*Reprinted in original form, scroll down for HEIR APPARENT Review*

Hi Metal folks out there worldwide !!!

Since we somehow had contact via a certain heavy metal topic (inquiery,
discussion, trade, sale, ...) in the last years, I felt free to send you my
very personal impression of some of the bands performing at the WACKEN OPEN
AIR in GERMANY the 4./5. of August.
(www.wacken-open-air.de)

Please take notice about the fact that this is just my very personal
impression which will certainly be different with all others, there is
really no offence meant to anybody.

If you have any comment, suggestion oder trade interest, please feel free to
drop me an Email.

Regards
Markus

The Metalhunter -german heavy metal records trader
metalhunt@hotmail.com

P.S
I am looking for trading partners for metal vinyl records all over the
world, please ask for my huge worldwide tradelist with some hundred common
and rare records and send your wantlists, if you are interested in a trade.


WACKEN OPEN AIR FESTIVAL  1ST DAY

Gaskin +
Solid, but not overwhelming presentation of older and newer stuff of this
classic NWoBHM-band I really like very much

Royal Hunt ++
Unfortunately I did not know much of them yet, which was a fault, since their
show was great! A combination of classic and modern US metal! Have to check
them out in the future!!

Umbra et Imago +
Well, they whole thing is a combination of standard quality parts like show,
faked sex, fire and finally, music. But altogether it works for a good
performance of this kind of german music style. They were often accused to
be Nazis, but they denied if frequently during the show, and I think I
believe them, nevertheless the whole discussion gets them a hell of
publicity, so they don't care too much...

Savage (+)
I like their first album very much. But unfortunatly their show here was
musically quite unspectacular, even the classics did not really ignicite as
they should. (have an vinyl copy of the first album to trade)

Angelwitch +(+)
Well, this band is one of my all time NWoBHM-Faves, but here they had a
quite bad sound mix, which led to an under-average result for the great
potential of this great band. White Witch rules!

October 31 ++
This is 'true metal' in every sense of the word as I understand it and this
applies for music, outfit, stage acting and attitude!! King is a good
frontman and the new drummer really kicked ass! So I really liked them.

Marduk +
I never liked them till today, but here I was very surprised!! Sound and
performance were good, and I quite enjoyed their death metal style, which is
a bit uncommon for me. Have to check them out once again!!

Rhapsody ++
A very professional and sympathic apparence, and they know how to direct the
audience in the way they wanted them to act. They have great songs, - but
personally I sometimes miss a certain individuality and personality in the
music (but this applies to many similar today's bands, not only from Italy, as well)

Immortal (+)
Well, I liked a few parts of their last CD, but to be honest, live I did not
enjoy them very much, maybe because I do not like this kind of black and
death metal much. But the crowd enjoyed them as well, so this is just my
personal opinon, no offence meant ...

Grim Reaper ++
Well, Grim Reaper is not only Steve Grimmet, but, who cares, he is a great
singer I always liked, and he has a great band as well. So he will 'Rock you
to hell', and hopefully we will 'See you in hell' again, Steve.
Wooooaaaahhhh....

Stratovarius ++
Undoubtedly a great band, and I saw then live a couple of times now. But it is
all very predictable, and so not too spectacular for me anymore.

Armoured Saint +++
A band which was highly underrated and never gained too much recognition, so
they finally split some years ago. Back again, they show again that they are
great musicians with great songs. Luckily this is not 'true' heavy metal in
today's sense of word, but the US metal type of music I always enjoyed most
since years, so for me they ruled!!! US 80ies power metal rules forever!!!
(And for those who like to get to hear how great they started years ago, I
have a copy of their first 3 SONG EP for trade...)

Praying Mantis ++
To be honest, I did not like them to much in the past, to melodic, not
enough balls, if you know what I mean. But today and live it was different,
heavier and with a brilliant singer, I was really impressed. Have to check
their later CDs out
(Have the first LP and the CHEATED 7" for trade...)

Artillery +++
Wooowwww, this is fuckin' great thrash. They are B.A.C.K, and they rule!!!
Unbelievable that the singer makes his living by singing the Paul Mc
Cartney's tunes in a Beatles cover band!

Iced Earth ++
Since I saw them for several times now, I attended Artillery and only heard
the last songs of them, which for sure were great as ever
(and I have their 5 PIC-BOX for trade).

Liege Lord ++
Master's Control is one of my all time favourites, so i wondered if they
could really meet my expectations. Unfortunatly some members of the classic
lineup were missing because of internal struggles, nevertheless I enjoyed
the show. Some other people I talked with did not like the sound to much,
but, to be honest, I did!!
(I have a vinyl copy of BURN TO MY TOUCH to trade)

Gamma Ray ++
I missed most of them because of the Liege Lord show. Solid as ever, Kai and
his mates did a great show for sure, like they do since years...

Breaker +++
That's it! After releasing a single I never saw in my life till today and an
LP I have in my collection they released two great tracks on Clevelands
'Heavy Artillery' tape sampler and then disappeared for some years. Now they
are together again and show us that their US metal from the good old 80ies
rules!!! I prefer this to all the 'true metal' issued today!! And the crowd
loved them too, even after this long day, till they had to switch off their
power amps because it was 3:00 AM. You could see in their faces how much
they loved to get this feedback after some frustrating mucial years and I
think they deserve every second of it...


2ND DAY



Freedom Call +
For me it started with Freedom Call, a german band I never heard before,
shame on me!! Well, it was the current brand of 'true metal' you currently
hear everyday, nothing new but well played, so who cares too much for a
day's start.

Nightmare +++
French 'Old School' Heavy metal rules!! Killers, Steel Angel, ADX,
Sortilege, and as well, Nightmare, I love them all !! They have great epic
songs and a great singer. This is real 'true metal' for me, not what they
call true metal today (so now we call it 'old school true metal' and 'new
school true metal', ok ?, just kiddin')!

Labyrinth ++
I think I really sound boring now, but where is the difference between them
and other comparable outfits here - again professional set, very good sound,
enjoyable show, just the real kick in the ass is missing, if you know, what I mean...

Steel Attack +
Again, I did not know about this swedish band till today, but who can catch
up with the numerous releases which are thrown on the market every month,
since I am a just a metal fan and have no time to buy or even hear them all.
This one was certainly nor a bad band too, but nothing special again...

Blaze ++
To be honest, I don't really know the albums he did with Maiden (again shame
on me), but some old Wolfsbane stuff. I think Blaze is better than ever. A
very good performance together with a great band

Squealer +
They are from the area I live in, and I saw them live a couple of yours ago
when they still were amateurs. Since then they had time to devellop their
brand of metal to an international format. Luckily they did not change their
sound not to the 'up-to-date' style
(Anyone interested in their 4 TRACK VINYL EP, have a spare copy to trade...)

Lizzy Borden +++
Lizzy rules - till today!!! This band is great. I have all his vinyl stuff
and enjoy hearing it from time to time. Today they played only killers, no
filler, classics and some new stuff as well, the Lizzy borden classics of
the future!!! After the show you really could see how they enjoyed the
cheering crowd, and they deserved any second of it !!!
(have a spare copy of the GIVE 'EM THE AXE EP for trade !)

Vanishing Point ++
Due to Lizzy I missed most of their show, but I saw these guys playin' the
Halloween Metal Fest last year in Melbourne together with Dungeon and some
other australian metal bands. I really like their brand of metal, and they
are a bit different, and so I hope they will go their way. Unfortunatly I
couldn't meet them later to have a chat.

Demon ++
They played all the Classic stuff from the numerous albums they released
over the years. I like their great stuff, but they were always underated.
Today they had a big following!!
(Have a copy of TAKEN THE WORLD BY STORM and HOLD ON TO A DREAM for trade)

Hades ++
Classic US metal. Even if they are not one not my ten favourite US groups,
but nevertheless I enjoyed the show with a mix of classics and newer stuff.
(I have a copy of RESISTING SUCCESS, LIVE ON LOCATION and the BORN TO
METALIZE SAMPLER with two unreleased HADES tracks for trade)

Jacob's Dream ++
I think this is the best of the newer US groups (but they are not that new,
just they got their deal with Metal Blade recently...). They carry on in the
tradition of the 80ies and carried it all till today.
Great show

Heir Apparent +++
Due to lots of bad circumstances in the earlier years, this band never got
what they deserved. Their debut album is an all time classic and one of my
all-time faves. And believe me, this was the highlight of the day. A
brilliant singer, and an even more brilliant gitarrist, together with a
straight bass and drums backing - that is how metal has to be for me. I am
glad that they finally get some of the recognition they deserve! (Thanks
Jürgen for getting them back in the metal circus!!)
(I have an original vinyl copy of GRACEFUL INHERITANCE for trade!!!)

Rose Tattoo +++
Wow. They still sound like in the old times, and they really kick as, if now
in the fifties or not. They recorded a live show in Wacken, and so they were
playing like it would be their last time. Very intense and special OZ hard
rock. I love the track 'The Butcher and Fast Eddi' since decades...

D. Snyder ++
The old motherfucker is still alive and well and knows how to kick the
crowd. So everybody enjoyed his old classics and some new stuff, which is ok
too. Alive and kickin'!!!
(I have a vinyl copy of the original mix version of the classic UNDER THE BLADE to trade)

Venom +
Hmmm, I know all the Venomaniacs will wish me torture and death, but I never
really understood what is sooo special about them. Solid old school black
metal, since they started it all, but nothing extraordinary for me somehow.
This is, what cult means, but unfortunatly I don't fell I am a part of it.
But the crowd loved them, what else, and that is ok, think they deserve it...

(Have a copy of CRONOS solo album DANCING IN THE FIRE for trade)

SEE YOU AGAIN AT WACKEN 2001 !!!