The air in Oberndorf am Neckar usually carries the scent of industry and river water, but this past Easter weekend, it was replaced by the unmistakable aroma of grilled bratwurst and anticipation. We couldn’t have asked for better conditions. The spring weather was out in full force, bathing the Neckarhalle in a warmth that felt like a reward after a long winter. As the sun hit the valley, it was clear: the Easter Cross Festival was back, and the vibe was nothing short of electric.
The Great Parking Migration
If you’ve been to Easter Cross before, you know the drill – park, grab a beer, and head in. However, 2026 threw a bit of a curveball at us. Due to ongoing construction, the two massive parking lots directly at the venue were partially blocked off. For a lesser crowd, this might have been a disaster, but the organizers were one step ahead.
A comprehensive map and a network of alternative parking spots were provided to guide the influx of metalheads through the winding streets of Oberndorf. But as the saying goes, “water will find its way.” True to form, the fans proved that you can take away the asphalt, but you can’t take away the spirit.
By the time we arrived, the makeshift parking areas had transformed into mini-festivals of their own. People were already “Kofferraum-partying,” blasting tunes from their trunks and clinking bottles in the sun. It was the perfect preamble to the chaos waiting inside the hall – a reminder that at Easter Cross, the festival starts the moment you find a spot to leave your car.
Saturday, April 4th: The Opening Salvo
The “trunk-parties” were the perfect appetizer, but as the clock struck 17:00, the Neckarhalle swallowed the crowd, and the first day of Easter Cross 2026 officially kicked off.
Defocus
If anyone was still feeling a bit sluggish from the drive, Defocus fixed that within thirty seconds. It’s always a surprise – even for festival veterans – how many people are already inside and ready to throw down for the opening slot. The hall was packed. Their groovy Deathcore is a fan favorite here for a reason, and since they’ve graced the Oberndorf stage before, the crowd knew exactly what to do. They effectively screamed us out of our slumber and into the reality of the weekend.
Setlist:
- Flatlines
- Coma
- Disease
- Biased
- Let The Bond Be My Grave
- Watch me Bleed
- Crooked Mind
Stepfather Fred
Next up was a band that proves you shouldn’t judge a book by its Instagram feed. On social media, Stepfather Fred comes across as rather silly, but on that stage, they were a force to be reckoned with, with their Heavy Alternative Rock.
While the previous act was all about the “harsh,” Stepfather Fred brought an atmospheric, gloomy, and incredibly polished sound. The singer’s voice was a standout – wonderful, emotive, and a nice contrast to the metalcore chaos. Despite being so early in the day, the venue remained impressively full, proving that the Oberndorf crowd appreciates quality over pure “heaviness.”
Setlist:
- The One
- Collecting Faith
- Tripped My Demon
- Blue Pride
- Cocaine
- Queen Of Mine
- Relief
Necrotted
Then came the local heroes. Necrotted are a staple of the Southern German scene, and their “Swabian Death Metal” is consistently high quality. They’ve dubbed their performance the “Alternative Easter Mess” – and honestly, it’s a religious experience in its own right if your religion involves getting your ass kicked by blast beats. They never miss, and they didn’t start missing in 2026.
Setlist:
- Zeitenschlächter
- Fat God
- Sow Sorrow For Victory
- Reich Der Gier
- My Mental Castration
- Circus Sapiens
- Deus Ex
Parasite Inc.
Parasite Inc. delivered exactly what the Oberndorf crowd craved: high-octane Melodic Death Metal with that signature modern twist. What stood out most, however, was their sense of humor. Looking at their setlist, they clearly leaned into the “Easter” theme, renaming their tracks with hilarious, egg-related puns. “Cyan Night Dreams” became “Cyan Knight Memes,” and “When All Is Said” turned into “When All Eggs Are Found.” It’s that kind of detail that makes this festival special.
Setlist:
- Fürst Porn
- Eggmageddon In 16 to 9
- Follow The Grind
- Eggfuck Rollertoaster
- Sunset Overprice
- Debt And Alive
- CS + Once And Durchfall
- Cyan Knight Memes
- Bunny Of The Dead
- When All Eggs Are Found
Samurai Pizza Cats
This was pure, unadulterated chaos. Starting the set with a nostalgic Digimon track before pivoting into Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” told us everything we needed to know: expect the unexpected.
An apparent comparison to Electric Callboy isn’t just a vibe! Their guitarist, Daniel Haniß, is actually the guitarist for Electric Callboy, and that same high-energy, “don’t take yourself too seriously” Electronicore spirit was present in every second of their set. With vocals jumping all over the place and a fast-paced stage show, they turned the Neckarhalle into a massive, sweaty dance floor.
Setlist:
- Intro (Digimon / Whitney Houston)
- Pandastruck
- Outcast
- Falling Down (incl. Circle Pit)
- Fear No Slice
- You’re Hellcome (Pre-Intro)
- Have A G.O.O.D. Day
- The Wolf In Me
- Ramen-Man
- Freakshow
- T-Rex(plosion)
- Super Zero
- Pizza Homicide
Rage
As co-headliners and true veterans of the scene, Rage brought a completely different gravity to the stage. It’s a classic case of “don’t judge a book by its cover” – despite their grim, hardened exteriors, the atmosphere they created was incredibly heartwarming. Peavy Wagner and the band have a way of drawing the fans in, making a large hall feel like an intimate gathering of old friends. Their set was a masterclass in German Heavy/Power Metal, proving that even after decades, their positive energy remains infectious.
Setlist:
- Innovation
- Under A Black Crown
- Nevermore
- Until I Die
- A New Land
- Solitary Man
- Refuge
- End Of All Days
- Higher
- Freedom
- Straight To Hell
- Winter
J.B.O.
Closing out Saturday were the “Defenders of Nonsense,” J.B.O. The hall was awash in pink, but the reaction was a bit of a mixed bag this year. While the core “pink army” was partying their asses off, there was a feeling that some of the old charm had faded. Even some of the die-hard fans in pink attire were seen heading for the exits a bit earlier than usual.
As for the performance itself? “You know what you get. And if you love what you know that you will get, you will love that. Which isn’t to say a word about what you feel if you don’t love what you know or don’t know about them, but certainly about what you feel if you know what you get but don’t love it.”
The night ended not with a bang, but with a mountain of pink confetti. Thankfully, there were no color powder bags this year, but the cleaning crew definitely had their work cut out for them – the floor of the Neckarhalle looked like a glittery pink crime scene by the time the lights came up.
Setlist:
- Vito wir machen Krach
- Arschloch & Spaß
- Ich will Spaß
- Im Verkehr
- Lyrik Medley
- Bussi
- Bolle
- Gänseblümchen
- Metal Was My 1st Lve
- Stinkefinger
- Mach noch 1s auf
- US of Blödsinn
- Geh mer Slayer
- Tag zum Sterben
- 4 Finger
- Verteidiger
- Wacken
- Alles nur geklaut
- Ein Fest