02.08.2018 Hatebreed

Wacken Open Air XXIX

Wacken (Germany)

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

Was Behemoth already quite heavy, it should continue to stay like that. Hatebreed the American metalcore old hands were direct subsequently guests on the Louder Stage. And it was getting loud! And dusty as well! The crowd in front of the stage was not comparable to the one at Behemoth prior to this. Everyone that gathered here exactly knew beforehand: It was not only getting straight down to the nitty-gritty on stage but also in front of it!
And that was undoubtedly the case. Directly from the start it was on and on musically smashing directly into one’s face. Immediately also the pits opened turning the field in front of the stage into one big cloud of dust. The dust protection masks were really recommended here. That was also mentioned by front man Jamey Jasta labeling the people fondly as “dustfighter” and of course telling them not fully without any ulterior motives that there were shirts sold afterwards having the well-fitting label “I Survived The Hatebreed Pit At Wacken”. Was the atmosphere not yet heated up enough it was boiling over latest during the classic “Destroy Everything” of the 2006 album “Supremacy”. Unbelievable what the guys were presenting on stage. The band already exists since 1994 but none of them has lost one single bit of energy.
Was Behemoth already heavy, so Hatebreed knew easily to outpace them. The name Louder Stage was undoubtedly saying it all. Unbelievable energy on and in front of the stage. Permanently the pits were raging across the field and once in a while you were not even able to see your hand in front of your face. That combined with this really nice old-school metalcore. Simply wicked! Afterwards to relax a little bit in front of the Harder Stage over to Judas Priest and a great day slowly comes to an end.