02.08.2018 Motanka

Wacken Open Air XXIX

Wacken (Germany)

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

Dressed in beautiful robes the four men of Motanka entered the stage. The winner from Ukraine presented a solid show with interesting music. They combined classic Ukrainian instruments (mainly used in form of samples played via a synthesizer, but also via a Cimbalom live on stage) with hard metal riffs. In-between there were again and again atmospheric parts quieting the whole for a short time before directly afterwards the inferno restarted.
Motanka is one of the real newcomers as they band together only in 2016. Accordingly reduced is also the amount of material but the Metal Battle slots are quite short. The band consists of Viktor Zhalnin who not only knew to convince with his voice but also on the synthesizers. He was supported by Anatolii Zhalnin on guitar as well as Sergiy Khodorchuk on bass and Dmytro Diachenko on drums. The music was very catchy and the mood on and in front of the stage was very well accordingly. Many Ukrainian fans were also joining as many flags were held into the air. Motanka showed a really great performance that was also honored accordingly by the jury of the Metal Battle contest with the second place. In my point of view (and from what I heard) completely rightly.