We’re Going To One Of The Biggest Metal Festivals In The World

Since 1990, Germany's Wacken Open Air has been synonymous with true passion for true heavy metal. Oh, and some rather potent beer as well.

Trends be damned, it's become a pilgrimage for devotees of the genre worldwide, punters from countless countries heading to the small village in northern Germany in late July/early August each year to help defend the faith.

After beginning life as a small-scale event for German bands, the festival eventually began booking bigger names and has remained a bastion of heavy metal festivals, while incorporating the many flavours the genre has to offer. This scribe was present for the 20th anniversary celebrations in 2009, which featured a stunning performance from Heaven & Hell – also late front-man Ronnie James Dio's last officially recorded show.

Other highlights included a ball-tearing Machine Head set on the final night (go check out the videos of the circle pit on YouTube) and another cracking display from our own hard rock heroes Airbourne.

The 2014 instalment marks the 25th anniversary, and sold out within less than 48 hours last August. That's a staggering 75,000 tickets.

The incomparable King Diamond are among this year's main drawcards – their stage show something to behold. Despite recent setbacks, Slayer will also be a clear festival favourite. Devin Townsend Project's off-kilter prog-metal is sure to draw a significant crowd, but not as large as that of Norwegian black metal progenitors Emperor, who have again temporarily reformed for a European festival run. Glam jokesters Steel Panther have some fresh jokes to please the metal masses. Perhaps some of them will be at the expense of Blackie Lawless and W.A.S.P, who will also appear.

This year's three-day line-up also includes Viking masters and recent Soundwave visitors Amon Amarth, as well as one of the first performances from the new line-up of Swedish titans Arch Enemy. Tobias Sammet's all-star rock opera Avantasia will bring the bombast and venue-levelling choruses; blackened death metal mainstays Behemoth the brutality.

The always polarising UK mob Bring Me The Horizon appear alongside festival heroes Carcass, Iced Earth and Children Of Bodom, as well as Taiwanese metallers Chthonic's unique fare. Motörhead and Megadeth are also scheduled – here's hoping Lemmy's recent health issues aren't a factor. NWOBHM mainstays Saxon will be a highlight; ditto American industrialised thrash mob Prong.

Those seeking a more straight-forward, groove-laden brand of metallic thrust will get their fill via Five Finger Death Punch, Hellyeah and Hatebreed. On the flipside, Swedish power metal veterans HammerFall are sure to incite some of the festival's most grandiose sing-a-longs. Reactivated English heroes Hell ought to be crowd-pleasers; same for German metalcore heavy-hitters Heaven Shall Burn, who attracted a rabid crowd in 2009. Fellow Teutonic outfits and overall thrash legends Kreator and Sodom will both be a must-see. Also part of the German contingent – and adding further variety to the bill – are post-metal brutalisers The Ocean.

What else? There's the W:O:A Firefighters, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, the “Metal Battle”, Wacken Plaza (where it is possible to buy merchandise items, store valuables in the “lockbox truck”, and make use of the mail and parcel service), the Wackinger Village and three days whereby hygiene takes a holiday. There is also an incredible array of market stalls that time must be set aside for. Despite copious amount of booze being consumed, the vibe is convivial, and a real gathering of the tribe – you'll make new friends instantly, often without trying. Or to quote a friend heading returning for another bout this year, it's about “meeting awesome people, hearing new bands and rocking out in the hugest metal party this side of the moon”.

If you missed out but still gaze longingly at available flights in between ironing patches onto your battle jacket, there are still methods to acquire a Wacken ticket after the sold out sign is posted – via the name change and ticket exchange.

According to the festival website, the anonymous ticket exchange “takes a lot of time for all parties involved”. To be able to complete all active processes in time, organisers will shut down the ticket exchange on 7 June. “However, you can still rewrite your tickets to others, as the name change service will be available until about 10 days before the festival starts”. For details, best check out the festival website.

Either way, theMusic.com.au will be on hand to bring you plenty of words and images from the iconic festival.