{"id":947,"date":"2011-06-30T16:13:22","date_gmt":"2011-06-30T15:13:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/?page_id=947"},"modified":"2011-06-30T18:30:30","modified_gmt":"2011-06-30T17:30:30","slug":"wacken-2010-review","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/?page_id=947","title":{"rendered":"Wacken 2010 Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wacken Open Air 2010<\/strong>
\nFor another time the Wacken Open Air organization was able to present a unique high class billing! Two years after their first participation they were able to confirm by Iron Maiden one of the biggest Metal bands ever. Besides them Alice Cooper and M\u00f6tley Cr\u00fce appeared in Wacken for the first time playing as Iron Maiden on thursday, and the headliners of the following days, Slayer and Soulfly were further big representatives of a high class billing, not to forget the special sets like the 25th anniversary of Atrocity or the album classic shows of Tiamat and Grave Digger.
\nThe organization was excellent for another time. The festivalsite as its ways to the different stages offered much space for the masses, the clean restrooms were for free use and the variety of food and beverages was huge. So nobody needed to be afraid about horror scenarios as they had happened just two weeks ago at the Love Parade in Duisburg. For the safety of the crowd the organizers decided to forbid circle pits by proclaiming it on the screens as to forbid bands to produce a wall of death which lead to a discussion with one band.
\nThe weather played a wonderful role and the spectators from all over the world celebrated the biggest Metal party of the world several TV stations reported about. Like in 2009 the organization offered a Wackinger Village with several viking as medieval shows and market, the Bullhead City tent or a J\u00e4germeister bar bringing you to the height of 50 metres above the festival offering you a great view on itself besides some drinks. But of course we mainly concentrated on musical issues to report about. To the writer of these lines it had been the 14th WOA \u2013 participation, and still everything worked well. At this year\u2019s Wacken Open Air 75 bands appeared on the four regular stages (besides several shows on the Beer Garden Stage, the Medieval Stage and Bullhead \u2013 City Tent as lots of competitors within the Metal Battle contest as further performances on the W.E.T. Stage on wednesday) in the three days for about 75000 visitors (Sold out in february!).<\/p>\n

Thursday<\/strong>
\nTrue Metal Stage<\/em>
\nAlice Cooper<\/strong> The master of Hard Rock chose by \u201dSchool’s Out\u201d, \u201cNo More Mr. Nice Guy\u201d and \u201cI’m Eighteen\u201d a hit ensemble of his own to open a show leading through all eras of his huge discography. Supported by a tight young band Alice Cooper was the doubtless main actor in a horror rock show in which he got killed for several times. But nevertheless classics like \u201cGo To Hell\u201d, \u201cPoison\u201d, \u201cBlack Widow\u201d or \u201cFeed My Frankenstein\u201d rocked a great performance which found its end by \u201cElected\u201d and \u201cSchools Out\u201d for another time. Instead of the last mentioned one I would have wished \u201cHey Stoopid\u201d. But this was the only wish left open.<\/p>\n

Iron Maiden<\/strong> After their brilliant live presentation of their golden ages of the late eighties in front of the \u201cPowerslave\u201d stage set everybody was curious what their heroes would offer them two years later. Starting by \u201cThe Wicker Man\u201d and \u201cGhost Of The Navigator\u201d many fans got more and more disappointed by realizing their faves just considered material from the three albums of the post – Bailey – years of the recent decade. By \u201cEl Dorado\u201d they even introduced one track from the forthcoming \u201cThe Final Frontier\u201d release. After eleven titles and a good performance by especially Bruce Dickinson and a new Eddie the band played by \u201cFear Of The Dark\u201d and \u201cIron Maiden\u201d as the encores \u201cThe Number Of The Beast\u201d, \u201cHallowed Be Thy Name\u201d and \u201cRunning Free\u201d too less classics too late. The fact the band renounced pyro effects, etc. didn’t improve the show.<\/p>\n

Black Stage<\/em>
\nSkyline<\/strong> The band with which the whole WOA idea started opened the main program. And they did it supported by Doro performing the Wacken hymn \u201cWe Are The Metalheads\u201d and the Warlock classic \u201cAll We Are\u201d. After a few Metal classic covers they finished the show with Udo Dirkschneider playing by \u201cHeavy Metal WOA\u201d another newer festival hymn and the final \u201cBalls To The Wall\u201d an Accept cover.<\/p>\n

M\u00f6tley Cr\u00fce<\/strong> The Sleaze chiefs rocked the crowd down by a hammer opening consisting of \u201cKickstart My Heart\u201d, \u201cWild Side\u201d, \u201cShout At The Devil\u201d and \u201cLive Wire\u201d. Wow! But who thought the band had played all their highlights was wrong. Even the songs of the current album \u201cSaints Of Los Angeles\u201d (\u201cMutherfucker Of The Year\u201d and the title track) fit very well in the program as the evergreens \u201cPrimal Scream\u201d, \u201cDon’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)\u201d and \u201cSame Ol Situation (S.O.S.)\u201d did. Vince Neil showed a good performance as his tight musicians. So the band finished by the encores \u201cDr. Feelgood\u201d and \u201cGirls, Girls, Girls\u201d an awesome Hardrock show.<\/p>\n

W.E.T. Stage<\/em>
\nGhost Brigade<\/strong> The innovative fivepiece showed a great performance while they had the bad luck to play against M\u00f6tley Cr\u00fce. Nevertheless songs like \u201cDeliberately\u201d from their \u201cGuided By Fire\u201d debut as \u201cInto The Black Light\u201d, \u201cLost In A Loop\u201d and their hit \u201cMy Heart Is A Tomb\u201d from their strong current masterpiece \u201cIsolation Songs\u201d impressed by their different dark, silent as hard atmospheres.<\/p>\n

Gojira<\/strong> The Prog Death Metal band from France needs to be called innovative as well. And the handicap to play against Iron Maiden wasn’t one. The tent got filled more and more while the big headliner disappointed. And the French around the Duplantier brothers played a massive gig by \u201cBackbone\u201d, \u201cThe Heaviest Matter Of The Universe\u201d, \u201cFlying Whales\u201d as by \u201cToxic Garbage Island\u201d, \u201cThe Art Of Dying\u201d, \u201cA Sight To Behold\u201d and \u201cVacuity\u201d compositions from their new \u201cThe Way Of All Flesh\u201d opus as by the classic \u201cWisdom Comes\u201d. An amazing show!<\/p>\n

Friday<\/strong>
\nTrue Metal Stage<\/em>
\nAmorphis<\/strong> Much too early for such a great band the Finnish acted in the sunny noon. Supported by a clear sound they began by the newer \u201cSkyforger\u201d songs \u201cSilver Bride\u201d and \u201cSky Is Mine\u201d before presenting by \u201cAgainst Widows\u201d, \u201cThe Castaway\u201d and \u201cAlone\u201d hits from their discography. So they did the rest of their gig considering songs from all phases ending with \u201cBlack Winter Day\u201d and a \u201cMy Kantele\u201d passing.<\/p>\n

Ill Nino<\/strong> There had been times the thought having bands like the Latin Americans in Wacken was simply impossible. In 2010 we saw numerous crowdsurfers and the whole crowd jumping and partying to the opener \u201cIf You Still Hate Me\u201d, \u201cThis Is War\u201d, \u201cThe Alibi Of Tyrants\u201d, \u201cGod Save Us\u201d as the final \u201cLiar\u201d. No doubt: Modern Metal plus extra percussion works very well in Wacken nowadays.<\/p>\n

The Bosshoss<\/strong> The Country Rock formation got confirmed for Wacken for the second time. It was a bit controversial about their participation. Anyway they entertained a respectable number of spectators especially by their own cover interpretations of Beasty Boys’ \u201cSabotage\u201d and Ministry’s \u201cJesus Built My Hotrod\u201d.<\/p>\n

Kamelot<\/strong> The band from Florida with international line-up strengthened by Swedes and Germans had built up a huge fan base which sent a big welcome when they started with \u201cGhost Opera\u201d. The band seemed to have invested a lot into the show full of pyros and other effects showing a tight band between numerous of flames. Furthermore they introduced by \u201cThe Great Pandemonium\u201d and \u201cHunter’s Season\u201d two new tracks from the forthcoming album \u201cPoetry For The Poisened\u201d. So Roy S. Khan, Thomas Youngblood & Co closed a jubilated set by the classics \u201cKarma\u201d, \u201cForever\u201d and \u201cMarch Of Mephisto\u201d.<\/p>\n

Grave Digger<\/strong> When I went to my first WOA in 1997 a band named Grave Digger performed after the release of their concept album \u201cTunes Of War\u201d. This album got played by Chris Boltendahl & Co in full length beginning with the intro played by a few bagpipers. During this special set they got supported by Van Canto as backing choir for the whole set, Doro Pesch and Blind Guardian’s Hansi K\u00fcrsch for one song each. The fans would have enjoyed this rare event much more with a good sound. So the classics of other albums \u201cBallad Of A Hangman\u201d, \u201cExcalibur\u201d and \u201cHeavy Metal Breakdown\u201d finished a gig that didn’t fulfill its approach to be special in a completely positive way.<\/p>\n

Anvil<\/strong> After the awesome movie \u201cThe Story Of Anvil\u201d and its hype it was time to let the music do the talking. And the Canadiens showed where their real home of art is. After the festivalsite had become emptier the classic beginners \u201cMarch Of The Crabs\u201d and \u201c666\u201d as the title track of the latest output \u201cThis Is Thirteen\u201d entertained the present fanbase. But the trio could have renounced Lips’ dildo guitar solo while \u201cMothra\u201d and Rob Reiner’s drum solo within \u201cWhite Rhino\u201d. It was easy to see the musicians enjoyed it playing on such a big stage which they left by \u201cForged In Fire\u201d and the band hymn \u201cMetal On Metal\u201d.<\/p>\n

Black Stage<\/em>
\nDew-Scented<\/strong> The German Death \/ Thrash attack welcomed the crowd by several smashers while hottest heat. Nevertheless a respectable crowd celebrated brandnew \u201cInvocation\u201d material like \u201cArise From Decay\u201d as classics like \u201cSoul Poison\u201d and \u201cActs Of Rage\u201d.<\/p>\n

Orphaned Land<\/strong> This formation from Israel has its own sound for sure combining Metal with oriental sounds. On the other hand this didn’t find a too big number of people in front of the stage. The band celebrated new \u201cThe Never Ending Way Of OrwarriOR\u201d tracks like \u201cBarakah\u201d, \u201cDisciples Of The Sacred Oath II\u201d and \u201cSapari\u201d including a female belly dancer nobody needed as older ones like \u201cOcean Land (The Revelation)\u201d or the final \u201cNorra El Norra (Entering The Ark)\u201d.<\/p>\n

Die Apokalyptischen Reiter<\/strong> This band always guarantees big fanships in Wacken. So they did this time getting celebrated from the beginning set by \u201cWir Sind Das Licht\u201d and Revolution\u201d over \u201cEs Wird Schlimmer\u201d and \u201cAdrenalin\u201d till the end marked by \u201cWe Will Never Die\u201d and the encore \u201cSeemann\u201d. And the fivepiece performed for the very first time the new unreleased track \u201cDie Boten\u201d on stage.<\/p>\n

Endstille<\/strong> The Black Metal commando from Kiel had to fulfill their slot in the sunny afternoon. Anyway they reached their supporters by just two tracks from their recent release \u201cVerf\u00fchrer\u201d (\u201c…Of Disorder\u201d, \u201cDepressive\/Abstract\/Banished\/ Despise\u201d) and many older ones (\u201cFeindfahrt\u201d, \u201cDominanz\u201d, \u201cFr\u00fchlingserwachen\u201d, \u201cNavigator\u201d)<\/p>\n

Arch Enemy<\/strong> The filled up festivalsite showed the popularity the Swedish band with the German voice had raised over the latest years. And the band showed why with a brilliant instrumental as fronter’s performance. So the crowd headbanged to the opener \u201cThe Immortal\u201d, \u201cRavenous\u201d, \u201cMy Apocalypse\u201d, \u201cWe Will Rise\u201d and the encore \u201cNemesis\u201d.<\/p>\n

Slayer<\/strong> The cult Thrash fourpiece from the Bay Area were the next very big band on this year’s WOA billing opening by the title track and \u201cHate Worldwide\u201d from their current \u201cWorld Painted Blood\u201d release. Tom Araya & Co appeared for the second time in Wacken reaching thousands of metalheads getting wild with classics like \u201cWar Ensemble\u201d, \u201cDead Skin Mask\u201d, \u201cSeasons In The Abyss\u201d, \u201cHell Awaits\u201d, \u201cMandatory Suicide\u201d as the definite Slayer finish consisting of \u201cRaining Blood\u201d, \u201cSouth Of Heaven\u201d and \u201cAngel Of Death\u201d. But nevertheless we need to mention the band performed their set pretty experienced, let miss the passion, and there was no special effects show to cover this. Besides that the sound was much too low.<\/p>\n

Corvus Corax<\/strong> Under the name of Cantus Buranus the band performed an extremely bombastic show. Supported by the Passionata Cho(i)r Berlin, the Bohemian Symphony Orchestra Prague, knights initiate fight scenes and several different instruments they showed real theatre. What leads us to the question if this was right placed on a festival stage. The left crowd seemed to have slept in or to be entertained in the deep night anyway.<\/p>\n

Party Stage<\/em>
\nEnd Of Green<\/strong> The quintet from Southwest Germany was the right band to open a sunny day on the Party Stage. Their Gothic Rock ‘n’ Roll attracted a respectable number of fans rocking to \u201cKillhoney\u201d, \u201cDrink Myself To Sleep\u201d, \u201cHighway 69\u201d and the video single \u201cGoodnight Insomnia\u201d from the forthcoming album \u201cHigh Hopes In Low Places\u201d. I just missed the classic \u201cDeath In Veins\u201d.<\/p>\n

Job For A Cowboy<\/strong> The Death Metal fivepiece from Phoenix played a smashing set considering material from their both releases \u201cGenesis\u201d and \u201cRuination\u201d. But this was suddenly interrupted by switched off electricity because the band had motivated to a wall of death which was forbidden in the contracts between the WOA organization and the appearing acts.<\/p>\n

Voivod<\/strong> The Canadiens were supposed to play in Wacken twelve years ago which they needed to cancel because of a hard bus crash on their way to it. The place in front of the Party Stage was pretty much filled showing their innovative Thrash Metal is still attractive. From the self-titled opener and its follower \u201cThe Unknown Knows\u201d on it was clear this was a classic set in which \u201cGlobal Warning\u201d showed the new tracks are even able to hold the high self-defined quality standards. With the Pink Floyd cover the quartet left a happy fanship.<\/p>\n

Frei.Wild<\/strong> The group from South Tyrol attracted a respectable crowd in front of the stage. Their lyrics are in german and the music as the whole attitude made the impression the band is a complete B\u00f6hse Onkelz rip-off.<\/p>\n

Tarja Turunen<\/strong> The ex Nightwish siren had a big fan crowd waiting for her appearance. And this one had ironically its best moments when she performed by \u201cSleeping Sun\u201d and \u201cWishmaster\u201d tracks from her ex-band. Her solo songs like the new \u201cIn For A Kill\u201d and \u201cUntil My Last\u201d from the upcoming new output \u201cWhat Lies Beneath\u201d (Not to mix with the self-titled movie!) didn’t really rock, just her voice stuck on my nerves. By \u201cStill Of The Night\u201d (Whitesnake) and \u201cOver The Hills And Far Away\u201d (Gary Moore) Tarja and her sidekicks also interpreted two Rock classics. But this show didn’t convince.<\/p>\n

1349<\/strong> Playing against Slayer is not a spectators’ attracting issue. So the Norwegians performed for their fans new \u201cDemonoir\u201d tracks like \u201cPsalm 7.77\u201d and familiar ones like \u201cNathicania\u201d and \u201cSculptor Of Flesh\u201d, so those got satisfied.<\/p>\n

Atrocity<\/strong> The formation celebrated its 25th anniversary of existence. So they presented a best of set containing \u201cNecropolis\u201d, \u201cB.L.U.T.\u201d, \u201cWillenskraft\u201d and \u201cDie Todgeweihten\u201d before considering the two popular \u201cWerk 80\u201d releases by Camouflage’s \u201cThe Great Commandment\u201d, Visage’s \u201cFade To Grey\u201d, \u201cA-ha’s \u201cThe Sun Always Shines On TV\u201d and Tears’ For Fears’ \u201cShout\u201d.<\/p>\n

W.E.T. Stage<\/em>
\nIhsan<\/strong> The tent got pretty filled up with fans who were curious to see the ex-Emperor mainman who had found talented young musicians to perform his artistic vision, and this worked very well. They mainly concentrated on the new \u201cAfter\u201d album beginning with its opener \u201cThe Barren Lands\u201d until the set closure \u201cFrozen Lakes On Mars\u201d. Between that \u201cScarab\u201d, \u201cMisanthrope\u201d and \u201cCalled By The Fire\u201d showed a wonderful mixture maybe described as Prog Black Metal. After some sound problems in its beginning it turned out to a great show!<\/p>\n

Secrets Of The Moon<\/strong> Germany’s leading Black Metal quartet switched its billing position with Raven. So the tent was just rare filled. But those who were there celebrated \u201cI Maldoror\u201d as \u201cLucifer Speaks\u201d. Good show and good songs made this gig feel really short!<\/p>\n

Saturday<\/strong>
\nTrue Metal Stage<\/em>
\nCaliban<\/strong> One of the leading German Metalcore bands returned to attract the masses while the sun was shining hot. The newer \u201cLove Song\u201d as \u201cI Never Let You Down\u201d showed from the beginning what it was about: Action, on stage as on the festival gorund. Fronter Andy D\u00f6rner regreted several times they’re not allowed to animate a wall of death, but the fans showed they can have fun without it celebrating \u201cI’ve Sold Myself\u201d, \u201c24 Years\u201d and the final \u201cLiar\u201d.<\/p>\n

Overkill<\/strong> After starting with the opener of the new release \u201cIronbound\u201d (\u201cThe Green And Black\u201d) the Thrash Metal icon served a classics battalion by \u201cRotten To The Core\u201d, \u201cWrecking Crew\u201d, \u201cHello From The Gutter\u201d and \u201cComa\u201d. After considering by \u201cIronbound\u201d itself and \u201cBring Me The Night\u201d two further new tracks with their hymn \u201cIn Union We Stand\u201d in between the fivepiece from New York City finished with \u201cFuck You\u201d and the Mot\u00f6rhead cover \u201cOverkill\u201d a massive gig.<\/p>\n

W.A.S.P.<\/strong> The US legend showed a phenomenal beginning by \u201cOn Your Knees\u201d, \u201cThe Real Me\u201d and \u201cL.O.V.E. Machine\u201d before considering by \u201cBabylon’s Burning\u201d the only new \u201cBabylon\u201d song. Blacky Lawless and his comrades gave their fans what they wanted: Classics! The fans partied to \u201cWild Child\u201d, a’ medley of own classics, \u201cChainsaw Charlie (Murders In The New Morgue)\u201d, the phenomenal \u201cThe Idol\u201d and the set finishing band hymn \u201cI Wanna Be Somebody\u201d. Just our impression there happened pretty much playback avoided full party pleasure.<\/p>\n

Edguy<\/strong> The German Melodic Metal formation had played in Wacken for several times. So it was no surprise the festival ground was pretty filled after their popularity had raised over the last decade. The supporters celebrated \u201cMandrake\u201d, \u201cVain Glory Opera\u201d, \u201cLavatory Love Machine\u201d and the final \u201cKing Of Fools\u201d having a good time meanwhile. Not to forget: Helloween’s Markus Gro\u00dfkopf supported the band for this one show because they’re usual bassist was becoming father during the Wacken days.<\/p>\n

Soulfly<\/strong> Max Cavalera and his companions acted in Wacken for the second time, both times as headliner. And his Modern Metal worked well again. The crowd jumped and banged to \u201cProphecy\u201d, \u201cBack To The Primitive\u201d, \u201cSeek ‘n’ Strike\u201d and \u201cEye For An Eye\u201d. The most action of course happened while the Sepultura classics \u201cTroops Of Doom\u201d, \u201cRefuse\/Resist\u201d and \u201cRoots Bloody Roots\u201d. So this turned out to a real triumph for the Brasilians, so nobody cared about the sound.<\/p>\n

U.D.O.<\/strong> The german tank and his band had began with \u201cThe Bogeyman\u201d and \u201cDominator\u201d by two tracks from the recent \u201cDominator\u201d album before he mixed the U.D.O. classics (\u201cIndependence Day\u201d, \u201cMan And Machine\u201d, \u201cAnimal House\u201d) with Accept evergreens (\u201cPrincess Of The Dawn\u201d, Midnight Mover\u201d, Metal Heart\u201d, the final \u201cBalls To The Wall\u201d) which worked very well showing he still rules the German Metal scene.<\/p>\n

Black Stage<\/em>
\nEktomorf<\/strong> The Hungarians showed for another time why they’re just known as a bad copy of Sepultura. Especially fronter Zoli Farkas presented himself as a mislead Cavalera rip-off for another time. Anyway the fans crowded the festivalsite in the hot noon to watch and hear the newer opener \u201cRat War\u201d, \u201cOutcast\u201d and the final \u201cI Know Them\u201d.<\/p>\n

Unleashed<\/strong> The Swedish Death Metal machine started with \u201cWinterland\u201d and \u201cWorld Of Lies\u201d into a massive set causing a lot of headbanging action. After the new \u201cAs Yggdrasil Trembles\u201d track \u201cWir Kapitulieren Niemals\u201d Johnny Hedlund dedicated \u201cInto Glory Ride\u201d to the passed Pete Steele from Type O Negative and Ronnie James Dio as the following \u201cLegal Rapes\u201d to their friends of Cannibal Corpse. With \u201cDeath Metal Victory\u201d and some singalong games with the fans the fourpiece finished a jubilated gig.<\/p>\n

Lock Up<\/strong> The multinational all star Death Metal \/ Grindcore band around At The Gates shouter Tompa Lindberg and Napalm Death bandleader Shane Embury were back in Wacken. The latest release is five years old, but they’re still attractive for big festivals. And they showed what blastbeats mean. To a part of the crowd this band was to hard leaving the place, others stayed having pleasure while about 20 tracks.<\/p>\n

Cannibal Corpse<\/strong> And the sound stayed hard: The Death Metal fivepiece from Florida began by the newer \u201cEvisceration Plague\u201d track \u201cScalding Hail\u201d to let follow several neckbreakers as \u201cThe Wretched Spawn\u201d, \u201cI Will Kill You\u201d and \u201cMake Them Suffer\u201d before leaving with \u201cHammer Smashed Face\u201d. But the Corpsegrinder and his bandmates reentered the stag to play the encore \u201cStripped, Raped And Strangled\u201d.<\/p>\n

Immortal<\/strong> The return of the Norwegian Black Metal icons should become a bombastic one! Supported by just a little pyro and light show the band let their music do the talking. And they could: I hadn’t seen Immortal that musically tight for a long time. They showed their new material from the recent \u201cAll Shall Fall\u201d album, which they considered surprisingly pretty much, worked well, too. So the opening title track, \u201cThe Rise Of Darkness\u201d, \u201cHordes To War\u201d and \u201cNorden On Fire\u201d fit pretty much to the classics \u201cSons Of Northern Darkness\u201d, \u201cDamned In Black\u201d, \u201cWithstand The Fall Of Time\u201d, \u201cBeyond The North Waves\u201d and \u201cOne By One\u201d. This show surprised totally, more of that!<\/p>\n

Fear Factory<\/strong> After five years vocalist Burton C. Bell and guitarist Dino Cazares found back together to reunite their band with Byron Stroud and drum machine Gene Hoglan. The band opened by the new album’s title song \u201cMechanize\u201d they also played by \u201cPowershifter\u201d and \u201cFear Campaign\u201d two smashers from and showed they are a real band again. The rest of the agile as tight performed show consisted of Industrial Metal classics like \u201cEdgecrusher\u201d, \u201cLinchpin\u201d, \u201cDemanufacture\u201d, \u201cSelf Bias Resistor\u201d and the final hymn \u201cReplica\u201d followed by huge pyro flames from the towers. For the last time of this year’s WOA a crowd felt animated to bigger headbanging and pit action. So this comeback has to be described as successful!<\/p>\n

Party Stage<\/em>
\nSmoke Blow<\/strong> To start a festival day with a good live Rock ‘n’ Roll band is always the right decision. So it worked well with the group from Kiel which performed besides own tracks like \u201cAlligator Rodeo\u201d and \u201cMexico\u201d cover versions from Danzig (\u201cMother\u201d) as from Billy Idol (\u201cRebel Yell\u201d) which set the first party standards of the day.<\/p>\n

Kampfar<\/strong> The Norwegians began with the first three tracks from their latest output \u201cHeimgang\u201d (\u201cVantro\u201d, \u201cInferno\u201d, \u201cDodens Vee\u201d) before playing older ones from their back catalogue which they finished by \u201cRavenheart\u201d. Black Metal fans enjoyed it, others didn’t.<\/p>\n

Delain<\/strong> After Within Temptation, After Forever and Epica the next female fronted Symphonic Metal band from the Netherlands played the big festivals. There seems to be a factory in our Dutch neighbourhood. They began with the title track of their last year released album \u201cApril Rain\u201d and attracted an astonishable number of fans in front of the Party Stage. For three tracks they got supported by Orphanage vocalist George Oosterhoek. The band got much applause after the show.<\/p>\n

Stratovarius<\/strong> I didn’t expect that much after all the trouble between band founder Timo Tolkki and his bandmates including the qutting of the first mentioned one. But I really got surprised: The new bandmembers on guitar as on bass did a great musical job and it seemed the band found back its unity. The new \u201cPolaris\u201d tracks \u201cHigher We Go\u201d, \u201cDeep Unknown\u201d and \u201cWinter Skies\u201d fit pretty well into the set and the classics as the opener \u201cHunting High And Low\u201d, \u201cThe Kiss Of Judas\u201d, \u201cAgainst The Wind\u201d and the final \u201cBlack Diamond\u201d rocked anyway.<\/p>\n

Candlemass<\/strong> The Swedish Doom Metal legend with their new American vocalist Robert Lowe known from Solitude Aeturnus convinced with their slow, but massive appearance interpreting the opener \u201cMirror Mirror\u201d, the newer \u201cIf I Ever Die\u201d as \u201cHammer Of Doom\u201d, \u201cAt The Gallows End\u201d and the set finishing \u201cSolitude\u201d. Solid gig!<\/p>\n

Tiamat<\/strong> Many fans were looking forward to this special as unique concert seeing Tiamat playing their masterpiece \u201cWildhoney\u201d from 1994 in full length chronologically. Supported by a nice light show and projections the 20th anniversary of the band’s existence got the right shape to get honored. \u201cWhatever That Hurts\u201d, \u201cThe Ar\u201d, \u201cGaia\u201d or the silent \u201cPocket Size Sun\u201d created a wonderful atmosphere, and in a positive way this show made me a bit tired. A fabulous idea as show itself! More of that, Mr. Edlund!<\/p>\n

W.E.T. Stage<\/em>
\nDie Kassierer<\/strong> The Fun Punk band from Bochum-Wattenscheid finally made it to Wacken, and how many supporters had been looking forward to it showed the totally packed tent, so many needed to watch the gig from the outside which turned out to a big party including the hits \u201cSex Mit Dem Sozialarbeiter\u201d as opener, \u201cBlumenkohl Am Pillemann\u201d, \u201cDas Schlimmste Ist, Wenn Das Bier Alle Ist\u201d or \u201cMein Glied Ist Zu Gro\u00df\u201d. This show had nothing to do with political correctness at all, and it made fun.<\/p>\n

S\u00f3lstafir<\/strong> The quartet from Island played a strong gig. Their very innovative Hippie Metal Rock ‘n’ Roll rocked the tent enormously. And the band was the only one I know who filled 45 minutes with just three songs. Their epics \u201cK\u00f6ld\u201d, \u201cPale Rider\u201d and \u201cRitual Of Fire invaded the tent and caught every present soul to take part in. Amazing!<\/p>\n

Lake Of Tears<\/strong> The aspect of Hippie atmosphere also plays a role at shows of the Swedes. Tracks like \u201cBoogie Bubble\u201d stress this, but it wasn’t the only wonderful composition celebrated. The opener \u201cSo Fell Autumn Rain\u201d as the great final consisting of \u201cSweetwater\u201d and \u201cRaven Land\u201d satisfied every single fan.<\/p>\n

Rotting Christ<\/strong> The Greeks started with the title track and \u201cEon Aenaos\u201d two beginners of their new album \u201cAealo\u201d and showed darkness was reconquering the tent. The also new \u201cFire Death And Fear\u201d and the finisher \u201cNoctis Era\u201d expressed their songwriting and heavyness combined with good stageacting which animated lots of headbangers. Good show!<\/p>\n

Conclusion:<\/strong>
\nOur 14th Wacken Open Air experience turned out to another wonderful one. There was no short-termed band cancellation, the weather god seemed to be a Wacken fan and the atmosphere on the festivalsite was an awesome one bringing together metalheads from all over the world. As we mentioned in our introduction the WOA \u2013 organization worked very well again which isn’t a matter of course keeping the more than 75000 spectators in mind. All these sounds from different Metal subgenres fit together in Wacken and found high acceptance by the spectators each. The prices for food and beverages stayed the same as the years before (e.g. 3,50 \u20ac for a 0,4 l beer or softdrink).
\nWe enjoyed our Wacken \u2013 stay a lot and are looking forward to the 2011 \u2013 edition when it will be the 15th for the writer of these lines! See you in Wacken 2011 \u2013 rain or shine!
\nSpecial thanks go out to Britta Kock and the WOA-team!!!!!
\nAt the Wacken Open Air rocked, drank and partied Tobi Wan Kenobi, Lotte and Dumbo!!!!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wacken Open Air 2010 For another time the Wacken Open Air organization was able to present a unique high class billing! Two years after their first participation they were able to confirm by Iron Maiden one of the biggest Metal bands ever. Besides them Alice Cooper and M\u00f6tley Cr\u00fce appeared in Wacken for the first … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Wacken 2010 Review”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":21,"menu_order":63,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/947"}],"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=947"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/947\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":957,"href":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/947\/revisions\/957"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/new.metal-festivals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}