Live | Rock Hard Festival 2025 – Amphitheater – Gelschenkirchen [Ger]

7 and 8 June 2025

In recent years it has become something of a tradition to travel to the beautiful Amphitheater in Gelsenkirchen, for the annual Rock Hard Festival. This year we were there on Saturday and Sunday. Due to other commitments it was unfortunately not possible to be there on Friday as well. After all, I would have liked to report on Geoff Tate, Death Angel and Exodus, among others. But also on Saturday and Sunday this year’s program was packed with cool bands in various sub-genres of the harder music genre we love. This year’s festival was unfortunately less sunny and visitors were regularly provided with heavy rain. But the atmosphere was as usual convivial again and people who come there, come for the atmosphere, music and drinks.

SATURDAY – Day Two

The first band we managed to see on Saturday were The Gems, this new band, consisting of no less than three ex-Thundermother band members I had not yet seen live at work and since the reactions to their debut record ‘Phoenix’ were quite good, definitely a band that was on my to see list. Singer Guernica Mancini remains a woman with a golden voice, although on Rock hard she spins out of control at times. But The Gems very much felt like making it a smashing show. In terms of setlist, the ladies kept strictly to their own work and no Thundermother songs were played. Too bad for me, because unfortunately the spark didn’t catch and the ladies did not manage to keep the energy at a constant level during the performance.

DOOL

First highlight on Saturday, as far as I was concerned, was Dutch band DOOL, led by singer/guitarist Raven Van Dorst. I had never seen this band at work before and must say I was impressed. With 5 songs, the setlist consisted mainly of the latest album ‘The Shape Of Fluidity’. The audience also responded enthusiastically to DOOL and after all, that is what it is all about. This tasted like more as far as I’m concerned and I think the audience could have appreciated a few more songs as well.

THRESHOLD

The progressive band Threshold was next and they also managed to enthrall the audience with surgical precision. With Johanne James, this band has a beast of a drummer. The style and expression that this man has just can’t be taught, you either have it or you don’t. Also guitarist Karl Groom still knows how to strike the right chord and in that respect Threshold has shown why they are still a relevant standard-bearer of the progressive metal genre.

NILE

Nile treaded the Rock Hard stage next. This Technical Death Metal band managed to keep the audience in their powerful compulsion. It is a wall of sound that these gentlemen around guitarist Karl Sanders manage to put down. The grunt vocals are split between three men. Karl, bassist Dan Vadim Von and guitarist Brian Kingsland. Cool to experience the energy and power of this band live.

CRIMSON GLORY

In 2025, Crimson Glory has risen from the ashes. With vocalist Travis Wills, the three original members, guitarist Ben Jackson, bassist Jeff Lords and drummer Dana Burnell have found an awesome vocalist who does come very close to the sound of the sadly deceased Midnight. This show was also the end of their European tour, so the band was in sync down to their toes. All songs were from the first two albums ‘Crimson Glory’ and ‘Transcendence’, the albums that made the band’s history in the 80s. How cool to hear ,,Dragon Lady’’ or ,,Azrael’’ live again. I’m curious to see if this lineup also gets back into the studio and manages to make an album that rivals the level of the aforementioned discs. For now, it was just pure enjoyment with this beautiful trip down memory lane!

DISMEMBER

Closing Saturday was Death Metal great Dismember. When it comes to classic Swedish death metal, there’s no way around Stockholm’s Dismember. With their characteristic HM2 sound and unmistakable style, they have not only shaped a genre, but also inspired an entire generation of younger bands. The band, reunited in their original lineup since 2019, delivered a show that was both a nostalgic trip for long-time fans and an impressive display of their signature sound for newcomers. Dismember‘s performance at Rock Hard Festival 2025 was a highlight for many, especially those who appreciate old-school death metal.

SUNDAY – Day Three

The Sunday of Rock Hard 2025 began for me with Victory‘s performance. Considering the weather forecast and the somewhat less attractive afternoon program, I had chosen not to be back on the Rock Hard grounds until 3 p.m. I did get to see the tail end of the performance by the German Deserted Fear. And again this band belongs to the Death Metal genre. So yes, as always Rock Hard managed to put together a program that offers something for everyone who likes the harder genre..

VICTORY

Victory, the band around guitarist Herman Frank, is still going strong. Ever since 1984 the band has been in various line-ups and temporary breaks, providing an awfully good pot of Hard Rock from the top shelf. The set list consisted of a cross-section of everything the band has ever recorded, but with 4 songs, ‘Temples Of Gold’ [1990] was the album that was most strongly represented. Especially vocalist Gianni Pontillo managed to surprise me in a very positive way. His powerful voice and stage performance were rock solid. Victory did not disappoint.

MYRATH

Myrath, from Tunisia, was next on the Rock Hard stage. This Progressive/Oriental Metal band played a solid set of songs. Singer Zaher Zorgati is gifted with a set of fine pipes and musically they convinced as well. But somehow they couldn’t get under my skin.

DIRKSCHNEIDER

Next on the bill was Dirkschneider. Under the banner “40 Years of Balls To The Wall” Herr Udo Dirkschneider is on the road. Since 2023, former Accept bandmate Peter Baltes has also joined Udo‘s troops. It would have been nice if former Accept band member Herman Frank had also joined in for a song or two. After all, he also played on the ‘Balls To The Wall’ album. Anyway, it may be clear that Dirkschneider is still super popular and the Amphitheater is filled to the brim with enthusiastic visitors. [I estimate that no other band was so crowded.]

The songs were sung along loudly. As usual, the band played a super tight set of Heavy Metal and with songs like ,,Balls To The Wall’‘ or ,,Princess Of The Night’’ it seemed to take no effort to bring the festival to a boiling point. TOP.

W.A.S.P.

And then it’s time for the closing act of the festival: W.A.S.P.

The band surrounding vocalist/guitarist Blackie Lawless will play the first album ‘WASP’ in full on this tour. And despite hearing a lot that Lawless would do some sort of PlayBlackie show, I have to contradict the haters. Sure there will be things to go along with it, but then how many other bands these days don’t do so?
No, W.A.S.P. anno 2025 is solid as a rock. Especially drummer Aquiles Priester is a beast behind the drum kit, what power and energy. The songs from the first album prove to be timeless and take me back to that moment in 1984 when the needle of my record player first hit the grooves of this record. This show is pure familiarity and quality. Lawless has recovered well from his hernia, as he is happily hopping around the stage again. A great ending to this wonderful festival.

Rock Hard 2025 was over. Yes the weather could have been better, but the program again had something for everyone on the bill.

Hope to see us again in 2026, for a top Rock Hard festival at a top location in Gelsenkirchen!!!

All photos by Raymond Helebrand