Why I Stopped Going To Wacken Open Air (World's biggest metal festival)

Wacken Open Air is a legend for metalheads. Everyone year tens of thousands of metalheads from all over the world make the pilgrimage to Wacken for 3 days of none stop heavy metal.
Thanks for checking out my channel!
Support the channel for only .99 cents a month:
/ @wyattsmetal
Check out my band Dark Insanity
/ dark_insanity_official
Join the Official Wyatt's Metal Discord:
/ discord
Follow me on Instagram: / wyatt625
Support my 2nd channel: @filmrebel
If you'd like to donate
Paypal: paypal.me/wyattsmetal
Venmo: venmo.com/wyatt-turner-3
Cashapp: $wyattsmetal
My videos are made using these services and products below. Use these links to save yourself some money while supporting my channel!
Streamyards: streamyard.com/?fpr=wyattsmetal
Tubebuddy: www.tubebuddy.com/pricing?a=W...
SurfShark: www.tkqlhce.com/click-1010539...
Wondershare: www.jdoqocy.com/click-1010539...

[@fart813]

No "Metal Festival" in The US will ever ever compare to the Metal Festivals in Europe ....

[@wyattsmetal]

Oh I agree

[@BadEconomyOfficial]

@@wyattsmetal Let’s start one, Metal Festival in Arizona/ California in the middle of the Desert 🏜️……..Dueing Winter 🥶

[@owlman1365]

Thank God . I tend to avoid Trainwrecks .

[@09052010boo]

Some US festivals are insane thou. Maryland deathfest is amazing, esp for people like me who give 2 fucks about power metal/euro metal

[@jasonpatrickdeleon4701]

Why Europe likes metal, rock, deatcore? Compare to US?

[@archados]

Based on your assessment, I think I had the best first Wacken ever. I come from a poor Carribean country and we rarely ever get any famous bands playing locally or large metal festivals within reasonable reach. But when my band had competed to represent the Caribbean at the Wacken Metal Battle and won, here I was going to Germany to perform at Wacken. Just imagine.. first metal festival ever AND its Wacken AND Ill be performing there on the same stage Sepultura would be on 3 hours after my show. I didnt stay in the regular campgrounds, but pitched my tent at the "Artist Village" where there were free shower facilities. Best of all... it was Wacken 2018 and it didnt rain that year. So much more to say but this is the comment section. Hope you dug my story. Wacken was amazing and i look forward to being there again.

[@Woozy.0]

Post your band bro!

[@sirjoey3137]

Free advertisement, give up the name of your band :D

[@Woozy.0]

Come on bro, we wanna hear your stuff!

[@archados]

@@Woozy.0 Wasnt planning to say band because i didnt want to sound like i wanted to plug myself. But ok. My band's name is Asylum. In KZbin search for "Asylum - Chaos Bleeds" or "Asylum - God's Creation". We are a thrash/death mix. Hope you dig it. 👍

[@diabolivirtusen-tavares-ea4645]

@@archados good solid band 😃... after a few listens it reminds me of a mesh up of god forbid/sepultura/krisiun/

[@pejz64]

My favourite festival is Brutal Assault in Czech republic. I was 13x there. It is usually week after Wacken. I am from Slovakia, for me it is around 5 hours by train to get there. And everything is much cheaper then on wacken, hellfest and so on. And it is smaller I think limit is 20000 people but line-up is always great for death/black metal heads.

[@Crusader1099]

@NoiseMarineChampion I live in Sweden and i have been there 2019, 2022 and this year i am going back. I love it.🤘

[@kraftrad7840]

I also go Brutal Assault. Im from Austria, so Czech BA is more close than Wacken.

[@Bauds2222]

​@@SpaceNightWolfLordDo it! Drinks are half the price compared to here, the tickets are cheaper, flights can be cheap. It's a stunning location that has a great lineup every year! I would just make sure to pay for secure camping and be careful with the food, as you often pay by amount so "more" can make it £10+ when it looked cheap to start.

[@Vera150607]

Need to check it out, just coming back from Ressurection Fest in Spain, it was brutal.

[@skytwohigh8721]

Brutal Assault is always classic, im there since 2010 i think, and im there again this year too. hahaha hope we can meet each other there, im chilling a lot at the river where you can go the steps down

[@mrgrimheart9207]

I feel you so much. I‘m from Germany and I‘ve been to a lot of festivals during ages 18 - 23ish. When you get older it‘s like: man, I need to take a shit in silence, I wanna shower, I don‘t want to hear that drunkard in the next tent yelling for three days, I can‘t stand the stench of piss, sweat and beer anymore, where are my keys, I need something to eat, everything hurts and I can‘t stand the noise anymore. When I was young it was all ok for three days. Now I need just a little bit of luxury. I was at Wacken in 2003 and it was the only festival in Germany that I attended where it didn‘t rain. But that lead to me needing 5 days to wash of all the sand and dry dirt after coming home. It was so dry and hot it was hard to keep being hydrated. It was great, but I absolutely feel you, when you say you can‘t stand the mud. I feel that. It is so annoying and frustrating being wet for 3 - 5 days in row, coming home with a fucking pneumonia, have to throw away most of your stuff. Festivals are great. But yeah, maybe you grow out of it or just need a different vibe than being all covered in shit.

[@Knokkelman]

I was there from 2002 - 2011 and mostly agree with you and OP, but I gotta say, I prefer rain and mud over burning sun all day. I feel I can prepare for muddy weather with boots, capes and booze, but nothing helps against 35°C+ weather, especially not drinking! Some of the best concerts I've attended were in the rain, with only people who REALLY wanted to be there in the crowd, and it made a huge difference! Meanwhile, getting sunburned and dehydrated while headbanging sucks ass.

[@transitambulance]

Pussy 😜 i'm 62 and attent several Metal festivals every year, also the big ones🤘😁 the festival is not the problem. no offence, i'm just kidding, to everyone his own.😛

[@1980extremeG]

Same. I haven't been to Download in the UK since 2010 for basically the same reasons you outlined. My biggest issue with festivals is there are too many bands. That may sound odd but 80% of a festival you're likely to miss, 5 stages or so is just a bit excessive. Would prefer fewer stellar bands rather than lots of filler bands.

[@ruthlessburger]

This is so true - actually I want a packpatch with your comment 🤣

[@miguelalmeida5806]

Man, I've been there in 2003 too, for my first time. Repeat in 5,6,7 and 10.. In 2003 was scorching HOT. Living hell, but it didnt matter, I was 31. Now I'm 50, and you are absolutely right..let youngsters do it, have the experience, but not for me anymore...too crowded, disney for metalheads.

[@financialeducation4433]

As someone who was an exhange student in Germany, that experienced festivals there at 16. Coming back to America thinking Ozfest or others would be the same led to only disappointment. Wir haben jeden Tag gesauft. Wir haben jeden Abend gefeirert. Alles Musik war so Geil. Learned a lot out there.

[@almadoumani9618]

I've attended and performed at Wacken. Performing was an unforgettable and amazing experience. I personally enjoyed attending Graspop Metal Meeting in Dessel, Belgium way more !

[@RB621337]

Graspop 2023 was the best I've been too

[@Sadzeih]

Was at Graspop this year too. Definitely was a great time.

[@feelthesteelofmetal]

I guess i was lucky then hahahaha whent to wacken 2022, waited 10 years to go, 5 years of planing and 3 years of saving money and was perfect! There was no rain at all, i got the first row at Judas Priest (my favorite band) concert, got richie faulkers pick after that, saw avantasia for the first time and met tons of awesome metal heads that became my friends, and i got the tickets for the next year hahahhahahaha hope to have the same luck next year

[@Tom_-]

I wish I had been there in 2022 - Priest are my favourites too. Seeing Maiden this year will be cool enough, but that line-up last year was way more "me", especially with Priest and Merciful Fate.

[@alexalive9742]

I stopped going to these festivals years ago, for the exact reasons you brought up, spending the amount of money on headlining shows instead. But then again, living in Germany's Ruhrgebiet, I have the lucky opportunity to see whatever band I want to. I'm almost to one concert every two weeks at this point. I wouldn't want to miss the experiences I had on these festivals, though, and I agree that every metalhead should experience it at least once. The first time is magic.

[@hutzel5080]

It helps to get a bus with a real bed. And space to carry good Equipment

[@alexmilousis9932]

As someone who lives in the same area, there's hardly any other place in the world that you can get to see such a variety of bands outside of festivals so often ! We're blessed here

[@LcBoy131]

Kann ich verstehen, darf ich dir was empfehlen? Es gibt das Jera on Air Festival. Ist direkt an der Grenze von Gladbach nach Niederlande. So wie du unsere Nachbarn kennst wird das deutlich zivilisierter und moderner. 150€ Ticket finde ich auch suuuper fair für 3 Tage voll Feuer. Schau mal aufs lineup, vielleicht sagts dir ja zu. Wir habens definitiv dem full froce vorgezogen . Kanns WIRKLICH nur empfehlen. Was ein lineup

[@maakwatherrie]

My first big metal festival was Dynamo open air 1994. Cheap, great bands, only fast food, lots of beer, 3 days of non stop noise and the sanitation the worst I ever experienced. Great experience! Magic indeed.

[@skytwohigh8721]

Helvetica in Oberhausen is the fucking best thing ever. Im a big BM Guy, so there is nothing better than a small pub where you can listen to your fav bands. Turock and Turock Open Air is dope too in Essen. Man i love the ruhrgebiet

[@konsta9600]

For someone tired of sleeping in tents but wanting a real metal experience, Tuska Open Air in Finland is awesome. It’s held in the middle of Helsinki (since 1998) and lately drawing up 60k people over three days.

[@dickielarue1451]

Lived, Worked, Traveled and Saw many concerts in over 42 different countries around the world...Today at 54, I go hiking in nature and listen to the birds chirping and talk to pine cones and it cost me nothing...Simply fantastic...Rock On! From Portugal! 🇵🇹🌄🐦😇👌

[@c4rolina_xD]

from portugal too

[@carvinieri5217]

@@c4rolina_xD 🤘From Poland !🌲🌲🌳🌳🤘🕊🦋🐞👣

[@travelwithpaddy]

Honestly I don't need three headliner every day for one week. For me it's not just only lineup. It's the whole package which make Wacken so perfect for me. My dad is now 72 years old and he still attending with us at Wacken. Living in a tent for a whole week ;)

[@transitambulance]

already love your dad, without meeting him. I'm only 62 but also still there every year on Graspop

[@Buffalohomer]

This!

[@samuelmartin1242]

Wyatt I hope you see this message. The first 4 and a half minutes of this video made me tear up its so nice to see someone talk so passionately about an amazing community thank you 🙏

[@wyattsmetal]

I appreciate you enjoyed it so much thank you!

[@Diewelle666]

"You've got to be hard to be at Wacken" - Some random Belgian on walking next to me on the way to Wacken '07. True to this day.

[@diefordethklok3711]

I totally get this. I’m going next year for the first time. Everyone should go once to every festival they can. FUCKING METAL

[@Fitzhugh666]

I went for my first time this year. It is amazing, just amazing

[@rudolfbecker4313]

@@Fitzhugh666 I was there in 2011, when it still was ok. But the line ups became weaker every year and I preferred Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium, better Bands for less money and only 120 KM instead of 6 hours

[@stephanievanzwetselaar9180]

@@rudolfbecker4313 you need too try Summerbreeze Open air or Alcatraz. Open air That is better than Graspop

[@re8orn_phoenix]

@@stephanievanzwetselaar9180 Shall try it. The line up looks like very weak to me compare to Hellfest. It can be the occasion to see some bands i cannot see in Hellfest when Main Stages bands are not allowed you to see great bands on others scenes. The problem i am facing recently is to see many bands that i really like such as Powerwolf, Sabaton, Drop Kick Murphy's and so on...this is really not my type of bands. The good thing at Hellfest is that you can go to see hardcore at WarZone, or death at Altar/Temple, or psychedelic rock on Valley when you don't want to see those successful folks bands. The past week, we got great bands such as king Buffalo, Clutch, and it was very refreshing.

[@Vera150607]

Just coming back from Resurrection Fest in Spain. It was insane.

[@KarlRock]

I’m definitely only in it for the lineup. Especially because Europe so far way. I tried to get tickets for Hellfest this year, but no luck 😢 You’re totally right about the weather too!

[@Kevin-lh1lt]

I never knew my G is a metal head 🤘 We should attend a gig together in India. Delhi also has a good scene.

[@raychul33]

Karl! Wtf you doin here 😂 GOAT

[@electrocrane]

whooah hello karl

[@sassaniandynasty3796]

Tickets chahiye ji

[@potatolew4495]

Trans siberian orchestra and Savatage, not Sabaton. You look too young to remember Savatage. That is the band the TSO was built upon. You have a couple hours, can tell you the whole history as I was blessed to know a few of the originators, including the major contributor. Paul O'Neill.

[@Metal666Corpse]

Being a passionate metal festival fan from Germany, I realized especially at Wacken that it stands nowadays more for the trademark "Wacken" rather than the music. The last few years the Line Up was not so overwhelming compared to Graspop, Hellfest or likewise.

[@ghuldorgrey]

since like 6 years hellfest is much better than wacken.

[@MrProthall]

@@ghuldorgrey Depends what you're looking for. Personally, I don't give a shit about the lineup. I am there to learn about new bands and meet new people and get shit-and-piss drunk for a week straight

[@dsxa918]

I definitely give a shit about who's playing, but those things are amazing I feel like the bands correspond with crowds and things like food and drinks available are big deciding factors

[@supertrooper6879]

Know why? Because you German metal heads are spoilt. You've got tons of supercool metal festivals every summer (Wacken included). Try living in a place where there's no metal festival like here in Italy and then you can complain.

[@frankvandorp2059]

If you are into the big names, Graspop absolutely has more of those. But I would argue that doesn't make the lineup any more "overwhelming". In my years at Wacken I often find myself going to the smaller stages when the headliners are playing on the big stages, simply because most of the biggest metal bands are in metal genres I care less about. I skipped Slayer in 2019 for example so I could see a Chinese black/folk metal band I liked. And that's what I like about Wacken: they always have a lot of smaller bands I enjoy, while Graspop for example usually has fewer of those.

[@AlexanderWitchfinder]

Just saying something that no one mentioned here as far as I noticed: Last year it didn't rain at all in Wacken. And I promise you it was horrible. The dust in the air was almost touchable, my snot was pitch black every single day. So many people had respiratory issues someone thought there was an epidemic of tuberculosis there. My girlfriend got so sick - and we went straight from Wacken to Brutal Assault - due to air quality there, that in Czech Republic she left our tent not more than twice. Plus the structure of Wacken decreased a lot, especially comparing years such as 2017 and 2018 to 2022. You can clearly see that they lost a lot of important sponsors during the Corona crisis. The supermarket Kaufland built inside the ground? Forget about it. The beer pipe from Hamburg to Wacken pumping thousands of liters of cold Becks? It's history. Remember all the stands inside selling cd's, vinyl and that insane amount of merch from stores from all over the world? You can forget about that too. And I'm not mentioning the line-up here. Oh, and there was the pre-Wacken day, that you had to pay extra to attend the main stages area. Right now it will happen by default, but guess what? The "pay extra" price is already incorporated in the regular ticket price. I came to a conclusion I'm not going to Wacken anymore especially because the smaller festivals - such as Metal Days and Brutal Assault have even more solid line-ups for half the price. I used to love Wacken, it was the reason why I came to Europe for the first time in my life to see Emperor's reunion after so many years disbanded... I grew reading about it on Metal magazines, watching some VHS from Dissection and Hypocrisy playing there in the late 90s... now I have the impression it is just a place where people gather and don't even care about who's playing... some midlife crisis bald-in-camo-shorts and some drunken ladies with pink hair just shouting "Wackeeen" for no reason. And I thought about the fact that it was just me getting old, but to be honest, I still enjoy very much other festivals in which I need to camp, barely shower, be sunstruck or flooded... it's just the sense of cost/benefit of Wacken that decreased while it seems that every other festival increased a lot.

[@hondolane7929]

Amen, you’re exactly right. It lives from the the people who always went to Wacken and will always no matter the bands. And they use these to worden down the experience because f* it the people come no matter what. And that’s for a lot of the big German festivals like rock am Ring etc. max money and cheaping out on everything because the people come no matter what.

[@smallfaucet]

I'd be so pissed if I went there and then had to pay extra to see something I thought I paid for already.

[@TheSfbMet]

The dust really is bad, it’s a lot worse at WOA in the dry years than the wet ones. You can dry off easily enough but getting that dust out of every orifice takes weeks. That and the queues for the bars when it gets hot are insane.

[@suseweidenbaum177]

Yes this kind of people you descibed are what keeps me away from it nowadays..

[@laniakea2588]

Pipeline from Hamburg? 😅 Dude, there has never been one. But the pipeline in Wacken still exists. Kaufland was there only once, was a Try and they tried smth other the year after kaufland. And it's not Wackens fault that you could not find the Merch sellers from all over the world. Cause they have been there.

[@the_Alex_Ventura]

You actually telling the story of a man growing up ;) It's absolutely the same with me. I'm from Germany and I've been to Wacken several times like 20 years ago (when I was 20). Same points like special bands you can only see there and stuff, it was like Christmas and your birthday at one weekend. But I stopped for all the same reasons. Years after that we went to Graspop, really cool too, BUT we had a hotelroom then 😅 All the best, cheers

[@ukrainica9121]

'03? I was there as well ;-) Graspop many years

[@gerchwurzelsepp8243]

I grew up listening to many kinds of music but stuck with hard rock and metal for the "coming of age" years between like 14 and 20. And in the 2000s every metal fan in Germany eventually hears of Wacken - tales of people who have been there, or who's brother was there once and stuff like that. And those tales grew into a hivemind of experiences, all culminating into "Wacken is great, loud, wacky, you have to visit at least once in your life". At first it was a secret, passed on over the years of people by word of mouth. And when it finally reached me, it wasn't all that "secret" anymore, kind of a must for a metal fan. And so I went in 2011, like yourself, being 19 and having not a lot of big festival experience. While it was very fun, it was also exhausting. The heat was manageable and expected, the lines for drinking water weren't, also the sheer scale of the camping ground does your head in. I went with experienced Wacken veterans who insisted on arriving at Monday to secure a close enough camping spot. A friend of mine came on thursday, and it was a 30min walk from my tent to his - you DON'T want to arrive on thursday. Sure, most people are friendly and just want to have a good time, I had no negative encounters myself. But as I said, WOA has a reputation of being completely out of line, everythings allowed, nothing is off limits, and you better come home with some amazing stories to wow people. And that, sadly, attracts people just wanting to seed chaos. For example: when I was walking to see a band, I went by a tent that had a camping cooker sitting besides the main road. On it sat a CLOSED can of noodles. They were just waiting for it to blow up eventually, not caring about the hundreds of people walking next to it and the poor ones being unfortunate enough to get covered in boiling hot noodle sauce. Also, I saw some people catapulting full noodle cans god knows where, no way to know where they would land or who they might seriously injure, maybe even kill, or maybe "just" busting a car window. With so many people, alcohol and a reputation of "anything goes, you better let loose", I won't return to WOA either. I feel at peace knowing I've been there, maybe a few years too late in retrospect, but hey, I saw Ozzy mooning tens of thousand of people while I crowdsurfed into the first row. Can't put a price on that.

[@sstaners1234]

I feel the same way about Lollapalooza. When I was a kid all I wanted to do was go see Lollapalooza. They had everything from Alice In Chains to NIN to Body Count to Cypress Hill and everything in between. It was one of the coolest festivals you could be at. The problem was, they would always pick these out of the way places to hold the festival. Like Missoula Montana or the Gorge amphitheater. At 14, I didn’t have a car and I had Christian parents who were not going to let me see Porno For Pyros alongside Green Day. So I never went.

[@petersmith1104]

Dude, i agree on every single word you just said. I feel exactly the same way you do about gettin older but still being a metal head. Shower is so much better than a muddy tent for me now 🤣

[@PaddyLaPoint]

My brother has been going to Hellfest a good few years in a row. I love that they have something for EEEVERYONE, black metal, death, thrash, hardcore, classic rock, classic heavy metal. Also there's exciting bands headlining every stage fit for the style of that stage. I sadly can't go but it looks amazing.

[@WeShallAttack]

My god, dude. The lineup for this year... I'm looking into how I can divide myself in 4 cause there is legit so many amazing bands going... Too bad it falls around the same weekend as Graspop...

[@d.bulldoze]

Man I typed in “how to book waken open” and this popped up. Great video as a fellow CA resident and older in age all the points totally make sense

[@PaulEubanks]

I'm going to Wacken for the first time this year, and I feel you on the lineup. Wacken 2023 lineup thus far is pretty shit. But for me it's a pilgrimage that I feel compelled to see once in my life. I definitely want to go to Hellfest one day as well.

[@johnnamkeh1290]

Skipped Wacken this year here. Went to Graspop instead. I feel you on the line up but.. I'd still want to go. Wacken last year was the grandest spectacle of a festival. The size of the stages, the sound and effects, the variety. I don't understand exactly how they're unable to get more popular bands, their production and atmosphere is so good. I hear it's a touring thing for bands sadly. Wacken is outside of the regular festival months. But you will not regret it. Wacken is just awesome as an experience. And be sure to go see Two Steps From Hell.

[@PaulEubanks]

@@johnnamkeh1290 I don't think it's just the normal costs of touring, because so many other European festivals have managed to attract great lineups this year.

[@Bauds2222]

​​​@@PaulEubanksall of the other big festivals are in June. You have June bands and August bands, that tour festivals in those months. Wacken might get a few big European bands like Iron Maiden playing one off shows there, but it's hard when most do a festival tour. Also Hellfest is amazing, but so are smaller festivals like Sweden Rock, Brutal Assault, Bloodstock and Rockstadt. Graspop and Summer Breeze are good too. Wacken is spectacular and an awesome experience as the original big metal festival with the most history; try checking out some more bands beforehand maybe to make the most of it. It is fun, just allow extra time to make it through the mud...

[@Voorhees182]

I feel you here, my early years visiting graspop, wacken and Download festival 2003/04 there was something very special. Weirdly for me and my wife now it is the more unique small scale festivals that have our hearts. Tuska is now our bi annual festival without a doubt as Finish metal was a huge part of our early days in metal, small festival great lineup and a beautiful city in Helsinki make it all worthwhile.

[@myxobacteria]

I feel you. I also was in Wacken 2012... and it was my last. Since then I only go to festivals in dry weather countries

[@wyattsmetal]

Same, I'd rather hot festivals than wet muddy ones

[@BrianYates-ue8hf]

Hello from New England... I'm a new sub and really like your content..The best metal fest I've seen was Hellfest 2019 with Korn headlining and the mighty Gojira for direct support Unfortunately at 51 and after multiple spine surgeries my concert days are over lol thx for the vids man 🧐🤘✌️

[@Quentino808]

I live in Canada, we don't have many options for festivals... especially metal. I can probably think of only 2. I've been going to heavy Montreal since I was 11 and it's one of the best weekends of the year, just the environment and freedom is euphoric. Ever since I've wanted to fly over the pond and experience wacken, im gonna go one day but planning a trip that big seems so hard to me. I've barely traveled outside my province 😂

[@hannahkozlovic1715]

I live in BC and while my city has a great underground scene, I can’t think of any metal festivals within the province as far as I’m aware of. I’d love to go to any of these festivals, it looks absolutely incredible.

[@sebastianweise5832]

Hey man. First time seeing one of your videos. You really said good facts about the festival I knew I was not the only one who thought of that. Cheers you earned a new sub!

[@wyattsmetal]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@shafikahamzah]

Awesome to hear your experience every wacken festival you go....Greeting from Malaysia

[@Emmure8004]

Wacken is awesome. I have been there 6 times, from 1999 - 2005. Why did I quit going? Because it's a huge difference between 1999, when I was 18 years old, look at the lineup and I'm like: "Holy shit! I need to see ALL of those bands!" and now, when I look at the lineup and I have seen most bands listed multiple times already in the last 20 years.

[@Knokkelman]

Yeah, true, but then again, Wacken always had some special acts, there was Emperor in 2006 I think and Carcass + At the Gates in 2008, good times good times. But something you should never do is looking at old lineups - chances are you will find bands you wished you had seen but didn't know at the time, bands that maybe don't even exist anymore...

[@Emmure8004]

@@Knokkelman Absolutely. But a thing I have learned over the years is also, most bands are better on tour than at festivals. Big festivals are great, if you want to check a lot of bands off of your "must see list" over a single weekend. Last summer I wasn't at Wacken once again, but instead went to Summer Breeze (for non Europeans, Summer Breeze is the 2nd largest festival in Germany after Wacken with ~140 bands over 4 days). And out of those 140 bands I literally just went there for 2. Lorna Shore and Paleface. The WHOLE REST was bands I have seen before (except Bloodywood) so I ended up just watching 6 shows. The rest of the time we where chilling in our camp, getting wasted and enjoying the atmosphere. Atmosphere as in "4 day camping with metalheads all around you and no one giving a fuck" 😁 And yeah, our camp was placed, that it was basically like 150m from the mainstage so even if you didn't "watch" the shows, you still heard them live just like you where there. Point being, things change a lot, especially since my first Wacken in 1999, after being to 1-3 festivals every year (always depended on my schedule) since then. I have been to somewhere around 50 festivals in total. Too many bands have been checked off of my mist see list. It doesn't matter if I go to Wacken with 150+ bands, Summer Breeze with 140 or something smaller like Greenfield in Switzerland with "only" 70 bands. I end up watching like 6 shows and spend the rest of the time partying in the camp.

[@anscu]

I have now done Wacken two times, 2019 and the next 2022 (covid-break). Both times fantastic weather, maybe rain on one of the days but not soaking, just drops here and there. I got the same feeling of not doing Wacken again, or any other big, at least take a break from those just because stressing about the weather is so big part of it and I have seen and heard the horror stories of "mud-Wackens", and I'd hate it. Maybe Hellfest next time but with a hotel please! This summer I'm doing this smaller rock festival in my home country (Finland), and with a hotel, so can't wait!!

[@JimmyDeanBreakfast95]

Dude I love your videos. I'm sure we would all love a breakdown of each festival you've been to. Like one video for each festival type thing. Pleaseeeee 🙏

[@Metallex]

I've been to Wacken twice and I'm back to it this year. Absolutely the best festival I've been to. What makes Wacken shine is the organisation and the space in the arena to do other stuff. I've also been to Graspop and there's no metal village, no stalls, no music market, no space to be aside from in the music arena or back at the campsite. I went in 2015. It was probably worse than 2012. There was a point where people were told to stop turning up to the campsite but it rained from the Tuesday to the Saturday afternoon constantly. The sun finally came out on Sunday and started to firm up the mud into this tough clay that was like walking through drying cement. MetalDays has a beautiful location, so it's one to try but I'm definitely coming to the end of my festival camping era.

[@gareve25]

Sounds like you may enjoy Hellfest

[@xretrovertigox]

I've been going to European festivals for 10 years and they are great! We are starting to catch up and get better here in the US. Hellfest has become one of the best around and I've been lucky enough to do 6 including the double weekends in 2022.

[@EaSkateVideo]

I've attended 2011 to 2015 (so 5 times in total) and I think that I've been through the exact same thoughtprocess as you described in this video! I feel you 😐

[@bonesaw32]

I was also there 2011, 2012, and 2014. 2012 was no joke but I made sure to bring a proper tent in 2012 after getting rained on in 2011. Luckily some danish dudes let me borrow a tarp to cover my open air tent and keep me somewhat dry that first festival. Word of advice, if you drive in, don’t oversleep the day after the festival. Waited hours hungover trying to get my car off the campgrounds in 2014. Still a bucket list item I’ll always treasure.

[@smallfaucet]

Great video. Reminds me of the one festaval I went to...once....and waited all day for the band I really wanted to see.

[@angry_mouse]

I never been to a metal festival in my life. In the backwards country where I live that kind of thing is far from ever happen. I cannot travel to the US or Europe because my country is blacklisted as a major cocaine producer, so for regular people like me it's almost impossible to get a visa. Ironically, the ones who can travel anywhere without a problem, are the ones who actually produce cocaine or the politicians who are sponsored by them 🤷‍♀️

[@NetiNeti25920]

Jajaja que puteriaaa hermano Gonorea chimba marikaaa

[@naturalianoss]

at least you have cheap and good cocaine

[@sole__doubt]

Ive been to a few music festivals in my day, and trust me you arent missing anything. The music usually sounds like shit at most outdoor events and the weather is almost always an issue.

[@lemsip207]

There are metal bands as well as indie bands at Reading and Leeds, but not at Glastonbury. I don't think Michael Eavis will have the metal bands. He will have all the other genres.

[@lemsip207]

​@sole__doubt The weather isn't guaranteed. I was lucky in 2007 as the rain held off for the festivals I stewarded at, but it had rained a lot before the festival season started and inbetween the ones I was at but the festival sites never dried out. It rained heavily on the first day of WOMAD but steed once the gates were open. But the arena area was a shallow lake the entire time. The following year it was dry and so hot one day people had to seek shade in the arboretum. It was so dusty on the road around the arena.

[@juanramirez-wk8ty]

Roughing it in a German countryside is pure metal especially if it overcast and gloomy, I would HATE being in some sunny hot location for a metal fest.

[@Exodon2020]

Yeah but as a local (live only 40 minutes away from Wacken) I know our weather can be pretty shite. It's basically just a coin toss between boiling away in a dust bowl and a Battle of Paaschendale reenactment (mud fest). I had years where I had to pay a local farmer to get my car off the camp ground with his tractor and other years where it was so dusty I felt like I was chewing sand for weeks after the fact.

[@FUTTE1990]

I really like your video and can relate to everything 100%. My hometown is only 15km away from Wacken and I have been at the campsite almost every year since 2008 from Monday morning to Sunday. It was always a pleasure for me to meet cool metalheads from all over the world. The years with mud were very exhausting, but we all had so much fun anyway. It was awesome! Since a few years Wacken offers the possibility of "Glamping", there you have your own beds with your own sanitary facilities. Maybe that's something for you that motivates you to come back. I would be happy if we meet over a beer sometime. As the slogan of Wacken already says "See you Rain or Shine" 🤘

[@casna5400]

I went to Wacken in 2008 when I was about to exit my teenage years. I went to my last big festival in 2015/16(I honestly can’t remember). I’m glad I did it and have wonderful memories, but I have medical conditions that make it hard on my body(and having to explain and carry around all my medicine/ medical devices). Inflation has also made things much more of a strain to obtain. And my last reason, my social anxiety is on a shorter leash anymore. But I would never talk a person out of the experience or discourage them to go, but I also can see festival fatigue. Oh and ironic that you mentioned Hellfest not raining, because one of my earliest hearings about Hellfest it had flooded that year and people were standing amongst rat corpses and I was like “nope, I will take the live occasional mouse at Wacken over dead rats” 😂

[@stiffk666]

I know that feeling. My back is fu¢ked to the point of being declared disabled and qualifying for the assistance ticket. I'm not in a wheelchair and the pain of wandering round all day and sleeping in a tent is horrific. The meds are never enough to let you enjoy anything :( It's just too much hard work and people aren't at all friendly like they used to be, staff included. Plus rather than social anxiety with me it's my huge streak of antisocial I've been carefully nurturing for the last 20 years. I think I gave up on people after seeing so many selfish arrogant twats at gigs and festivals. Also, I love rats, that sounds horrific watching dead ones float past. I would be so upset and scarred for life at the mention of there.

[@hondolane7929]

@@stiffk666hey man, I’m also disabled so wandering around and standing all day is often not easy, but there are festivals out there where it is easier. I would recommend metalfest in Pilsen. It is in an outdoor theatre next to the zoo in the middle of the city. It’s a 200m walk from the street to the festival, but if you’re disabled they let you get dropped of 10 meters from the venue and you have to walk 20 meters until you‘re in front of the stage. Yes you have mud when it rains but just in front of the stage. When you enter the seats there it is dry. They have parts where you can park a wheelchair or you sit on one of the benches. You can camp or stay in the city and go with the bus or taxi to the venue. If camping ground is not an option. Sound is great anywhere you are. Drinks are 2€ a beer. Btw in they clean the toilet every hour during the day, no joke, every hour. As a handicapped person myself I would say it is the easiest and most convenient Festival if you‘re not very mobile.

[@goldengrill769]

Dead floating rats around your legs is fucking metal ngl

[@MrJerichoPumpkin]

man 2008 was fire!

[@jannikswoboda6256]

I was at Wacken 2017 and 2018 and it did rain for only about 1 hour each. Give it another try. It is literally heaven for us metalheads 🤟

[@Shafferhead]

I was there in 2017, felt i hit jackpot with the lineup. Lots of old school bands, thrash bands, some black metal and so on. I plan on going back one day, just gotta wait until theres a lineup worth traveling for

[@1978SOOTY]

First time here on your channel and I totally understand where you're coming from. At almost 50 I have never been to Wacken but it's on my bucket list and will probably only go once as I'm in it for the experience and not just the music.

[@wyattsmetal]

Everyone should go to Wacken at least once definitely, just feel the magic of it wears a bit thin over time

[@erikcuevas8376]

As someone who went to ozzfest like 3 times I can't imagine going to multi day festival, it's tiring standing around for hours and hours on end on a single day let alone 2 or three days. There are many factors to consider why you don't care to go back, but you can't rule out getting older being one of them, and if the rain really is a bad as being said then that's a deal breaker for just about anyone.

[@tioalexandru]

There's this metal fest in Transylvania that just extended its duration to 5 days. But it's in the forest so you can just chill.

[@eggwaffle]

You’ve never done a camping festival? You haven’t lived dude.

[@eacy7deacy]

Consuming good food, drinking plenty of water, limiting alcohol and getting rest will help you with the energy. This can be difficult depending on the accomidations of the festival.

[@mikeintampa250]

"And I've been to Florida" LOL! Very insightful video. I feel like I've been to Wacken since 2002 because I have all the dvd's and blu-rays thru 2002 - 2018 but of course I've always dreamed of going in person. You make some very good points and I still have to go someday at least once. I feel I owe it to Wacken because I've discovered most of the bands that I listen to by watching them play there.

[@terribletimes01]

Tampa the once metal capital. Still waiting for the beast to awaken. Cheers Mike...from another brother from Tampa/St.Pete

[@mikeintampa250]

@@terribletimes01 I still feel like it is at least one of the metal capitals of the U.S. Obituary, Nasty Savage, Savatage, etc. I'm originally from New York and I thought that was a little Capital, then when I moved down here 26 years I realized this is the metal capital. I've seen way more shows here than there. Janus, Ritz, Amphitheater, etc

[@adanio69]

@@terribletimes01Same here. 62y.o. Polish metalhead living in Saint Petersburg, since 1990 , (26 years in Poland and 2 years in Spain) Well, no fest in the US, can compare to European ones. Not even Gasparilla. No beer, no tits, no nothing. Tampa Bay, used to be „death metal US capital”, with bands, like Morbid Angel, Death, Obituary,Deicide, Six Feet Under and strictly heavymetal Savatage.(RIP Chriss Oliva) Btw. my favorite bands, from my native Poland are Vader, Decapitated and Hate. Behemoth, is little bit too extreme, as is/ was Deicide, but I saw them twice, as well.

[@adanio69]

MorbidAngel…? Then venues, like Jannus Landing, ( currently Jannus Live, Crowbar, Twighlight Zone, ( I think, they have renamed it)State Theater, or long time gone Rock it Club.

[@mikeintampa250]

@@adanio69 My favorite Polish metal bands are Vader and Nocny Kochanek. Check them out at Woodstock 2017 for a great performance. I also have a collection of Metal Mania DVDs and there are great polish metal performances at that event too.

[@haroldramone]

Going again this year, from Canada, for my 60th Birthday. Loved it in 2019, looking forward to it again. Did Cruel World in Pasadena last year, yes, Metal heads can love 80’s New Wave too… Wacken is exceptional for more reasons than it’s not. 1. Price not expensive for what’s included, 2. Being able to have a Metal grocer that sells fresh old and beer at NON-FESTIVAL prices, as you would at home - killer. 3. Meeting people, friendly people, and not experiencing drunken fighting…. Yes, got a little cranky after the jet lag and couldn’t find my spouse, and was told in no uncertain terms, “we don’t do that here, everyone is chill”, you gotta love that. 4. German beer rules 5. We were shopping in the Metal Markt with all the black tshirt metalheads, and that song from the Proclaimers came on, “I’d walk 500 hundred miles…” and the whole fucking place erupted in singing. I don’t know if you’d experience THAT in North America. Loved my experience, cat wait to go this year, and maybe when I’m 65 again…🤟🏽🎸⚡️❤️

[@ThomasNimmesgern]

Number 4 is the best reason! 😉

[@monotonusstudio]

you seem like a chilled dude. here, my subscription 🤘💯

[@alwolfy1782]

I'm nearly 50 and have got to the point where I can't handle the bigger festivals. I've been going to Bloodstock UK since 2017 and love it so much we buy the tickets straight away not caring about the line up. I love to see all the up and coming bands and the atmosphere is amazing. I'm going on the headbangers boat later this year. I've never been to the USA before and I'm very excited. I reckon the experience is going to be very different. I'm looking forward to having a bit of luxury with a bed, toilet and shower. Plus it will be nice not to have to walk miles between bands.

[@happyhippyd6660]

Great video man. Been to Wacken twice so totally get what you're saying. Have you ever been to Download in the UK? It's big but somehow feels much smaller. No language barrier and if you're on it early you can stay local and travel there each day. Potential British weather problems though 😂

[@yvs6663]

i haven't been to Wacken. i have been to Metaldays a bunch of times and lately ive started going to Metal on the HIll, Area 53, basinfirefest(somehow appears to only be known to CZ people despite being awesome last year), Masters of Rock, Metalfest. i bought a ticket for Summerbreeze and i think it will be the new biggest festival i will attend. it already seems too big looking at videos of the festival. will see, might change my mind when i get there. but going to the other festivals, i realised that my "home" festival of Metaldays is very rearly worth it. it ends up being 7 nights of camping, expensive tickets and a whole lot of preparation for a single thing. plus the lineup is hardly worth it some years. but most importantly, it has the same problem: weather. its either a stove or a pond, no inbetween. all of the CZ festivals ive been to last year had mild weather. also, the major selling point headliner doesn't mean much to me. like sure, its nice to be able to say ive seen x legendary band. but x band are probably not even on the top of my personal list of bands i wanna see. heck, the top of my personal list is a bunch of bands who bearly released their 3rd record.

[@voiperkele3980]

When I was 16 years old, my biggest dream was to visit Wacken. I am from Germany so going to wacken is not that big affort for me. Around 9h by car. Now I'm 26 and still never have been to Wacken. The one reason is that there are so many people who are just doing "Festival Tourism", so many people who actually don't listen to metal music. The other reason is the line up. Back in 2011, the lineup was amazing, but in the last few years, there wasn't this mind-blowing line up Wacken was famous for. Nowadays, I'm very happy to visit Summer Breeze yearly and this year for the first time at the Ragnarök festival. Both are in Germany. I would also love to go to Hellfest and the Graspop Metal meeting or Metal days in Slowenia.

[@TexasFriedCriminal]

It's funny. I first went in 2000 and I loved it, but the years after that it grew so much, so much that wasn't really about metal or music at all started to cluster around the festival and I felt like a lot of people started going that weren't really metal heads but just normal festival people attracted by the media attention Wacken generated in the early 2000s. So I stopped going around 2005, I think, going instead to smaller, more underground festivals. I returned in 2008 and 2009 because a dear friend had returned from studying abroad and really wanted to go with me. But the general experience reinforced the feeling of it being more of a commercial spectacle rather than a metal festival or at least it not being for me and my tastes anymore. So I've not gone again since then and me and mainstream metal have continued to go in somewhat different directions since. So same kind of experience maybe, but 10 years shifted.

[@MichaelHolmgaard]

I recommend Copenhell to any metalhead. It has an intricate feel that you don't find often on the big festivals. At the same time, Live Nation is one of their main investors, meaning they attract huge names every year even though it is a significantly smaller festival compared to Wacken & Hellfest. Another festival I really enjoy is Sweden Rock. There is a great 80s vibe to things there. Not as intricate as Copenhell, but more kickass and festival-like for sure

[@inhaste6007]

Cause Denmark has less rainfall at all... 🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂

[@Bauds2222]

My first Sweden Rock this year and I loved it. Smaller than some (good in some ways) and less spectacular but still big bands, varied lineup, long performance times (not 40 minutes for most bands like most festivals, I think Copenhell the same), great layout with food toilets and bars all over. Hellfest is great but huge crowds and expensive. I want to try Graspop again but that is similar. I think Copenhell and Tons of Rock are top of where I want to try. Brutal Assault and Bloodstock I will go back to.

[@speedyspeedgirl1778]

Oooh I so wanna go to Sweden Rock but it's such a hassle to get there without a car... The lineup is so amazing every year and it's right next to Muskelrock timewise. (Which is more niche but has a gread oldschool lineup) Copenhell sounds nice and is probably easier to get to. :)

[@Bauds2222]

@@speedyspeedgirl1778 Copenhell is the week after and about 1-2 hours away by train, I want to do both together sometime! I think Copenagen would have cheap flights

[@ragegartl]

I've been going to Wacken every year since 2009, except for the 2 years we were all remote. I can agree that a big part is that I meet people there that I have known for 18 years and only meet here. There have been some years with really bad weather in the last few years, but I couldn't say it's the majority. What you are right about is the line-up, although for me the variety is enough, objectively it is a bit stuck for the core group of bands. There are still first timers I'm happy about every year and small bands especially in Metal Battle. But yes, like other festivals have a much broader lineup and cater to many more genres. But the big difference is of course that I literally live in the middle of Europe, which of course influences my evaluation of festival significantly. I also have to say that Hellfest and Graspop are too big for me, if I looked right they are over 100k and Wacken stays at 75k. For a while the prices of the two were also an issue, but with the expansion of Wacken to 4 days and the last price increase it is now more the travel that still represents in big plus. I like a little smaller festival, currently I am very pleased with the Full Force, because it is located on a lake and you can watch a stage from the water. Finally, it must be said that Wacken has changed a lot. In 2019 there was a much bigger offer with an own supermarket with normal prices and the sanitary facilities were extremely good. The beer pipeline, no hint a real underground pipeline through which beer is pumped, hardly needs to be appointed. Unfortunately, after the pandemic, everything was somehow strange, for one thing, the metalbag has fallen away, which is a mortal sin and the whole setup and the feeling were somehow different. I often meet people from all over the world who see Wacken as a kind of Mecca and it means a lot to be there, for me it was never to that extent, but that's definitely because it's only a 4-6 hour journey for me, from the front door to the tent. But was a very good video.

[@NickyDekker89]

My first Wacken was in 2012 and I went every year up until 2019. For me personally it's still the best metal festival in the world, no other metal festival I have visited has got the atmosphere Wacken has. At Wacken the bands also play from early in the morning to at least 2 AM - 3 AM and even after those hours there is still A LOT of life and things going on all around the festival and the camping. I also like it because I can bring a nice bag of weed with me to the festival and dont have to worry about anything. I also like the fact that outside of the festival there is tons of stuff to do, plenty of diy bars and parties to visit in the town of Wacken. All in all, I personally havent found any other festival that does it all as well as Wacken does it. Last time I went they even had motorized wheelchairs with off-road tires for disabled people to get through the mud! Like, which other festival does that? Haha.

[@thierryminet9682]

I went to my first open air metal festival in 1984 at the Poperinge heavy sound in Belgium I also went to every major summer festivals in Europe, Fury fest Lemans France (before it became Hell fest) I did Wacken in 2007 (decent weather that year) and the grasspop in Dessel Belgium in 2005. My last one in Europe was the 2009 Next generation festival in Austria where I saw MPE & Norther live for the first time. I now live part time in the southern hemisphere and my next festival should be the Apu Wanka metal festival in Huancayo Peru next August 5-6 2023. That will probably be my last as I'm also getting old and close to 60 and my bones and joins are starting to hurt like hell so damp and cold weather sleeping in a tent in the middle of a muddy field is getting harder and harder every year.

[@filipapinto99]

For an authentic, but pleasant experience, give Portugal a try. The festivals are pretty solid and, in general, the lineups are getting better and better each year (which means the tickets are also getting pricier, but they're still rather affordable). And Portuguese metalheads are brutal as fuck, genuinely passionate people

[@rosscampanella389]

I have a couple of Portuguese buddies. You're right about how passionate those guys are about Metal music.

[@filipapinto99]

@@rosscampanella389 Passionate, and also very welcoming. Unlike anything I've seen, I must say

[@sercbaker]

Your reasons for not going to Wacken are the very reason why so many of the metal bands don't come to America. In Europe, they still eat, sleep, and die for Heavy Metal. In America, we just roll with the latest fad and get softer as we get older. I want to go to Wacken before I die. Definitely on my bucket list. I'm 56, my wife and I just got our passports. We're just about to be on our way. Wish me luck. Long live METAL!

[@theroachden6195]

I disagree. We have die hard metal heads here for life but absolutely no exposure because of assholes like Clear Channel who bought a lot of the metal radio stations and softened them up. They don't get any promotions, even if a big festival is coming through a town. It gets maybe a blurb in a newspaper. Lack of exposure and promotion is why major bands don't come play in America. Also, festivals suck in America because every alphabet agency in existence from local to federal has to put their dick skinners on it. They nerf shows like crazy. Want Rammstein (professional pyro technicians) to play with fire and do all kinds of crazy shit? No, the Fire Marshall said no and won't permit it. Wanna play past 10pm, maybe 11pm? No, local noise ordinance permits won't allow it. The government will allow giant pop festivals go on as planned, but not metal.

[@hazardeur]

i saw some geezers on wacken back in my day, they must have been 70. so looks like you're still one of the spring chickens there haha

[@phillymopwater]

sorry dude you are just projecting. If you think there is no thriving scene or genre defining bands in usa it’s because you just aren’t a part of it. Also the best european (and japanese and many others) metal bands regular tour the usa. The real scene has always been and will always be in smaller and diy spaces. Not these commercial, poser dweeb big festivals. If you love metal and extreme music and are sitting in your house pouting about how no one in the usa likes metal like all the cool europeans, that’s on you. Don’t project that false bullshit on the rest of us though!

[@tombgoblin4239]

great video brother, i to at a younger age was inspired by the inspirational sam dunn film and have to this day and almost 32 years of age have yet to make it to my beloved first wacken.

[@747jono]

Great video loved it

[@msanthrope]

Duuude, you've helped me make up my mind. I wasn't able to attend Wacken for many years because of health & $$$ isues. Currently, things are different, so I want to experience what I've totally missed out on. Being older and less patient now, there's no way that I want to spend hours knee deep in mud watching bands. Maybe that's weak, but I actually want to enjoy myself, not be miserable the whole time! I'm glad I bumped into your channel, it's very informative and enjoyable. Keep up the great work!

[@nmindust]

Bruh, I haven't seen any other of your vids, but this one has such a cool vibe, enjoyed it a lot. At first I was like 'why are you not talking about the weather', but then I was like 'ah, I see'. It is worth to be mentioned that because this is a cow field and they use chemicals for the ground during the rest of the year, when it rains this mud becomes really fckn toxic. A lot of people are having allergies and skin problems when they contact this mud. I was at Wacken only once in 2018 and it was the hottest and driest one from all the years that it exists. Everyone was thankful to gods and couldn't stop talking abt how lucky we were this year. At first I was like wtf people, it is 30 degrees and nowhere to hide from the sun, but then everyone started describing their experience with rain and mud, so I quickly got the point :)

[@wyattsmetal]

If the mud wasn't bad enough already apparently it's toxic too?!

[@nmindust]

@@wyattsmetal yep :)

[@Luger0312]

The Spot hasn't been used as cowfields in many many years.

[@hazardeur]

man, i can relate so much. my first time was in 2000 but the experience was just the same as you described. my last was 2007. went there 7 consecutive years and it was a god damn blast

[@hazardeur]

to be fair, it rains a lot in wacken but in my years it was never really bad. i mean, i kinda expect that kind of weather in the north of germany but it wasn't ever raiing for days. on the flipside, the weather usuall changes rather quickly. looks like you really had a bad luck with rain realizing your from california....yeah, you might not be very well suited for european wheather. especially not up north lol

[@krisdaschwab912]

I did Wacken 2012 and figured that was enough. Truly unforgettable experience, but it's way too big for me to handle. I'm sticking with things like Mystic Festival and Brutal Assault, and perhaps some smaller festivals in Poland (for example, Metal Mine Festival in Walbrzych). Kind regards from Poland.

[@sandraweilbrenner67]

I just subbed. I am 60 and you are right don't go just for the festival name , go for the band line up. See them while you can.

[@jespersrensen9560]

Ohh,i remember the 2012.. and it was as you say.. but we have a blast.. also easy to say When we just have a little drive home to Denmark, and not a flight to the us.. but like your vid 🤘🤘

[@EscapingElyisum]

What i love about Hellfest is that there's generally an opening between 6pm - 8pm where there's a band i can easily miss, and the sun passes behind the main-stages / VIP building, so thats when i will go take a shower. There's hardly anyone else doing it at that time as the rush is usually between 9am - 3 pm. Solves alot of the Hygiene concerns. aside from that it's basically disneyland for metalheads

[@kirilangelov9752]

Great video! Just went to my first festival at 29 a week ago. It was a small local festival in Bulgaria that was 12-15 000 people tops. It was nice as the weather was good most of the time, but the tent experience is indeed not the best. On day 2 it was raining and we had left our tent slightly open (previous day it was full of condensed water). As you can imagine it was full of water when we came back. Thankfully we had our car with us, so we slept there and it was heaven compared to the tent. Had we gone to a festival abroad we would obviously not have the chance... You still deal with other forms of inconvenience - you get a few hours of sleep barely, as the sun will literally kill you when there is no shade, and you cannot go to sleep early as the adrenaline from the shows keeps you up at least for a few hours. You feel like crap most of the time even if you weren't rained upon. A great lineup can compensate but only for so long. We still had great access to showers, which helped, but at some point after a couple of days you want to have some privacy and comfort. I will definitely visit again, but probably drop the whole tent experience and just find a nice shady spot to park the car and survive there 😅

[@BVR-fc9sn]

Did Wacken twice. First time was amazing, weather was hit and sunny but easy for me as I live in Las Vegas. Second time was constant rain, and it was pretty miserable. The mud was a foot deep by day two, and there's just nothing you can do about it. What keeps me from going back now is that the tickets sell out when there are only a small handful of bands announced. You have to commit to the show and just hope some of your favorite bands get announced later. That would be OK if I lived in Germany, but coming from the States?

[@bingabongabing]

UK festivals totally suck.. I've been to Wacken Open Air 4 times now,and it's definitely my go to festival.. fricking love it there! And yes,it rains...and it's usually biblical,but that's because you're only a few miles away from the North Sea!! That's why Wacken's motto is Rain or Shine!! I'm 53..and I'll carry on going until either they stop,or I stop breathing !!

[@rudolfbecker4313]

2011 Wacken had a soft rain on Thursday morning, just enough to keep the dust down. After that - perfect and Ozzy , Priest, and Motorhead

[@bradders9743]

@@rudolfbecker4313 I was there! Saw all three. Ozzy mooned us and then had to go backstage cos he couldn't get his belt back on.

[@rudolfbecker4313]

@@bradders9743 I don't remember this, but I also was so far in the back, so I could listen without earplugs and don't get run over ... I also don't remember, if there were circle pits during Priest and Motorhead, but did you see the one while Heaven Shall Burn played. .... might have been a "world record". If you didn't see it, check it out here on youtube

[@jasonpatrickdeleon4701]

Why Europe likes metal, rock, deatcore? Compare to US?

[@beerfish109]

Relatable, I went to Wacken in 2005 and 2006. Had a blast at both occasions but I can't see myself going back. I spend several years going to Roadburn when it was mostly fixated on the whole hype of stoner, doom and sludge. I literally went from stage to stage all day by myself while friends were there too, I ran into them occasionally but we barely saw each other due to different music taste. Went to Euroblast for all the tech metal by myself. I only went to a festival once to hang out with friends and it was an awesome holiday. But yeah, I have seen so many bands by now ranging from massive to I never thought I'd see these guys. I'd still go if the line up is right and the circumstances suit. PS: Metal cruise ships sicken me, it's a pure waste of resources.

[@doommetaldarryl6689]

I used to drive to Milwaukee Metalfest back in the day. I loved it, and I appreciate finding more obscure bands than seeing the famous ones. My favorite bands now are less famous. But I really need the hotel room to escape to. I'm not sure I would like this. Edit: And congrats on this video blowing up. It caught the algorithm for sure.

[@Lux_Lethal]

Don't feel bad about it, bro. It's totally understandable. I especially get it at my age in my mid-40s. I want... no... I need a comfy bed, shower, and air conditioning if I'm going to make it for days on end. I did my last 4 day camping festival 10 years ago, and that was rough. But, our VIP tickets made it better. I'm just glad there are a few metal festivals to attend in the states b/c for a while it seemed like all the best ones, meaning the best line ups were all in Europe and that just involves so much more money and planning. Love your vids. Keep 'em coming and rock on.🤘

[@brutalmanfatal]

My first TRUE festival was Wacken 2011. Since then I have visited the holy grounds 9 times. I can vouch that not all the time there is super heavy rain and liquid mud. I had 3 completely dry Wackens and the other 6 were in a mix of super heavy rain and just the right amount of rain :) I can totally agree that Wacken is probably the most well organized festival and if you consider that it is one of the biggest in the world, there is nothing close that comes to mind in that regard. Regarding the line-up I can agree to a a degree. It is nice to have all those big names (like in Hellfest or Graspop) but the problem is that you see the same bands headlining every big festival year after year. And when you have all those big names you are more or less like "I must watch that, that and that band again cause their are some of my favorites" and you don't get enough free time to rest or just go on some of the smaller stages and check out some new bands. Also I really, really like that Wacken has given a chance to some "let's say smaller or not big enough" bands to headline one of the biggest festival of the world. For example Parkway Drive or Machine Head. Those will never headline something like Hellfest, Graspop or Download. Finally, after visiting quite a few festival across Europe - even to this day Wacken has the most unique vibe and spirit. I too may not visit the festival for quite some time, cause to be honest I prefer more of a mid-sized festivals 30-40k people. It is not so tiring, less people, easier to navigate, you get more time to chill out, you still get some good bands and have time to check out new ones. Not that I ever bought a ticket for the line-up, I always buy the tickets once they release them, I don't care for the line-up, I just care about the name of the festival and the good vibe and I know they will provide bunch of good bands. Here is my list of festivals i visited - can recommend Full Force as probably not everybody have heard of it Wacken Nova Rock Brutal Assault With Full Force Graspop Hellfest Bloodstock Obscene extreme Copenhell Rock Hard Sweden Rock Tuska Masters of Rock Summer Breeze

[@lemsip207]

It only gets muddy because of vehicles churning up the festival site. That's why there needs to temporary roads built on the site.

[@PeteDevlinootnaboot]

Been doing Download for decades but their price rises this year make me feel it will be my last for a while. Fancy something different and Germany is favourite. Wacken is sold out pretty much immediately though and so is Hellfest. Full Force looks interesting. I know you can't take one across with you but we're always in a campervan which helps with the shite weather. 2016 and 19 were worse than 12 at Donington.

[@gernhartreinholzen3992]

I went to Wacken 2011 as a teenager. I knew it was big. I saw the documentaries, but I only could grasp the sheer size of it, when I got there in person. So. Many. Metalheads! Like me! And everyone was my friend! It was like Disney World but Metal World. It was insane. Never went back, because of lack of money and time. And from what I heard, it's not so nice anymore. But I'll cherish the memories. Will go to Summer Breeze next year, heard it's a good alternative.

[@mikehofmann3726]

I really agree with you here, I've gone to Wacken twice (2015 & 2019) and have had the same fantastic experience. 2015 was also only rain, it was rough lol, but I still had such a good time that I went back in 2019 which was hot (also shut down because of lightning once)... Traveling from western Canada I don't want to keep repeating the same experience. Did you see the Graspop lineup this year (2023) WOW! compare that against the Meh, lineup for Wacken this year. However I think every metalhead should check it out at least once.

[@Opethtat1]

A Men 🙌🏻 give me comfort ! 2012 was awesome but a mess

[@METALALEX211]

I love psycho been to 2 and 7 70000 tons going to Wacken next year first timer

[@tilominator2957]

Totally agree with your view. I live in Berlin Germany and was in Wacken 6 times between 2005 and 2011 (hey, we shared that one 🤘). In 2008 me and my friends didn't get tickets for Wacken and searched for an alternative. We found the Summer Breeze Festival as it had a similar line up. And since then we went every year to it as it was a bit smaller and way better organised. And Wacken has meanwhile so much more than just the bands, which is kind of cool but also stressful as you are there to see the bands and drink with friends at the camp which leaves no time for the other cool experiences. When I go to Summer Breeze these days I like to book a car in which I can sleep in... so I am also done with sleeping in a tent,especially when the weather is shit. Last year I missed many bands just because I don't want to go to see them in the mudd... Now after your video I like to try a metal cruise, if I can afford it...

[@ChrisRyot]

it's been a great development for festivals to include more shower options. It's definitely an upgrade and feels so good after a long few hours in the pit.

[@oldmanbanjo]

You had a sub the minute you said "back in my day" and "Sabaton"

[@andros1486]

I remember the Machine Head show in 2012, it was amazing but we were knee deep in mud and way too exhausted to move tbh. Then again i was 18 in 2012 so i was young and full of energy which probably helped with handling the shit weather. 2014 on the other hand was really sunny and dusty in comparison for example

[@frostshockmetal]

well spoken! great video.

[@jrp101]

I can understand what you mean, Ive been Wacken 2007 and 08 where i got to see Immortal reunion in 07, Carcass and At The Gates in 08. But its not the same anymore and the line up while its good doesnt get me excited especially when ive done Hellfest, Obscene Extreme, Netherlands Deathfest and Brutal Assault and prefer those festivals which are both gigantic and also in terms of OEF and Brutal Assault, smaller scale but still with an amazing line up. This year im not even too fussed about euro fests, and might just stay over here in the UK and try and make Incineration and Fortress festival. Unless Wacken get Darkthrone, for a one off show which is highly unlikely, then wont be going for some time.

[@wyattsmetal]

Same for me man, haven't seen too many lineups this year that have got me super excited. Some decent ones out there but nothing mind blowing

[@jrp101]

@@wyattsmetal to be honest not too fussed about this year, and kind of would like to do Bloodstock which has at least Triptykon doing a Celtic Frost set, which is a pull to go to see that one band on its own.

[@DrugTalkTV]

Cheers James, I was there to see Carcass and At The Gates for the first time in 2008, after having gone to Headbangers Open Air the weekend before to see Sodom and many others. So Wacken was added in as I had spent money to fly over and said why not, two weekends of metal back to back, and in between caught Wild Dogs at I think a club called Hamburg Ballroom or something like that down near the docks area. Cool 10 days in Germany. Otherwise did Keep It True in 2007 and 2008 as well. Last festivals I saw in Europe, but Wacken 2008 was my once in a lifetime metal pilgrimage.

[@barnabyhoofer8044]

For us Punk Rockers, the main festival is Rebellion. Most of us stay in nearby hotels and guest houses, within walking distance. Nice to sleep in a proper bed, and get a shower. But I have done the dossing out in train stations around the country, back in my teens, or bunking down in a car.

[@cwm8565]

You described what pretty much every major festival is like lol… regardless of genre (I attend anything except rap fests lol).

[@wyattsmetal]

Yea none of the issues really have to do with the subject of metal, moreso being outside in these locations for days

[@aprilkurtz1589]

Yeah, it sucks to get older. It also sucks that ticket prices have gotten so high that it's hard to justify. I miss going to festivals!

[@littleraven28]

Very relatable. This year we're going to Graspop, because of the line up, but we bought VIP cards and we stay in a nearby hotel 😁 Last year we went to the metal day of PinkPop, also had VIP tickets which was great as it was hot as hell. There was an open bar and kitchen without any lines included. And there were clean toilets. The luxury was very much appreciated.🤘🏽

[@cottonmouthxx7828]

I'm so shocked to hear that metal festivals are so much bigger here in Europe hah! I wonder why that is with America seeming so big on festivals, yet not with metal? I hope I get the courage to attend a metal festival some day :) (I am in a wheelchair so I always felt very anxious about accessibility) seeing the clip with the girl in the wheelchair was awesome though and makes me hopeful some day!

[@Malegys]

Because you're all enslaved by Hiphop & R&B culture over there 😀

[@cottonmouthxx7828]

@@Malegys I'm not from America ha, hence why I am shocked to find out the metal scene is not bigger there!

[@Malegys]

@@cottonmouthxx7828 Fair enough, but my opinion stays the same nonetheless 😀

[@cottonmouthxx7828]

@@Malegys Yea your point definitely made sense! :) I just assumed metal festivals would be much bigger in the States for it being so big on festivals

[@phillymopwater]

@Malegys your opinion is foolish and makes you sound like a total dweeb. Are you one of those nerds who only can handle one genre of music? Also maryland death fest in usa absolutely smokes Wacken. Might as well go to a phish festival.

[@bobseger6565]

When I did my Graspop + 2nd Hellfest Weekend Trip last year, at one point my last shower was 10h ago. In my humble opinion, sleeping in tents, getting dirty and drunk is a vital point of the experience. This year will be my first wacken. But I have to agree with you that the wacken lineup doesn't compare with like GMM for the same price. But I am pretty exited

[@Tegardener666]

When I first ventured to Europe from Australia I originally sought out the larger festivals, Hellfest and GMM in 2014. It started 5years of travelling to Europe for various festivals, never made it to Wacken. In 2016, I went to Brutal Assault. I was hooked. For 4years in a row that became my all time favourite. Still to this day I think fondly of it, but the line up, the vibe, the setting, the value for money. One day I will get back 🤘.

[@benjorito76]

I can relate to this, dude. My place ist about 200 miles away from Wacken, so just a 2 hours drive on german Autobahn (just kidding 😅). Been there many times, but for years now Wacken relies on its legendary status. Even if its a much longer drive for my, I consider going to Graspop or Hellfest more often. If I would have to travel all the way from the US to Europe, it doesn´t matter ist you fly to Germany, France or Belgium. For me, it´s all about bands and the lineup, and here Wacken gets worse every year while charging more and more for the ticket. So I´m out, too. Cheers!

[@wyattsmetal]

Wow, so near by and still not tempting enough for you! I definitely understand, between Wacken and Hellfest I always go Hellfest

[@gabrielathero]

I've been to Wacken in 2013 and 2018 and i don't really plan on going again because it's just too overwhelming for me. I like the smaller festivals a lot more (of which there are many in germany). And OMG yeah Wacken 2012! That was an apocalypse! Couple of my friends were there and they told the wildest stories about the weather and the conditions there.

[@speedyspeedgirl1778]

You were even lucky! 2013 and 2018 were years with somewhat decent weather. (Well, 2018 was brutal with the heat but at least it did not rain). Also the lineup was great those years. Compare that to 2015 and 2016 (which was even more rain than in 2012 and temperatures in 2015 were 5°C at night - yes, in August) I'm glad you did not have to experience that. Could you maybe name a few of your favourite smaller festivals in Germany? I'm looking for new ones to go to. :)

[@cyberiankorninger1025]

For mid size festival I recommend Rockharz they are amazing and its way more relaxing atmosphere than Wacken and shorter walkways and such while still great Bands, atmosphere and infrastructure. 2012 and 2015 were the Schlamm Wacken I think I was there and it was brutal.

[@gabrielathero]

@@cyberiankorninger1025 funny that you mention Rockharz, as i was there 3 weeks ago ;) And i agree, it's a wonderful festival to attend ^^

[@cyberiankorninger1025]

@@gabrielathero Then we might have seen each other its currently my favorite Festival going to other big ones for decades but only my second time at RHZ and brought 5 of my friends who have never been but who were at Wacken and they were amazed at how good it was.

[@spearofthelily]

My last big festival was Wacken '13 which was a pretty epic lineup. Not really inspired to go back to festival life, now I just go to Europe when lots of tours are happening at the same time, generally in the fall and spring seasons. Euroblast is decent, did Roadburn once. Showers, hotels, showers!

[@Williameagleblanket]

Have to gone metal festivals in the states, California Deathfest, Denver Black Sky, Las Vegas Deathfest, Psycho Las Vegas, Northwest Terror Fest, New England Metal & Hardcore Fest, Mayhem Fest, New Orleans Jazz Festival, Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles Six Pack Fest. They were all great. No issues at all.* ***edit*** I was at Wacken Open Air 2011 and Brutal Assault Fest the week after WOA. I rode the train when I was in Europe. I can’t stand camping out. I got a hotel and there was a bus that took festival goers to and from the hotel to the festival. I did use a taxi which is a bit expensive but I had the money to afford it. 🤘

[@alexandersteinmetz6857]

i were 48 at my last Wacken 2017, been there 4 Times since they Start. 2k13 and 17 i stayed in an Hotel, and we attend only for some Gigs, half an Day/Night. Was great, was dirty, was loud, was the normal infection Pool:). Pure subjective , but i felt that the Respect and overall Behaviour of the Crowd went south. Could also just be me and my Age, that i set other Standards, which dont meet actual Crowds, so, its not them, its me who is the Problem;). And what they bring up set with the Investement you have to do, well, there are very great 3-5 Bands one Time Gigs here in Germany, i much more Apreciate. That said, who wasnt there, what you are waiting for? One Time in Life you have to see and feel it. if you need an Encore, thats up to you:)

[@sta361]

I get what you're saying. But all I can say is that I've been to many, many festivals and none of them have the same feel as Wacken. I get a buzz at Wacken that I haven't found elsewhere. And I was there in 2015, where the amount of rain was beyond comprehension, and it will still fantastic. Yes, I somewhat agree when it comes to the lineup. It's always great, but it doesn't have the wow factor that it has had in previous years. I admit I'd love to go to 70k one day. But the cost for me as a European makes it really tough to justify when I have plenty of excellent festivals on my doorstep. And for me Wacken is the best of them all.

[@wyattsmetal]

I totally get that, festivals can just have a special place in your heart that make them more meaningful. I get that at Hellfest, but I understand the deep loyalty many have to Wacken. I did very much love my first Wacken in 2011