The second act I chose to look at that day was the Norwegian band Kvelertak playing at the Bullhead City tent. Many others seemed to have had the same idea because the tent was quite crowded when the guys around singer Erlend Hjelvik entered the stage starting directly extremely powerful.
Already during the 70s a band called Törner Stier Crew was formed stiring up the German rock-scene but disappearing already during the 80s. Of the former cast H. Martin Stier (maybe known to many from TV, e.g. Hausmeister Krause), keyboarder Charlie Steinberg as well as bassist Walter Stoever thought of that this could not have been the end.
On Wednesday evening this year’s Wacken Open Air started very calm for me. At first, I saw Horch before later that evening the Belgian Metal Battle winners Powerstroke were following. Their style of music is described by a mixture of Metal and Hardcore. Additionally the three Belgians describe themselves with the three words: basic groovy powerful.
After Lena reached an outstanding victory last year at Oslo Germany was now host of this years Eurovision Song contest and chose the Düsseldorf Esprit Arena as venue.
Aroung 22:15 it was finally the time: Kamelot entered the stage and with them the anxious question waving through the halfway filled venue: how would the band get along with the loss of their charismatic singer Roy Khan. Not that small footsteps which Rhapsody Of Fire singer Fabio Lione tried to fill by replacing the left front men on the current tour.
Right before the main act of the evening Evergrey from Sweden entered the stage. The venue was meanwhile filled a little bit more and also the mood got better. But to that the music of the men around singer Tom S. Englund formed somehow a certain contrast as it is more gloomy, heavy and solemn.
As second that evening the Danish/Swedish combo Amaranthe could prove their skills. The newcomer who just released their first album "Amaranthe" (how apt) came directly along with 3 singers: Andy Solvestrom who was responsible for the growls. His clean male counterpart was formed by Jake E. Lundberg and front woman Elize Ryd was finally something appealing to the eye.
As the concert was during the week and there should be 4 bands playing Sons Of Seasons already had to start quite shortly after the beginning of the entry at 19:15. Unfortunately to that point in time not many people were there what of course was a pity for the band. As the men around the Kamelot keyboarder (but here instead more playing the strings rather than the keys) had just released their second album "Magnisphyricon".
At 21:15 the main act of the evening entered the stage. Meanwhile the Atak was quite well filled (although not sold out as the gallery was closed this evening and also the audience still had quite a lot of space) and all were looking forward to the gig of Leaves' Eyes. They had, just as Midnattsol too, released their latest album "Meredead" the day before.
As second act of the evening Midnattsol entered the stage to perform the new songs of their album "The Metamorphosis Melody" release just the day before. Accordingly was the stage decorated. But the show was of course not only formed by the new songs.