News & Articles
Dimmu Borgir Announce New Album "Grand Serpent Rising"
Eight years after "Eonian", the Norwegian black metal icons return with 13 new tracks – produced by Fredrik Nordström in Gothenburg. They'll hit Cologne with Behemoth in October.
Ross "The Boss" Friedman Dies of ALS at 72
The co-founder of Manowar and The Dictators succumbed to ALS, a diagnosis he had made public just weeks before his death.
Kreator, IAMX & Culthe Fest: The Hottest Week in the Ruhr Area
Over 60 shows this week! Kreator bring Carcass, Exodus and Nails to the Grugahalle, Culthe Fest unleashes 19 black metal acts in Münster, and IAMX plunge Die Kantine into dark sonic worlds.
Engst: Rock Tour Hits Oberhausen on April 19
Engst play Kulttempel Oberhausen on April 19 – alternative rock from Berlin with power and melody.
Muse Unveil New Single and Album Insights
British rock band Muse announces their latest musical journey with 'Be With You' and 'The WOW! Signal'.
The Pretty Reckless: New Single and European Tour with Cologne Date
The Pretty Reckless bring new single and album to Cologne (Nov 21) and Megaland Festival. Hard rock at its finest.
dArtagnan: New Single and Anniversary Tour with NRW Dates
dArtagnan bring new single and anniversary tour to Oberhausen (Nov 21) and Cologne (Nov 27).
Unheilig: Comeback Shows and Monsterarena Tour Hit NRW
Unheilig return twice in 2026: First two intimate comeback shows in Düsseldorf and Mönchengladbach, then the massive Monsterarena Tour hitting Cologne and Dortmund.
LIFELOVER, Rage & Resurrected: The Most Brutal Weekend of the Year
This weekend brings over 70 shows to the Ruhr area! From LIFELOVER's black metal reunion at the Christuskirche to Rage's Lingua Mortis Orchestra to local death metal heroes — here are the highlights.
Infected Rain: New Single 'Stranger' and Essen Show in April
Moldovan metal sensation Infected Rain surprises with their intense new single 'Stranger'. On April 7th, Lena Scissorhands and co. bring their sound to Turock Essen – together with Butcher Babies.
Combichrist, Lebanon Hanover & Axel Rudi Pell: From EBM Assault to Black Metal in a Church
This week brings over 110 shows to the Ruhr area! From Combichrist's massive industrial assault at the Turbinenhalle to Lebanon Hanover's post-punk elegance and Axel Rudi Pell's guitar thunder at Zeche Bochum – here are the highlights.
Dead Can Dance Quit Streaming Platforms, Launch Monthly Bandcamp Series
Dead Can Dance are taking a stand: the duo quits streaming platforms in protest against AI music and artist exploitation. Instead, they'll release monthly songs exclusively on Bandcamp – the first track 'Our Day Will Come' is out now.
Darkthrone: New Album 'Pre-Historic Metal' Arrives May 8th
Black metal legends Darkthrone unveil their 22nd album 'Pre-Historic Metal' – in the year of their 40th anniversary. Fenriz promises: 'Frightfully barbaric but not without finesse.'
Vader, Godspeed You! Black Emperor & Feuerschwanz: This Weekend the Ruhr Erupts
Death metal triple bill at Zeche Bochum, post-rock epic at Die Kantine Cologne, medieval metal at Turbinenhalle, and God Is An Astronaut at Matrix — this weekend has it all.
Sacred Reich: "No Truth, No Justice" Tour — Thrash Legends Hit Junkyard Dortmund in August
Sacred Reich bring their "No Truth, No Justice" Tour to Europe — August 18 at Junkyard Dortmund with Aquilla support.
Placebo: "RE:CREATED" — The Debut as Director's Cut, November Show at Lanxess Arena Cologne
Placebo reopen their debut's master tapes for a "Director's Cut" album. November 2 at Lanxess Arena Cologne.
DOMINUM: New Album "Night is Calling" feat. Battle Beast — Headline Tour with The Night Flight Orchestra
DOMINUM's "Night is Calling" drops July 3 via Napalm Records — featuring Battle Beast, with a tour alongside The Night Flight Orchestra.
The Flatliners: Punk Rock Force of Nature Hitting Gebäude 9 Cologne and Vainstream
The Flatliners hit Europe this summer — June 25 at Gebäude 9 Cologne and Vainstream Münster.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Vader & Harpyie: This Week the Ruhr Area Erupts on All Frequencies
This week brings over 120 shows to the Ruhr area and NRW! From Godspeed You! Black Emperor''s monumental post-rock to Vader''s death metal assault to Harpyie''s folk-metal power from the Ruhr – here are the highlights.
Rush: Reunion with German Drummer Anika Nilles
Rush return after 11 years with German drummer Anika Nilles. The "Fifty Something" tour brings Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson to Europe in 2027.
Children of Bodom: The Reunion Is Official – Samy Elbana Takes Over
After two emotional tribute shows in Helsinki, the Children of Bodom reunion becomes permanent. Lost Society frontman Samy Elbana replaces the late Alexi Laiho.
Gaerea: "Loss" Drops Friday on Century Media – Cologne Show in June
Portuguese post-black metal phenomenon Gaerea release their new album "Loss" via Century Media this Friday. They play Club Volta in Cologne on June 23.
Exodus: New Album "Goliath" Drops Friday – April 4 at Grugahalle Essen
Thrash legends Exodus release their new album "Goliath" via Napalm Records this Friday. On April 4, they bring the new songs to Grugahalle Essen alongside Kreator, Carcass and Nails.
Vader, Kataklysm & Blood Red Throne: Death Metal Triple Threat at Zeche Bochum
This Sunday (March 22), three death metal heavyweights collide at Zeche Bochum: Vader, Kataklysm and Blood Red Throne deliver an evening of absolute brutality.
Avatar, Cockney Rejects & Axxis: 87 Shows From Westfalenhalle to Don't Panic
This weekend NRW explodes with over 87 shows! Avatar fill the Westfalenhalle, Cockney Rejects bring Oi! punk to Don't Panic, and NRW metal legends Axxis take the stage at Alter Schlachthof.
Six Feet Under: New Album "Next To Die" Out April 24 – NRW Show at Gebäude 9
Chris Barnes and Six Feet Under announce their 15th studio album "Next To Die" via Metal Blade Records – out April 24. Lead single "Unmistakable Smell Of Death" is already out. They bring the death metal assault to Gebäude 9 in Köln on June 6.
Anneke Van Giersbergen: New EP "La Mort" Out March 27 – Show in Roermond
Anneke Van Giersbergen releases the second part of her trilogy "La Vie, La Mort, L'Amour" on March 27. The EP processes the loss of her parents – and you can see her live in Roermond on March 28.
H-Blockx: First Album in 14 Years — "FILLIN_THE_BLANK" Is Here
H-Blockx return after 14 years with "FILLIN_THE_BLANK." Release show at Zeche Bochum sold out, summer festivals from Rock am Ring to Wacken to follow.
Kreator, Exodus, Carcass & Nails: Thrash Summit at Grugahalle Essen
Kreator bring their "Krushers Of The World" tour to Grugahalle Essen on April 4 — hometown show with Exodus, Carcass and Nails. Exodus album "Goliath" drops on tour launch day.
Butcher Babies: New "Lost In Your Touch" Video Ahead of NRW Show at Turock
The groove metal band drops their emotional "Lost In Your Touch" music video – produced by Howard Benson. Live at Turock Essen on April 7.
Wizo, Schattenmann & Mental Cruelty: Two Weeks of Full Throttle from Turbinenhalle to Kantine
254 shows in 14 days — from punk legends to black metal, from the arena to the basement club. The next two weeks are absolutely stacked.
Angus McSix Summons the "All-Seeing Astral Eye" – NRW Show at Kulttempel Oberhausen
The ex-Gloryhammer singer presents his new album on March 20 at Kulttempel Oberhausen — with Brainstorm and Bloodbound
Schattenmann: New Album "Endgegner" Drops March 13 — Release Day Show at Kulttempel Oberhausen
Mille Petrozza: Kreator Frontman Was Offered to Join Celtic Frost
Kreator frontman Mille Petrozza reveals in a podcast interview that he was once offered to join Celtic Frost. He declined – and went on to make thrash metal history with Kreator from Essen.
Lamb of God: New Album "Into Oblivion" Drops March 13
Lamb of God return with their tenth studio album – political, uncompromising, and with a German headline show in Leipzig.
Die Toten Hosen: Final Studio Album "Trink aus, wir müssen gehen!" Out May 29
After nine years of silence, Die Toten Hosen release their final regular studio album on May 29 – plus a bonus album with 25 cover songs. The sold-out farewell tour hits Düsseldorf and Cologne in July.
Children of Bodom: Emotional Tavastia Club Reunion Honors Alexi Laiho with 20-Song Set
The surviving original members celebrated a moving comeback at Helsinki's sold-out Tavastia Club in late February. Lost Society frontman Samy Elbanna handled guitar and vocals – and he's coming to Gebäude 9 in Cologne on March 7.
Avatar, Wizo & H-Blockx: The First Week of March Hits Hard Across the Ruhr
Over 115 shows in one week! From Avatar's metal inferno at E Werk through Wizo's punk marathon to H-Blockx's homecoming at Zeche Bochum – plus Ton Steine Scherben in a church, Sanguisugabogg at Kulttempel, and the BO-MIT-ROCK Festival with local heroes.
Sepultura: Final EP "The Cloud Of Unknowing" Drops April 24 – And the Farewell Tour Hits Oberhausen
After four decades of metal history, Sepultura release their final EP via Nuclear Blast on April 24. The "Celebrating Life Through Death" farewell tour stops at Turbinenhalle Oberhausen on June 23.
Bastardane: Hetfield's Son and Gojira's Duplantier Drop Sludge Bomb "Mother's Tongue"
Castor Hetfield, son of the Metallica frontman, unleashes a new single with his band Bastardane – produced by Gojira mastermind Joe Duplantier in the California desert.
Powerwolf, Satanic Surfers & Nachtblut: 96 Shows From Arena to Basement
This weekend NRW explodes with 96 shows! From Powerwolf and Hammerfall at the PSD Bank Dome to Heaven Shall Burn at Palladium to Satanic Surfers at Turock – plus local heroes Nachtblut and Schockromantik.
Social Distortion: After Cancer and 15-Year Hiatus, "Born To Kill" Arrives – Plus Rock am Ring & Vainstream
Mike Ness beat cancer, and his voice is stronger than ever. "Born To Kill" drops May 8 on Epitaph Records – their first album since 2011. Live at Rock am Ring (June 7) and Vainstream Rockfest Münster (June 26).
Dana Fuchs: "Live In Denmark" – Raw, Uncut, and Live in Dortmund on April 5
The woman who played Janis Joplin on Broadway recorded a no-overdubs live album in a single night in Denmark. Out March 27 on Ruf Records – and live at Musiktheater Piano Dortmund on April 5.
Iron Maiden: "Burning Ambition" Documentary Hits Cinemas in May – Band Headlines Rock am Ring in June
The heavy metal legends unveil five decades of band history in a theatrical documentary featuring Javier Bardem, Lars Ulrich, and Paul Di'Anno's final interview. Tickets from March 18 – and Iron Maiden live at Rock am Ring on June 7.
Danny Bryant: "Nothing Left Behind" – Blues Rock Homecoming with NRW Tour Dates
The British blues-rock guitarist delivers his most personal album with "Nothing Left Behind" (Jazzhaus Records, 8.5/10). Live in Siegen on March 20 and Düsseldorf on April 1.
Geese: Brooklyn's Post-Punk Sensation Brings "Getting Killed" Tour to Cologne
Following their critically acclaimed album "Getting Killed" (Metacritic 89), Geese hit Die Kantine Cologne on March 18. One of the most exciting live acts in today's indie scene.
Between The Buried And Me: Prog Metal Legends Hit Matrix Bochum in March
The prog metal giants bring "The Blue Nowhere" to Matrix Bochum on March 11 with Monosphere support. Then it's off for a US headlining run.
The Beauty Of Gemina: New Single and Two NRW Shows on "Veil Of Rain" Tour
The Swiss dark rock band releases "Endless Ever" as a preview of their extensive Germany tour. Catch them February 27 at Groove Bar Cologne and March 7 at Kulttempel Oberhausen.
Anneke van Giersbergen: New EP 'La Mort' Out March 27 – Two Shows Near the Border
Anneke van Giersbergen releases her EP 'La Mort' on March 27 – part 2 of her trilogy on life, death, and love. Shows in Roermond (Mar 28) and Nijmegen (May 10) just across the NRW border.
Sex Pistols feat. Frank Carter: Exclusive Open-Air Show at Cologne's Südbrücke
Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock with Frank Carter on vocals play an exclusive headline show at Cologne's Südbrücke on July 5 – the only solo show in Germany alongside a handful of festival appearances.