The 2011 edition of Wacken Open Air (WOA), probably the biggest open air metal festival in the world, took place from August 4-6 at Wacken, Northern Germany.
For three days the rural fields transformed into a second home for metal fans from all over the globe who shared their passion for loud music with headliners such as Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, and Motörhead.
Below you'll a review of some of the highlights of WOA 2011's first day.
Just like a reknown festival such as North Sea Jazz isn't strictly jazz, so is WOA strictly metal. In fact, it took us over twelve hours at the festival to hear the first real metal band.
Kvelertak The first act we tried to see was Kvelertak from Norway. Drummer Kjetil Gjermundrød and his band have rocketeered themselves up to the major league. In fact, the band turned out to bee too hip for the small stage tent called Bullhead City: more people tried to enter than the tent could contain so security officers had a busy job making people wait until someone decided to leave. Due to these restrictions, we missed most of the show but one thing's clear: Kjetil on his Yamaha kit made a solid impression.
Rude Revelation WOA is a festival where both big names as well as young and upcoming bands are featured. In the WET stage tent played the national winners of the Wacken Metal Battle, a competition now running in thirty countries all over the globe. The WET Stage was powered by Mapex. The first winner we managed to see was Rude Revelation from Luxembourg, featuring young skinsman Änder Millim on Mapex drums and Paiste cymbals. Only a quarter of the tent was filled with people, but the band gave all they had. A very sympathetic performance. Touching: one of the guitarists couldn't hold back his tears after they had finished their gig.
X-Tinxion Next was X-Tinxion from the Netherlands, like the previous band, fronted by a powerful woman with an aggresive voice. Drummer Peter van Toren seemed to be an old dog who knows a thing or two about the trade. During the song Survivors of Hell, the crowd started a circle pit. Well done guys.
Coldwar Since the WET Stage offered so much entertainment, we decided to stay a bit longer and see how Coldwar, the Wacken Metal Battle winner from Ireland would do. The band delivered a dark, crusty blend of death metal with a punk spirit. Very heavy but a bit boring, despite the evil and creepy frontman. Drummer Marty McElhinny, playing Meinl cymbals, couldn't change that with his playing.
Maiden United Time to hit the daylight again, and off to Maiden United at the Wackinger Stage. This Dutch outfit, featuring Mike Coolen of Within Temptation on Sonor drums, also boasted Anneke van Giersbergen (formerly of The Gathering) and British singer Damian Wilson on vocals. They played classic Iron Maiden songs in tasteful acoustic arrangements. Awesome tribute to a great band with lots of sing-alongs by the audience. Life was good in the late evening sun.
Helloween The first major act on the True Metal Stage was Helloween. Their set included many classics like Future World, Dr.Stein, Eagle Fly Free, Halloween and I Want Out. They had tough luck during their openings track Are You Metal? as the power went completey off. PA, stage volume, lights, even the Jumbotrons which flank both sides of the stage - all went dead silent. The inauspicious and embarrassing delay didn't stop the band from incorporating Daniel Löble's drum solo.
Ozzy Osbourne "Madman" Ozzy Osbourne is a living legend. His heydays are long gone, but the fact that this grandfather with his unique vocals and characteristic mimics is still performing on stage is a wonderful thing in itself. And Ozzy's band is a great one, with excellent musicians such as Ozzy's sticksman Tommy Clufetos on Sonor drums and Meinl cymbals. They compensated the fact that Ozzy didn't reach all the high notes with bravoure and showmanship.
