Wednesday
Congratulations, Summer Breeze! For its 25th edition the festival marked the great finale of the open air summer in West Bavaria again. Regarding the festival area we got the impression the organizers seemed to have found its ideal set up due to the stages, etc.. Short ways between the stages as a varied program lead by Heaven Shall Burn, Amon Amarth, Architects and Meshuggah attracted 45000 fans to sell out Summer Breeze for another time. This year’s innovation were the arrival slots of each visitor / car which improved the organization around the main arrival days tuesday and wednesday a lot. So most of the time the check-in ran quicker than expected. And important for many SB-maniacs: The gargoyles being placed next to the Main Stage were back. With the huge screens besides them those ones even impressed more. After the thunderstorm warning hadn’t come true on wednesday, the weather turned out to another real Summer Breeze, so sometimes the way to the first bands in the hot noon felt a bit heavy, but was mostly worth it anyway. At this year’s Summer Breeze 131 bands appeared on 4 stages in four days for about 45000 visitors (Sold out!).
Main Stage
Brothers Of Metal The Power Metal eightpeace didn’t just populate the stage, it also attracted surprisingly many supporters to open this year’s Main Stage action by this more fun-orientated act. The rarely clothed Swedes entertained them with their Power Metal and introduced by „The Other Son Of Odin“ a new track from their forthcoming release while the fans didn’t hesitate to accept this party invitation.
The Amity Affliction Party isn’t the first word to be associated with the melancholic sound of the quartet from Brisbane. To my surprise long-time-member Ahren Stringer missed and got replaced by Jonathan Reeves (Kingdom Of Giants) for this year’s summer shows. Anyway, they rocked and convinced by their combination between hard riffs as shouts and clean vocals with great melody hooks. From the beginning by „Pittsburgh“, „All My Friends Are Dead“ and „Drag The Lake“ to the final „Don’t Lean On Me“ and „Soak Me In Bleach“ Joel Birch & Co inspired the crowd to move.
Flogging Molly By cheering with a can of beer into the crowd fronter Dave King introduced the audience. This scene described the following 80 minutes all too well. The Folk Punk sevenpiece from Los Angeles took care about a good mood over the Main Stage area keeping the spectators dancing and singing with them. Supported by violin as banjo besides the classic band instrumentation they entertained very well from the opener „Drunken Lullabies“ to the finisher „Seven Deadly Sins“.
Meshuggah The almighty innovators of Tech Death, Djent, etc. came to hypnotize Dinkelsbühl. Or as vocalist Jens Kidman described it: „We’re just here to fuck with your brain.“ And so they did from the opening „Broken Cog“ and „Rational Gaze“ while several moshpits started. One of the best light shows in Metal demonstrated the strength of Meshuggah performances for another time. Suppported by this as the high-skilled instrumentalists being tight as fuck let this show become a live monster nobody could escape from. By the epic final consisting of the classic „Future Breed Machine“, „Bleed“ and „Demiurge“ they left their fans. A couple of them had to check their neck the following morning due to constant headbanging.
Lord Of The Lost The following formation couldn’t hold the high level had set by the headliner before. Being called „Lord Of The Last“ after their failure at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest the Goth Rockers from Hamburg started motivated into the show demonstrating they’re back on track. Supported by lots of pyros they did finishing by their ESC-song „Blood And Glitter“.
Enslaved Old school fans might have got disappointed by their setlist, but to my as many others’ pleasure the Blackies from Norway decided for a pretty Prog-orientated one. Just sad only a smaller audience was present to witness compositions as „Ruun“ or the final „Havenless“ live.
T-Stage
Sylosis The quartet from Reading had to begin in pure heat and in front of shadow seeking spectators. But their Neo-Thrash was able to assemble a respectable crowd in front of the T-Stage. Lead by Josh Middleton, who had stopped his guest phase with Architects to concentrate on his own band, „Stained Humanity“, the circle-pit-creating „Altered States Of Consciousness“ as „A Sign Of Things To Come“ got its support.
Obscura This Tech Death home game should have deserved more supporters. Anyway, the quartet around bandleader Stefan Kummerer and his new as talented line-up performed a tight show. Especially in its final part containing „Devoured Usurper“ („The only ballad of the whole fuckin’ festival.“ – Kummerer), „The Anticosmic Overload“, „Septuagint“ and „Incarnated“ they inspired several headbangers to move on the „most beautiful wednesday in a long time“.
Pain The longtime Industrial Metal project of Hypocrisy’s mainman Peter Tägtgren came to entertain around midnight. Although they overacted a bit by their changing costumes as they did musically. By „Push The Pusher“, „Go With The Flow“ and „Party In My Head“ they considererd three tracks from their new album „I Am“. The fourpiece finished by their jubilated hymn „Shut Your Mouth“.
Wera Tool Rebel Stage
Viscera The quintet around the former vocalist of Heart Of A Coward, Jamie Graham, played a well-balanced set considering their both albums „Obsidian“ and „Carcinogenesis“. Their UK-Deathcore convinced completely and caused several moshpits.
Thursday
Main Stage
Crypta Maybe they’re used to the heat from home: The four young women from Sao Paulo welcomed the first battalions of headbangers in the hot noon. Lead by the charismatic fronter Fernanda Lira they caused the first hair windmills by their Death Metal smashers like the opener „The Other Side Of Anger“, „Lord Of Ruins“ as the final „From The Ashes“.
Dynazty First part of the show it didn’t seem to work to convince by their Power Metal. But all of a sudden the fivepice from Stockholm stretched their „Heartless Madness“ turning into a long singalong game with the crowd. So it turned out to some kind of madness by heart.
The Baboon Show Another formation from Stockholm continued the program. The two women + two men acted motivated, but just a couple of visitors in the front took notice of their Punkrock. The fourpiece got the most applause for „You Got A Problem Without Knowing It“ including a „Run To The Hills“ – interlude.
The Black Dahlia Murder The following appearance happened within a melancholic aura. After the suicide of longtime vocalist as sympathic icon of the fivepiece from Detroit, Trevor Strnad, his bandmates decided the only other active bandfounder left, guitarist Brian Eschbach, was the only possible successor behind the microphone. And after a few minutes he did well. By the opener „Aftermath“ and „Mammoth’s Hand“ they introduced two new songs from their forthcoming album. After applause for thase one the
classics „Statutory Ape“, „Nightbringers“ and „Everything Went Black“ started massive moshpit action.
J.B.O. The four weirdoes welcomed thousands of fans to their home game again. Several jokes and a loud singalong during the band hymn „Ein Guter Tag Zum Sterben“ entertained very well. So the show ended in a positive atmosphere by „Ein Fest“.
Jinjer The red clothed Tatjana Shmaylyuk set the visual focus while the acoustic one got set by her variable voice and the tight as high-skilled band. She announced her wish to reach peace for the world which couldn’t be shouted more authentic than by an Ukrainian musician. The following „I Speak Astronomy“, „Pisces“ and „Perennial“ left no doubt about the musical approach of the quartet.
Behemoth After the first tones and shouts behind a white curtain this one fell with the first riff of „Once Upon The Pale Horse“. The Polish fourpiece performed a bombastic live show supported by lots of smoke and fire while „Ora Pro Nubis Lucifer“, „Ov Fire And The Void“ as „Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel“ got celebrated by the crowd. The classic double „Chant For Eschaton 2000“ and „O Father O Satan O Sun“ finished another Blast from Gdansk.
Architects About 15 years ago I watched this band from Brighton appearing on the Party Stage on the former tent stage. Nowadays grown to a sixpiece they headlined the festival thursday attracting thousands of fans packing the Main Stage area and performing on a two-level stage set surrounded by digital screens projecting movies and huge pyros. Starting with the new unreleased „Seeing Red“ the crowd screamed and started to move. „Black Lungs“, „These Colours Don’t Run“, „Hereafter“ and „Gravedigger“ produced lots of crowdsurfers inside the jumping crowd. Well-moderated by vocalist Sam Carter „Royal Beggars“, „Doomsday“ and „Meteor“ raised the atmosphere to the maximum. By the encores „Nihilist“ and „Animals“ the biggest highlight of the weekend besides Meshuggah found its end.
Dark Tranquillity After their surprise appearance on the Campsite Circus Stage on tuesday the Gothenburg sixpiece returned to the Main Stage. Their slot around midnight was-well planned into friday when their new masterpiece „Endtime Signal“ was supposed to be released. The first half consisted of well-known compositions like the opener „The Wonders At Your Feet“, „Terminus (Where Death Is Most Alive)“, „Atoma“, „ThereIn“ and „Lost To Apathy“. From midnight and the beginning release day on front runner Mikael Stanne & Co performed six brandnew songs before leaving the enthused fans by „Misery’s Crown“.
Exodus The Bay Area Thrash icon started their show later and had to deal with sound problems deep in the night. Anyway, their die-hard-fans still celebrated classics like „Bonded By Blood“, „Blacklist“ as „Toxic Waltz“.
T-Stage
Born Of Osiris Without keyboarder Joe Buras the formation from Illinois started into their high-approached set containing older material like the opener „Open Arms To Damnation“ and „Bow Down“ as newer songs like „Angel Or Alien“ and „White Nile“. The audience reacted with applause and pit-action.
The Ocean Right after midnight the sound of the Prog Post Metal quintet from Berlin fit perfectly. Beginning by „Preborial“ its sound had something magic in the darkness. Supported by a wonderful light show, the amazing voice of Loic Rossetti and the brilliant band this atmosphere became constant during this hour. Besides the crowdsurfing vovalist the fans celebrated this show in action as well.
Wera Tool Rebel Stage
Siamese Two years ago the Danish quintet was my opener to the Summer Breeze returning right from ending quarantine to Dinkelsbühl. This year they appeared on the same stage, but this time again with violinist Christian who had replaced the sick Marc on bass in 2022. The set became part of some kind of a release show. After opening by „Sloboda“ and „Home“ singer Mirja & Co presented five songs from their new album „Elements“ who earned good support. The older „Ocean Bed“ became the final jubilated statement of this concert.
Friday
Main Stage
Future Palace Pretty huge stage for a trio. Anyway, the Modern Metal act from Berlin assembled a respectable companionship in front of the stage opening the day in the hot noon. Even the unreleased „Dreamstate“, „Decarabia“ and „Malphas“ from their forthcoming album got celebrated.
Warkings In front of a digital backdrop showing a big pile of skulls the musicians entered the stage in different warrior costumes, e.g. the drummer as a Spartan. Their Power Metal just seem to fascinate the first rows of hardcore supporters till the fourpiece got support by a female vocalist bringing more heaviness as variety into the final „Sparta“ more spectators sang along with.
Megaherz To the sound of the movie „Sicario“ the Industrial Metal held in German language started and dealt with several current society issues. The audience could have been a bigger one, but everybody seemed to know the hit „Miststück“ chanting together with the band.
Neaera What a return: Shouter Benny Hilleke directly conducted and jumped into the crowd to initiate the first massive wall of death for „Armamentarium“ within the first minutes of the show. Before „Torchbearer“ he got the water hose by the security to cool down the heated fans. „Pacifier“ and the title song of their new album „All Is Dust“ didn’t reduce the moshpit action which got even raised by „Let The Tempest Come“ in participation with the Callejon-shouter and the final „Spearheading The Spawn“.
Delain The rebuilt band with new bandmembers around mainman Martjin Westerholt returned to Dinkelsbühl to add a few melodic colors into the heavy friday program. The new singer Diana Leah convinced through the whole set which got closed by the band classic „We Are The Others“.
Motionless In White The fivepiece from Pennsylvania brought more modern sound and heaviness back on stage. Acting completely in corpsepaint the band had raised a respectable fan base seeminly knowing most of the lyrics and celebrating their faves from „Meltdown“ to „Scoring The End Of The World“.
Feuerschwanz The Folk Metal ensemble attracted lots of supporters on the Main Stage area. Appearing for the sixth time at the Summer Breeze their Folk Metal obviously is very popular in Dinkelsbühl. While the audience seemed to know all the tracks all too well just the covers „Valhalla Calling“ (Miracle Of Sound), „Dragostea Tin Dei“ (O-Zone) and „Warriors Of The World United“ (Manowar) sounded familiar to me. Anyway, the medieval dressed musicians as their fans had fun.
Amon Amarth Pure bombast awaited the packed Main Stage infield when the Swedes entered the stage. With their numerous of vinking hymns they didn’t mind firing the classics „Guardians Of Asgaard“ and „The Pursuit Of Vikings“ into the crowd when opening their set. Fronter Johan Hegg knew how to rule the masses and behind the riffmasters Jocke Wallgren’s drumriser throned on a huge helmet. Supported by numerous pyros they kept the crowd actively participating by headbanging, singing along as moshpit action. After the encores „Crack The Sky“ and „Twilight Of The Thunder God“ the five warriors left the jubilating supporters after another won battle.
Lordi It was monster time around midnight. The former ESC winners from Finnland didn’t just entertain with their monstrous outfits and their Hardrock, but with funny comments of vocalist Mr. Lordi initiating an ironic anti-chant by the fans vs. a stage hand. By „Devil Is A Loser, „Would You Love A Monsterman?“ and „Hard Rock Hallelujah“ the well-entertaining show was over.
Moonspell The Portuguese took their late shift as a chance and created the right atmosphere deep in the night. Starting with the classic double „Opium“ and „Awake“ the following hour Fernando Ribeiro & Co reflected the different band phases while numerous fans headbanged. And the support raised during the final with „Alma Mater“ and „Full Moon Madness“ while the moon in the sky looked nearly full. What a magic picture!
T-Stage
Callejon After a Backstreet Boys intro the Metalcore quintet entered the stage together for the last time but one before three members will quit. No wonder they opened very motivated by „Porn From Spain 3“. Other highlights became „Utopia“, the Die-Ärzte-cover as anti-nazi-hymn „Schrei Nach Liebe“, the phenomenal ballad „Mann Im Spiegel“ and „Snake Mountain“ celebrated by the fans with singalongs and several moshpits. For the final „Porn From Spain 2“ sixstringer Kotsche crowdsurfed into the audience playing his guitar inside the pit.
Saturday
Main Stage
Samurai Pizza Cats Dressed in own SPC-baseball-jacket-uniforms and the vocalist with a pink mask for the first few seconds of the opener „Outcast“ the band entered the stage. Starting the final day on the Main Stage of SB 2025 the fivepiece from the Ruhr Region motivated by songs from their debut „You’re Hellcome“ to circle-pits and a wall of death.
Nestor Completely different music, but similar effect: The Swedes played Hardrock for the stadium masses. The number of spectators wasn’t that high, but a respectable number of fans celebrated the well- balanced set considering titles from their debut „Kids In A Ghost Town“ and from their new release „Teenage Rebel“. Just sad they had overrun their time management and were forced to cancel their final song.
Rise Of The Northstar Right in time the fivepiece from Paris began their set right in time and caused much moshpit again from the beginning. So their Hardcore ruled the battlefield „Again And Agian“.
Eclipse Back to Hardrock: The quartet from Stockholm spread good mood over the Main Stage ground. No matter with melodies like those of „Got It!“, „The Hardest Part Is Losing You“ or the new „Spark“ from their forthcoming album „Megalomanium II“.
Orden Ogan The Teutonic Power Metal combo came with flames heating up the atmosphere even a bit more, but that just worked for their die-hard-fans. Considering „Conquest“, „Moon Fire“ and the title track from their new output „The Order Of Fear“ didn’t help. The final „The Things We Believe In“ got the loudest reactions.
Spiritbox When you scroll back in the latest years and ignore the pandemic it’s unbelievable how fast this quartet from Vancouver rose with their innovative Metal, but far away from easy listening. The presence as the variable voice of Courtney LaPlante of course are one factor, and so it was in Dinkelsbühl. But the riffing is as was another one by ex-members of Courtney’s former band Iwrestledabearonce and As I Lay Dying. By their setlist well-balanced between their debut masterpiece „Eternal Blue“ and the newer EP
„The Fear Of Fear“ they convinced completely. Thousands of fans jumped and sang along during „Jaded“, „The Void“, „Rule Of Nines“, „Circle With Me“ as „Holy Roller“ several moshpits raged on the infield. But why did they finish their awesome show ten minutes too early?
Subway To Sally The sevenpiece and their Folk Metal are steady guests in Dinkelsbühl as popular in the audience. Lead by three guitars, the rhythm section, a violin and the front entertainer Eric Fish as supported by a couple of special effects they animated the audience to participate. The encores „Sanctus“, „Gott Spricht“ and „Veitstanz“ as the extra encore „Julia Und Die Räuber“ including a lout chanting crowd marked the end of a medieval Folk party.
Heaven Shall Burn For a last time the German Metalcore icon played a show before recording a new album. In the history of the Summer Breeze they had performed seeveral epic battles, and so they did again. Supported by lots of pyros and other special effects the quintet ruled from the opener „Counterweight“ over the classic „Behind A Wall of Silence“, the Edge-Of-Sanity-cover „Black Tears“, „Voice Of The Voiceless“, „Godiva“, „Hunters Will Be Hunted“ and the band hymn „Endzeit“. For another time the hugest circle-pits as walls of death reigned over the infield. Combined with the clever statements these 90 minutes became an outstanding concert again. By the Blind-Guardian-cover „Valhalla“ the show got conluded by thousands of fans singing along with the band.
Korpiklaani The Folk Metal combo from Lahti had the mission to hold the specators in front of the stage partying. Of course many had left after the final day’s headliner, but those ones who stayed had fun with several played songs from the new „Rankarumpi“ release (the opener „Kotomaa“, „Aita“, „Kalmisto“, „Oraakkelit“, the title track and „Saunaan“) as with the classics „Wooden Pints“, „Metsämies“ and the set closing „Vodka“.
Insomnium Another band from Finland, but with a complete different approach: The quartet around the German speaking fronter Niilo Sevänen played a brilliant Meldodic Death Metal show bringing this year’s Summer Breeze to a worthy end. Supported by a wonderful light show „1696“ as „Unsung“ created a special own atmosphere. By „Mortal Share, „While We Sleep“ and „Heart Like A Grave“ they inspired the headbangers to mobilize their final energy left.
T-Stage
Before The Dawn After the rebuild of his band Tuomas Saukkonen and his band are back. Within this reconstruction he moved behind the drumkit doing a couple of backing grunts as well. Paavo Lapotti nowadays is the main micro man singing the clean as grunting the dirty vocals. By „My Darkness“, „Dying Sun“ and the final „Deadsong“ the Finns got remarkable support by the headbangers.
Unearth The Metalcore institution from Boston returned to Dinkelsbühl to show again they’re still performing one of the most agile shows in Metal. Lead by the shouts of vocalist Trevor Phipps and the phenomenal leads of guitarist Buzz McGrath „Incinerate“ as „Giles“ forced the moshpit action. Their great classic final consisting of „This Lying World“, „My Will Be Done“ and „Black Hearts Now Reign“ left no one motionless at the T-Stage area.
Wera Tool Rebel Stage
Unprocessed After 2019 the quartet returned to the Wera Tool Rebel Stage to perform their innovative Prog Metal. Their live experience they had won over the latest years transfered to this show couldn’t get ignored. They just should stop their annoying „Bounce“-shouts. By „Sacrifice Me“ they presented a new composition. The classic „Haven“ marked the end of an amazing show.
Conclusion:
This year’s Summer Breeze got a sunny one again fitting to its name. The organization ran well and the bands rocked. So they will in 2025 the SB published the first bands for:
Machine Head, Gojira, In Extremo, Blind Guardian, Within Temptation, Saxon, Dimmu Borgir, Tarja & Marko Hietala, Donots, The Halo Effect, August Burns Red, Static X, Fit For A King and Mr. Hurley & Die Pulveraffen.
At the Summer Breeze the visitors could again enjoy the variety of food as beverages to the prices of the post-pandemic editions before (e.g. 5 € for 0.4 l can of beer including different types or softdrink).
We are looking forward to Summer Breeze 2025! Special thanks go out to Tony Brehm, Jagger & the SB- team! On the airfield of Dinkelsbühl / Sinnbronn rocked, drank and partied Tobi Wan Kenobi, Nele,
Wirwa, Fleiter and Nina!