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From Post-Rock Cathedrals to Death Metal Thunderstorms: This Week Has It All

The third week of March hits like a Marshall stack cranked to 11 – over 120 shows spread across NRW and beyond, with an absolutely insane genre range. From epic post-rock to medieval metal, death metal, horror punk, and darkwave, it's all here. These are our hand-picked highlights.

The Heavy Hitters

Friday delivers the ultimate goosebumps moment with Godspeed You! Black Emperor at Die Kantine in Cologne. The Canadian post-rock legends build their monumental soundscapes into a near-spiritual live experience – if you haven't seen them yet, you'll walk out a changed person.

Also on Friday, Feuerschwanz transform the Turbinenhalle in Oberhausen into a medieval fortress. Suit of armor optional, headbanging mandatory. Just a few kilometers away, Angus McSix and Brainstorm deliver a power metal double punch at Kulttempel Oberhausen – glorious, epic, absolutely over the top.

Saturday sees God Is An Astronaut casting their post-rock spell at Matrix Bochum. The show is called "Die Legende Von Nord" – and yes, it will be legendary.

Closing out the weekend on Sunday, Zeche Bochum brings out the heavy artillery: Vader, Kataklysm, and Blood Red Throne – three death metal institutions on one stage. This will be a bloodbath in the best possible sense.

Underground Gems and Local Heroes

Ruhr area's own folk-metal force Harpyie storms the Turbinenhalle in Oberhausen on Saturday alongside Irish pub-punk veterans The O'Reillys And The Paddyhats. When folk metal meets Celtic punk, no eye stays dry and no beer stays in the cup.

Another absolute insider tip for Saturday: Grobschnitt are playing an Acoustic Party at Zeche Carl in Essen. The Krautrock legends from Hagen – yes, OUR Hagen – in an intimate acoustic setting. This is Ruhr area music history you can touch.

Blues-rock master Henrik Freischlader shows on Friday at Musiktheater Piano in Dortmund why he's one of the finest guitarists the Ruhr area has ever produced. The man from Wuppertal makes his guitar weep, scream, and rejoice – pure bliss.

From Death Metal to Darkwave – Everything in Between

Friday gets truly brutal at Carlswerk Victoria in Cologne: Mental Cruelty and Kanonenfieber deliver an extreme metal double strike of the highest order. Kanonenfieber with their WWI black metal concept are an absolute force.

For those who prefer it darker and dreamier: Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys play Friday at Zeche Carl in Essen – post-punk meets darkwave meets gothic. Guaranteed goosebumps.

Horror punk fans, take note: Bloodsucking Zombies From Outer Space are taking over Don't Panic in Essen on Friday. The venue is exactly the right size for maximum mayhem.

Things get progressive on Friday at Druckluft in Oberhausen with The Hirsch Effekt – mathy riffs, emotional eruptions, and a live intensity that's second to none.

Wednesday brings Geese and their art-punk to Die Kantine in Cologne. The Brooklyn band is one of the most exciting new acts in recent years.

And closing out Sunday: Jaya The Cat and The Bennies heat up Live Music Hall in Cologne – a top-tier ska-punk party where no foot stays still.