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 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’s 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!).
Wednesday
Faster
Bülent Ceylan 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 „Brüder“ and Peter Maffay for „Anders Gleich“ chanting a strong statement against racism.
The Darkness 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 „Immigrant Song“ as by their debut-hits „Get Your Hands Of My Woman“ and „I Believe In A Thing Called Love“.
Flogging Molly The sixpack around bandleader Dave King from Los Angeles presented a best of program of their Irish Folk starting with the classic „Drunken Lullabies“. The crowd applauded, danced and sang along during the following 75 minutes celebrating a nice early evening culminating in „Crushed (A Hostile Nation)“ including a dedication to Sinnead O’ Connor. After „Seven Deadly Sins“ Dave King announced the following headliner In Extremo.
In Extremo 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 „Troja“, „Vollmond“, „Küss Mich“ as „Ai Vis Lo Lop“. By its title track, „Weckt Die Toten“ and „Unser Song“ they presented three tracks from their forthcoming album „Wolkenschieber“ to be released in september. For the last named title vocalist Michael Rhein got support by Santiano’s fronter Björn Both. „Spielmannsfluch“ and „Pikse Palve“ 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.
Louder
Crystal Viper The fourpiece from Katowice started the „ladies day“ on the Louder Stage and considered by their traditional Metal most outputs of their earlier band history. By the opener „Fever Of The Gods“ and its title song they introduced two tracks from their brandnew release „The Silver Key“ as well. Lead by their front voice / guitarist Marta the band enthused the crowd.
Butcher Babies 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, „Magnolia Blvd.“ finished an energetic show resulting in much jubilation.
Girlschool 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 „Race With The Devil“ of The Gun and „Bomber“ of Motörhead which gained the loudest reactions from the crowd.
The Warning The Villareal Velez sisters from Monterrey inspired by their fresh as tight sounding Hardrock. Mainly considering their brandnew album „Fed Me Up“ by the opener „SICK“, „Qué Más Quieres“, „Escapism“, „Six Feet Deep“, „Sharks“, „Hell You Call A Dream“ and „Automatic Sun“. 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 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 „Warrior“ from the „Dune“-soundtrack the familiar Jennifer Haben of Beyond The Black assisted the formation getting the loudest jubilation.
Suzi Quattro 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 „Stumblin’ In“, „Can The Can“, „Devil Gate Drive“ or „If You Can’t Give Me Love“ she and her numerous musicians enthused by their cover versions of Neil Young’s „Rockin’ In The Free World“, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s „Bad Moon Rising“ as Chuck Berry’s „Sweet Little Rock ‘n’ Roller“ which marked the end of a nice time travel.
Thursday
Faster
Skyline The traditional thursday infield opening by the Wacken home band happened by the Airbourne cover „Runnin’ Wild“. This year’s highlight became their cover versions of the two Journey classics „Seperate Ways (Worlds Apart)“ and „Wheel In The Sky“ which they performed together with Anthrax- vocalist Joey Belladonna.
Axel Rudi Pell 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 „Hallelujah“ and making the questionable decision to cover this song a good one. By the opener „Forever Strong“ and „Darkest Hour“ the quintet considered two songs from their brandnew album „Risen Symbol“. Johny Gioeli animated the audience to interact from „Strong As A Rock“ on. So this show ending by „Fool Fool“ and „Rock The Nation“, 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 Opening with „The Reckoning“ as the title track and letting follow „Straight Up Jack“ 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 „Restless And Wild“, „Princess Of The Dawn“, „Metal Heart“ and „Fast As A Shark“ together. This classic set found its ideal end by „Balls To The Wall“ performed together with K.K. Priest’s vocalist Tim „Ripper“ Owens.
Growling Creatures The final thursday night happening on the infield was a drone show about endangered species. A surprising as good issue on a metal festival!
Harder
Rage The trio from the Ruhr valley showed in the following hour what good Metal songs and pure live passion are about. After „Cold Desire“ and „Under A Black Crown“ from their new double-album „Afterlifelines“ bandleader Peavy and his two comrades enthused by the classics „Solitary Man“, „Black In Mind“ as „Refuge“ 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 „End Of All Days“, „Straight To Hell“, „Don’t Fear The Winter“ and „Higher Than The Sky“ which got sung by several fans on their way to the next stage.
KK’s Priest The ex-guitarist K.K. Downing and ex-siren Tim „Ripper“ Owens of the NWOBHM-legend Judas Priest welcomed a pretty filled infield. Besides material from their two outputs „Sermons Of The Sinner“ and „The Sinner Rides Again“ the numerouus supporters of course waited for Priest-classics. And they got what they demanded by „Priest“-chants. „The Ripper“, „Night Crawler“, „Hell Patrol“ and „Breaking The Law“ satisfying their needs for JP-classics. By the newer encore „Raise Your Fists“ K.K., Tim & Co finished a successful huge stage comeback.
Scorpions 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. „The Zoo“, „Blackout“, „Tease Me, Please Me“ as the ballad double of their megaseller „Crazy World“ consisting of „Send Me An Angel“ and „Wind Of Change“ 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 „Love At First Sting“ like „Bad Boys Running Wild“, „Big City Nights“ together with Doro as the encores „Still Loving You“ and „Rock You Like A Hurricane“. 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.
Louder
Armored Saint 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. „Last Train Home“ gained loud singalongs, „March Of The Saint“ got celebrated as well. „Can U Deliver“, „Reign Of Fire“ and „Mad House“ finished an asskicking show enthusing all present spectators.
Mr. Big 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 „Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song)“, „Alive And Kickin’“ as „Green-Tinted Sixties Mind“ while ignoring their brandnew release „Ten“ completely. The most interaction with the fans of course happened during their hit ballad „To Be With You“. After this the band being blessed having Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan on the six- as the four-stringed instruments performed cover versions of „Wild World“ (Cat Stevens), „Shy Boy“ (Talas) and „Baba O’Riley“ (The Who) before leaving the stage.
Opeth 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 „The Grand Conjuration“ and „Demon Of The Fall“. 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 „Deliverance“ marked the end of this awesome performance.
Friday
Faster
Sonata Arctica In front of a winter wonderland backdrop relating to their new album „Clear Cold Beyond“ the Finnish Melodic Metal quintet considered by the opener „First In Line“, „Dark Empath“, „California“ and „Angeld Defiled“ four songs of it. By „I Have A Right“ as the amazing final consisting of the ballad „Replica“, „FullMoon“ and „Don’t Say A Word“ (including „Vodka“-reminiscense the nowadays greyer Tony Kakko & Co convinced their fans by his clean voice and a tight performance.
Beast In Black 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 „End Of The World“.
Feuerschwanz 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 „Dragosta Din Tei“ and „Die Hörner Hoch“ the crowd jubilated their faves back to play the Manowar-cover „Warriors Of The World United“ with their friends of Saltatio Mortis as by „Rohirrim“ and „Das Elfte Gebot“ two further encores.
Blind Guardian Krefeld’s finest returned after eight years to Wacken and welcomed thousands of metalheads when entering the stage with „Imaginations From The Other Side“. Band as fans seemed to be in best condition celebrating „Nightfall“ and „The Script For My Requiem“ together by much headbanging and loude singalongs. Between their songs vocalist Hansi Kürsch entertained by sympathic little stories before performinng the following hymns. After the epic ballad „The Bard’s Song – In The Forest“, the classic „Majesty“ and „Lost In The Twilight Hall“ the sixpiece returned to bid farewell by the encores „Sacred Worlds“, „Valhalla“ and „Mirror, Mirror“.
Avantasia 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 „Lucifer“ and „Sign Of The Cross“ / „The Seven Angels“ the night ended with singalong chants of the audience.
Harder
The Amity 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 „Pittsburgh“, All My Friends Are Dead“ and „Drag The Lake“ 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 „Don’t Lean On Me“ and „Soak Me In Bleach“ finished a show which might have won several new fans.
Spiritbox 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 „Angel Eyes“, „Rule Of Nines“ and „Holy Roller“. This atmosphere culminated before and with the first tones of „Circle With Me“ 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 One of the two KISS-mainmen appeared for the first time in Wacken. Musically classics like the opener „Deuce“, „Shout It Out Loud“, „I Love It Loud“, „Calling Dr. Love“ 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 „Rock And Roll All Nite“ when it had been written.
Korn After the more traditional Blind Guardian the icon of the so-called Nu Metal worked very well live in Wacken. „A.D.I.D.A.S.“ as „Here To Stay“ 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 „Blind“, „Got The Life“ and „Falling Away From Me“ with lots of crowdsurfers and circle-pits. Ra Diaz from Suicidal Tendencies replaced the pausing Fieldy pretty well on the fivestring bass. „Freak On A Leash“ marked the end of successful WOA-premiere by Jonathan Davis & Co.
Louder
Ankor 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 „Walking Dead“ and „Hill Valley“.
Knorkator 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 „wall of circle“, 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 „Ma Baker“. After the encores „Eigentum“ and „Zähneputzen, Pullern, Ab Ins Bett“ everyone walked away smiling.
Saturday
Faster
Tankard Right before noon the fourpiece from Frankfurt invited to a sympathic hour of 42 years old Teutonic Thrash Metal. Their backdropp entitled them „the kings of beer“, and smashers like „Beerbarians“, „A Girl Called Cerveza“ and „Freibier“ 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 „Empty Tankard“.
Oomph! 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 „Richter Und Henker“ he had participated on record as classics like „Träumst Du“, „Labyrinth“, „Gekreuzigt“ and the final hit „Augen Auf“ many spectators sang along with him.
Sebastian Bach The original Skid Row singer appeared for the very first time in Wacken. Supported by a tight band three songs from his new album „Child Within The Man“ got considered. Most of the show contained Skid Row classics as „Slave To The Grind“, „18 And Life“, „Monkey Business“, the ballad- classic „I Remember You“ as the hymn „Youth Gone Wild“. 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 „Unce Upon A Pale Horse“ and „Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer“ opened the gates („ov“ hell) to a majetic Black Death Metal show. Supported by many pyros ascolumns of smoke and dressed in different costumes including a mitra during „Bartzabel“. 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 „Chant For Eschaton 2000“ the quartet returned for the mighty encore „O Father O Satan O Sun!“ leaving no wishes open.
Architects 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 „Seeing Red“ 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 „Black Lungs“, „Hereafter“, „Royal Beggars“, „Doomsday“ as „Meteor“ 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 „Animals“ with further loud
chorus singalongs.
Harder
Raven 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 „Rock Until You Drop“, „Faster Than The Speed Of Light“ as „On And On“.
Dragonforce 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 „Power Of The Triforce“ and „Doomsday Party“ two tracks from their new release „Warp Speed Warriors“. By covering Celine Dion’s „My Heart Will Go On“ and Taylor Swift’s „Wildest Dreams“ the quintet included a party part before finishing with their classic „Through The Fire And Flames“ while it started to rain.
Testament 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 „The Legacy“ and „The New Order“. Lead by the incredible six- as fourstringer fraction they showed pure passion and agility performing „The Preacher“, „Trial By Fire“, „First Strike Is Deadly“, „Alone In The Dark“ as „Disciples Of The Watch“. By „Over The Wall“ and „Into The Pit“ a successful back-to-the-roots-show ended.
Amon Amarth 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 „Guardians Of Asgard“, „Pursuit Of Vikings“ and „Deceiver Of The Gods“. The packed infield headbanged and sang along the vikings’ hymns while fronter Johan Hegg throned over the scenery even including viking actors. The encores „Crack The Sky“ and „Twilight Of The Thunder God“ set the end of more than 100 minutes of viking warriors in dragon boats with Death Metal sound.
Hämatom vs. Finch 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.
Louder
Emil Bulls 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 „Love Will Fix It“ got considered by its title song, the rest of the one hour set contained classics like „The Age Of Revolution“, „The Most Evil Spell“, „The Jaws Of Oblivion“ as „When God Was Sleeping“ and left their fans happy after singing their choruses with them.
Bury Tomorrow The sixpiece from Southampton might be used to rainy weather because when they started into their set by the triple from their recent album „Seventh Star“ by its title song, Abandon Us“ and „Begin Again“ 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 „Black Flame, „Earthbound“, „Man On Fire“ as „Choke“ while the rain became less and finally stopped. Anyway, stong performance!
Conclusion:
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 € for a beer or softdrink isn’t 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 “My Years With UFO“ Set, Peyton Parrish, Beyond The Black, Clawfinger, Grave Digger “45th Anniversary Show”, Obituary, August Burns Red, Windrose, Brothers Of Metal, Tarja & Marko Hietala, Hanabie, Decapitated, Destruction, Celeste, Orange Goblin “30th Anniversary”, Angel Witch,, Dominum, Exhorder “Slaughter In The Vatican Show”, Night Demon “Curse Of The Damned 10th Anniversary Show”, Mimi Barks, Seven Spires, Clowns, Dool, Crownshift, Midnight “Complete & Total Hell Set”. More confirmations about published bands will follow soon.
We enjoyed our Wacken 2024! So see you in Wacken 2025 – 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!