04.08.2012 Paradise Lost

Wacken Open Air XXIII

Wacken (Germany)

(Pentax K-5 with Sigma AF 70-200mm 2.8 EX DC APO HSM II)

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.
In front of the stage a large number of people were already waiting but it could have been some more as on the infield it was still quite overseeable (this may of course also be due to Napalm Death playing in parallel hearing their sound blowing over from time to time). It was a nice collection of songs of their current album "Tragik Idol" like "Honesty In Death" or older songs like "One Second". During that song again it started raining. But luckily not so strong so that it was not emptying in front of the stage but leading to the front men Nick Holmes giving the short comment: "Is it raining? Typical!". Never mind! The music was not inviting to party as it is way too gloomy and also the musicians were more or less only statically standing on the Party Stage. However I have to say that I was quite impressed by this gig. Especially as their largest success "Say Just Word" was intonate at the end the crowd partied as hard as they could and also celebrating the band loudly when they left the stage.
I have only seen very limited comparable gigs at Wacken that were so pure and simple but at the same time left such a lasting impression. Here real heroes of the metal history were at work!