05.08.2011 Van Canto

Wacken Open Air XXII

Wacken (Germany)

(Pentax k-x with Tamron SP AF 17-50mm 2.8 XR Di II LD Asp IF and Sigma AF 50-150mm 2.8 EX DC APO HSM II)

After their concert on the WET stage two years ago and their guest performance as background choir for Grave Digger last year they may show their skills this year on the increased Party stage. That they have made a name for themselves in the metal scene although they "play" a-capella metal showed the fact that it was extremely crowded in front of the stage.
So, the five guys and one girl were obviously deeply impressed by the huge scenery they saw. Especially during the first songs you were able to feel it but that disappeared quite fast. In the beginning they started with an own composed song "Lost Forever" before they continued with the first cover version "Wishmaster" of Nightwish. The crowd was immediately with them and Stefan Schmidt’s request to be as loud as possible during their breaks between the songs for drinking some water was in fact unnecessary (well, singers have to drink a lot). Very early also the first people were lifted into the air and the great crowd surfing started. It were more people than during many other concerts on the main stages.
Vibes were getting better and better with each song and during the "Bard’s Song" the volume of the crowd singing was that high that the original of the evening before was already getting in difficulties (also if Stefan was of the opinion that it had been much louder and better than the evening before). The atmosphere was sloping over onto the stage leading to lead singer Philip Dennis Schunke deciding spontaneously to also surf across the crowd. Unfortunately much too early the last song appeared which was the obligatory "Fear Of The Dark".
I’m of the opinion that this was the best Van Canto show that I have seen up to now. Everything was perfect: the atmosphere, the simple but convincing stage and vocal performance. Only there could have been some cover versions less (I think that it was because of singing on a festival) because their own compositions are also really great. At least there was a new song "Primo Victoria" presented due to the fact that they are already heavily working on their new album. I’m already wondering how it is going to sound.