[Gig Review] RAGNAROK FESTIVAL (20th Anniversary), Lichtenfels (GER), 24.04 -26.04.2025.
Writer: Dean Underhill
Photography: Various (see below)
Event: Ragnarok Festival (20th Anniversary Edition)
Dates: 24th - 26th April, 2025.
Organiser: Ivo Raab/Ragnaroek Festival (see bottom of page for festival links)
Location: Lichtenfels, Bavaria, Germany
Editor’s Preamble
(a.k.a. The Crazy (Mammoth Weed) Wizard-Bastard Did It!):
Hey guys, Brady here. I did beseech this man to enjoy his very, very well-earnt chunk of annual leave and just let his Norseman-coded hair down - but apparently, you can’t keep a good metal-Viking down anywhere you place ‘em on Earth.
Thus, please enjoy what is a massively comprehensive review! And a first for our team/this blog, in reviewing an overseas festival. I’m going to whistle and slide the definitely-never-finished drafts of my 2022/2023 Arctangent experience in the UK well under the rug, ‘cause Mr. Underhill right here has come through with an 100% completed and high-quality Eurotrip-review!
Now, being a festival we weren’t assigned to formally as reviewers, I’ve had to source some additional media from around the place, with credits to relevant creators wherever possible. If I’ve misattributed/omitted any credits within the article, please let us know and I’ll get to fixing it up.
I’m also more than happy to edit in/save up community/fan-made content - if there’s enough interest, I’ll even make it a separate post as per our recent Gallery of Brewicide photo/video-gallery series-thing we’re doing as of late, for additional gig materials (I have more of those incoming soon from other festivals and gigs, too, so stay tuned!).
MASSIVE danke schoen to Dean, Ivo and the Ragnaroek Festival organisation/community, volunteers, bands, support staff, and everyone who helped make our Australian extreme-metal sorcerer safe and comfortable at the festival/during his travels.
Peace, Love and Incurable International Metal-Mosh Addiction, xoxo - Brady.
RAGNAROK FESTIVAL - 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION:
Black metal heaven.
Can you imagine; catching the train from Medieval city Nuremberg with other metalheads, to land on a rainy morning in Lichtenfels, Bavaria?
(Schlecht übersetztes Deutsch, lol) Anmerkung des Herausgebers:
Roter Turm mit Wehrgang, furm - ah okay. Uhh…Ich kannst sprieche Deutsch! Taken from the above official site for the city of Lichtenfels (die, Link) - Brady.
‘Bavaria! Where sheep seldom wear spectacles!’
Just walking into the Stadhalle (city/civic hall) grounds, seeing the metalheads setting up their campervans, banging out tunes was amazing.
Waiting to get into the Schlafthalle (which was always so dry and warm, even though the floor was hard with my crappy travel mattress).
Then, the sports-field which had evolved into a camping ground for an army of metalheads, bordered by wooded hills with a distant church and castle! An entirely saturated experience. So many metalheads, hard to find a friend you've lost in the sea of black. So much merchandise. Unique hand made curios and jewellery.
Getting set up and settled in by 14:00 on the Thursday afternoon, the first band opened up the festival in the twin-staged auditorium.
Killing Spree were belting out thrash with a death tinge. Their singer showcased some low growls that didn’t quite carry. Would have been great to have seen some variations in vocal pitch. The fourth track in, the bassist and lead guitarist played a punchy, harmonised melody before they slipped back into a gritty death-metal groove which got the crowd headbanging.
Leads circle back in at the outro with some discordant sonic chords - truly showcasing the reason they were opening the festival!
Carn Bard were a truly euphoric experience.
Steeped in mystic blue backlights, they provided an enchanting set to a background of ephemeral Celtic flute. Mostly slow in tempo; where doom would pound you into the earth, this was more like floating through nostalgically-steeped melodies which themselves evoke ancient times of connection.
It was a mainly entranced crowd and, although a mosh started, it quickly fizzled as the more pagan/spiritualy inclined were not having the moment spoiled.
Live drum-cam footage of Can Bardd performing ‘Devoured By The Oak’ at very festival of same name (courtesy of Carlos Vivas Drummer on Youtube):
Eis (Geist Set). The lead singer appeared looking akin to Fredrick Neitsh in steam punk. Keyboards blazed intermittently through these tracks like Rick Wakeman with a hate-boner!
[Editor’s Note: That’s got to be one of my favourite Dean lines, ever- Brady]
Footage of Eis performing ‘Stillsand und Heimkehr’ @ Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of InvictusBM:
A recent discovery for me, Imperium Dekadenz arrived at this early slot in the festival. I am finding their song writing both captivating and inspiring and they didn't dissapoint live. Black metal ambience follows discordant icy riffs, the bassist was ultra present in the mix and the melodies lay like a black vein in many of the tracks.
The guitar overlays were exquisite to hear live and were a catalyse to the rise of many devil horns, and a lot of 'Halle, Halle' chanting from the crowd with raised fists. Shoraz on vocals was an accomplished front man, although his clean singing was lost in the mix which was still evolving at this stage.
Footage of Imperium Dekadenz performing at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of InvictusBM on Youtube:
In The Woods… followed with a more mellowed sophisticated sound than the sharp raw edge of Imperium Dekadenz. Again seasoned musicians with an impressive stage presence from recently acquired front man Bernt Fjellestad. This was a cleaner polished sound and they played very proficiently. Shades of Borknagar, from these Norweigens. Real sing along metal which drew the audience in.
In The Woods… performing ‘A Misrepresentation of I’, courtesy of InvictusBM on Youtube:
You could feel an air of anticipation for Saor as they took to the stage and most of the days attendees prioritised this show, finishing up any business, drinks or food going on outside the massive auditorium.
Saor were nothing short of spellbinding with an immaculate and professional delivery. They sounded as good live as recorded excepting lead vocals somewhat diminished. I daresay this may have been fatigue, due to coming to the end of their European tour. It still didn't detract from a captivating performance, and the female vocals were on point.
As the audio complemented the harshness of blackened guitar riffing with the alluring Celtic refrains, so did the interplay between band members. I was surprised the subdued, lilting ‘Sylvan Embrace’ was played. However, it was performed with more aggression than the recorded version.
Pretty much whole album was played through, with Saor finishing via an older fan-favourite.
[Editor’s Note: BONUS:
Dean previously provided a very comprehensive and evocative review of Saor’s latest LP, Amidst The Ruins - LINK HERE. - Brady].
Footage of Saor performing ‘Echoes Of The Ancient Land’ from Ragnarok 2025, courtesy of InvictusBM on Youtube:
Agathodaimon. Bursting onto the late slot like voracious vampires both in appearance and sound, their frontman was energetic and confronting - as well, the rest of the band appeared sinister in corpse-paint. Truly the moment had arrived for True Kvlt-inspired gothic black metal. All this was accompanied by a stellar light show and regular flame-bursts at front of stage, the heat of which could be felt as far back as the tiers. ‘Burying Angels’ was vicious and brought a depth of feeling that borderlined on scary.
Footage of Agathodaimon performing ‘Sfintit cu roua suferintii’ at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of Invictus BM on Youtube:
DAY TWO:
Houle. The set opens with a fog-filled stage, a sweeping white beam cutting through like the signal beacon from a lighthouse. Tidal zone ambience is followed by an old recording of a French seashanty. C'est veritable tempest. Like the sea-storm entreating the hull of a wooden sea-ship, Houle were relentless in their delivery of nautical-themed black metal.
The petite singer (Adsagsona) thrashed about on stage like a sea-hag; her theatrics and screams were compelling. The band likewise were synergised with the enthusiasm, the drummer standing at one stage beating the Tom and raising his other hand in a fist to spur on the audience. The theatrics with the lantern and the javelin were incroyable! The band were fully immersed in their roles and brought the energy, soaking up the reception from loyal and new fans. A highlight was Adsagsona pouring water over her head like a storm drenched sailor before removing her seaweed encrusted trench coat, as the band manned the rigging for energetic delivery of the last few numbers.
Footage of Agathodaimon performing ‘Sur les braises du Foyer’ at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of Invictus BM on Youtube:
Ultar: This was sublime atmospheric-tinged black metal with well-delivered melodies and moving riffs. The frontman commanded the audience like a necromancer summoning the dead, (and possibly he was - considering the state of the punters at the close of last night's session). Ultar were Luciferian in the atmosphere they created onstage, with artfully-contrived compositions.
Footage of Ultar performing ‘Evening Star’ at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of Invictus BM on Youtube:
Dark Oath: Melodic pagan-tinged BM from Portugal.
An energetic, consummate female lead. This is a fantastic definition of modern euro-metal, and the crowd fully got behind it - including some punters in front of me who proudly displayed the Portuguese flag. Another held aloft a decapitated head? This was a standard feature during the day (perhaps a warning to the far-right. Don't mess with pagans, we'll parade around your head as a warning!). The drummer was technically brilliant, and set the foundations for some crushing, epic melodies to be overlayed on top. The Latin passion was clearly translated through their set and catalysed the days’ first moshpit .
The final number was a driving, rolling, upbeat piece which featured blistering blasts and upbeat toms complimented with soaring guitars and synth backing. Anthems in all respects, and had the crowd chanting along. Complimenting all this were soaring guitars and synth backing. Anthems in all respects, and had the crowd chanting along.
Footage of Dark Oath performing ‘Silver I (A New King)’at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of Invictus BM on Youtube:
Tryglav - Straight-up ballsy black metal with heavy metal influence.
Tryglav opted for a set of backing musicians, leaving him to deliver his throaty vocals as an enigmatic frontman. The delivery was great, and the front rows were constantly headbanging along to the blackened rock-fused riffs. Unfortunately, the mix was bad and the bass was diminished, which was disappointing as the bass melodies and riffs were competently played on a BC Rich 6-string.
It was a good performance, but came across as somewhat procedural. Since Tryglav has only just returned to live performances, this was to be expected. Give it a few more performances; no doubt the band will sound tighter and more organic.
Footage of Tryglav performing ‘Silver I (A New King)’at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of Invictus BM on Youtube:
At this point of the afternoon, skies were clearing so I went outside for a feed - just as WOLFCHANT took to the stage. Amongst their set, they play festive anthemic numbers such as 'Never Too Drunk' and 'Pagan Storm'. This is a uniquely European sound you may be familiar with, and is largely represented with Celtic style melodies played on lead-guitar, to the festive rhythm one might hear in drink-halls. No blastbeats; this is a rocky, slapping percussion with bass-kick on the upbeat. Aptly named as Wolfchant, as the sing-along lines often lead into chants and clapping from the audience.
The vocals are a mix of both clean and croaky. Of course, sung in German and full of Saxon/ Viking pride. This is epic folk storytelling.
Footage of Wolfchant performing ‘Never Too Drunk ’at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of trabi on Youtube:
Let's talk food:
[Terrible, low-effort meme courtesy of me - Brady].
Honestly, what German festival wouldn't feature 'meat on a stick'?
I picked up a 1/2 hanchen and pommes (Half a chicken and chips) for €10.50, so equivalent of around $20 AUD. This was the best value for money, it seemed, out of all options).
Once again, I couldn't eat the whole meal as the serving was generous and I'm not much of an eater. Nevertheless, the big boys are kept happy at this festival. Now rather than sounding like a complete sausage-fest, there are a number of good vegan and vegetarian options, one food station presented fresh breads with a serve yourself spread of vegetables and cheeses.
Trusty staples such as pizza and burgers were on offer, as well as Asian-styled Street food.
[Editor’s Note To Self: Thank fuck I wasn’t there - Dean might’ve pursued a lawsuit for psychological damages after watching me in action with German cuisine on offer. Oink-oink!]
Definitely something for everybody to compliment your Bavarian beer or mead. Notably there was an Absinthe stall which presented various iterations of either straight absinthe or mixers such as absinthe and redbull. (No I didn't take a walk with the faeries).
At this stage of the afternoon, I got talking to some local Bavarian metalheads over late lunch. One in particular, bought me a beer and dragged me back in to see 'Black Messiah'. This is Bavarian folky party-metal, featuring intros and overlays rich with Celtic flute melodies, accordion, fiddle and acoustic guitar. It's fast and hard metal that gets the locals pounding fists in the air, waving cups (or horns) of alkoholisch, singing along and chanting in Deutsche. Epic European folk metal with a blackened tinge; it's Spring-time and the party has started. This is a uniquely European experience which I wholly recommend. Next thing I knew, I was drinking ' Vikings Blood' mead, (mead with cherry syrup).
Toasting Prost or Skol with the boys (you must drink after each toast I was informed, well of course). This stuff really harks back to the old fest-halls and celebrating conquests. It is in a similar vein to Alestorm or our own Lagerstein, and I love it! Some passages get some pretty heavy riffage going and the vocals are akin to Skald's of old, singing in battle tone. The locals really get into this with a 'happy' circle-pit. I managed to capture some footage of the lead singer/guitarist joining the circle pit and leading the procession. This is a lot of fun.
At one stage I found myself singing along in chorus with the crowd to 'Dub dah be Dubba die, dah dub dubbie die', waving my cup of mead, swaying and head banging to their track 'Sauflied' which is (naturally) slang for 'drinking song'. I think you're getting the picture. As Julien explained, we had reached the 'Friday afternoon party'. This seems to be a custom for this style of European festivals, and its freaking wonderful.
If you're having a party, I recommend putting on Black Messiah. You'll get a few raised eyebrows in Australia at first, no doubt, but after a couple of bevvies folks will be headbanging and chanting along. This stuff is infectious.
Footage of Black Messiah performing ‘Wildsau ’at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of InvictusBM on Youtube:
Asenblut: These guys ramped the party up another notch, with their pagan/folk/viking metal, to which all the gym-bro’s flocked to.
These guys are something akin to Amon Amarth, and it's fast heavy and aggressive 'drinking music'. The frontman was an absolute unit, presenting like a tattooed He-Man in bare chest, with leather cross-straps and leather cross-stitched pants. Yes, ladies - the testosterone is strong with this one. The band (dressed similarly in theme) lay down some powerful riffage, and the crowd often respond chanting '‘Halle, halle, halle'‘ and pounding fists in the air. Don't suddenly get uncomfortable and political, this is the German equivalent to the Aussie, “Oi, oi, oi!” and was damn good fun.
So much so, that I joined the pit area for some Viking-rowing fun. Highlight of the performance was He-Man brandishing a Dane axe, with a microphone affixed and presentation of a post apocalypse flame thrower which was used quite extensively.
Footage of Asenblau performing at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of Powermonger on Youtube:
Footage of Suidakra performing ‘Stone of The Seven Suns’at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of InvictusBM on Youtube:
The epic tales, folk instrumentation and heavy riffing continued with the German Celtic-metal band Suidakra, rounding off the party session for the afternoon at the 8:00 pm slot. As Suidakra closed out their set, I joined a crowd growing appreciably in size at the neighbouring stage, all of us in anticipation for Austrian atmospheric/folk black metal masters Ellende. The stage was flood lit in red and fog blasters set the mood as Ellende took to the stage in depressive looking corpse-paint and bone-decorated leather. During the harp, organ and electric guitar intro to their phenomenal 'Toddbringer' they walked onto the stage, taking their positions to the cheers of adoration from their dedicated fans. Lukas Gosh stepped up to the mic looking like a necromancer ready to summon the dead (or the dead-drunk).
Featuring a bone breastplate with a small animal skull at centre of chest. With the goblin-esque vocals spewing forth, the crowd let out a cheer and it was time to get contemplative and serious for the evening. Ever consummate professionals, the band played an incredibly moving set of their classics. One which went through some of the most beautifully melancholic melodies and refrains, down into heart-wrenching passages of screaming, knife-sharp guitar riffs and soul-crushing blastbeats.
These songs are dark, conveying the deep misery and despair of the human condition. And yes, these guys can do it live - to great effect. I'm sure I was not the only punter moved to tears on occasion… but that does wonders for the black eyeliner, and sets the tone for the Saturday night session of Ragnarok.
Footage of Ellende performing ‘Der Blick wird Leer’ at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of InvictusBM on Youtube:
With the audience now spellbound by Ellende, I shuffled over to the front section of stage 2 to witness the incredible spectacle of Russia's Grima. Blue lights adorned the stage in an icy, ghoulish atmosphere as Russian folk accordion and ambient keys introduced the mysterious, wooden-masked entities on stage. Vilhelm appeared last of all in his full dark fey costume, complete with 'tree fingers' seemingly drifting across the stage through fog and eerie lighting effects.
As the guitars screeched with the icy ferocity of an Arctic blast, he screeched into the microphone to bring in 'Beyond the Dark Horizon'. The set they delivered was intense and powerful, a recommended must for any black metal fan. Two standouts were 'Skull Gatherers' (new release), and 'Blizzard' off their 2019 album. During ‘Blizzard’, we had fake snow from the top of the stage onto front rows. Not that they needed it, though; the guitar-work was sublime and combined with some solid basslines and incredibly well structured percussion, relentlessly pounding away like a deep dark Taiga River bursting its’ banks.
Grima were mesmerising, and Vilhelm seemingly drifted around the stage like some vengeful, mythical creature of the deep dark Siberian forests. His delivery of witch-screams in Russian was truly awe-inspiring, frost-laden instrumentation also literally sending chills down your back. The inclusion of Siberian accordion in minor keys on tracks like 'Nightside' added to the experience profoundly.
Grima are a band like no other.
Footage of Grima performing ‘Beyond The Dark Horizon’ at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of InvictusBM on Youtube:
Korpiklaani are a band somewhat like other folk metal bands, with the exception that they are Finnish. Admittedly I did not see them, as I decided to socialise at 'the other' campsite with some German youth I met. We discussed the divide in German politics and the rise of the Nazi parties in various regions, and I introduced them to Australian Doom by way of Ghostsmoker.
[Editor’s Note: Once more, this is a great segue a) to introduce our European/international audience to a very up-and-coming Melbourne-based blackened death-doom/sludge band. Coincidentally, Mister Doom over here also recently wrote a stellar review of Ghostsmoker’s Inertia Cult album launch gig alongside other venerable Australian doom acts - check that review out over here! - Brady].
I returned shortly before midnight, (as you do) to behold the spectacle of Batushka. The stage props were to be expected but no less thrilling, with a life-sized sarcophagus set in the centre of the stage, a human skull resting on top, candles, relics and all of them dressed in their full ceremonial devilry.
I ended up in the tiers at the balcony due to the massive crowd. It was good to have a complete view of this Polish powerhouse of black metal, but I do prefer the energy of devoted fans in the front rows. The sonic tremolo overlays of the guitars seemed to wash over the huge crowd like icy spiritual hymns to the dead, and the eerie, ethereal chants filled the hall as Batushka had the audience entranced.
I made the most of the space to dance and headbang like some demented gargoyle they had summoned to the tiers’ balcony. I love the doomy vibe, coupled with the sudden furious bursts of ferocious black metal riffage that this band delivers. Batushka deliver something verging on a spiritual experience live. The power emanating from these musicians when they scale up from their slow black dirges to terrifying, fast-paced tremolo and blastbeats is extremely impactful - and violently sinister.
Such a monster sound was given the justice well-deserved at Ragnarok.
Footage of Batushka performing ‘Песнь 2’ at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of InvictusBM on Youtube:
Closing off the night in style were the intimidating Antrisch from Germany. Unfortunately for me, Kanonenfeiber played 2024's Ragnarok but watching these U-boat sailors was in a similar league. Antrisch intensly portray the stark desperation, paranoia, fear, misery, futility and loss that was experienced by the Bundesmarine corps, and this is presented as gripping, confronting black metal.
Opening with ‘I FESTFORGROREN’, the stage filled with fog and eerie blue lighting. Then, the ambience of a U-boat creaking and water lapping the vessel as the icy-cold, dissonant notes ping off the lead guitar whilst being punctuated by Maurice Wilson's chaotic screaming. Antrisch unleash a barrage of sinking-submarine-infused terror. Wilson was a captivating presence on stage, emulating the deranged kommander berating his subordinates, steering out into the crowd like a desperate madman whilst peering out into the damp chill of the confounding, unforgiving ocean fog. This was brilliant and not only was musically compelling, as they blitzkrieged their ways through highs and lows, but really explored the desperation of humanity as we stare into the face of death. That of our own or others’, to haunt and torment us till our dying days. ACHTUNG! Yes, Antrisch deserve your attention.
DAY THREE
Saturday began with Germany's metal/folk answer to Electric Callboy. Donned with Hawaiian shirts and neon wraparound sunnies, Mourning Wood sang drinking songs… and got a conga-line going??? I made beer my priority and looked on, mildly amused.
Footage of Mourning Wood performing ‘Redneck Redemption’ at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of InvictusBM on Youtube:
Keeping the party vibe up and getting the re-emergence of the beer line happening, Saxorior ramped up the atmosphere and the energy with an infusion of Warrior metal from Saxony (of course). These guys have been going since 1994, and are pretty much what you get if you combine Amon Amarth and Sabaton and wrap it in battle-hardened black metal. Now things were starting to get serious.
No pre-retirement cash cow; these guys played some hard-hitting metal.
Footage of Saxorior performing ‘Stellinga’ at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of Metal Heads on Youtube:
Switching stages and switching continents I snagged a pozzie in the front row for our Canadian cousins Wormwitch. For a 3-piece, these guys play some nasty, noisy black metal. Aith a tip of the hat to melodic/doom influences, their Black n' Roll is where they shine. A representation of us Aussies (five in total) were vibing off their work.
It was the closest thing we heard to Aussie black metal, and we got loose along with a swelling crowd, eager to participate and fly the flag for the Commonwealth. (Well, we were just out of ANZAC day).
Footage of Wormwitch performing ‘Fugitive Serpent’ at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of InvictusBM on Youtube:
Eis. Like a cold wind from north of the Rhiene. Dark, atmospheric lamentations drifted in waves of intensity and disconsolation as sharp edgy sustained guitar riffs, croaky German vocals and harsh beats poured out of the stadium. Featuring ex-members of Minas Morgul and Ash of Ashes, these guys kept the icy tone alive inside as the sun was warming up outside. Stand out track - 'Bie den Sternen'!
Footage of Eis performing ‘Stillsand und Heimkehr’ at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of InvictusBM on Youtube:
Obscurity were a moment of obscurity for me, as I like to eat properly at least once a day and I utilised this time to indulge in a chicken burger and chips, which I thought was reasonably priced for a Eurofest, (I promise not to use that vernacular again, it sounds a bit risque). Chicken burgers in Europe are thin discs of crumbed processed chicken. Duly noted! Nothing that another beer and meeting new company wouldn’t fix.
[Editor’s Note: Dean may have been munging on flattened discs of chicken-something at the time, however InvictusBM have you covered for some live footage of Obscurity’s set!
It’s by now I really should be publicly shouting out Invictus for such extensive coverage of the festival - truly an impressive amount of recording done overall. OP, did you even sleep?! - Brady].
Not one to linger too long in the sun, I got back inside and close to front of house for a blackened German Lorna Shore in Oceans. This is a newer sound from some younger guys, which fits in a blackened metalcore niche. Meine Gott can this vocalist belt it out the cleans, screams and growls, give them a listen. It's a bit emo-tragic for me. "I hate you bitch, I'm waiting for the day you die”, vibe. But hey - if that's your sort of jam and you haven't heard them, do check them out 'cause they are something special.
Footage of Oceans performing ‘‘We Are Not Okay at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of InvictusBM on Youtube:
Time for the twisted, gnarled tree-banners to be unfurled on the adjacent stage. I think most of you have heard the beautiful dark lilting tune 'Daffodils' by Groza and Harikiri for the Sky? Well, I was to be treated to a bittersweet 40 minutes of that dark desperation from Bavaria's own Groza. I have recently become a fan, and was happy as a schwein in mud with their mix of bleak melancholy and furious lightning.
Don't overlook these guys if you're not aquainted.
Footage of Groza performing ‘Daffodils’ at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of Metal Heads on Youtube:
Alright, well we can't conclude the night with silent tears.
No, in fact - the night was just getting started, and the thunder was rumbling (metaphorically, it was a peaky 26'C outside) as Rotting Christ took to the stage. OK, so they weren't Bavarian but hells, they're well loved wherever they play. Man did Saki Tolis and his Spartan warriors bring the energy! The crowd was packed and reciprocating the Hellenic black-metal onslaught. There was easily 3000 plus in there chanting 'Non Servium’, fists and devil horns in the air and singing along. Boy, do RC know how to work a crowd. They only played 'Like Father Like Son' off the new release, everything else was ‘classic'! The guitarists running around the stage, leaning into the crowd as yet another body was 'surfed up' across the audience. Saki Tolis orchestrated a circle pit, and it was awesome.
This is black metal. Hail Satan!
Footage of Rotting Christ performing ‘Like Father, Like Son at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of Metal Heads on Youtube:
Manegarm hit the stage next, kept the party going and ultimately reminded us all that “Odin owns you all!”
Swedish viking/black/folk metal, and pretty darn epic in my books. I'd never heard of 'em until the early line up for Ragnarok was announced, and I was pretty pumped to see them live. Their intros, outros and bridges are carefully-crafted segments of inspiring traditional instrumentation and evocative vocals; then they'll hit you with some blackened Maiden or Saxon. The crowd, in full swing now was lapping it up, moshing and cheering.
Heading into the wilderness for a bit, or just want to get in touch with your ancestors via an Engle Harp? I recommend you slap these guys on.
Footage of Manegarm performing ‘Hervors arv’ at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of InvictusBM on Youtube:
If they weren't epic enough, then Satyricon certainly were.
By the time Manegarm had finished, there was no chance in a Norse mythological apocalypse I was getting near the front row. The crowd had now definately swelled to 4,000. (First time Ragnarok had completely sold out prior to the opening day, so I was told).
Not missing the iconic unleashing of blackened epic power from Satyricon, I took my place with a couple of young Bavarian fellas just to the right of the flexing crowd for some serious headbanging. (Not a word of a lie, one of these young guys reminded me of what a young Brady would have been like, he was in a band to boot and we had a great laugh for the rest of the night. (I know, cheesy bro-stuff… but isn't that what good festivals are about?)
[Editors’ Note: Sounds like either a cool guy, someone who talks way too much or a combination of the above - Hi, Euro-Brady!]
Satyricon were immaculately old-school, epic Scandi black metal and although I'm not a big fan, I was happy to experience them live. With a set more in line with their earlier classics, there was not a stiff body in the crowd; they played the crowd like they had done hundreds of times before. Satyr (the vocalist) was incredibly captivating to hear live.
Footage of Manegarm performing ‘Repined Bastard Nation’at Ragnarok Festival 2025, courtesy of InvictusBM on Youtube:
My new bro's and I were well-placed to get front-row, stage-left for Behemoth and, after quite a tense wait whilst an intricate stage setup and sound-check took place, the 'Shit Ov God' arrived. Eventually these blackened-death monsters from Poland exploded onto the stage. Nergal beckoning the crowd to get involved - not that it was needed. I looked behind me and saw no end of the crowd up till the nosebleed section, which was absolutely packed.
The sea of Devil horns raised was something I will never forget. Playing a mix of old and new, I was quite surprised with how the newer catalogue came across (which admittedly I'm not a massive fan of). That's the thing about metal, though, it always translates better live. I recalled and nostalgically owe my love of black metal to when I first witnessed them at Download in Melbourne in 2019. (That's right - I'm a metal puppy).
Behemoth are indeed that live: a Behemoth of unapologetic Satanism. The aggressive guttural growls from Nergal, the shredding riffs and pounding bass/drums got the crowd caught up in headbanging frenzy. Or, for those in the higher tiers and much like for their Polish brethren Batushka, absolutely transfixed! Look, I know theatrics should never make a live metal show …but when you've got spine-tingling dissonant riffs being played from something that looks like a sepulchure to Satan and theres freaking pyro-blasts of fire going off every 20 seconds, whilst said bassist (and I swear that guy is half-orc, ‘cause he ain’t fucking human) leaning over you with his 5-string Ibanez, stank-faced as you’re throwing Devil horns at him? Yeah, this was an intense fucking show. Behemoth intended to do nothing else than to come out and serve Lichtenfels with an earthquake. And they did!
Footage of Behemoth performing ‘Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer’ at Ragnarok, courtesy of InvictusBM on Youtube:
Pushing on untill late in the evening, we were next treated by Swedish masters of blackened viking-metal in Thyrfing. I hadn't been able to listen to anything extensively from this group, so hearing them live was a pleasant surprise. They had some cleverly constructed tracks espousing their Nordic heritage, playing dark and light well to launch into some heavy-hitting pockets of metal. Their ascetic was good too; less put-on than some of the earlier folk metal bands, very much translating their black metal hearts to the soaring vocals and instrumental breaks they delivered.
The festival regrettably had to close, and it did with yet another wood (lots of wood in Bavaria - pardon the pun). Following midnight, a smaller crowd of 'hangers-on' gathered for Wormwood (not that that makes sense, but what does at 00:30 on the Sunday morning of a 3 day pagan black metal festival?).
Wormwood was an aptly-named sedative toxin, utilised predominantly in the Dark/Middle ages. And it was a precisely dark, blackened-folk vibe that culminated the festival. They weren"t the best act to take the stage that weekend. Fairs’ fair though - they were vitriolic enough to squeeze the last few shakes of the head out of both myself and the rest of the grateful dead!
Footage of
As you can well imagine, the party didn't end there. It ended with me walking through town to that pre-dawn glow, and the chirp of the thrush and the black bird.
I still love Europe and now European metal, and I'll never get it out of my psyche.
What an unforgettable memory...