03.08.2012 Dimmu Borgir

Wacken Open Air XXIII

Wacken (Germany)

(Pentax K-5 with Sigma AF 70-200mm 2.8 EX DC APO HSM II)

The dawn was slowly falling and the first large highlight of the day should soon start. Beforehand there already was a quite impressive sight as not only the Prague symphonic orchestra was literally squashing them onto this huge stage, no also a huge choir standing directly behind them was there.
Those directly started with "Xibir" before the band entered the stage to "Born Treacherous" drowning out the poor other musicians by their brute sound. That was unfortunately the only flaw on this gig whereas you have to give credit to the sound engineers that it always is extremely hard to mix perfectly a metal band playing together with a symphonic orchestra live and in this case even open air. But never mind! What was shown here was really impressive. Of course there were mainly songs of their current album "Abrahadabra" which especially was designed for this combination. But also pieces of other important albums were interpreted so e.g. "Eradication Instincts Defined" or "Puritania".
The orchest was obviously having fun playing this gig just as Dimmu Borgir had and it was for sure a welcome change for them. Due to that it was also very good that they had the freedom to play several songs like intro and outro but also "Fear And Wonder" or other songs completely on their own without the black metaller. All of them were sitting on stage wearing a classic suit respectively evening dress but the one or the other tried by a corpse paint in their face at least to harmonize a little bit with the tough guys further at the front of the stage. Whils Stian Tomt "Shagrath" Thoresen was singing one's mind to the heavens the other guys on the axes again and again were coming to the front of the stage encouraging the audience. Only drummer Darek "Daray" Bzozowski and keyboarder Geir "Gerlioz" Bratland seemed to be marginalised what was not possible in any other way as the huge stage was completely crowded by so many people (and there is a lot of space on it if I imagine how Sacred Reich tried to fill this space with their few people).
I would say that Dimmu Borgir erected a memorial in their honor at Wacken although you have to say that the sound could have been better (by the way that was the only band where I had to criticize the sound on the whole Wacken Open Air). But never mind! Music, light, stage scenery, everything just simply fit together perfectly althoug the atmosphere in front of the stage could have been a little better.