And otherwise?
It was great. The bands were fantastic, there were no cancellations and no glitches. Not every band was to everyone’s taste, but each band had its own large fan base. The area in front of the stage was never empty, neither at 12:00 nor at 00:00, and rightly so. We mustn’t forget to mention all the helpers, volunteers and security staff, the crew, technicians, the Grabenschlampen who saved all the crowdsurfers, cleaning staff and each and every one of you. Unfortunately, our friends and helpers from the police couldn’t be photographed this year, as their superiors didn’t quite approve. That’s a shame, because they give you the feeling that nothing, absolutely nothing, can happen and were inconspicuously present.
I also don’t forget my collegues in the pit. If you think, taking photos is pure fun, I can tell you, yes it is fun but it also means hard work. You don’t want to miss a band, you have to check and rework your digital photos and put them online on the spot or a few weeks later together with your report which needs to be written. You have to put everything online for your entertainment. But I don’t complain, it is a great voluntary work.
A lot of bands were ready for signing sessions. Most of these took place at the Metal.de truck, with some held in a tent set up next to it and others at Hot Shot Records‘ large tent. Take a look at our photos of some of the queues and bands. Can you recognise them, even if they are not wearing stage outfit?
There were also eight weddings at Rockharz. The Ballenstedt registry office had set up a branch office on the large forecourt at the infield entrance. Unfortunately, due to the density of the bands, we didn’t get to catch one of the wedding couples during the ceremony. Nevertheless, we wish them all the best for their life together. We also don’t want to overlook the marriage proposal made by the Rockharz boss to his partner after the introduction of the crew and some “warm words” by the organisers. Will they wait a year and be among the couples who tie the knot at the festival in 2026? Let’s wait and see!
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And a few words about the surroundings! The selection of drinks was more than adequate and still reasonably priced. The food selection was high quality and, in the true sense of the word, inexpensive. At other festivals, you get less quality for more money. As usual, the merchandise stands were well-stocked and varied. The painting exhibition was, of course, very special. One stand that particularly caught my eye was that of NoCut Entertainment between the autograph stand and the stage. Someone had really thought about aesthetics with simple but effective means and hadn’t just thrown everything together. The bands that were there were the icing on the cake, be it Mono Inc. themselves, Knorkator, Storm Seeker or the other artists of this fine, who clearly enjoyed themselves.
I almost forgot the most important people! No festival can happen without its crew but no festival will ever happen if nobody is visiting it, It is you, the audience, spectators, head bangers, metal heads who buy the tickets, who buy the merch, who drink and eat and at least watch the bands, support them from deep inside your heart! Thus here are some more pics of you, and only you.
I think I’ve said enough, summed up the essentials, and can only point out that Rockharz 2026 is already sold out, with 90% of the tickets going to registered regulars! Nevertheless, there will always be opportunities to purchase tickets at a later date, as there are always unpaid returns. Please always use the official Rockharz websites to avoid falling prey to ticket scammers. On a personal note, these were exciting 17 days, one of my best holidays ever with three festivals in a row. I’ve seen about 100 bands and missed not a single one during the three festivals. Although the upcoming hard work was demanding, I had a lot of fun and feel really relaxed with a refreshed mind-set.
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And here is the festival film 2025
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Online:
Please buy merch and physical music or downloads from the bands’ official sources and don’t stream it for free, because that steals the artists’ income.
Original photos taken by Friend.X aka Mr. Deep and Pendi
Text by Friend.X aka Mr. Deep