Wacken Open Air, one of the world’s biggest metal fests is going to hit India shortly to give a taste of some of the gods of the metal scene plus give a chance to metal bands in the country to perform at the big stage in Germany.
W.O.A is going to be held 2nd to 4th August this year. Tickets to this festival have been sold out since November last year! Around 70,000 of them. The festival is spread across a wide area featuring some of the best heavy metal acts. The lineup includes: Amon Amarth, Cradle of Filth, Hammer Fall, In Flames, Machine Head, Napalm Death, Opeth, Sepultra, Six Feet Under, Testament and many more.
Thrash Metal band Kreator and Folk Metal band Suidakra are headlining this year’s Bangalore Open Air. This is the second year this competition is being held in the country. Last Year, Eccentric Pendulum, a Bangalore based progressive metal band won the contest. This competition is held in 20 countries across the world with the best of the making it to Wacken Open Air Germany. Albatross, Bevar Sea, Kryptos, 1833 AD, Dying Embrace and Eccentric Pendulum are the bands lined up to play in the Bangalore Open Air on June the 16th. Iced Earth was scheduled to play at the event but these plans have been cancelled due to visa issues.
The location for the main event too ha been subject to debate. The government has not given permission to the organisers to host the event at Palace grounds, which is one of the best venues of the city. In its place Acharya Institute grounds has been chosen which is located on the outskirts of the city. Fans are pissed off about this and their opinions are clearly put forth on various social media platforms. Nevertheless the organisers (Infinite Dreams) have promised for a Heavy Metal Blast on June 16th.
| Wacken Metal Battle Regional Rounds | ||
| Time/Place | ||
| East Zone | Scarface, Devoid of Dreams, Dark Carnage, Damage | 25th May, Blues (Guwahati) |
| North Zone | Dementia, Arcane Deception, Phobia, Wasted Soul | 27th May, Turquoise Cottage, (New Delhi) |
| West Zone | Zygnema, Chaoskampf, Dionysian, Providence | 3rd June, B69 (Mumbai) |
| South Zone | Tiffin Box, Crypted, Timiraah, Neolithic Silence | 10th June, Kyra (Bangalore) |
The official trailer of W.O.A can be viewed here:
Wacken is a small town with 2000 souls in the middle of Schleswig Holstein, Germany. For three days in August though the population increases to 75000. The Wacken Open Air festival now in its 23rd year has achieved a reputation for itself among metal fans across the globe. Not only do they have a chartered metal train for the visitors, there is special package for handicapped visitors, something for the metal offspring, tattoo shop, Wacken Foundation, etc. The W.O.A. organisers have created special tickets for Indian fans wanting to make their metal pilgrimage. The ticket package to include tickets, a camping tent as well as a letter from the W.O.A. organisers to get a Visa for the festival. Plus also an opportunity to win a W.O.A. t-shirt and Backstage tour of the festival!
