The crisp Black Forest air bites at the skin of the Metal fans making their way up the path to the Froschberghalle, but the muffled thrum of double-bass drums vibrating through the gymnasium walls promises plenty of heat inside. It’s October 25th, 2025, and Brigachtal has once again transformed its unassuming sports hall into the beating heart of the local metal scene for the 8th Heavy Halloween Festival.
Stepping through the doors, the smell of beer and stage fog hits us instantly — a comforting, familiar welcome. The atmosphere is uniquely “Kirchdorf“: a surreal but perfect mix where denim-clad thrashers headbang alongside locals in full Halloween costume, all under the bright lights of a venue that usually hosts indoor soccer. On It’s loud, it’s sweaty, and it feels like a family reunion where the soundtrack just happens to be heavy metal.
Nightfall Empire
First up is Nightfall Empire. They’re a local band, and looking at them, they’re clearly the “young blood” on the bill—both in age and experience. But they don’t play timid. I mean, who drops an extensive drum solo in the opening slot? Usually, you save that for the headliners, but the drummer here just went for it.
The set leans into a fusion of technical, modern Metal and classical dual vocals. There were some technical difficulties early on, but they didn’t let it derail their show in any way. For a band this new to the stage, they held the room really well.
Coldaura
Then comes the mood shift. Coldaura is filling in for Five O Seven at the last minute, though somehow the festival shirts already have their logo printed on them. Fast work by the organizers.
These guys are clearly veterans. It’s a sharp turn from the young openers—slow, doomy, and dark. The vocalist has a serious Danzig vibe, and the playing is razor-sharp. The guitarist brings enough energy for the whole band, but the frontman keeps the banter self-deprecating. He actually announces the end of the set is due to “age-related pain” and signs off with a dry: “You did it. You endured us.”
The floor is still pretty open—standard for the early slots here, where everyone fills in from the back bar forward. I’m seeing a lot of kids in the crowd tonight, though, all sporting those giant protective ear defenders. Always great to see parents approaching musical education early while staying responsible with the sensitive young ears.
Fateful Finality
Things really kick into gear with Fateful Finality. By now, the hall is looking properly full, which is good because these guys need the bodies for what they’re doing. They’re a thrash outfit out of Stuttgart, and they aren’t interested in staying on the stage.
At one point, the singer actually jumps into the circle pit—guitar and all—running laps with the crowd. I even spotted the members of Nightfall Empire diving in there with him. It’s pure chaos in the best way. They rip through a cover of Motörhead’s “Overkill,” tell everyone to go grab another beer, and keep faking us out on the finale. Seriously, they announce the “last song” about three times and just keep playing. The crowd doesn’t mind, though, with a massive roar for an encore being a testament to it.
Timeless Rage
The headliner slot saw a last-minute shake-up, too. Mission in Black couldn’t make it, so Timeless Rage stepped in to save the day. Honestly? No one is complaining. These guys are local favorites and have played this festival before, so the crowd knows exactly what to do. For the first time tonight, that polite gap in front of the stage completely disappears.
It’s a power metal set, but they don’t take themselves too seriously. The banter is silly, the mood is light, and they’ve got a new bass player who looks sharp and well-established up there, too. I know they’ve been quiet lately, focusing more on the studio than touring, but you can’t tell. They shake off the rust instantly and deliver the kind of reliable, punchy show that reminds you why they have such a loyal following in this area.
Thekenproleten
Finally, we get Thekenproleten. They call it “Proll Rock”—basically, drunkard anthems with humor that hits strictly below the belt. It’s a weird mix, sounding somewhere between Tenacious D and Die Toten Hosen, though definitely… let’s say looser on the technical side.
It’s chaotic, but that’s the point. At one moment, the amp software actually crashes mid-set. They don’t sweat it; the guitarist just invites us closer: “Look, if you come to the front, you can watch the reboot loading screen.”
Is it high art? No. Are the vulgar lyrics for everyone? Definitely not. But they aren’t looking for approval. They know exactly what they are. The guitarist’s shirt summed it up better than I could: “It’s an Old School Thing – You wouldn’t understand.” And their fanbase is all their particular blend of humor and tunes, wrapping up the night.
Back to the crypt
The house lights come up slowly, and the sudden quiet is loud, broken only by the ringing in my ears and the cold winter night seeping in. And so the 8th edition ends, and it was worth every minute of the drive out here for this specific blend of ruffian rock and community spirit.
If you missed the noise and the spooky shenanigans of the 2025 Heavy Halloween Festival, don’t make that mistake next year. Keep your eyes locked on the Black Forest—the ninth edition is surely already brewing for 2026.
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Visit the official facebook page of the Heavy Halloween Festival.
Photography and Article by Cat Maverick