Wacken 2025 !

Day 1

Wednesday’s lineup had more than enough to make us forget the whims of the weather. Gun Called Britney opened hostilities on the W:E:T Stage with raw, infectious energy, quickly followed by a dark and captivating set from Dogma on the Louder Stage. Meanwhile, Hellmidian and Theophobos delivered intense performances on the secondary stages, in an already electric atmosphere.

Expellow and Mourning High kept the momentum going on the Headbangers Stage, before Hanabie literally blew up Louder in the late afternoon. Their explosive mix of metalcore and high-energy sent the crowd into a frenzy, turning the mosh pits into a giant mud rink.

The most anticipated moment of the evening came with the concert from Tarja Turunen and Marko Hietala. Seeing these two legendary voices of Nightwish reunited again was surreal. Their rekindled chemistry, powerful harmonies, and the fine rain still falling gave the scene an almost cinematic aura. The duo treated the crowd to classics like Wishmaster and Wish I Had an Angel, triggering a massive wave of nostalgia.

Finally, Beyond The Black took command of the Faster Stage with both power and elegance. Jennifer Haben and her band tamed the elements to deliver a show that lived up to expectations, even previewing several tracks from their upcoming album, due early 2026, including Rising High and Break the Silence.

Closing out the main stages, Saltatio Mortis quite literally set the mud on fire with spectacular pyrotechnics. Their energy, traditional instruments, and festive spirit made us forget the rain for a full hour and a half. The big surprise came when Tina Gio joined them for Feuer & Erz. With a generous setlist of around twenty songs, the band ended the day in style.

This first day of Wacken 2025 embodied the very soul of the festival: facing the storm together, keeping a smile, and living to the sound of guitars.

Day 2

The second day of Wacken 2025 opened under another threatening sky, but festivalgoers quickly adapted, treating the mud as their new playground. The enthusiasm didn’t waver; in fact, the collective energy seemed stronger than ever.

By mid-afternoon, Hellbound shook the Headbangers Stage with an energetic set, perfectly tailored to wake up bodies still sore from the day before. Then Coppelius took over the Wackinger Stage, delivering a theatrical performance both baroque and delightfully offbeat. Victorian costumes, classical instruments, and gentlemanly eccentricity. Their unique world utterly enchanted the audience.

Next up for me was Eternal Power, who confirmed their potential with a solid performance. This power metal band from China delivered an epic, melodic set, while over on the Faster Stage, German rock icon BAP brought a more accessible and nostalgic touch, warmly welcomed by the crowd.

The contrast with Svarttjern couldn’t have been sharper: their raw, uncompromising black metal plunged the Headbangers Stage into darkness, with razor-sharp sound and an icy stage presence. Then the veterans of Grave Digger stormed the Harder Stage, imposing their epic heavy metal with the same authority as in their glory days.

The evening continued with Hellbutcher and their thrash before Static-X closed the secondary stages on an industrial, heavy, and danceable note. Despite puddles and soaked clothes, the crowd kept moving until the last note.

Then came the long-awaited moment: Guns N’ Roses, the headliner of this year’s edition, hit the Faster Stage at 8:30 p.m. for a three-and-a-half-hour marathon show. They opened with Welcome to the Jungle, unleashing a deafening roar, then powered through around thirty songs mixing classics and surprises. In tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who had passed away the previous week, the band performed two Black Sabbath covers: Never Say Die and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. The set closed with their two most iconic tracks: Sweet Child o’ Mine and a majestic November Rain.

This second day, more varied than the first and capped off by a living legend, offered the crowd a perfect snapshot of what makes Wacken great: diversity, intensity, and living rock and metal history.

Day 3

Friday opened under a finally gentler sky. The sun timidly broke through the clouds, giving exhausted festivalgoers a brief respite but determination remained intact.

Heavysaurus kicked off the day on the W:E:T Stage. Yes, dinosaurs on stage. And yet, their show drew both kids and adults, in an atmosphere as joyful as it was metal. Then came Brothers of Metal, who quite literally summoned the Norse gods with muscular power metal and full costumes. It was my first time seeing them on a main stage; the pyrotechnics warmed the still-damp crowd during the last shower, and the concert was captivating. Their performance was incredible. I’d recommend them to anyone who hasn’t seen them live.

In the afternoon, Landmvrks took over the Faster Stage with an explosive set combining modern metalcore and restrained fury. I hadn’t known them before this year, but their name is everywhere. For me, it was a discovery… though I wasn’t completely won over, maybe because my expectations had been set too high by all the hype.

I then headed to a secondary stage to photograph Angel Witch. Legends of the NWOBHM, they brought everyone back to the roots of the genre with a straightforward yet solid concert.

Finally, Krokus delivered pure old-school hard rock. Their energy, despite the years, lifted the crowd with unstoppable classics. Celebrating 50 years this year, Marc Storace told us he was happy to return to Wacken, their last appearance was six years ago.

The mud, still omnipresent, made every move a challenge, turning walks into a real leg workout.

Day 4

Saturday arrived quickly, too quickly. Fatigue was visible on faces, but so was the excitement. And the schedule left no room for rest.

Vulvarine played the Headbangers Stage with sharp, hard-hitting feminist rock. Right after, Warkings turned the Harder Stage into an epic battlefield, with armor, flames, and battle anthems. I first discovered them with Powerwolf a few years ago and loved them then and once again, they delivered a fantastic performance.

By mid-afternoon, Floor Jansen reigned supreme on stage, offering a show that blended emotion and vocal mastery. She performed, of course, several Nightwish classics, but also tracks from her former bands ReVamp and After Forever. She also presented songs from her solo album, including Invincible and Storm, both met with thunderous applause.

Within Temptation then took over for a spectacular concert, with refined lighting, immersive sets, and a commanding Sharon den Adel. During In the Middle of the Night, the rain came pouring down, adding an almost cinematic intensity to the moment. The setlist stayed close to their other summer festival shows, but the end offered surprises: the band invited two members of Annisokay on stage for Shed My Skin, with Chris’s riffs giving the track a heavier twist. As a bonus, fans were treated to Ice Queen, a beloved classic rarely played since 2022.

At 9 p.m, Gojira made the Harder Stage quake with a breathtaking performance. The Frenchmen once again proved they are France’s premier metal band, fresh from playing at the Olympic opening ceremony. Massive sound, surgical precision, and total communion with the crowd.

And when it seemed nothing more could top the night, Machine Head stormed the Faster Stage at 11 p.m, delivering a closing set that was intense, furious, and abrasive. Robb Flynn and his band gave no respite to the last pit warriors, channeling the crowd’s final energy into one last catharsis of violence and brotherhood.

A big thank you goes out to everyone involved in organizing Wacken, who showed flawless responsiveness in the face of infernal weather conditions. As always, during the final evening, the organizers announced some of the first names for the 2026 edition: Def Leppard, Powerwolf, In Flames, Savatage, Sepultura, Lamb of God, and many more. Enough to already stir up excitement among the fans.

See you in 2026 !