Photo: Jonas Tellkamp - @bookings_always_closed
Yesterday afternoon, we kicked off our anniversary celebrations at the Impericon Festival with you – and it was an absolute blast! 20 years of Impericon: and we owe that above all to you, our community!
Right from the start, you were all in, celebrating one band after the other – from the opening with Necrotted on the Wildcat Stage to the record release show of Heaven Shall Burn as a massive finale on the Monster Stage. Thank you for your great vibes, unbeatable energy, and every single moshpit!
Band impressions from Festival Friday
Of course, we captured some of the most beautiful moments from the first festival day in pictures – and we want to share them with you!
Necrotted kicked off the day with full force, playing top-notch German death metal with a tight set that sparked the first wave of energy in the crowd.
Photos: Jonas Tellkamp - @bookings_always_closed
Myra kept that energy going and proved once again why they’re a staple in the scene – intense and uncompromising. Elwood Stray brought just as much excitement to the stage, and the crowd felt it, goosebumps guaranteed! Fit For An Autopsy then shook the hall to its foundations. Their set was a masterpiece of groove-heavy intensity, including tracks like “Hostage” from their current album The Nothing That Is. The energy both on and off stage? Unreal.
Photos: Anne Göthe
ZSK turned the energy in a completely different direction: political, loud, direct. With classics like “Antifascista” and their new single “Wir kommen in deine Stadt”, the pit was in constant motion. Punk is alive! The Butcher Sisters? Beer showers, crowd surfing, and raw heaviness in perfect balance. Whether during the “Nudelsong” or “White Monster”, they created exactly the explosive vibe we could’ve hoped for on Impericon’s birthday! And yes, a monster can be chugged on stage…
Photos: Jonas Tellkamp - @bookings_always_closed
Kanonenfieber transformed Halle:EINS into a scene of steel and history. The visuals and songs like “Menschenmühle” or “Sturmtrupp” made theirs one of the most intense performances of the day. Swiss + Die Andern captured the festival spirit perfectly: motivated, loud, and full of heart. Then came Stick To Your Guns with a true hardcore masterclass. “Nobody” and “Amber” hit right in the heart – and neck! Hatebreed tore down whatever was still standing. The hardcore legends went full throttle from “I Will Be Heard” to “Destroy Everything.” Bury Tomorrow delivered an absolutely gripping mix of new material from Will You Haunt Me, With That Same Patience, and fan favorites. Songs like “What If I Burn” and “Choke” unleashed their full power live: a true wall of sound.
Photos: Anne Göthe
Heaven Shall Burn finally crowned the evening with a monumental headliner set and a recovered Marcus Bischoff back on the mic. Classics like “Endzeit,” “My Heart and the Ocean,” and “Hunters Will Be Hunted” created highly emotional festival moments. And to top it off, Britta Görtz joined on stage for two songs, performing “Godiva” and “Black Tears.” A beautiful conclusion and tribute to the amazing job she did stepping in for Marcus over the past few weeks. Happy Release for Heimat!
Photos: Anne Göthe
These were the first signing sessions!
There were plenty of highlights off stage too: at the signing sessions of Stick To Your Guns, Heaven Shall Burn, Bury Tomorrow, Fit For An Autopsy, and The Butcher Sisters, fans got to meet their favorite bands – autographs, selfies, and quick chats turned into strong memories! The photos say it all: there was more than just sweat, there were smiles all around.
Photos: Jonas Tellkamp - @bookings_always_closed
