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Axel Rudi Pell, Harakiri For The Sky & Any Given Day: 134 Shows – NRW Is on Fire This Week!
134 shows in seven days – NRW is going all out this week. From Monday''s opener at Cologne''s Helios 37 to Saturday''s triple threat of post-black metal in a church, a metalcore festival at Turbinenhalle, and arena rock at the Palladium – it''s all happening. Here are the highlights.
The Heavy Hitters
On Tuesday, Bochum''s own guitar god Axel Rudi Pell returns to Zeche Bochum – a hometown show for the man who''s been carrying melodic heavy metal from the Ruhr area to the world for over 35 years. Classic solos, epic anthems – the master in his element.
Saturday becomes a triple highlight: At Christuskirche Bochum, Harakiri For The Sky celebrate the 10th anniversary of their masterpiece "Trauma", performing the album in full. The sacred atmosphere of the Christuskirche is perfect for this emotional post-black metal evening. Support: Hæresis from Berlin.
Also on Saturday, Gelsenkirchen''s Any Given Day throw their own GET THAT DONE FEST at Turbinenhalle Oberhausen – round three! The metalcore machine from the Ruhr area has worked its way from YouTube covers to headlining their own festival. And Skillet at Palladium Köln? Already sold out – if you''ve got tickets, congrats.
Underground Gems & Local Heroes
Thursday at Turock Essen, it''s proper old-school: Wytch Hazel bring NWOBHM spirit in its purest form, supported by Phantom Spell. If you love Iron Maiden and Thin Lizzy, this is your night.
Friday at Kulturwerk Herford delivers a double dose of melodic death metal: Hiraes and NOPREACHERS with their "pure Bavarian metal" – far from the big stages, but exactly where it sounds most honest.
Also on Friday, Hamburg''s Grundeis prove at Vortex Surfer Musikclub in Siegen why the German post-punk scene is thriving right now. Dreamy shoegaze meets snotty dark post-punk.
From Noise Rock to Humppa – Something for Everyone
The week kicks off with Ireland''s Just Mustard on Monday at Helios 37 in Cologne – their hypnotic noise rock and shoegaze is perfect for the venue''s intimate setting.
Wednesday brings two strong acts competing for your attention: Ghostwoman brings psych-punk from Canada to FZW Dortmund, while Disillusion serves progressive death metal at Yard Club in Die Kantine, Cologne – support: Cologne''s own Martyrion.
Thursday at Gebäude 9 in Cologne, Prospect Hill and Lansdowne keep the rock-metal groove going. And Finland''s humppa masters Eläkeläiset stop by Gleis 22 in Münster on Saturday as part of their "Humppaaxident II" tour – chaos, polka, and punk guaranteed.
Don''t Miss a Thing with KRACH!
134 shows in one week – from Axel Rudi Pell''s hometown show to the Trauma anniversary at Christuskirche to the GET THAT DONE FEST. Download the KRACH app and don''t miss a thing! 🤘
