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Knocked Loose, New Model Army & Stillbirth: Festival Week in the Ruhrgebiet
Pentecost week in the Ruhr area – and the KRACH calendar is bursting at the seams. More than 70 shows between Coesfeld and Bonn, with Slam Dunk's German debut, New Model Army's "Unbroken Tour," two brutal local-hero weekends, and enough punk to make the Pott shake for days.
The Heavy Hitters
On Friday, Slam Dunk Germany lands for the very first time in Oberhausen and turns Turbinenhalle into the hottest spot in the country. Headliners Knocked Loose bring their pulverising metalcore, joined by Paleface Swiss, Hawthorne Heights and Stand Atlantic. Seven bands, two halls, full throttle from 17:30 – this is mandatory.
A day later, on Saturday, US thrash veterans Flotsam and Jetsam take aim at Turock in Essen. "Doomsday for the Deceiver" turns 40, and Eric "AK" Knutson's crew show exactly why their name belongs in the Big Four conversation.
Also Friday: New Model Army play the open-air Sparkassen-Waldbühne in Oelde – the "Unbroken Tour 2026" from Justin Sullivan''s post-punk institution, under the stars. Never seen NMA in a forest amphitheatre? You''re missing a checkbox on your concert bucket list.
Local Heroes Between Brutal Death and Anniversary Bash
Wednesday at Helvete the "Slam Domination Tour" rolls into Oberhausen: Stillbirth from Düsseldorf share the stage with US slam legends Waking the Cadaver and newcomers 9 Dead. Brutal death metal in a sweatbox – exactly how it should be.
Friday brings two NRW bombs on the same night: Resurrected from Duisburg present their eighth album "Perpetual" (out in April) at hometown Parkhaus Meiderich, while thrash machine Sober Truth causes neck damage at the Diskothek Shadow in Leverkusen.
Krefeld parties all weekend: the Schlachthof hosts the 15-year anniversary of Soldiers of Rock with Dead Skull, Generation X and Supernova Firebirds – two days of cover fun spanning Slayer to Chris de Burgh, with proceeds going to the STUPS children''s centre.
From Stoner Rock to Ska-Punk
Nebula bring their desert-dust stoner rock west twice over – Wednesday at Forum Bielefeld, Thursday at Musiktheater Piano in Dortmund. The same Wednesday, Connecticut prog-metal cinematics from Earthside fill the tiny MTC in Cologne.
Saturday, Dutch heavy-metal legend Vengeance takes a victory lap at Pitcher in Düsseldorf – the same club where Cancer Bats kick off their "20 Years Of Madness" tour with Wonk Unit on Tuesday. The Ratinger Hof also hosts California ska-punk heroes Mad Caddies that Tuesday.
Punk open-air fans pilgrimage to Alsdorf on Saturday for Pit Rock Open Air with Peter and the Test Tube Babies, Buster Shuffle and a packed streetpunk lineup.
Industrial Kick-off to the Week
The week opens Monday with a mandatory date for every EBM fan: Front Line Assembly bring their "Wax Trax! Era Set 1987–1992" plus I Ya Toyah to Fabrik Coesfeld – Bill Leeb playing the classics that defined the genre.
Don''t miss a beat with KRACH!
Over 70 shows in a single week – no human keeps that in their head. The KRACH app does. Save the must-sees, secure your tickets, discover new bands. Let''s go. 🤘
