Live Coverage || Wacken Open Air 2024

 Another Wacken Open Air, another adventure! Heavy rains, thunderstorms, and mud swamped us last year, causing many unfortunate people to stop entering the city of Wacken and miss the festival. Everyone is in need of a celebration for this 2024 edition, so what could be more fitting than commemorating a band's anniversary? We had the 40th birthdays of RAGE, Messiah and Mayhem, the celebration of Behemoth's 33-year career, and the 20-year anniversary of the Metal Battle.

As many festivals across Europe have expanded their schedules following the widespread sadness that the COVID-19 pandemic brought to the music and festival industry, we had the opportunity to experience a 4-day Wacken event last year, and now we can't imagine life without it.

We also see how much work the Wacken team puts in place for continuous yearly upgrades. There have been more improvements, such as allowing individuals to arrive exclusively on Sunday through reservations or implementing a click-and-collect service to circumvent lengthy lines when restocking festival merchandise.

And since we all enjoy a satisfying click-and-collect service, why not collect your drink of choice straight from the infield? That was a genius idea!

This year marks the return of the farmer market, a wonderful initiative that provides a wide variety of local produce, including food alternatives and fresh goods, right at your doorstep. We personally indulged in fresh honey and cheese. Additionally, the Wacken Market is making a comeback: when it first was introduced pre-covid, it was a massive success, where you could buy anything like a proper supermarket, although this year it was downsized to only snacks and other confectionary items.

But let’s get into the music, shall we?

Words: Sabrina Schiavinato
Pictures: Peterson Marti photography

First day: Wednesday, July 31st

We had planned to begin our day with some metal yoga, but instead, we began the day with an intense workout! Due to an injury, the lovely Saskia had to cancel the yoga lessons. We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to our lessons next year.

We began our 2024 edition on a sunny Wednesday, surrounded by beautiful ladies, with Butcher Babies as our first band. In July, the band announced Carla Harvey's departure, so for this Wacken, we only see Heidi performing, doing an amazing job keeping up with all the dual singing for "Backstreets of Tennessee", "Sleeping With the Enemy", and "Bottom of a Bottle", just to name a few.

In the Faster stage, we catch The Darkness at "happy hour." In 2023, the band was celebrating their 20th anniversary of the album that defined their career, “Permission To Land,” so how can we not feel excited about seeing them in Wacken this year? We definitely are. Beginning with "Growing on Me", the British band showcased some of their major hits, including "Get Your Hands Off My Woman", "One Way Ticket", and "Love Is Only a Feeling", with their most famous song, "I Believe in a Thing Called Love", reserved for the end. Justin Hawkins knows for sure how to be a top frontman, entertaining the crowd with guitar riffs and jokes in a very British style.

Another exciting female presence for the first Wacken Day: Tina Guo, the Grammy-nominated cellist and BRIT Female Artist of the Year. We managed to experience an amazing show featuring more and less famous tunes from big movies such as Dune, Gran Turismo, Top Gun, and Wonder Woman. And it’s exactly with this song that Tina opens the show on the Louder stage, getting so into it to break a string just after the first song. To allow some time to recover the lost string, she invites on stage Alea der Bescheidene from Saltatio Mortis for a beautiful duet accompanied with back vocals too.

On this inaugural day, which is almost exclusively dedicated to women, Suzi Quatro serves as the final female performer. At the beginning of the year, she announced a 2024 tour to celebrate 60 years since she formed her first band, the Pleasure Seekers. Her talent is beyond description: she moves across the stage as if time has never passed. It’s crazy how the power of music stops ageing.

Hellripper welcomes us to the wasteland stage as the sun shines on our faces and dust rises from the ground. We had seen the band earlier in April, supporting Abbath, and we couldn't miss them on a larger stage, travelling all the way from Scotland. They say, "All hail the goats!" We say Hail to the goats back! The crowd is screaming, excited for the band's presence, which is about to shake the wasteland with some speed metal.

We catch In Extremo, which features a stunning aerial fireworks show on the Faster stage. The band has a deep understanding of bringing celebration and community to life, and this has always been a prominent aspect of their music, not just on stage. The band, boasting a repertoire spanning over thirty years, has revealed plans to release a new album post-summer. Yesterday's events demonstrated their German fanbase's strong anticipation for their exceptional content.

Just before we retire for the day, we enjoy a last dust shower in the Wasteland, with Evile closing out the first day with a powerful set. Known for their fierce riffs and relentless energy, Evile did not disappoint their fans, playing a mix of classics and new material, which showcased their evolution over the years. The crowd was particularly enthusiastic during their performance of "Thrasher" and "Enter the Grave", with mosh pits erupting and headbangers in full force.

Second day: Thursday August 1st

How could we not start the second day with a bang?!

Right under the burning sun we catch Dio Disciples. The band is keeping alive the memory of one of the greatest artists that metal has ever had and bringing back to life Dio’s tunes. Joey Belladonna took the time to celebrate Dio's memory while the screen rewinds a couple of shots from Dio's documentary, which we highly recommend everyone watch if you missed it!

Let's continue with a band that marked the glam rock era: Sweet. Right after lunch, the band known for Ballroom Blitz took the stage at Louder, prompting Andy Scott to complain, "This is way too early for me." The energy these guys still possess leaves the crowd speechless.

We eagerly awaited the announcement of the 2024 Wacken Metal Battle winners. This year, a band from Denmark secured the pole position, marking a notable shift. We managed to catch a bit of their performance, and we must say this was a well-deserved first place!

Rage, formerly known as Avenger, commemorates 40 years of being a pioneer in the power metal scene, hailing from Germany. With a portfolio of 27 albums, we see the band in top form taking over the Harder stage, which Scorpions will later use. They shattered the opening stage with their performances of "Cold Desire" and "Under a Black Crown". Once again, this proves that age is not a limit, but rather, the sky is boundless!

We then made our way to the WET & Headbanger stages to see two bands who hail from completely different parts of the world but share a common passion for extreme metal, Skeletal Remains and Messiah. Chris Monroy, the prominent and powerful vocalist of Skeletal Remains, showcased their unique and monstrous style where their riffs are like spinning razor blades and the drumming shakes your bowels: we hear "Relentless Appetite" and "Illusive Divinity", the pit is hot, and we can feel our guts turning inside out. On the other hand, Messiah showcased a more classic approach to death metal performances while commemorating the 40th anniversary of the "Trashing Madness" album. The album's heavy and clean riffs transport us back to its initial release, demonstrating its continued power even after all these years. They have a unique ability to keep the music entertaining by alternating between rapid and slower tempos.

One of the standout performances of the day came from the legendary rock band Mr. Big. Known for their catchy melodies, the band brought a sense of nostalgia and excitement to the stage.  Formed in 1988, they have been a staple in the rock music scene, with hits such as "To Be with You" and "Green-Tinted Sixties Mind". Their ability to interact with the audience and create an engaging live show was evident, making it a memorable experience for both long-time fans and newcomers. The band had just released its tenth studio album, "Ten," in July, which features 11 new original tracks written by singer Eric Martin and guitarist Paul Gilbert, along with André Pessis and Tony Fanucchi.

Moving away from the melodic scene, we stepped into the dark explorations and Uada's acclaimed presence in Wacken. We've been following the band for many years, anticipating their appearance in one of the unfortunate Covid editions that never took place. The American band performed a full set, covering some of the recent songs and kicking the stage right away with "Snakes and Vultures". Aside from the last-year dramas with band members that forced the band to quickly change lineups, Uada's latest news announced their return to festivals and live shows. We definitely witnessed a different and fresh perspective on the band as they stormed the WET stage just before sunset.

Before moving on to the bigger stages, we couldn't miss Incantation and Endstille. So, let's start with Incantation. The band from New Jersey, known for their pioneering role in the death metal scene, delivered a crushing performance that left the audience trembling. John McEntee's growls resonated through the crowd, creating an atmosphere of pure brutality with each member contributing to the dark and intense energy that has become synonymous with Incantation. A mix of old classics and new material captivated the audience, demonstrating Incantation's continued power in the metal world.

With a performance that delved deep into themes of war and conflict, Endstille kept the German flag flying high, reminding us of the darker aspects of history that we should never forget. Known for their relentless and aggressive style of black metal, Endstille brought an intense energy to the stage that resonated with the crowd. Their set was a brutal assault of fast-paced drumming, grim vocals, and fierce guitar riffs, creating an atmosphere of raw power and darkness.

Just before the highlight of the day, we enjoy a couple of songs from Opeth. The Swedish band hit us straight with their magical sonorities and stage effects created by the screen graphics placed under the drums in a total progressive style. The bass line took us away to a total different dimension, almost mesmerising us just before striking the most heavy guitar riffs. Mikael Kerfeldt, the band's singer and guitarist, entertained us with his charismatic speech about how the airline has lost his clothing and that fans have chosen the setlist for the night, which includes the majority of songs from 10 years ago, such as "The Drapery Falls", "In My Time of Need", and "Heir Apparent".

There is no time to waste; it is Scorpions time. Everyone was waiting for this moment; the band, who has been an inspiration for many, doesn’t quite need an introduction. With Scorpions, we had the pleasure of seeing Mikey Dee at the drums, as well as seeing Doro join Klaus Meine singing "Big City Nights", which is definitely the most German metal thing to see in Wacken. Earlier in the day, we witnessed all of them participating in a ceremony to initiate the "Walk of Legends" for Wacken heroes, leaving their handprints on concrete slabs set into the floor.

Before retiring to our tent, we decided to unwind at the WET stage, watching Trelldom for a German-only show. This was by far the most interesting experience from Kristian Eivind Espedal, in art Gaahl, many projects: there are trumpets on the stage, the drum is sideways, and Gaahl fills the centre of the stage with his unique and mystic presence, which transforms the show into a sort of ritual where we feel transported.

Third day: Friday, August 2nd

The third day we woke up with some wet weather, unfortunately, but no fear! After a warm coffee and boots on our feet, we hit the road to catch Sonata Artica, who opened the infield at lunch time. The Finnish power metal band, known for their melodic tunes and intricate songwriting, did not disappoint. They immediately captured the audience's attention with their signature blend of speedy guitar riffs, soaring keyboards, and Tony Kakko's dynamic vocals and stage presence. As they progressed through their setlist, which featured beloved songs like "Full Moon", "I Have A Right", and "Replica", the band's chemistry and stage presence were evident. Each member showcased their individual talents, with many interactions with the audience, sharing anecdotes and expressing gratitude for the fans' unwavering support. The highlight of their performance came with the epic "Don't Say a Word", a song that perfectly encapsulates the band's ability to blend emotion with technical prowess.

The Amity Affliction struck shortly after. Kicking off with Pittsburgh, the energy was palpable as they moved through a setlist that included fan favourites like "Don't Lean on Me" and "All My Friends Are Dead", where the circle moshpit started. The band's synergy and dynamic stage presence kept the crowd captivated from start to finish. As "Open Letter" played, we felt the emotion was palpable, with the dual vocals making it a special experience where the crowd was singing along and taking it all in.

The Finnish-Hungarian powerhouse, Beast in Black, took the stage on Friday with electrifying energy that quickly captivated the Wacken crowd. Known for their blend of heavy metal and synth-driven melodies, the band kicked off their set with the explosive "Blade Runner". Yannis Papadopoulos, the band's dynamic frontman, showcased his impressive vocal range, moving effortlessly from powerful screams to soaring high notes. The crowd was especially enthusiastic during performances of "Blind and Frozen" and "Born Again", singing along with fervour and raising their fists in the air.

Let's now delve into something a bit more unconventional. Ankor, the Spanish-based band, has carved a unique niche in the metalcore scene by seamlessly blending elements of Asian pop culture with their heavy, aggressive sound. Pretty cool, right? Formed in 2003, the band has continually evolved, incorporating diverse influences to create a distinct musical identity, and their innovative approach and willingness to experiment have earned them a dedicated fanbase and critical acclaim within the metal community. Songs like "Shhh... I'm Not Gonna Lose It" and "Lost Soul" had dynamic stage presence that engaged the crowd and brought their unique vision to life.

We couldn't miss the festival's most talked-about act, Spiritbox, a Canadian band known for their unique blend of metalcore, progressive metal, and post-metal who delivered an unforgettable performance at this Wacken edition. Opening with "Cellar Door", the energy was palpable as lead vocalist Courtney LaPlante's powerful and dynamic voice filled the air: her ability to switch effortlessly between ethereal, clean vocals and guttural screams left the audience speechless. Their performance was a testament to their band's growth and potential to continue pushing the boundaries of modern metal. Spiritbox's unique sound and compelling live show made them a highlight of Wacken Open Air 2024, and they are undoubtedly a band to watch in the coming years.

We move on to the next celebration, Soil, and the anniversary of their breakthrough album "Scars." The band delivered a performance that was both nostalgic and high-energy. The crowd erupted as Soil played fan favourites Unreal, Halo, and Breaking Me Down. The metal community responded to each song with enthusiastic sing-alongs, head banging, and mosh pits, highlighting the album's lasting impact.

Gene Simmons, the iconic frontman from KISS, delivered a memorable performance on the Harder stage. In a heartwarming moment, he invited several children onto the stage, creating a unique and inclusive atmosphere that bridged generations of rock fans. Cheers and applause greeted this unexpected gesture, adding a special touch to an already electrifying performance.

Before the festival's most commented act, we move to the Headbanger stage to see Primal Fear. Throughout their set, including I am Alive and The End is Near, Primal Fear demonstrated why they are considered one of the top bands in the German heavy metal scene. The guitar solos were especially impressive, with Ralf Scheepers' vocal acrobatics adding another layer of complexity to the performance. Primal Fear made a big effort to engage with the audience, encouraging them to sing along and mosh. This interactive approach helped create a sense of community among the people.

Once a freak, always a freak! We are ready for Korn. The stage was an impressive sight; the backdrop displayed vibrant, chaotic visuals that complemented the band's raw energy and signature sound, and in addition, a grate that came down from the top was creating a cage-like effect that added to the intensity of the show. Jonathan Davis's distinctive vocals, combined with the energy of the other band member, delivered a flawless performance. Opening with "Rotting in Vain", the highlights of the set included "A.D.I.D.A.S.", "Got the Life", and "Falling Away from Me", with the band also performing a sneak peak of "We Will Rock You" and "Master of Puppets" in between songs. Closing with the iconic "Freak on a Leash," Korn's set was a testament to their enduring influence and ability to capture audiences.

As always, Avantasia, Tobias Sammet's symphonic metal opera project, delivered an epic and theatrical performance, mixing fan favourites and tracks from their latest album to create a magical atmosphere that captivated the audience. The set included powerful performances with powerful guests and duets: "The Scarecrow" with Ronnie Atkins, "Farewell" with Chiara Tricarico, and "The Story Ain’t Over" with Bob Catley, making it an unforgettable highlight of the day.

But it’s not over yet for today; how could we miss an exclusive Watain show? In the very specific for Lawless Darkness, mostly when we got all called Children of the Night. It’s a game of fire, burning sage, and, for those familiar with the Watain show, a benediction with blood. Despite the late hour, Wacken warmly welcomed the Swedish band, and as we approached the stage, we witnessed Erik Danielsson tossing lit torches towards the crowd.

Last day: Saturday, August 3rd

And again, another year of Wacken is coming to an end. For today's agenda, we see some big names taking over the bigger stages, starting with DragonForce. Fireworks, game stations, and two huge dragons ready to spit fire at the crowd, welcomed us and took the Faster stage by storm. Herman Li and Sam Totman's dual guitar solos were a standout, showcasing their incredible technical skills and synchronisation, all highlighted by their crazy stage presence. The audience enthusiastically sang along to songs like "Fury of the Storm" and "Doomsday Party", and we enjoyed additional fun moments as the band performed "Power of the Triforce", tossing plush chickens into the crowd. Marc Hudson's powerful vocals soared over the intricate melodies, and his charismatic stage presence kept the energy high. The British band also surprised the fans by performing "My Heart Will Go On", a unique metal cover of the famous Celine Dion song.

As sunny and dry this Wacken edition was, we couldn’t miss a lovely thunderstorm in pure German style! Rain completely swamped us as Sebastian Bach, the former Skid Row frontman, began his performance. Bach's powerful vocals and charismatic stage presence made us all forget about the rain and experience a throwback of how influential he has been.

And as the weather settles down, we catch Testament under a bit of mud. The Californian band took us right into their celebration of their first record, “The Legacy,” with "Apocalyptic City", "Raging Waters", and "The Haunting". Perhaps due to the presence of mud, this was the most enjoyable moshpit of the festival.

Just prior to kicking off the European Tour, Behemoth announced a lineup change due to Inferno's health condition; we see Jon Rice on the drums. We've seen the current UnCLE Acid drummer behind the drums before, supporting the band, and we're delighted to confirm his performance was flawless. We were intrigued by what they would bring to the stage this time, and we enjoyed Nergal's new look. The band has also just announced a mega European tour for 2025, “The Unholy Trinity,” accompanied by nothing less than Rotting Christ and Satyricon.

Let’s stay in the unholy realm and listen to some more traditional black metal from Asagraum. The band led by Hanna van den Berg, or as we all know her, Obscura, has been active since 2015. The band name is derived from Asag, a demon from Sumerian mythology, and Raum, German for "room." Despite some technical difficulties, we witnessed the female-only band tearing up the Wasteland Stage, adorned with skulls and studs, just before the show began. The band released "Veil of Death, Ruptured" in 2023, demonstrating their musical exploration of new sounds while maintaining their signature sound that has made them an exceptional band. Go Asagraum!

Flotsam and Jetsam was another exciting act we couldn't miss; the band formed in 1981 and brought their groovy metal sound to the WET stage through fourteen studio albums. Although they faced criticism from the metal community back then, their sound has now become a remarkable signature of a more colourful genre of death metal that many others cannot replicate. We hear "Desecreator", "I Live You Die", and "Dreams of Death", among many others.

And here we are, welcomed by the mighty gods! Amon Amarth took us back to a proper Viking feast, where we find ourselves watched by two big statues and the drum placed on top of an oversized Viking helmet with glowing eyes. We are used to seeing Amon Amarth with the longship; however, the giant serpent, which appeared during "Twilight of the Thunder God", was still present. The "boat rowing" tradition, which encourages the crowd to sit down and then move in a synchronised motion mimicking the rowing of a Viking boat, will never disappear. This tradition is a proper tribute to the band and the Viking heritage that Amon Amarth celebrates through their music.

According to Wacken tradition, at 22:30, the promoters bid farewell and reveal the themes and first acts for Wacken Open Air 2025. It was a blasting experience with sky projections of aliens attacking the hearth and wasteland warriors fighting to save our planet, with games of fire and lights.

The 34th Wacken Open Air confirmed 34 acts, including Machine Head, Papa Roach, Apocalyptica, Saxon, Midnight, Within Temptation, Dimmu Borgir, Michael Schenker, Gojira, Ministry, and Beyond the Black.

Almost at the end of the day, and still high on adrenaline from the announcement, we watched Architects and immediately dive into "Seeing Red" and "Giving Blood". The British band have always maintained a close relationship with their fan base, often addressing social issues and personal struggles through their music. This connection was likely evident during their Wacken performance, when the band engaged the crowd with their passionate performance and shared messages that resonated with their audience's values and experiences.

We end our day by enjoying one of our favourites, Insomnium. The band, well-known in Wacken, brings some new songs from their latest album, including "1969" and "Lilian", among some of their oldest tunes. Markus Vanhalla and friends never disappoint.

With our hearts full of joy and metal, we say goodbye to our friends and this amazing land that always welcome us with a smile and good memories.

We'll see you again next year, Wacken, Rain or Shine!

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