Iron Maiden finished their European tour at Wacken Open Air 04.08

The weather continues to be merciful for all the metalheads present at Wacken Open Air, for the third day is quite important since the headliner of this year’s edition (which is Iron Maiden) will rock the main stage later in the evening. The intensity and anticipation reach a crescendo, promising an unforgettable experience for die-hard veterans and first-time attendees. Beyond the pulsating music, Wacken Open Air becomes a melting pot of cultures, a crucible where metalheads of all backgrounds come together to celebrate their shared passion.

Amaranthe

From Sweden with love, the first band of the day for our report team is Amaranthe. The sextet has garnered widespread acclaim for their infectious melodies, interesting vocals, and electrifying performances, and we were eager to witness another of their upbeat sets. And while their show overall is very good thanks to the pyrotechnics and fabulous chemistry between the band members, I found it a bit lacking the energy from lead singer Elize. Despite this minor issue, they can provide a fantastic and variegated concert. It also got very exciting because they announced that their new record, “The Catalyst”, will be released in early 2024, and we were there to witness this marvellous news. Another incredible start!

Photo: Silvio Colombo.

Trivium

Remaining at the Faster stage, at 16:30, Trivium was ready to melt faces with some good metalcore. Joining them on stage was Josh Baines from Malevolence, and we got to know that he was replacing Paolo Gregoletto since he had to get very urgent hernia surgery. Wishing Paolo a speedy recovery, the band continued their set and delighted us with “Becoming The Dragon“, which wasn’t played very recently in their sets. Trivium‘s performance is a masterclass in metal prowess, delivering a relentless onslaught of power, precision, and emotion that leaves the audience awe-struck and exhilarated. Crowdsurfing can’t be spared on this occasion, and many flying bodies are seen during their show. Matt, on vocals, surprised everyone with his knowledge of German and a bit of Spanish, which is always a very nice touch when native English speakers do so! The band said goodbye to Wacken with “In Waves“, leaving the stage among many cheers and applauses.

Photo: Silvio Colombo.

Megadeth

History became legend; legend became myth. And this is exactly the premise of Megadeth‘s performance, scheduled at 19:15, always at the Faster stage. Punctually, the band came on stage and, without hesitation, shredded non-stop on each track. They didn’t engage much with the crowd, but they didn’t need it because the music was speaking for itself. While Dave Mustaine’s voice was understandably strained, his showmanship and technique on guitar were not fazed at all. Outstanding also are the skills of Kiko Loureiro, who commanded his instrument and the stage like his own. But the highlight of the set was obviously the guest of honour, Marty Friedman, which played “Trust“, “Tornado of Souls“, “Symphony of Destruction” and “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due” with his old camaraderie. Would it be too much for him to return as a member of Megadeth again? Probably so, but us fans can always dream. Or watch this performance again and again, to make the reality a bit sweeter and our hopes a bit bigger.

Photo: Silvio Colombo.

VV

Since I am a writer for Chaoszine and I love Finnish artists, it would be a crime if I didn’t write a report about him. Yes, HIM. No, wait, not H.I.M., just VV. And it has been months since I have been agonizing, wanting to see VV perform before my eyes. The time has finally come! After waiting about 20 minutes of delay, at 23:05, Ville started his set with the enchanting (and my favourite) “Echolocate Your Love“, which drove the audience crazy. The show then progressed, alternating his solo songs with H.I.M. classics like “Right Here In My Arms” and “The Funeral Of Hearts“: many people in the crowd knew the lyrics, so it was really fun to sing along. On stage, VV is a fierce, and his vocals were nothing short of excellent. Mesmerizing also his movements and the lights that changed colour based on the song was a brilliant touch. I honestly could not get enough of him singing and playing out the songs I have listened to many times, and that is what talent is all about. Thank you, Heartagram, because your Wacken debut has been spectacular!

Photo: Silvio Colombo.

Iron Maiden

“Doctor doctor, please / Don’t you know I just them lead“… yes, we recognize Iron Maiden as our leaders and headliners, for this year’s edition of Wacken Open Air and for the third day in particular! After “Doctor Doctor” and the Blade Runner ending titles, the band welcomed us to their show with “Caught Somewhere In Time”. With their unmatched showmanship, Iron Maiden took the audience on a journey through their extensive discography, focusing on the album “Somewhere in Time” released in 1986 and including many from the much more recent “Senjutsu”. Bruce Dickinson’s voice, while still maintaining a very good tone, has lost a bit of his magic, but their performance was overall satisfying. Nicko McBrain, buried in his drums, was hammering the instrument with such power it was an honour to see him perform after his health issues earlier in the year. The rhythmic section with Harris, Gers, Smith and Murray was doing an excellent job of sustaining the mighty melodies. The fans in the infield were transported to fantastical worlds as the band’s musical narratives unfolded, bringing each song to life in vivid detail. After the show finished with “Hell On Earth“, “The Trooper” and “Wasted Years“, drones formed in the sky the logo of the band and the sentence “Metalheads worldwide your support means everything”. So it ends the European tour of Iron Maiden, with a huge round of applause, cheers and screams to testify the importance of this group throughout the years.

Photos: Silvio Colombo.