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WOA
Jun 12, 2007 22:58:37 GMT
Post by lawlessgrandma on Jun 12, 2007 22:58:37 GMT
I believe the idea is not to bad to post one thread where all the Wacken news, questions, comments, etc. appear. And after the festival is always before the festival. So when this year's over the planning for next year begins. New tool on the WOA homepage created the Personal Running Order of Lawless Grandma 2007
Wednesday 01. Aug. 2007 Party in the train Rushing in Party in the Camp Beergarden Purchase Metal Hammer Party
Thursday 02. Aug. 2007 17:15 - 17:45 Blitzkrieg Black Stage 18:15 - 19:15 Rose Tattoo Black Stage 19:45 - 21:30 Sodom + Guests Black Stage 22:00 - 00:00 Saxon Black Stage 22:00 - 22:45 Hatesphere Hellfest Stage
Friday 03. Aug. 2007 15:00 - 16:00 Possessed Black Stage 16:15 - 17:15 Grave Digger True Metal Stage 18:30 - 19:15 Chthonic W.E.T. Stage / Headbangers Ballroom 20:00 - 21:00 Enslaved Party Stage 21:15 - 22:45 Blind Guardian True Metal Stage 23:00 - 00:15 Dimmu Borgir Black Stage 00:30 - 01:45 Iced Earth True Metal Stage 00:45 - 01:30 1349 W.E.T. Stage / Headbangers Ballroom 02:00 - 02:45 Kampfar W.E.T. Stage / Headbangers Ballroom
Saturday 04. Aug. 2007 12:00 - 12:45 Disillusion Party Stage 12:50 - 13:50 Sacred Reich True Metal Stage 13:55 - 14:40 Heaven Shall Burn Party Stage 14:45 - 15:45 Stratovarius True Metal Stage 16:00 - 17:00 Dimension Zero Party Stage 18:45 - 19:45 Norther Party Stage 20:15 - 21:30 Type O Negative True Metal Stage 21:45 - 23:00 Immortal Black Stage 21:45 - 23:00 Stormwarrior Feat. Kai Hansen Party Stage 23:15 - 00:30 In Flames True Metal Stage 00:55 - 01:40 Fastway W.E.T. Stage / Headbangers Ballroom
Hansen will play six songs from 'Walls of Jericho'. This is gonna be a hard choice, but I think in the end I cannot miss the recreation of Immortal. Enough time in between for the beergarden. Sometimes all the beers and the Jaegi ruined the setup, but normally I saw all the important bands. Already got the fever..., but first I' ll have to survive the Balingen trip...
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WOA
Jun 14, 2007 16:02:38 GMT
Post by MetalBlade on Jun 14, 2007 16:02:38 GMT
My personal running order is as follows.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personal Running Order
Thursday 02. Aug. 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19:40 - 20:25 Tyr W.E.T. Stage / Headbangers Ballroom 19:45 - 21:30 Sodom + Guests Black Stage
Friday 03. Aug. 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12:55 - 13:40 Napalm Death Black Stage 13:50 - 14:50 Therion True Metal Stage 15:00 - 16:00 Possessed Black Stage 20:00 - 21:00 Enslaved Party Stage 21:15 - 22:45 Blind Guardian True Metal Stage 22:15 - 23:00 Belphegor W.E.T. Stage / Headbangers Ballroom 00:30 - 01:45 Iced Earth True Metal Stage 00:45 - 01:30 1349 W.E.T. Stage / Headbangers Ballroom 02:00 - 03:00 Die Apokalyptischen Reiter Black Stage 02:00 - 03:00 Samael Party Stage
Saturday 04. Aug. 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12:50 - 13:50 Sacred Reich True Metal Stage 17:15 - 18:30 Rage True Metal Stage 18:45 - 20:00 Destruction + Guests Black Stage 19:55 - 20:40 Benedictum W.E.T. Stage / Headbangers Ballroom 21:45 - 23:00 Stormwarrior Feat. Kai Hansen Party Stage 22:25 - 23:10 Municipal Waste W.E.T. Stage / Headbangers Ballroom 00:45 - 01:45 Cannibal Corpse Black Stage 00:45 - 01:45 Haggard Party Stage
For me the festival begins with a clash... TYR and SODOM are on at the same time! How do I prioritize? I have seen Sodom previously, albeit nearly twenty years ago, and I really like TYR's Ragnarok album.
TYR are a relatively new band who I reckon I will see again at some point in the future, but I may have to watch the first half an hour of TYR then wander over to the Black Stage for the Sodom extravaganza. The two hour Sodom setlist will feature both Frank Blackfire and Chris Witch Hunter at some point, so I guess that makes it unmissable.
Friday is very good, in between Possessed and Enslaved, there is a four hour gap to indulge in T-shirt buying, Jagermeister, and food. Iced Earth and 1349 clash, but I saw 1349 a while back with Gorgoroth, so Iced Earth win that one hands down. Then it's a toss-up between Die Apocalyptischen Reiter and Samael. Having seen D.A.R. twice previously, I know how crazy their set is, and how great the band is live, but in 2005 I heard Samael from the beer tent and was impressed. I have also recently begun to listen to them on CD, and they remind me a bit of TOOL, with black metal overtones. I think I may see Samael this time. But then again, at 2 in the morning, I may be comatose...
Ah, what a great start to Saturday - SACRED REICH! This band is one of the tightest sounding outfit's I ever heard. They are great live, so the four hour gap between them and Rage will help me recover from an afternoon moshing session.
But then....NOOOOOOOOOO! A MAJOR clash! Even though I have never heard of Stormwarrior, I am so excited about seeing Kai Hansen do Walls Of Jericho, but they clash with my new favourite band, Municipal Waste. I really wanna see then in the tent at Wacken, but I am guessing I will never see Hansen do Walls Of Jericho again, and Municipal Waste are playing my home town later in August in a small pub venue, so it looks like I will reluctantly miss them at Wacken.
Finally, I like what I have heard of Haggard, with their strange bagpipe metal, but I've never seen Cannibal Corpse, and I need to escape from their Room Of Death, so Corpse it is to finish off W:O:A 2007.
Enjoy!
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WOA
Jul 1, 2007 0:47:53 GMT
Post by lawlessgrandma on Jul 1, 2007 0:47:53 GMT
RJD did not look like he's gonna retire in the next 20 years or something. Still killing all the dragons. I did not mention that I met the guy (small, strong) who wrestled a good friend of ours two years ago in Wacken. His name was Thomas. Maybe he`ll join us on this board. He still is in contact with this boy named Juan who was staying in the tent next to yours. The Benoit-shit paralyzed me in some way the last days, hell I am not ready to let an idiot like him conquer my thoughts. Only KD is allowed to do so. And yeah...wow.. the Pinhead is looking forward to new collectables. We definetely should arrange this Dangerous Meeting, it would be an honour for Grandma to share her Jagy with the Blade and friends. I think I will travel on my own and then maybe meet some Danish guys at the WOA. I believe you will arrive earlier than me (?), have you reserved a camping ground for you so far? As I go over your schedule I just can say: Don`t miss Heaven Shall Burn and Dimension Zero, two of the finest "new" Deathmetal acts I heard I would say in the last six or seven years. Especially DZ! A one time opportunity 'cause it is a sideproject of Jesper Stroemblad, metalling up your ass. Believe me. What' s that thing with Municipal Waste? Some of my friends celebrate them, too (?). Grandma will arrive on Wednesday in the afternoon....there are various strategies to meet: Phoning may not be the best 'cause it doesn't always work, but it is one. Better would be to meet directly on the camping field. If you already know where you will be camping I see no problems...if anything goes wrong we could arrange something like 10pm in the beergarden or somewhere else (Mmmmmh the beergarden...). Make suggestions...
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WOA
Jul 2, 2007 17:15:01 GMT
Post by MetalBlade on Jul 2, 2007 17:15:01 GMT
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WOA
Jul 2, 2007 21:57:00 GMT
Post by lawlessgrandma on Jul 2, 2007 21:57:00 GMT
They said they'll never bring Maiden to Wacken. I say never say die! And I bet Maiden will bring the Powerslave Stage to the WOA plus the Mariner. Blade, tell me the trick with the signature... and Ezzy, do it!
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WOA
Jul 3, 2007 13:59:49 GMT
Post by MetalBlade on Jul 3, 2007 13:59:49 GMT
The trick with the sig? Right... First you need to find a suitable picture, and a suitable size. Mine is 600 pixels by 300 pixels. I made mine using PhotoImpact (like PhotoShop but a bit simpler to use). Then either hotlink from whatever site you found the picture, or host the picture on a photo hosting site. I use PhotoBucket. Then you copy the url of the picture, and paste it in your sig into image tags like this... url of picture[/img ]. Don't leave the space before the final bracket though. I only did that so I could show you the code. If you are hotlinking from another site, then right click on the picture and go to properties. There you will find the url. Hope this helps. I will also gladly volunteer to make anyone a banner if they wish.
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WOA
Jul 4, 2007 22:07:43 GMT
Post by lawlessgrandma on Jul 4, 2007 22:07:43 GMT
The sig trick worked. I chose a pic of the three grandmas, breaking the law in Asgard. Kreator is in for next year, too.
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WOA
Jul 5, 2007 15:09:30 GMT
Post by MetalBlade on Jul 5, 2007 15:09:30 GMT
YESS!!! UK thrashers SABBAT just got confirmed. This is the news I was waiting for, as I have always loved them. I have not seen them since about 1989.
This will be sweet.
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WOA
Jul 14, 2007 17:59:40 GMT
Post by MetalBlade on Jul 14, 2007 17:59:40 GMT
This year has sold out again. Two years on the trot now. Granny, I just noticed your edit about Kreator. That's awesome news. Maiden and Kreator on the same bill. Now we can start compiling our dream line ups for next year. The first name on my wishlist is...
...Richie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio reuniting for RAINBOW! Performing Rising in it's entirety.
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WOA
Jul 14, 2007 21:56:06 GMT
Post by lawlessgrandma on Jul 14, 2007 21:56:06 GMT
Although Kiske is a pain in the ass: It's time for the Helloween-reunion. Setlist: Keeper I+II. But I would sacrifice that only to see Dio and Mr Blackmore performing 'The Temple of the King'.
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WOA
Jul 14, 2007 22:12:09 GMT
Post by MetalBlade on Jul 14, 2007 22:12:09 GMT
Ah, glad we are on the same page with Rainbow. The Helloween reunion I would like to see would be with Kai Hansen though, although I think Kiske's voice has matured a great deal recently after hearing the AINA album for the first time last year.
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WOA
Jul 19, 2007 17:39:45 GMT
Post by lawlessgrandma on Jul 19, 2007 17:39:45 GMT
Ohhhh yeahhhhhh! O V E R K I L L !!!!! The Wreckin' Crew is gonna be in Wacken this year!
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WOA
Jul 19, 2007 21:56:26 GMT
Post by MetalBlade on Jul 19, 2007 21:56:26 GMT
WOW! What an amazing last-minute announcement. Just when we thought the lineup could not get any better, they throw us another curve-ball. 2007 is set to be the year of the thrash revival. And that suits me fine.
Overkill were THE highlight of W:O:A 2005 for me, so this announcement, especially as their slot only clashes with Saxon who I saw recently, makes this year's festival an event to match no other.
Thursday night now runs as follows... arrival>>> a dangerous meeting>>> beer>>> food>>> beer>>> SODOM>>> beer>>> OVERKILL>>> beer>>> coma...
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WOA
Jul 20, 2007 1:44:27 GMT
Post by lawlessgrandma on Jul 20, 2007 1:44:27 GMT
Yep, THE trash-revival. Excellent for me, too. Before the Dangerous Meeting I will have a 'lil Blitzkrieg and then of course beer. Maybe I will take a short look at Hatesphere just before Overkill. I believe the tent will be overcrowded. But as the festival is coming nearer and nearer the words of The Coop are ringing in my ears: 'God, I feel so strong!' Ha.
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WOA
Aug 9, 2007 17:23:00 GMT
Post by MetalBlade on Aug 9, 2007 17:23:00 GMT
Right, this year's festival is over for yet another year, and I can say I enjoyed this one more than any other. One simple reason: THRASH!
Thrash dominated Wacken this year, so much so that it almost felt as though I were 18 years old again. The three shirts I came away with were Possessed, Sacred Reich and Sodom, so that should give an indication of the volume of thrash on display this year.
DAY 1 - Thursday After landing in Hamburg at 2:30 in the afternoon, we discovered what I had been dreading - it was PISSING it down! Great, cheers. So myself and Mjolnir get a taxi to the railway station where I phone Lawless Grandma and tell him we will be about an hour late for The Dangerous Meeting. Finally get to Itzehoe about 5:30pm and manage to share a cab with a couple from Derby of all places, and another couple from Canadia. Yes, Canadia.
Got to the festival site about 6pm to find Grandma had indeed reserved us a VIP camping spot as he had promised (cheers!) And the sun is shining! After a few shenanigans attempting to raise the tent, it's finally off to the festival proper, and head straight for the tent where Nordic folk-metallers TYR are due onstage imminently.
What a mistake! What a crush!
So then the split occurs, as Mjolnir heads on alone into the steaming throng while myself and Grandma decide SODOM is the best option for us. Good decision. Sodom rip out a storming set of vintage classics and even wheeled out former members Chris WitchHunter and Frank BlackFire. Highlight for me was The Saw Is The Law.
Then a slight breather as we sit back and relax as Biff's SAXON serenade us with a few old favourites, before we head for the Party Stage and the second thrash extravaganza of the evening - OVERKILL! A brawl almost ensues as me and Mjolnir very nearly come to blows over something I already forgot... This always happens the first day of Wacken, don't ask me why. This kinda took the shine off a stellar set from old pals Overkill. Then coma time...
DAY 2 - Friday A brisk walk to the beer tent through the glorious sunshine, as we sit and listen to NAPALM DEATH from about half a mile away. We then wander down to the True Metal Stage to see our first band of the day, THERION. They were OK, not really my thing this opera-metal, but the four - yes four singers all have mighty voices.
Then a quick shuffle over to the front of the Black Stage sound desk for the main event of the day - POSSESSED. I wasn't sure what to expect, as I was not sure if vocalist Jeff Becerra was still in a wheelchair or not. But I hear the intro tape with the familiar tune of Tubular Bells - THE EXORCIST! The crowd roars as the band hits the stage, and Jeff is indeed in a wheelchair. But did that hold him back? I don't think so! With more energy than most able-bodied frontmen, Becerra clearly relishes this, and thrashes his way through almost an hour of pure vintage Possessed. The band - actually members of Sadistic Intent - nail every song note for note, and all look the part with full leather and studs attire. An emotional performance by a remarkable man, Jeff said it best by growling "ain't no bullets gonna keep me down!"
Now time for a wander round before heading for the tent, and SABBAT! Yes, it's been some time since I last saw these boys at the Maze Bar at Sheffield Uni, so I was excited to see and hear what they would bring twenty years later. And guess what - I remembered all the songs like I only heard them yesterday. Frontman Martin Walkyier looked as intense as ever spitting out those immortal lines to Horned Is The Hunter, A Cautionary Tale and Behind The Crooked Cross amongst others. Great stuff.
Then a surprise. We bumped into a couple we know from Bradford, who dragged us along to see ENSLAVED on the Party Stage. We were not that fussed about seeing them, having seen them recently with 1349 and Zyklon in Sheffield, but we went along anyway. And I am glad we did, for they were incredible. They had by far the best sound so far, and were tighter than a gnat's chuff.
So once again we head back to the tent for a much anticipated performance by BELPHEGOR, who did not disappoint in any way. The band delivered possibly THE most brutal onslaught of black/death metal you could hope for inside the stuffy tent.
After a slight breather and a couple of beers, it's time to take the traditional position at the bar beside the sound desk for ICED EARTH (we discovered said spot last year for Celtic Frost, and the year before for Kreator). For the record, I will say I was most impressed by Iced Earth, but not so for the fickle Mjolnir, who grumbled throughout at Ripper Owen's versions of old singer Matt Barlow's hallowed classics from Stormrider etc. Mainman Jon Shaeffer looked like some regal lord in his long black leather coat and perfect long grey locks. Superb. Can't wait for them supporting Sabbath in November.
DAY 3 - Saturday After an early rise, we sauntered into the festival area fully tooled up with ale, for the lunchtime matinee performance of SACRED REICH. Oh yes, this is what I'm talking about. This was old-school before old-school was old-school. Beginning with the song I predicted - The American Way, the band pounded out such classics as The Way It Is, Death Squad, Ignorance, Who's To Blame and Love...Hate before treating us to crowd favourites War Pigs and finally the bona fide classic Surf Nicaragua. At that point my hair had to come down! Full marks to the the band and especially bassist/vocalist Phil Rind who genuinely enjoyed himself up there in the blazing sunshine, and let us all know it too. Most enjoyable.
Now shopping time, and we set off for the metal market as we have a few hours to kill. After numerous beers, and foods, we decide to head for the Party Stage to see the Grandma-recommended DIMENSION ZERO. Very good I must say, but in reality we are just killing time before it's time to see RAGE with the Lingua Mortis Orchestra.
Rage frontman Peavey hits the stage after a nice intro by the orchestra, and we are treated to an hour of truly sublime music. Guitarist Viktor Schmolski shows his skill at every giuven opportunity without looking like just another guitar-wanker. And the orchestra, completely at home with Rage's music, leave us feeling fulfilled and more than a little snortley about what we just saw and heard.
Then a slight sideways movement to the Black Stage for DESTRUCTION. The Mad Butcher emerges from the side of the stage wielding a bloody chainsaw, and sporting a blood-soaked apron, and Schmier wanders out dressed in the customary bullet bandoliers. 90 minutes plus of Destruction classics follows, with Rages frontman Peavey managing to smeagol his way onstage with Overkill's Bobby Blitz for a rendition of The Alliance Of Hellhounds. Very cool indeed.
By this point the sun is fucking frying us, so beer and shade is required and we head towards the tent where TURISAS just finished and we are swamped by about five thousand vikings covered in mud. When we do eventually get into the tent, all we can hear is TYPE O NEGATIVE poisoning the airspace with their shit, so we move a bit further in to watch BENEDICTUM. A good traditional power metal band, the girl who sings for them vocally reminds us a lot of Dio, and she knows it too. But in the end she tries a little bit too hard and ends up screaming a bit too much. They do a great version of Mob Rules though.
So now a moment I had been anticipating a long time. STORMWARRIOR and the expected guest appearance of original Helloween frontman Kai Hansen. Sure enough, having never actually heard any of their own material, I find they do sound a lot like early Helloween - which is nice. The Kai explodes onstage to a massive pop from the crowd. And what a show! They proceed to give us faultless performances of Judas/Jericho-era Helloween (the best period imo) Finishing off with a roaringly crowd-friendly I Want Out, Stormwarrior emerge as the band of the weekend at 11pm.
Then it's a great struggle to try and get through the masses converged for IN FLAMES, and attempt to return to the tent for MUNICIPAL WASTE. We arrive just as the band begins playing favourite Terror Shark. Pure old-school thrash in the vein of S.O.D., Tankard, Acid Reign, D.R.I. etc. Then it's the main event - the WALL OF DEATH. I had heard of this, but never actually witnessed it personally. Basically the whole of the front section of the crowd parts into two pits, and on the mark of singer Tony Foresta, both rush towards each other colliding in a mass of sprawling bodies, before a massive circle pit ensues, the size of which has to be truly seen to be believed.
Then a mistake. They play a cover of S.O.D.'s United Forces and I have to take a step back for fear of rupturing my hernia! The place EXPLODES! Definitely the highlight of my weekend, seeing that.
And finally, to finish the night - and the festival - a nice peaceful hour of CANNIBAL CORPSE!!! This was the first time I'd ever seen Corpse, and they were definitely the heaviest band of the festival. I seriously have doubts about CorpseGrinder's sanity after seeing him windmill his way through 60 straight minutes of 200mph extreme death metal. The man must have a neck like a fucking RHINO!
Oh, and as a little bonus, we discover 1349 playing in the tent, so we check them out for about twenty mins before the day's excesses get the better of me, and I feel the need to retire to the tent.
So that was this years Wacken Open Air festival. In my opinion the best so far. And with Maiden and Kreator already confirmed for next year, things can only get better and better.
Hope you enjoyed my Wacken Diary.
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