Originally Cradle Of Filth should have played on Wacken Open Air already the year before but singer Dani Filth got injured so that they had to cancel the gig. Therefore he directly promised to be there in 2012 what he was fulfilling by this show.
After so much gloom again something real good axes. So, let's head for the True-Metal Stage where the guys of the American trash metal band Testament were already chomping at the bit. They belong to the cofounders of this style and are already active since 1983.
A premiere at the Wacken Open Air. Although the British band already exists since 1988 it is the first time that Paradise Lost is playing at Wacken. Already shortyl after foundation they got one of the style-defining bands of gothic metal and besides that gave it with their equally named album "Gothic" also the name of the style. Afterwards their style changed more towards rock with doom elements.
After the first big rain showers of the day the sun was showing again and so I went over to the True Metal stage where the guys of Gamma Ray opened the day.
As it was that nice, let's remain here! To speak of Manticora as rookies would be out of place as they are existing in that way since 1996 already and brought clear power metal to stage.
The last day of the Wacken Open Air started and as you always should start with what you ended the day before I directly went to the Bullhead Tent. There the German junior band Eschenbach was the first item on the schedule. The guys around front men Riitchy Schwarz as well as guitarist and name giving person Philip Eschenbach showed clear rock that was pushing really good combating the fatigue.
What do you do in case that during night at 2:00 at Wacken you do not yet want to go back to the tent! Right, you head for the Bullhead Tent and watch Ghost Brigade to close the day. The six Finns around front men Manne Ikonen were delivering a great performance.
The festial day was slowly coming towards its end and the medieval metaller of In Extremo were invited to put out the lights on Black Stage. Here not only the common metal instruments like guitars, bass and drums were used but also traditiona medieval instruments like bagpipes, shawm or harp. Although it was already quite late many remained there after the gig of In Flames and were populating the area in front of the stage when it firstly started with "Sterneneisen" the title song of their same-titled album.
Meanwhile it got completely dark and a huge crowd gathered in front of the True-Metal stage which was covered with a black cloth and they were waiting imnpatient for the Swedish melodic death metaller of In Flames. They entered the stage on time which means the intro started on time and with it the black cloth was enlightened by strong spotlights so that you were able to see many cubes. One cube was enlightened from the back so that you were able to recognize front men Anders Friden behind the cloth who seemed to be sitting on a piano. Shortly afterwards the intro stopped to be restarted once more and now all musicians were behind the cloth on stage although they could partially only be seen shadowy.
The dawn was slowly falling and the first large highlight of the day should soon start. Beforehand there already was a quite impressive sight as not only the Prague symphonic orchestra was literally squashing them onto this huge stage, no also a huge choir standing directly behind them was there.