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Sooooo, friends of metal and big gatherings of beer-drinking maniacs, what do you reckon the WACKEN OPEN AIR crew has in store for us this year?
Already during the last couple of days of the 2014 festival, a few names were announced, and it certainly looked promising for old heavy metal fans like us.
The biggest pleasant surprise among the first names was SAVATAGE. Jon Oliva and the rest of the SAVA crew are certainly missed on the stages of the world, and I'm guessing that this will be huge.
Closely related to Savatage are of course the TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA. Although there's a real risk of this being the kitsch experience of the year, I'm still looking forward to this like a little boy.
Speaking of old-school heavy metal...ARMORED SAINT is a band I haven't seen since 1991, and I'm quite frankly expecting to have a blast this time around too.
Did I say old school? How old school does it get! Priest at Wacken again. If it's anywhere near as cool as the last time where Halford, Tipton and the rest of the band took us through 30 years of metal history, then I'm SO there. \m/
Sweden will be represented in more than the melodic death metal sector this year: EUROPE will be making the final countdown, and how can that not be a party?
A more common Swedish guest at Wacken is IN FLAMES. And it's never been boring when they're around. Yes, the latest effort has moved In Flames further away from the their roots, but I'm sure that some of the old hits still will be part of the set.
I'm inclined to believe that DEATH ANGEL will be epic. The boys from the Bay Area cancelled WOA in 2014, but hopefully they're back with a vengeance this year! High energy levels are to be expexted, thrash galore!
I've always enjoyed CRADLE OF FILTH and their goth/black pop universe immensely. This year I certainly hope it's going to be dark when they play Wacken - Dani was NOT pleased with the late afternoon slot the last time the vampire crew visited, and understandably so!
With a new album out, I have a feeling that the death metal veterans AT THE GATES are ready to slay. I'm not going to one who misses out on this one, that's for sure.
The same can be said of one of my long-time favourite thrash bands, Canadian ANNIHILATOR. They've grown stronger with each release over the past few years, and live, they're a force to be reckoned with. Jeff Waters rules!
"Tales from the Thousand Lakes show"? Can it be more beautiful? The album that introduced me to AMORPHIS is arguably still my favourite among their fine albums. It's going to be a great thing, this!
I've never been a fan of Mikael Åkerfeldt, and I've therefore had a fairly strained relationship with BLOODBATH. But, lo and behold, enter Nick Holmes, and I'm all of a sudden much more interested. Looking forward to see this!
BIOHAZARD haven't made much impact over the past few years, so it's an interesting experiment by the Wacken bookers to include the New Yorkers on the bill. On a good day, these fellows can make the Wacken fields jump - I hope it'll be one of those days.
Zakk Wylde is a wonderful guitarist, there should be no doubt about that, and when he stays away from the cheesy ballads, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY rocks. Let's hope they stay away from those darned ballads!
Big-titted women with plasters over the nipples who shout metal into your face. What's not to like? This should be a riot.
Death metal par excellence. Have to see again.
No, I don't really like DREAM THEATER, but if they are there, then, sure I'll have a peek.
IN EXTREMO are in town = a party is in town. They will get medieval on our arses, so be it.
Aaaaah, this was one of the announcements that made me really happy. MY DYING BRIDE is the cream of doom metal, and I've only ever seen about half a gig with them (Wacken aeons ago - I missed a big portion of the gig for some stupid reason). Can't wait!
Eh? Does NEW MODEL ARMY belong here? Well, we have to be open and try it out, won't we?
Another legendary thrash metal band pays visit: NUCLEAR ASSAULT. Dan Lilker's skipped Brutal Truth for good (we think), and if that's the reason why there's now time for NA, then I'm more than happy with that move. Kult!
The OBI-boys are currently in the best of shapes and have a strong album out. Gather all ye death metal freaks and let's bang our heads!
Now, I can write a lot about QUEENSRYCHE and how much this band has meant to me over the years. I won't right now, but I can share that I've never actually seen this band live and that I almost shat my pants when I found out they were on the bill for this year's Wacken Open Air. Praise be and thank you!
Again a first for yours truly: I loved White Zombie back in the day, and although ROB ZOMBIE hasn't QUITE cut it as amazingly in my humble view, I'm still going to be there for this one.
So, can Rock'n'Rolf make up his mind? Is this band a go or no? Anyway, there are so many great old RUNNING WILD tunes that I'll certainly do my best to be there to raise my fist high.
Our Brazilian friends have turned out to be one of the Wacken regulars in recent years - and understandably so. They're a great f**king band and so professional. Like.
Those Wacken visitors who are not familiar with Finnish WALTARI might be in for a surprise. This is thrash, but also more than that. It can be downright weird. Be open, but be there!
A first for me, this one, too. The quality and professionalism of this Dutch ensemble is unquestionable, and it's a definite must-see.
See the full list of bands here!
Thomas
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