strong> Party Rock \u2018n\u2019 Roll on the Party Stage: A combination that worked in front of a smaller audience because of the late time. The group from Southern Germany, who wore a crazy red outfit, created a metal-polonaise in the spectatorship. Another cool creation done by the band was the Iron Maiden-cover \u201eThe Trooper\u201c played with an organ. But the highlight of the gig happened when singer Dr. Rogers oppened his shirt and presented his not too small belly. So one very drunk friend of mine, who emphasized every three minutes he had fallen in love with some girl, and me had much fun.<\/p>\n

W.E.T.-Stage<\/em>
\nWithering Surface<\/strong> They are red, they are white, they are Danish Dynamite! The Melodic Death Metal band presented material from their new album \u201eWalkin\u2019 On Phantom Ice\u201c. By songs like \u201eBreed What You Kill\u201c and \u201eSuite 304\u201c frontman Michael H. Andersson showed his variable voice between aggressive and melodic parts. The mixture of great songs and an active as sympathic stageacting convinced the crowd.<\/p>\n

Saturday<\/strong>
\nTrue Metal Stage<\/em>
\nVicious Rumors<\/strong> The Power Metal-pioneers from the Bay Area around guitar-genius Geoff Thorpe and his new guitar-duel-sidekick \u201eMr Very-Longhair\u201c Ira Black were the first highlight on Saturday. Supported by clear sound they recorded a live album. The fivepiece celebrated their hits (\u201eSoldiers Of The Night\u201c, \u201eDigital Dictator\u201c, \u201eDon\u2019t Wait For Me\u201c, \u201eAbandoned\u201c, \u201eMarch Or Die\u201c, \u201eYou Only Live Twice\u201c) and confirmed my impression form the january-tour with Savatage and Blaze: Singer Brian O\u2019 Connor deserves to carry on the spirit of Carl Albert which still lives in every song.<\/p>\n

Nuclear Assault<\/strong> Thrashback in Wacken: The New Yorker around shouter John Connelly and the tall fourstringer Danny Lilker started with \u201eLive, Suffer,Die\u201c and \u201eSin\u201c into their reunion-set. John was in a good mood and entertained with humor (\u201eLeave your arms down – it stinks\u201c) while his voice still sounds like in the late eighties. Me and my friends organised a big antisocial moshpit, but not everybody around us was amused. The fourpiece finished with \u201eMy America\u201c and \u201eHang The Pope\u201c. Not too bad!<\/p>\n

Blind Guardian<\/strong> Krefeld\u2019s finest began with \u201eWelcome To Dying\u201c and \u201eNightfall\u201c. In comparison to their tour the Fantasy Metaler had little changes in their setlist with surprises (the both classics \u201eLord Of The Rings\u201c and \u201e Majesty\u201c). Another highlights were \u201e… And Then There Was Silence\u201c and a short version of the \u201eBard\u2019s Song\u201c. In two hours Hansi K\u00fcrsch & Co. fascinated the extremely crowded festival area supported by a bombastic sound and an impressing big backline.<\/p>\n

U.D.O.<\/strong> Our \u201eMetal-Uncle\u201c Udo Dirkschneider in Wacken is still an event, it doesn\u2019t matter at which time. 1997 he performed in the afternoon, 1999 in the evening and finally this year in the deep night. Udo and his backing band still fascinate with a good combination between solo-tracks (\u201eHoly\u201c, \u201eAnimal House\u201c, \u201eIndependence Day\u201c) and Accept-classics (\u201eMetal Heart\u201c, \u201eRestless And Wild\u201c, \u201ePrincess Of The Dawn\u201c, \u201eBalls To The Wall\u201c, I\u2019m A Rebel\u201c). Udo is cult!<\/p>\n

Black Stage<\/em>
\nAmon Amarth<\/strong> What a surprise the swedish Death Metal band were able to play in front of such a big mass in the early noon. Supported by a clear sound they introduced with \u201eI’m On Fire” a new song and finished their set with the hymn \u201eVictorious March”.<\/p>\n

Immortal<\/strong> Without an intro one of the biggest norwegian Black Metal bands played a tight set, but they had no luck with their sound. Abbath and his corpsepainted bandmates fascinated a big crowd with “Damned In Black”, “One By One” and “Silent Storms In The North Abyss”, while the sun shined very hot, maybee too hot for a few stracciatella faces from the panda bear planet.<\/p>\n

Hypocrisy<\/strong> \u201eHypocrisy Destroys Wacken”: But not with that quiet sound. Anyway Peter T\u00e4gtgren is pro enough to cover up those problems. Hits like \u201eRoswell 47″ or the encore \u201eFractured Millennium” were celebrated by their fans.<\/p>\n

Cannibal Corpse<\/strong> The Death Metal-institution from Florida started with \u201eSavage Butchery”, \u201eDevoured By Vermin” and \u201eCompelled By Lacerate”. Suitable to the bloodred sky they performed songs like \u201ePit Of Zombies”, \u201eFucked With A Knife”, \u201eI Will Kill You” and \u201ePerverse Suffering”. But in spite of a good sound the gig had no special feeling and became boring. Their fans demanded old forbidden classics, especially \u201eHammer Smashed Face”, but fronter George \u201eCorpsegrinder” Fisher pointed out they are not allowed to.<\/p>\n

Kreator<\/strong> 45 very short minutes of german Thrash Metal at its best! Mille and his comrades performed hammers like \u201eViolent Revolution\u201c, \u201eAll Of The Same Blood\u201c, \u201eServant In Heaven – King In Hell\u201c, \u201ePhobia\u201c and \u201eExtreme Aggressions\u201c while the heaven was still covered bloodred. Essen\u2019s finest appeared in Wacken for the first time after the canceled one in 1998 and they blew the audience away.<\/p>\n

Onkel Tom<\/strong> It is always a great pleasure to end the \u201eWacken chapter\u201c with the \u201eOnkel\u201c and his setlist consisting of mainly drink song covers and a few own drink songs, especially because the writer of this review was one of those fans who performed with Tom on stage. So it was on me, myself and I to sing some passages into the micro, run around on the stage (It must have been cilometres altogether!) and pose the fuck out of me to evergeens like \u201eEs Gibt Kein Bier Auf Hawai\u201c, \u201eDer Teufel Hat Den Schnaps Gemacht\u201c and the \u201eMedley\u201c. Great!!!<\/p>\n

Party Stage<\/em>
\nEvergrey<\/strong> As one of the two Prog Metal Bands besides \u201eVanden Plas\u201c the music of bandfounder Tom S. Englund seemed kind of exotic in the billing. Nevertheless the Swedes acted very aggressive on stage and presented their new masterpiece \u201eIn Search Of Truth\u201c by songs like \u201eThe Encounter\u201c and the hit \u201eThe Masterplan\u201c.<\/p>\n

Shakra<\/strong> Nice Hardrock from Suisse (comparable to earlier Gotthard) in the sunshine with suitable songs like \u201eThe Sun Will Shine\u201c spreaded good mood in the small spectatorship. The band introduced their new singer Mark Fox to the crowd and celebrated their Goodtime-Rock \u2018n\u2019 Roll with them.<\/p>\n

Falconer<\/strong> What a good decision to play live on a few festivals. So this was a rare chance to me and many other fans watch the Swedes with their very own Power Metal-style. It was obvious they just played their third gig together, so the band (especially singer Matthias Blad) have to overwork their stageacting. Musically their was no doubt.<\/p>\n

Sinergy<\/strong> But there definitely is about this band from Finland. We awaited to watch \u201eVanden Plas\u201c, but instead of great Prog Metal we were forced to experience True Metal at its worst. Their female fronter sounded much more horrible then her most embarassing male colleges and looked like the newest \u201eSave The Wale”-\u201eGreenpeace”-campaign.I have to add that her apperance reached the same sympathy at me as her look did. She came on stage and shouted \u201eThe Bitch Is Back” (\u201eBut who wants to pay for?”) and played the so called song. Before \u201eSpite On My Grave” the singer demanded the crowd to spit in front of them and some of the security guys accepted wet shirts astonishing relaxed. My friend and me tried to escape to the other end of the festival area, but there we still heard that cruel music. Shit!<\/p>\n

Vanden Plas<\/strong> The Prog Metal-band from Southern Germany presented their new album \u201eBeyond Daylight” (\u201eFree The Fire”, \u201eHealing Tree”) combined with older tracks (\u201eI Can See”, \u201eRainmaker”). A great appearance by a very talented band was celebrated by enthusiastic fans.<\/p>\n

Unleashed<\/strong> Stockholm’s Death Metal-legend is back. \u201eNever Ending Hate”, \u201eHell’s Unleashed” and \u201eDeath Metal Victory” was sung by Johnny and thousands of fans, but to me their appearance was kind of simple and boring. Nevertheless the fans shouted out for more a long time after the gig was over.<\/p>\n

Sabbat<\/strong> Another postponement in the timetable because the japanese Thrash Metal-band played a few hours later than it had been planned. The singing bassist Gezol had a funny outfit: He wore black leather short pants and nothing more. So we had to laugh about that and the pose-acting, but that was it.<\/p>\n

Green Carnation<\/strong> The sevenpiece from Kristiansand presented their complete one-track-album \u201eLight Of Day, Day Of Darkness” with a few variations of the different parts. Singer Kjetil Nordhus had problems with his voice and the whole gig didn’t convince me. Maybe another time.<\/p>\n

Haggard<\/strong> The Munich combo around Asis Nasseri appeared again with a whole orchestra and presented their fascinating mixture of Folk, Classic and Melodic Death Metal mainly consisting of their two latest albums \u201eAnd Thou Shalt Trust…The Seer” and \u201eAwaking The Centuries”. But this phenomenous performance was disturbed by a few reasons: First they had to start later because of technical problems, the sound had no chance against \u201eOnkel Tom” from the Black Stage and finally the sound was switched off punctual at three o’ clock while band was playing a song and the fans didn’t feel done, too.
\nW.E.T.-Stage<\/em><\/p>\n

Hollenthon<\/strong> The combo from Austria balanced their set between their debut \u201eDomus Mundi” and their new masterpiece \u201eWith Vilest Of Worms To Dwell”. The tent was crowded, it was hot and the band won their \u201eheat-battle”.<\/p>\n

Conclusion:<\/strong>
\nWell, there has been a lot of citicism about the organisation after W.O.A. 2002. We are not in the position to judge over most of the mentioned aspects. There won’t be any festival which is able to avoid specific weather and problems resulting because of massive rain. We just recognized there was a toilet-problem on the festivalsite. Moreover there happened a few changes in the running order which caused that we couldn’t watch \u201eCandlemass” and \u201eHeathen”. But these are little problems which can be solved by the W.O.A.-team. Whatever watched a lot of excellent appearances and had great fun!<\/p>\n

So see you in Wacken 2003 – Rain or Shine!!!<\/p>\n

In Wacken 2002 rocked, drank and partied: Tobi Wan Kenobi, Melli and Lotte!!!!!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wacken 2002 2 days – 4 stages – over 80 bands …and just 4 eyes and ears to see and watch! \ud83d\ude09 So here you\u00b4ll find our impressions – We haven’t seen all bands – so maybe you\u00b4re missing one or more… Thursday \/ A night to remember: Doro \u201eWacken \u2013 Rain Or Shine”: Thursday … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Wacken 2002 Review”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":276,"menu_order":80,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/490"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=490"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/490\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":491,"href":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/490\/revisions\/491"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}