04.08.2012 Testament

Wacken Open Air XXIII

Wacken (Germany)

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

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.
Shortly before the festival their new CD "Dark Roots Of Earth" was released and so it was obvious that songs of that like the opener "Rise Up" or "True American Hate" would be played. The band really is a stunner and great of this genre. Singer Chuck Billy was running up and down on stage all the time with his short microphone stand transforming it into a guitar replacement during his singing pauses. On the same instrument now and then Alex Skolnick was casting a spell over the audience with his breathtaking solis. In front of the stage there was a lot happening during stunners like "Into The Pit" which was not surprising at all.
Towards the end of the gig suddenly two big banners were enrolled on the True Metal Stage on which you could read "Free Randy". These were related to the Lamb Of God front men Randy Blythe currently sitting in a Prague prison due to the suspicion of grievous bodily harm resulting in death. He should have pushed a fan off stage during a concert in 2010 who got head injuries due to that and finally died after a multi-week coma. Billy anounced that Blythe was finally released from custody they wanted to dedicated the following "D.N.R." and "3 Days In Darkness" to him.
That was just like a big steamroller rolling across one! With really great old songs and pieces of the last albums (the 90s seemed to be excluded) the guys really knew to enthuse. That was thanked by the audience via loud sing alongs and great clappings so that you obviously could see how much fun Testament had during their gig. Most of them had a grin from ear to ear all the time on their face.