Summer Breeze
After a muddy Wacken Open Air two weeks before the other leading Metal Festival in Germany showed for another time why it’s called Summer Breeze. Besides one heavy rain on friday afternoon the visitors had four or five days with temperatures over 30 degree Celsius. So the fans didn’t need any rubber boots at all, therefore they had to care about drinking enough water besides other beverages.
After innovating the successfull arrival slot system last year this worked very well again realizing a relaxed arrival for visitors and coordination by the campground securities. Musically the billing included much variation considering all subgenres of hard music headlined by Machine Head, Blind Guardian, Gojira and In Extremo, So everything was set for an ideal open air weekend, and so it became.
At this year’s Summer Breeze 140 bands appeared on 4 stages in four days (+ bonus evening on tuesday) for about 45000 visitors (Sold out!).
All Pics in this review © www.metal-festivals.com (2025)
Wednesday
Main Stage
Gutalax To attract many visitors on the infield in the beginning the four madmen from Czech Republic were a very good choice for the opening slot. So numerous fans had come with (hopefully unused) toiletbrushs and toilet paper to the show before the weirdos entered the stage to the intro-sound of „Baywatch“. The backdrop described their style pretty well as Gore ‘n’ Roll. So thousands of fans celebrated the daclared 15th band anniversary and tracks like „Buttman“, „Robocock“ as „Total Rectal“.
August Burns Red The first seriuous Main Stage act of this year’s Summer Breeze served pure Metalcore at its best: Brutal guitar walls, a hard as tight rhytm section and the merciless shouts of Jake Luhrs. The quintet started after the intro sound of System Of A Down’s „Chop Suey!“ by „Paramount“ as „Composure“ and left no doubt about a thrilling show. Supported by pyros the breakdown commando from Pennsylvania inspired to several moshpits and showed by the fine melodic guitar riffs opening „Meridian“ their brilliance in calm tones. Also remarkable was sixstringer J.B. Brubaker performing the set in flip-flops.
The Halo Effect Entering the stage with delay due to technical problems the first appearance of the fivepiece around Gothenburg Melodic Death Metal veterans should become a triumph anyway. By „Detonate“, „Cruel Perception“, „What We Become“ and „Between Directions“ the Swedes considered four compositions from their new masterpiece „March Of The Unheard“ and set their main focus on their debut album „Days Of The Lost“. Front runner Mikael Stanne thanked the jubilating crowd for their support and showed himself very emotional seemingly being close to tears. „Shadowminds“ set the end of an amazing show of a tight band knowing how to inspire the audience.
In Extremo The sixpack from Berlin had always been a good combination with SBOA, and so it became this wednesdays night. The infield was packed and thousands of fans sang along with Folk Metal classics like „Spielmannsfluch“, „Weckt Die Toten“, „Frei Zu Sein“ as „Sternhagelvoll“. A special moment got created when fronter Michael Rhein inspired the spectators to hold their glowing cell phones up high and dedicated the song „Feine Seele“ to the departed longtime co-SB-organizer Michael Trengert the T-Stage is named for. What a magic moment! After 19 songs and the final „Pikse Palve“ a piper- as pyro-inspired headliner show got finnished.
Dimmu Borgir Suited in in robes and supported by columns of smoke the Black Metal institution from Oslo welcomed a little less fans than the headliner before but still numerous ones by „Puritania“. Lead by Shagrath and Silenoz the band inspired many headbangers to „Serpentine Offering“, „Stormblast“, „Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse“ and the final „Mourning Palace“ deep in the night.
Asp To the tones of „Auld Lang Syne“ and a couple of pyros the Indie Gothic combo entered the stage and opened by „Raise Some Hell Now“. While their fans celebrated this showcase until „The Shadows Beneath The Roots“ and „Ich Will Brennen“ including huge pyros across the stage roof as the sound towers I got bored by the much too pathetic performance of the fronter.
T-Stage
Borknagar The Black Folk Metal icon from Bergen came to create the most atmospheric show of the night. Lead by the alternating fine voices of bassist ICS Vortex and keyboarder Lars Nedland they opened by „Nordic Anthem“ into a fantastic set. During „Voices“ lots of supporters sang along with. After this the mighty classic „Colossus“ inspired the headbangers. By „Winter Thrice“ the Norwegians finished an awesome performance by a very tight band consisting of multi-skilled musicians.
Wera Tool Rebel Stage
Múr The young newcomers from Iceland focussed on their debut album and an agile show. Euqipped with the usual instrumentation and a keytar they enthused by their Progressive Post Metal and caused several headbangers as much applause for „Holskefla“ as „Freisari“.
Thursday
Main Stage
Elvenking In the hot noon the Folk Metal sixpack from Italy started the Main Stage action. Their main eye-catchers were the violin of Fabio Polo and the deer antler on the head of vocalist Davide Moras. While the violin became an ear-catcher as well the thin voice stuck on my nerves. Besides considering material from their new album „Reader Of The Runes“ by the opener „Throes Of Atonement“, „Silverseal“ and „The Ghosting“ they got applause for „Pagan Revolution“ as „The Divided Heart“.
Warmen The style of the fivepiece from Espoo orientates pretty obvious on the former band of keyboarder Janne Warman, Children Of Bodom. So their cover versions of „Hate Me!“ and „In Your Face“ earned the loudest reactions. By its title track and „Nine Lives“ the Finns even introduced to songs from their brand new output to be released the following day. By another cover version (Rockwell’s „Somebody’s Watching Me“) they bid farewell.
Hanabie The following 45 minutes nearly traumatized me: The four ladies from Toky performed with obvious passion, but their Lolitacore wasn’t my cup of tea / can of beer at all. So I interpreted their final played title „Today’s Good Day & So Epic“ after its last tone as: ‘From now on!’
Ensiferum After fronting Warmen on the same stage two hours before Petri Lindroos returned with his main band. Many Folk Metal fans celebrated the opener „Fatherland“ and „Winter Storm Vigilantes“ from their new release „Winter Storm“ as classics like „Token Of Time“ and the final „In My Sword I Trust“.
Mr. Hurley & Die Pulveraffen The Folk Rock pirates came for inspiring to party, and so they did. After a huge medley the fourpiece from „Carrebean Osnabrück“ left lots of happy supporters by „Blau Wie Das Meer“.
Landmvrks Playing for the third or fourth time in Dinkelsbühl and evolving to the Main Stage the quintet from Marseille attracted many fans on the infield in the afternoon. Vocalist Florent Salfati begam by „Creature“ with a little a-capella-Rap in French before turning into Metalcore riffs and shouts. Besides the opener they considered by „A Line In The Dust“, „Sulfur“ and „Blood Red“ further compositions from their new album „The Darkest Place I’ve Been“. After spraying a graffiti „Say No Word“ rocked the crowd as „Visage“ and „Lost In A Wave“. Lots of crowdsurfers and much moshpit action as singalongs by the crowd emphasized the support for the young as well-entertaining French band.
Within Temptation In front of an ancient stage set with tall columns and using the LED-backdrop as third video screen in round shape the Dutch Symphonic Metal sixpiece welcomed a filled infield. Lead by the motivated vocalist Sharon den Adel the following 80 minutes were supposed to become very passionate. Wearing the flag’s colors on her arm she asked for one and got a Ukrainian flag while one was shown on the screen dedicating „Stand My Ground“ to the country. Thier show got supported by several illustrations on the screen as smoke columns effects. By „Ice Queen“, „Our Solemn Hour“ and „Mother Earth“ a jubilated set got its ideal final. The band photo in the end was shown on the screen with a QR- code for the fans. Cool service!
Gojira What followed was a complete package of a high professional performance with an awesome light show, videos to each song on the huge screens and lots of pyros as special effects all around a very tight band with high-skilled musicians. The first half of the show contained classics as „Backbone“, „Flying Whales“ and „From The Sky“ (being announced by drummer Mario Duplantier asking the audience for the interest of 5-minute-double-bass non-stop) from their masterpiece „From Mars To Sirius“ causing much headbanging on the infield. In the end of their regular set the quartet performed newer compositions like „Another World“ as „Mea Culpa (Ah Ca ira!)“ known from the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris. By the encores „L’enfant Sauvage“ and „The Gift Of Guilt“ an outstanding headliner show got finished.
Cult Of Luna After five minutes of double bass non-stop followed 70 minutes of double-drum(mer)s. The sevenpiece from Northern Sweden held the high approach and performed an intensive as atmospheric Sludge Doom concert supported by a brilliant light show. With „In The Shadow Of Your Shadow“ they introduced an unreleased song. Groove monsters as „I: The Weapon“, „Ghost Trail“ and „In Awe Of“ convinced completely and got much applause.
Kanonenfieber The Franconian shooting stars in Death Black Metal from the close town of Bamberg had the final Main Stage slot of the day. To me they sounded a bit overhyped. Masked and suited in historic uniforms they performed their songs about war in German and entertained their left as still untired fans.
T-Stage
Allt To watch the shooting stars in Metalcore it took me a long walk through the hot noon to the T-Stage where the Swedes astonished me by causing the first wild moshpit of this tropic day while I needed to recover from the walk. Vocalist Robin Malmgren requested the fans to drink anything whether it was water or beer. So I chose this kind of support and watched with a great show from the opener „Remnant“ over „The Orphan Breed“ to the final „Paralyzed“ songs from their debut album „From The New World“ with a cold beer.
Between The Buried And Me When I noticed the confirmation of the quintet from Charlotte I was happy as surprised four years after their latest release. The technically high-skilled band around Tommy Rogers showed Prog Metal at its highest approach for 45 minutes. „The Coma Machine“, „Lay Yhour Ghosts To Rest“ as „Disease, Injury, Madness“ left no doubt about it while the fans celebrated their jazzy Prog Death Metal compositions.
Rivers Of Nihil More high class Prog Death Metal with Jazz accents was supposed to follow. What an afternoon, culturally as tropically! To my surprise the band from Pennsylvania began by six tracks from their self-titled masterpiece including the opener „“The Sub-Orbital Blues“, „Water And Time“ and „House Of Light“ which got even more celebrated when the saxophone solos pushed their compositions even on a further level. By „The Silent Life“ and „Where Owls Know My Name“ they finished a remarkably tight performed, phenomenal as jubilated show.
Friday
Main Stage
League Of Distortion The quartet around former Exit Eden vocalist Anne Brunner had the exercise to refill the infield, but that just worked for the first rows. Just those fans seemed to know their Modern Metal while the band played a well-balanced set considering material from their both releases. In the middle of the set a woman in a white robe entered the stage just standing around for one minute. Was that part of the show or a bet? Nobody knows.
Charlotte Wessels Completely in white as well, but in a dress, performed the ex-voice of Delain. To my surprise she and her tight band completely focussed on songs from her recent album „The Obsession“. Anyway, it was nice listening to her as them, but without any motion in the hot sun. So „Ode To The West Wind“ wasn’t just a song wish.
Turbobier The formation from Vienna just seemed to amuse the first rows in the audience. In the end fronter Marco Pogo entertained pretty well by surfing on a blown-up palm island over the supporters’ heads and even more by covering the Die Kassierer hymn „Das Schlimmste Ist, Wenn Das Bier Alle Ist“. After the „Arbeitslos“ interpretation of Helene Fischer’s „Atemlos“ they left a jubilating crowd.
Royal Republic The quartet from Malmö enthused by their good-mood-Rock in the afternoon sun including temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius. While those temperatures it astonished the whole band performed in leather. Playing parts of Metallica’s „…And Justice For All“ as „Battery“ got celebrated. Highlight of fhe show became the completely performed cover of Shocking Blue’s „Venus“.
Fit For A King The quartet from Texas got the bad luck to appear while the only rain of the whole tropic weekend. But they convinced by a tight performance as by alternating shouts and clean vocals. By the opener „Technium“, „No Tomorrow“, „Begin The Sacrifice“ and its title song they presented four compositions from their brand new album „Lonely God“ which had just been released two weeks ago. The pits got even more intensive and the number of crowdsurfers as singalongs increased while the rain stopped and their biggest classics „When Everything Means Nothing“ and the final „Backbreaker“ got performed.
Donuts Another Punk Rock formation was supposed to entertain the audience. Known from radio as TV this didn’t seem to be a problem to the fievpiece, especially when vocalist Ingo Knollmann went down inside the middle of a circle-pit while performing „Kaputt“. Another highlight of the show became the cover version of Twisted Sister’s „We’re Not Gonna Take It“. Knollmann thanked for the support being much over their expectations and finished by „So Long“.
Hämatom This kind of a home gig by the Franconian fourpiece got dedicated to band member West who had passed two years before. So before the securities spread masks in West-style to the fans. Those ones celebrated Trailerpark’s „Bleib In Der Schule“ as „Wir Sind Gott“ and „Es Regnet Bier“.
Blind Guardian When the Blind Guardian logo was shown on the screens behind as next to the stage the packed infield jubilated loudly. After the opener „The Ninth Wave“ fronter Hansi Kürsch announced to reduce his talking (Spoiler: A promise he couldn’t keep.) to save his voice. And the fans helped him by singalongs during the choirs of the first classics „Nightfall“ and „Time Stands Still (At The Iron Hill)“. My personal highlights were the considerations of „A Past And Future Secret“ as „And The Story Ends“ from the „Imaginations From The Other Side“ album. The most support by the fans got the classic „Majesty“ and their ballad-hymn „The Bard’s Song – In The Forest“. So „Mirror Mirror“ and the pyro-supported „Valhalla“ marked the end ot the biggest singalong-contest I’ve ever witnessed.
Wardruna After Fantasy Metal from Krefeld followed Nordic Folk from Bergen which turned out into a much more atmospheric performance by several voices and instruments. By „Hertran“ and „Lyjaberg“ they played two songs of the new „Birna“ album. Visual effects as torches and illuminations on the backdrop supported the atmosphere for those visitors being able to get involved in such a show. People searching for pure Metal sound couldn’t stand it longer than a few minutes.
Static-X The last friday night show on Main Stage had to be done by the reunited Nu Metal formation from Los Angeles. Their fronter Xer0 tried to represent himself as a too obvious copy of the passed original mainman Wayne Static. Besides the popular „I’m With Stupid“ and „Push It“ the classic „Sweat Of The Bud“ inlcuding a huge Static figure became the highlight of this gig.
T-Stage
Evergrey Everything was set for the Prog Power Metal icon from Gothenburg. But as Fit For A King on Main Stage they had the unluckiest slot on the T-Stage getting the only rain phase within a sunny hot weekend. So the just before played title „Falling From The Sun“ became a bit self-ironic. And so the band reacted, singer Tom S. Englund advised on where the band’s coming from. Meanwhile his voice shined over this, and the performance of „A Touch Of Blessing“ and „King Of Errors“ rewarded every fan staying and celebrating the band.
Adept The T-Stage language stayed Swedish for the following long-awaited act: 15 years after they had appeared in Dinkelsbühl the quintet returned. Vocalist Robert Ljung emphasized this as being nervous about that. Anyway, they rocked and introduced by the opener „Heaven“ as „You“ two new songs of their forthcoming comeback album.
Wera Tool Rebel Stage
Avralize After appearing on the Campsite Circus Stage in 2024 the four young men from the not so far away town of Rottweil promoted to the third biggest stage within one year. And they left no doubt about about their ambition. By an energetic performance they completely transferred the vibe into the audience and probably set new records for circle-pits as crowdsurfers on that stage ground while the few securities had a lot to do and to sweat in their Hawaii shirts they wore that day. Whether known songs from their debut „Freaks“ (the oepner „Lotus“, „Canvas“, „Higher“) or new compositions from ther forthcoming album („Helium“, „Wanderlust“, „Medicine“, „Upside Down“) the fans completely freaked out in a party way which resulted in an incomparable show on the smaller stage.
Destinity It had been a long time I had seen the Melodic Death Metal quintet from Lyon. The following 30 minutes got completely filled with headbangers. And most of the crowd in front of the stage headbanged to „Silver Shades“ and „Final Fiction“ from their new release „Ascension“ as to the classics „Only Way“ and „The Hatred“.
Saturday
Main Stage
Heavysaurus The Dino Metal band attracted lots of supporters and interested visitors onto the infield. Especially the first rows were filled with parents and their children equipped with earlaps celebrating the „Dino-Metalheads“.
Dominum The fourpiece from Nürnberg had some kind of a home game. But within their 40 minutes they just looked and sounded as a zombie version of the Powerwolf vampires. So mainly the fans in the first rows had fun with their Power Metal. Just the Scorpions cover „Rock You Like A Hurricane“ gained louder reactions.
Annisokay The Melodic Metalcore became the right musical motivation medicine for the crowd after four days of festival party. Lead by the variable vocals between shouts from the fronter and the clean vocals by the guitarist their set mainly contained songs from the latest two „Abyss“-EPs, the classics „Like A Parasite“, „Coma Blue“ and „STFU“ got considered as well. Highlight of the show became filming a one-shot-video of the unreleased song „My Effigy“.
Fiddler’s Green Celebrating their 35th band jubileum the Franconians from the close town of Erlangen celebrated their Folk Rock with violin and accordion. Singer and sixstringer Patrick had cut his thumb the days before and so got supported by Lorenzo on guitar. „A Night In Dublin“, „Yindi“ as „Victor And His Demons“ took care about a good mood in the sunny aftermonn letting the audience dance, jump and sing along with. The atmosphere even raised during a solo when the violinist performed his one on a rubber boat crowdsurfing.
Wind Rose Better think about your band concept twice: The dwarves appeared in full costumes while temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius. But probably the guys from Pisa are more used to it or just harder than me. Anyway, they filled up the infield, so the opener „Dance Of The Axes“ and „Rock And Stone“ from their current output „Trollslayer“ got supported as their cover evergreen „Diggy Diggy Hole“ from The Yogscast.
Tarja & Marko Hietala Wondering why the running order showed Tarja in big letters in contrast to his named companion the result became clear during the show: The first half of it was a complete Tarja setlist consisting of her solo-career-program. She thanked the audience supporting her for so long and dedicated „I Walk Alone“ to a fan in the first row watching his 100th Tarja concert which she finished by the words „I Walk With You“ to the audience. In the second part of the appearance she performed together with ex-Nightwish-college Marko Hietala. After Andrew Lloyd Webber’s „The Phantom Of The Opera“ the atmosphere culminated while the Nightwish classic „Wish I Had An Angel“.
Beast In Black The stage language stayed Finnish. I don’t know why the fivepiece from Helsinki got this position in such a high class billing. Their Melodic Metal seemed to inspire the fans in front of the first wave breaker. Somehow the party aspect of „Blind And Frozen“ as their finisher „End Of The World“ kept the supporters in motion while I didn’t have the biggest fun. But they obviously entertained.
Machine Head After lightnings had flashed on the horizon creating the right atmosphere for this year’s final headliner Oakland’s finest opened strong by „Imperium“ and „Ten Ton Hammer“. Supported by many pyros the fans didn’t hesitate to start the moshpits. From the first tone on the motivation on as in front of the stage was more than obvious as mainman Robb Flynn’s pleasure about this show shouting out for a fan with a big blow-up-penis-toy as „big cock crowdsurfer“. By „Outsider“, „Bonescraper“ and „Not Long For This World“ three songs from their new album „Unatoned“ got considered and celebrated as well. By „Bulldozer“, „From This Day“ and the band hymn „Davidian“ they killed massively. The encore „Halo“ got tremendous support by fire works above the stage. After this phenomenal show – including all parts of the band history getting jubilated each – a „Happy Birthday“ chant for bassist Jared MacEachern sang by the fans couldn’t miss. What an outstanding show! Or as Mr. Flynn would state: „Cheers!“
Kissin’ Dynamite Of course many Machine Head fans left the infield, but an astonishing number of visitors seemingly didn’t have enough, and they shouldn’t regret it. The Swabian fivepiece took their kind of a home game chance and held a remarkable Hard Rock party deep in the night. During „You’re Not Alone“ vocalist Hannes surfed on a rubber boat over the audience. By „Raise Your Glass“ and a Scorpions pyramid stunt the band left a happy crowd.
Die Apokalyptischen Reiter This year’s program got finalized by the 30 years anniversary of the quartet from East Germany. Starting with „Volle Kraft Voraus“ fronter Fuchs wore a priest’s uniform. Die-hard- fans and still not tired spectators celebrated the jubileum until „Reitermania“ set the end of the party.
T-Stage
Omnium Gatherum The Finns returned to the T-Stage where they had appeared two years ago beginning by the title track of their recent EP „Slasher“ and the classic „Frontiers“. Sympathic vocalist Jukka Pelkkonen obviously enjoyed performing at the edge of the stage getting as close to the fans as possible. By „My Pain“ the sixpack presented a new composition from their forthcming album to be released in fall. Lead by the riffs of Markus Vanhala and the incomparable growls these 45 minutes turned out to pure joy on as in front of the stage getting finished by „New Dynamic“.
Cypecore Like three years ago the quartet from Mannheim appeared on saturday night. This year they welcomed the left spectators to the last dance of SBOA 2025. In their glowing special suits they set a futuristic groove by „The Alliance“, „Make Me Real“ as „The Hills Have Eyes“ offering the latest chance to headbang. The drum solo wasn’t necessary, the rest of the show definitely rocked.
Conclusion:
As you may have noticed Summer Breeze 2025 was a very sunny one. So was the atmosphere on the whole festival ground while the organisation ran well and the bands rocked. So they will in 2026 the SBOA organizers announced the first confirmed bands for:
Helloween, In Flames, Arch Enemy, Lamb Of God, Airbourne, Alestorm, Versengold, The Ghost Inside, Testament, Amorphis, Imminence, Paleface Swiss, Alcest, The Butcher Sisters, Orbit Culture, Kim Dracula, Deicide, Brothers Of Metal, Northlane, dArtagnan, Betontod, Terror, Deafheaven, Future Palace, Soen, Der Weg Einer Freiheit, Miracle Of Sound, Mushroomhead, Municipal Waste, Trollfest, Saor, Nanowar Of Steel, From Fall To Spring, Unprocessed, Misery Index, Cryptopsy, Brainstorm, Parasite Inc., Excrementory Grindfuckers, Our Promise, Illdisposed, Ten56., 200 Stab Wounds, Groza, Manntra, Haggefugg, Blood Command, Cabal, Mittel Alta, Luna Kills = 50 of 130 bands.
For another time the visitors could experience the huge variety of food as several beverages (e.g. 5,20 € for 0.4 l can of beer including different types or softdrink).
We are looking forward to Summer Breeze 2026! Special thanks go out to Kerstin, Tony, Jagger & the SB- team! On the airfield of Dinkelsbühl / Sinnbronn rocked, drank and partied Tobi Wan Kenobi, Nele and Maren.
