Special report by Mark Gromen

Strange juxtaposition, in just a week’s time: Wacken, the grand-daddy of European metal festivals and Rockstar Energy, this year’s largest touring cavalcade of all heavy music. The former is a bastion of music camaraderie and fun, in that order (even a lone sole is taken in, becoming part of the “we” collective), whereas the later is first and foremost about “me” (“I can get drunk/high”, “I can have a good time”), where the pecking order seems to be diametrically opposite its overseas cousin. Wacken can be a family affair, parents bearing eye protected toddlers on their shoulders, whereas suspicious/over-protective US parents, uninterested in the music, sit in an air conditioned mezzanine, waiting for the whole day to conclude.

WHITE CHAPEL took the stage with syncopated stage movements unseen since the heyday of Warrant. After playing just a few chords, they demanded, “Make some noise.” Thought that was YOUR responsibility? BLACK DAHLIA MURDER saw frontman in vintage Hawaiian shirt, working harder than most of the crowd, pacing side-to-side, double horns thrown overhead, like satanic air chin-ups. By the third song, the print shirt was gone, saying, “We’re all friends here, get your ass in there (circle pit).” GOD FORBID ran through ‘War Of Attrition’ (where pink caps were distributed to crowd who jumped), ‘Walk Alone’, ‘Broken Promises’, ‘To The Fallen Hero’ and (appropriately) ‘The End Of The World’. JOB FOR A COWBOY really plugged Ruination, even though it’s fairly new, including ‘Unfurling The Darkened Gospel’ and ‘Constitutional Masturbation’, which saw the #1 crowd surfing frenzy of the day, to that point. Oldie ‘Entombment Of A Machine’ caused spontaneous mini-pits to break out, on the fringe of the main crowd, for those too afraid to enter the throng. TRIVIUM frontman/guitarist Matt Heafy is certainly cultivating that vintage '80s Kirk Hammett look! The Floridians opened with ‘Rain’, then ran through ‘When All Light Dies’, ‘Down From The Sky’, ‘Throes Of Perdition’ and ‘Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr.’ BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE is four thrashing Brits kits flanked by dual 3X3 stacks of cabinets. Unfortunately they were a transitional act, as the underground fans who just finished with CANNIBAL CORPSE took the time to rejoice, eat or go the bathroom. Those that had been partying all afternoon in the parking lot finally took their seats to get ready for the bigger names. KILLSWITCH ENGAGE prove you can use pyro in America, from the opening bell. A pair of stainless steel ramps and a full walkway behind the drummer, and this is just an opening act! The band adorn themselves in matching tuxedo print t-shirts, the kind you can get at the carnival or on the boardwalk. Howard Jones (not the puffy hair 80s pouf) wore an Ohio State baseball cap, while the guitarist fashioned himself a super-hero, in skull cap and cape. Then there’s MARILYN MANSON who only lets the press shoot one song, then makes a big deal to the crowd, about ousting the press.

A BraveWords.com Photo Gallery can be found here.