03.08.2012 Opeth

Wacken Open Air XXIII

Wacken (Germany)

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

Now it was the time for the second band of the day which I was looking for but that day it was not to be. Shortly after the Swedish progressive rock band Opeth entered the stage and intonated the first beats of "The Devil's Ochard" another time the rain was pouring down, not so hard but persistent so that I watched the gig unfortunately of the roofed stairway to the press area. Finally during the last two songs it was dry so far that I at least could take some photos.
The songs of the band are really not short and brim over with complexity. Slow and gloomy parts are changing with really powerful and brute ones. As the music so is also the voice of front men Mikael Akerfeldt: between calm and clear singing voice and abyssally deep growls. That generated quite good atmosphere, if you desist from the issues with the weather for which he was directly excusing ("We always bring the rain, sorry about that."). They played some new stuff of the last album "Heritage" during which somehow only clear voice singing is used but also good old death metal style stuff. Dumb sayings were provided as well between the songs where a 25 minute lasting whistled version of "Wind Of Change" dedicated to the Scorpions gig was announced and Akerfeldt introduced himself during the introduction of the band members as Julio Iglesias :-).
Although with their epic songs they were seeming a little displaced somehow at Wacken the Swedish really delivered an impressive performance. A simple and plain show on stage without large effects but which fitted very well, great songs and technical flawless art of playing. Unfortunately good atmosphere did not appear due to the weather what really was a pitty. The band really would have deserved something better.