Wacken is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. It all started out in 1990 and has always been sold out since 2007. 

The festival is insanely big. This year they had their own Metal Market where you could buy food and drinks and basic stuff. It has 9 stages which will keep you busy for the whole day and maybe there are things you have to miss out due to this. There is always something for everyone. There are so many genre playing Wacken that everyone will enjoy this festival. Going from well-known classics to new beginning bands to discover.  

This year was a good year a lot of sun but some storms too. Like they say on the holy grounds RAIN OR SHINE! We had to seek shelter for about two times when there was a thunder storm but well that was basically more time to refill the alcohol in the belly. Too bad some shows had to stop in the middle of their set list. But don’t get me wrong WACKEN is a festival I will never forget. Let’s go a little deeper in what I saw. What I liked and what disappointed me. But remember my opinion is not yours! Grab some beer and enjoy! 

Gloryhammer (****) 

Time to get freaky, not pouring beans on oneself-weird, but still. Unicorn, Wizards & Hoots. You don’t need to know anything more about this band than these three things. The mighty Prince Angus Mcfife, together with the Hootsman are ready to battle the Evil Wizard Zargothrax and his companion Sir Proletheus on the holy grounds that is Wacken. I know this sounds like a weird children’s book, but it’s actually and amazing power/fantasy metal band, once started by Christopher Bowes (shocking, I know), but has continued to grow on it’s own. With their great songs, catchy tunes and extraordinary battles on stage. Their fan base has grown exponentially in these last five years and the reason is very clear: Who doesn’t like epic space battles with Goblins and riding undead unicorns to conquer the city of Dundee? Well, the answer to that question is very simple: Thor & Odin apparently… Just before their last two songs: ‘Universe on Fire’ and ‘The Unicorn Invasion Of Dundee’, the show was cancelled due to a storm approaching the holy metal lands. So, logically all went directly to our car for shelter? WRONG! We held some mud fights and started rowing on the ground, clearly the most obvious things to do. I saw them the first time in Belgium at GMM 2014 and since I have traveled far and wide, over mountains and through the deepest sea to catch them performing. If you like… NAY Love these kinds of bands, check them out and thank me later. 

Warkings (****) 

This fairly new band from 2018 is playing at the Wackinger stage. They play metal straight from the halls of eternity. I never saw these men live before. On stage we can find a Spartan, a Tribunal, a Viking and a Crusader. The band starts out with a song ‘The Last Battle’ and I do have to say that these guys sound pretty good live. If you ever have the chance give these guys a look. Some songs really kept hanging the whole day. ‘Hephaistos’ for one and ‘Give em War’. We had the Queen of the Damned joining on stage. The song that came on was ‘Sparta’. She did the screaming part of the song and it sounded amazing! This band has a growing fan base each concert they play. For such a young band these guys are really doing well. 

Anthrax (****) 

Anthrax is one of the “big four”. Do these guys still have what it takes? The area is filled with people wanting to check them out. They started their set with ‘Caught in a Mosh’. Mosh pits started here and there.  It is so pleasant to see them play, the energy they put in the show is amazing. We continued in the set until we heard… IT’S A MADHOUSE! Of course we can’t miss ‘Madhouse’. I think it is one of the most popular songs they play. It was during the song: ‘I Am the Law’ I noticed that they had an interpreter singing along with sign language. That was amazing to see.  

The band is so close with the public. Joey Belladonna walked to the other stage so the people there would also feel the close connection with the band. Scott Ian always laughing and smiling. It always amazes me what an amazing guitar player he is. The set ended with ‘Indians’. Another beautiful song. The band thanked the crowd and they received a well-earned applause. You can definitely say they still have what it takes to blast the roof of the house.  

Meshuggah (***) 

Meshuggah played the Louder stage. And  they were fucking loud. Ready to break down the stage. What I missed during this show was that it still was so sunny outside. It would be a better atmosphere if it was dark. They opened up with ‘Pravus’ continued by ‘Born in Dissonance’. Since I am not so into these kind of screams this band gave a good impression. Towards the more end of the show it got darker on the Holy grounds which gave a better atmosphere for this band to shine. The last four songs gave me the best feeling. ‘Violent Sleep of Reason’, ‘Lethargica’, ‘Bleed’ and the ending song ofcourse… ‘Demiurge’. The show ended in a blast. The band gave it all. It was not my style but I respect them. It was a very good show to see live.  

Slayer (****) 

The last show they’ll play in Europe… There was a weird vibe on the holy metal grounds that night when Slayer got on stage. Fans were even louder, cheers where even longer, people knew what was coming, not everyone agreed to it, but they respected it. From 1981 until this day they were THE thrash metal band known around the globe and equally adored. However, all good things must come to an end and what better way than at Wacken? Starting with ‘Repentless’ they gave the fans a nice trip down memory lane with all their greatest hits : ‘chemical warfare’, ‘south of heaven’, ‘World painted blood’, ‘raining blood’ and of course : ‘Angel of Death’. After this last song Tom Araya took the stage to thank all of the fans that have followed Slayer through the years and for all the support and devotion received by them. When a man that has sung for +30 years, in front of millions of people, is choking on his words you can feel that an era has come to an end. The applause was deafening when he finally left the stage for the last time, but  after that was more so…  75,000 people and yet all you could hear was silence.