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Black Metal in a Church
The absolute highlight of this weekend: LIFELOVER play Saturday at the Christuskirche Bochum — their first show under the LIFELOVER name in over ten years. After the death of singer and songwriter Jonas Bergqvist in 2011, the band was history. Now they return, and in a church no less. Black metal as it should be: uncomfortable, emotional, unforgettable. An extended set has been announced.
Speed Metal at Don't Panic, Orchestral Thunder at the Zeche
On Saturday, the Speed Invasion Tour rolls through Don't Panic in Essen: Knife and Warrant bring uncompromising speed metal to the small club at Viehofer Platz. Plus Taskforce Toxicator as support — an evening for fans of tempo and riffs.
On Sunday, it continues at Zeche Bochum: The Dead Man's Hand Festival brings Rage with their spectacular Lingua Mortis Orchestra to the stage. Plus a reading with actor Ralf Richter from Peavy Wagner's biography. Heavy metal meets high culture — doors at 4 PM.
Metalcore, NDH and Industrial
Samurai Pizza Cats celebrate their own Samurai Pizza Fest on Saturday at Live Music Hall Cologne — sold out, naturally. The night before, Schattenmann fires up the Luxor Cologne with the Endgegner Tour. New album, new sound, harder metal. On Saturday, Soulbound takes over the Luxor with the sYn Tour.
The E-Tropolis Festival at Turbinenhalle Oberhausen brings Combichrist with an oldschool set to the stage on Saturday — also sold out.
Local Heroes and Underground
Iron Ritual IV at Sojus 7 in Monheim: Resurrected from Duisburg bring along Brutal Unrest (also local!), Hellgrav and Mäuler for a four-band death metal night. Four bands, 8 euros entry — underground as it should be. And at Parkhaus Meiderich in Duisburg, the Modern Metal Night delivers: Morbus Mind, Blessed By Rhenus and Redefined bring an NRW metalcore triple strike.
On Friday, Call it off open the weekend at Don't Panic Essen with pop-punk energy. And Dyse bring their metal-hardcore mix to Ratinger Hof Düsseldorf on Saturday.
Don't Miss Out with KRACH!
Over 70 shows this weekend in NRW — from black metal in a church to speed metal in a basement. All shows, all dates, all venues in the KRACH app. 🤘
