DVD Review – VARIOUS ARTISTS – Live At Wacken 2012

UDR ( Release date – out now)

As anyone with an ounce of metal in their veins knows the Wacken Festival is one of the longest established and heaviest festivals in Europe. This three DVD package brings together 287 minutes of the hardest and heaviest bands to grace the festival’s stages during the 2012 event.

Over the course of the discs you are treated to the likes of Saxon, Volbeat and Testament along with lesser known names such as Riotgod, Nasum and Ghost Brigade. Watching through there is something for everyone here whatever your metallic tastes. The best performance is from Saxon who are as impressive as ever with Biff controlling the huge crowd with ease. Volbeat also show why they were headlining with three great tracks that also feature guest appearances from Michael Denner, Mille Petrozza and Mark Greenway. There are a couple of noticeable absences from the line up though in the shape of The Scorpions and Amon Amarth. Strangely Amon Amarth are featured on the inner cover of the DVD but are missing from the live action, a change of heart perhaps?

Another feature of Wacken 2012 was the weather with torrential rain over the weekend. This is nowhere more evident than on the three tracks featured from Chinese thrashers, Suffocated. Having travelled so far the guys deserve huge praise for playing a great set during monsoon conditions to around 100 people at the main stage. On some shots you can almost see Noah in the background hammering for all he was worth!

I must admit though that I did tend to skip through some bands and that, I think, is the issue with compilation DVD’s and CD’s, there is always the chance there will be something on there that doesn’t float your ark. However there is plenty of excellent live material here to keep any metalhead happy. I would have liked some behind the scenes footage or the odd interview though to add some colour and insight but all you get is a five minute ‘mood film’ as a bonus on disc 1.

If you braved the weather and were knee deep in mud at Wacken 2012 then this is an essential purchase, if not, find someone who was and ask to watch their DVD!

***1/2

David Wilson

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

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Power Plays w/c 28 October 2024

THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

Featured Albums w/c 28 October 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)