01.08.2013 Thunder

Wacken Open Air XXIV

Wacken (Germany)

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

After a lively start with Annihilator after a short modification break some more staid gentlemen entered the stage. Officially Thunder went apart in 2009 but for the Wacken 2013 an exception was made and so they again came together to present for one hour a cross section of their work.
With classic hard rock the band wanted to enthuse the masses but whilst it was quite crowded in front of the Black Stage during Annihilator now big gaps could be found. This may be due to the fact that Thunder are not that well known although they already were on tour with the big ones of metal like Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Status Quo, Iron Maiden and whatever their name may be. Though they had a long break the band seemed to be very experienced like they were still regularly playing together. Frontmen Danny Bowes took the audience with him quite well (on and on sing along games were made) and was otherwise dancing gallantly across the stage when he had nothing to do. From vocal point of view there is nothing you could say about him. Also the two guitarists Ben Matthews and Luke Morely were easily playing their solis. A huge show like later during the Rammstein gig was not shown. It was even the only band on the main stages that was playing without any backdrop or other props on stage. Towards the end of the gig it was getting a little bit more filled but that may also have been due to the following gig of Deep Purple.
Anyhow. Overall this was a little bit more quite show but a very good attunement for the following heroes around frontmen Ian Gillian. I did not know them before and I don't think that I will buy any of their at least 9 CDs but for a short relaxation before the exhausting highlights of the day are coming it was just the right thing.