Meanwhile not only mood was getting better but also temperatures in the sun were raising. After the great opening with Prong let’s move on to the True Metal Stage where Tom Angelripper with his trash old hand Sodom is already waiting. There a broadside of their greatest hits was played and who was not awakened after this is beyond help.
The last day at Wacken should be begun in front of the Party Stage watching the American groove metal old hands Prong. May it be due to the fact that they had to be the opener on that stage or that Arch Enemy with their new front woman were rocking the Black Metal Stage in parallel, there were only very few persons standing in front of the stage. Additionally the sound was not very good because again and again Arch Enemy was drowning what was happening here.
The ending of the second day should be formed by Blackie Lawless with his band W.A.S.P. Already in 2010 I had seen them for the first time at the Wacken Open Air. To that time in the afternoon instead. Now in the dark of course the stage lights and the big LED wall in the background were much better coming into one’s own.
After Slayer blew away your ears now over to something completely different. The guys of Saltatio Mortis were allowed to besiege the Party Stage at this late hour and enthuse the masses with their middle age rock. Indeed there were also bass, guitars and drums but they were complemented by a huge number of medieval instruments. Mainly Alea der Bescheidene was hosting through the set but was actively supported by his fellows.
Unfortunately the gig of Hell overlapped a little bit with the start of Slayer’s gig but luckily I was able to get quite quick from the Bullhead tent to the True Metal Stage where the sounds of “Hell Awaits“ and “The Antichrist“ were already blasting out towards me. Across the usual ways I was able to stand quite close to the stage in front of which it was extremely crowded which you could not tell of the stage itself. Anyhow it was quite impressive watching the men around singer Tom Araya displaying their fireworks and more of importance to hear them playing.
Hell is a band from the English Nottingham having passed a very changeful history. Already in the beginning of the 80ies they tried to establish themselves in the music business influenced by the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal with a significant more progressive alignment. Because of their lyrics related to occultism they were counted to the founders of occultism metal. But except some demos there were no other releases to that time so that they separated after falling through of their first album contract in 1987.
Just like the years before there was also this year again a stage completely filled by a symphonic orchestra. The only thing that did point to a metal concert was the drum set treated by Mikko Sirén. Otherwise only classical instruments were populating the True Metal Stage. Apocalyptica was this year on tour together with the Finnish Avanti! Chamber orchestra and was making a stop at Wacken.
I was already looking forward to the Finnish metaller of Children Of Bodom. Unfortunately they had to start earlier compared to the last time and so the five gentlemen were standing their in the bright evening sun.
Finally getting the auditory canal blown free again that is what Heaven Shall Burn from the Thuringia Saalfeld is just the right thing for. Already 2011 the guys knew to enthuse the audience from the Black Stage and today should not be less lively.
After the awesome gig of Five Finger Death Punch there was the complete opposite by the British Bring Me The Horizon. The five guys from Sheffield had metal core from their current album “Sempiternal” with them. Except two songs they played only stuff of this extremely hyped long-player.