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96 Shows: From Arena to Basement – This Weekend Has It All
What a weekend! From the 15,000-capacity PSD Bank Dome to basement punk at the Sonic Ballroom – NRW delivers at every level. Here are the highlights from Thursday to Sunday.
The Big Hitters
Powerwolf On Saturday, Powerwolf together with Hammerfall and Wind Rose turn the PSD Bank Dome in Düsseldorf into a power metal cathedral. Three bands that are an absolute force live – if you're looking for pyro, choirs, and raised fists, this is your night.
Also on Saturday: Heaven Shall Burn bring The Halo Effect (featuring ex-In Flames members) to the Palladium in Cologne. If you have to choose between Düsseldorf and Cologne – enjoy that luxury problem.
Friday kicks off with Satanic Surfers at the Turock in Essen. The Swedish skate punk veterans have been an institution since the '90s and will deliver a sweaty demolition job at the Turock.
Underground Gems and Local Heroes
Nachtblut Friday night at Essigfabrik Cologne – the Aachen-based dark metal institution is one of our local heroes and brings Asenblut with melodic Viking metal as support. A must for anyone who likes their metal dark and theatrical.
Saturday gets doubly exciting in Oberhausen: Omnium Gatherum and In Mourning bring Finnish and Swedish melodic death to the Kulttempel. Two bands that hit harder and more emotionally live than on record.
Local insider tip: Schockromantik play Saturday at the Jugend- und Kulturzentrum Emscherdamm in Oberhausen – Ruhr area gothic straight from the neighborhood. And if you like grindcore with humor: Reis Against The Spülmachine at Die Börse Wuppertal – the name alone is pure gold.
From Darkwave to Brutal Death – Something for Everyone
The Beauty Of Gemina open Friday with their elegant darkwave at Groove Bar Cologne – if you read our article about their new single "Endless Ever," you know why this is essential. Same evening, The Butcher Sisters deliver fun-metalcore at the Palladium Cologne – moshpit with a grin.
Sunday gets properly brutal: Sanguisugabogg and Gates To Hell turn the Kulttempel Oberhausen into a death metal battlefield. And if you prefer it dirty and rock'n'roll: Supersuckers at Sonic Ballroom Cologne – punk rock legends in Cologne's finest basement.
Thursday already kicks off the weekend with Brothers Of Metal at Skaters Palace Münster – Viking metal singalongs – and Crystal Lake bring Japanese metalcore to Essigfabrik Cologne on Saturday.
Don't Miss a Thing with KRACH!
96 shows in four days – something for everyone. From arenas to youth centers, from power metal to grindcore. Find all events with dates and venues in the KRACH app. Krachstalavista! 🤘
