WACKEN OPEN AIR 2008

The 19th edition

31.07 - 2.08.2008 Schleswig-Holstein (GER)

First point of program the third Wacken day should to be for me EXODUS, but unfortunately… wasn’t. I didn’t know, what’s the fucking hell on this earth, when standing punctually at 12.50 PM in front of the True Metal Stage I saw the shitty heavy metal band, playing so tenderly, so softly and generally so incuriously, that I don’t want even to remember his name, believe me! Shit! Was the show of EXODUS cancelled? Confirmed in this conviction and angry like the hundred devils, I left the festival area, wandering myself in backstage and cursing all things of this world. Fortunately, the show of Sabina Classen and her comrades of HOLY MOSES effectively recompensed my humor. For this lady I had ever a big respect, cause her throat of steel can to trump a many of male singers. It appears however, that sometimes not always is lost and premature panic absolutely won’t do good, cause the show of EXODUS wasn’t cancelled, but simply… changed in time. I mustn’t to explain probably, that the gig of Californian thrashers satisfied not only the person, who writes these words, but everyone too, who coming this early afternoon under the True Metal Stage, was similar disappointed, if not angry… This band can to compare with the bomb, shredding into pieces everything around and leaving everywhere the bloody chunks. I wouldn’t like to be tactless, so preferring to stay loyal to Gary Holt and his comrades, I won’t to find fault of this show, cause all of tracks, no matter or had we to do with songs from “Bonded By Blood”, “The Atrocity Exhibition”, “Tempo Of The Damned” or the new masterpiece „Let There Be Blood”, always deserves of praise. I know, that from this band I can only to expect the mastery of highest class, what confirmed not only the current gig, but the still living memories of concert in Berlin before five years too. Hold on tight, brothers! I hope, that you will never change yourself (it would be worse than horror!...)

The crew of Tardy brothers I saw last time in the same place before three years, so reminding of OBITUARY at live version was not only the lesson of heavy memories, but first of all my tribute for the American death metal classics. The discography of Floridian (e)xecutioners is probably known to all of you so good, that even being woken up in the middle of the night, you shouldn’t have the problems with the mention of their works. Last year the band released a new album, titled very metaphoric as “Xecutioner’s Return”, so presenting the new tracks stays for this moment a priority, but could you imagine yourself the OBITUARY gig without of standard hymns like “Memories Remain”, “Turned Inside Out”, “Dying”, “Evil Ways” or “Insane”? The guys doesn’t forget of course about their inspirations too, so the brave performing of CELTIC’s classic “Dethroned Emperor” was naturally included, and “Slowly We Rot”, ending like always every of shows this band’s, we had occasion to hear too. Like for me Wacken OBITUARY gig was the curious experiment of reason the new guitarist too, cause first time I watched in action Ralph Santolla. In opinion of some people this guy supposed doesn’t fit to this band, but why – they can’t to motivate it, so maybe the yearning for Allen West lets to know? Maybe… The power of sentiment can to be sometimes very strong.

Now a few words about two groups, for which the most of public (especially the older generation of metal fans) waited probably with big impatience. The age of reunions brings all time the next reactivations, so who of you could to believe, that the return of CARCASS will become flesh too? Yes, that’s true. The gig of grindcore classics, announced yet the last year, fell out naturally very well, but will we have to do with the next splendorous resurrection and will we hear yet the new album, like in the past good years? Time probably shall tell, but as the dreams comes sometimes through, this one will realize itself too. And the gig of CARCASS? Dear people, similar like in case of EXODUS, all of deliberations would be simply tactless. Suppose, that all maniacs, gathered in front of the Black Stage were in the seventh hell, cause when only the first sounds of “Inpropagation” were heard, the screaming madness of crowd was probably hearable even in town. God, if Bill Steer and Mike Amott would keep the form like during this concert, who knows, maybe it won’t stop only on single concerts, but we will hear a new album, what not only me, but most of you would probably wish yourself?... Except of known to you all hits, appeared itself the special surprise too. What (or maybe rather: who) was it? Ladies and Gentlemen – Ken Owen! Yeah, that’s really unbelievable, that the legendary drummer of this band appeared himself this evening on the stage. Reasons of healthy problems he wasn’t able to perform as a regular member, but the greetings for fans and the drum solo played by him were no doubt so heroic undertakings. Big respect and best wishes much of health, Ken! So, now the second heroes of reunion age – AT THE GATES. As you know, if not these guys, we wouldn’t have today the melodic section of death metal, so suppose, a lot of people, loving these sounds are probably happy regards the return of crew from Göteborg. I can’t to admit, that this reunion was exactly especially awaited by me, but I would to be a true hypocrite, saying about despondency in their possibilities. How could I to do it anyway, if the show of red haired Tomas Lindberg and his comrades was simply excellent? During the long minutes of slaughter, began of course by “Slaughter Of Soul”, all of lost souls had a pleasure to destroy their ears, listening the verses of “Raped By The Light Of Christ”, “Windows”, “The Burning Darkness”, “The Swarm”, “Forever Blind”, “Nausea”, “Unto Others”, “All Life Ends”, “Need” or “Kingdom Gone”. Gorgeous, isn’t it? I think so in every case. As the next star of the last day of Wacken I have planned to watch NIGHTWISH, but in due of hunger and first of all the pain of my spinal cord (the long hours without sitting down lets unfortunately to know about), so observing from the far only a half hour the undertakings of Anette Blyckert, who in opinion of many people is a better and more proper person on the proper place, I said to the Fines a big “sorry” and marched hardly towards the enter of backstage. Awaiting the hour of ghosts, I spent one hour in my tent eating my (absolutely not last!) supper, to have a power for watching the true sons of devil, who punctually at midnight captured the space in tent named expertly as W.E.T Stage. Those sons of devil were the guys of WATAIN, who like always crushed by the hideous image and conglomerate of sounds, called sometimes as black metal. During my fourth meeting with this unholy horde I was effectively trampled into the ground by the venomous and blasphemical anthems from “Casus Luciferi” or “Sworn To The Dark” and through the Swedes I have passed even a part of KREATOR gig (Mille, please forgive me!). Returning however to the Black Stage, I had yet a time to hear the following “People Of The Lie”, “Suicide Terrorist”, “Extreme Aggression”, “Someone”, “Betrayer”, “Reconquering The Throne”, “Impossible Brutality” or connected deftly and played at the end “Flag Of Hate”/”Tormentor”. As the true enemy of racism, Nazism or politic stupidity, Mille interrupted the tracks by his tirades, animating the maniacs to fight and reminding even in one moment by the true euphoria about the splendid reaction of fans from… Polish Woodstock Festival, where the band of course played before. I think that, KREATOR won’t grow old yet for a long, long time, cause the charisma of German-Italian commanding by this band probably will not fade so fast. Long live thrash!!!

And in this moment like for me, the 19th edition of Wacken Open Air drawn to an end. Why? Everything what I wanted to watch, I accepted with the true pleasure from my heart and soul and for the gig of LORDI, planned at 2.00 AM, I had simply… no willingness. Maybe, that’s a little bit tactless, but I preferred rather to wander myself among the people on backstage, drinking a beer and talking with some friends of mine, whom I have a rare occasion to see. And the next morning, waking up myself rested and satisfied, I have packed up my equipment and reaching the same shuttle bus by which I came, I said to Wacken goodbye and listening the screaming of another passengers, I have sworn myself to be here next year again. Maybe for the 20th anniversary will be special surprises? Soon we will to know…