5/22 • Armored Saint - Coroner - Angel Witch - Neckbreakker - Prophets Of The Rising Dead - Maamuut - Majak

5/23 • Paradise Lost - Dark Tranquillity - Slime - Hällas - Hirax - Ambush - Wytch Hazel - The Great Sea

5/24 • Saxon - Mikkey Dee - Uli John Roth - Lucifer - Gus G. & Ronnie Romero - Nailed To Obscurity - The Neptune Power Federation - Smorrah

[Dajana] Yay, here we are again! It's Pentecost, and the NOCTURNAL HALL team is eagerly looking forward to the first summer open-air festival. The cold Sophie and her Ice Saints really gave everything over the last few days (there was even snow again in the Sauerland…). But, thankfully, they’re gone right on time. Gone to hell, literally, opening those gates for the first heat wave...

[BRT] Well, the ROCK HARD FESTIVAL is finally just around the corner again. The anticipation was pretty high this time, even if the communication leading up to the announcement once again left a bit to be desired. I think the line-up is quite strong, but as always, the real winners will be found in front of the stage. Of course, I’m most looking forward to the annual family reunion, including the beer-fueled revelry, even though a good friend unfortunately can’t be there anymore.
[Dajana] Lütti is now at Lemmy’s bar, drinking beer with heroes who would make us turn pale with envy. And they’re going to drink us under the table…
[BRT] When Lütti gives some of his famous lectures, it’s our old heroes who tend to turn pale… :’)

[Psycho] At first, I was just glad that last week’s constant rain had finally let up. But on paper, the line-up was the weakest I’d seen in a long time. Strong headliners and, with CORONER, an almost even better band in second place - but other than that? We just had to hope that one band or another would pull off a surprise. But we don’t just go to RHF for the music (though that’s part of it!), do we?

[Sui] Finally, it’s starting up again - those declared dead really do live longer. RHF is a festival that’s more of a family reunion than anything else. As usual, the surprises in the lineup are lurking in the afternoon program - let’s look forward to it!

[Seb] After it was up in the air for so long, we’re looking forward to this year’s RHF all the more: the uncertainties surrounding the renovations on the grounds - which were still lingering at the end of the last edition - were only gradually cleared up. We simply don’t even want to imagine an RHF at a different location (or no RHF at all over Pentecost). Add to that the prospect of (as it turned out, almost too) good weather - what could possibly go wrong? :)

[Dirk] I’m really looking forward to it too, and luckily the weather’s cooperating this time. By the way, I think it’s great that, despite all the renovations and other challenges the RHF has been facing, they didn’t skimp on the party tent! I still remember at least one year back, when a few inflatable guitars were supposed to replace this institution on a dusty field - that was a total bust! Not so this year - the signs are good, let’s get this party started! As always, it’s going to be a blast!

:: Friday :: Saturday :: Sunday :: Summary :: Impressions ::

[Dajana] As expected, Nordsternpark was even more of a construction site than in previous years (the IGA is just around the corner). The entrance and exit were relocated, as were the shopping and food area, and the party tent. Everything was smaller and densely packed, but well…
A much more intriguing question is: what will it be like next year, when the International Garden Show (IGA) is in full swing and thousands of ingenuous flower lovers are strolling through the park while long-haired and beer drinking metal heads are headbanging to Thrash Metal? The ROCK HARD FESTIVAL will obviously take place… (but no one has said where yet)

[Dajana] This year, there’s a new addition to the ROCK HARD FESTIVAL: the “New Kids In The Pott” band contest. Together with Metal.de, the Wacken Foundation, and Radio Bob (each partner has nominated a band), the RHF will have three bands compete against each other on Friday at the festival’s opening, and the audience gets to vote. The winner will be announced on Friday before ARMORED SAINT and will receive a coaching package and a guitar, while participating fans will be entered into a raffle for VIP tickets to the ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2027.

[BRT] As I briefly mentioned, the lineup is strong, and it’s a cool idea to kick things off by spotlighting a few newcomer bands - though my personal favorites, the eccentric metal band MAJAK from Schleswig-Holstein, have actually been around for a while now.
Otherwise, I’m especially looking forward to ARMORED SAINT, CORONER, WYTCH HAZEL, and HÄLLAS. Of course, I would have liked to see the latter two bands much higher up on the lineup.
HIRAX and SAXON are going to deliver, and SLIME are, of course, a statement in themselves!
MIKKEY DEE will throw a huge Motörhead party, and THE NEPTUNE POWER FEDERATION will provide great entertainment! A colorful lineup - though with GUS G., I’m still not sure what to expect.
ANGEL WITCH, on the other hand, definitely have some making up to do after their completely disastrous performance at the King last summer.
P.S. The “up-and-comers/new faces” concept could definitely be expanded upon, especially since there’s a pretty active label right in the neighborhood in Essen, like Dying Victims Productions.

[Dirk] As always, you can set up camp at the campground as early as Thursday. We were immediately greeted by friendly neighbors with a freshly baked pizza from their portable oven (the things people bring along…). That really makes you feel welcome right away! Just like last year, the campground is located between the Emscher River and the Nordstern coal mine, and it’s significantly smaller than the traditional one by the canal. But anyone who managed to snag a ticket early and gets to hammer their tent pegs into the ground will be happy to find a completely gravel-free surface. As for the lineup, I’m most excited to see CORONER, WYTCH HAZEL, PARADISE LOST, and, believe it or not, SAXON again.

[Psycho] As expected, the construction work had necessitated changes, particularly to the layout of the festival area outside the main stage. The whole thing now had a more narrow, tube-like shape and felt much more crowded than before. The ever-present dust and occasional crowds, however, remained. The freely accessible water station with free drinking water was great, though long queues sometimes formed in front of it. No surprise, given the heat and prices of €4.50 for a cup of water plus a €3 deposit. And the two stands selling rain ponchos should definitely offer them again next year.
@BRT: keep dreaming about a newcomer from Dying Victims Production - this is classic pay-to-play, and I don’t think they’d go along with that (or want to, or can…).

[Seb] There were changes outside the festival grounds as well. The campground was divided into several sections across the Emscher River, and the usual route to the subway (Schloss Horst) was blocked by construction. So, you basically had to trudge through the campground in the wrong direction at first, then make a U-turn along the little river… no big deal, but if you timed your departure the way you’d been used to for many years, you either had to run or take a forced break at the stop.
I’m really looking forward to SLIME with their “new” singer, to seeing who MIKKEY DEE would bring along as a bandmate (and especially as a singer), and other than that, I’ve actually never seen the two Friday headliners, CORONER and ARMORED SAINT, live.

[Sui] Getting up at 6 a.m. isn't my thing. Still, I managed to get through the traffic pretty well. Then I popped the festival hat on my head, slathered myself with a SPF 5 million sunscreen, and off I went with my backpack, pushed through a few bushes and came out in a spot I didn’t expect - and suddenly, I was back in the familiar arena. At least the new setup was well-organized - big thanks to everyone involved who had a tough job in the heat, and especially thanks for the free drinking water!
I thought the lineup was just so-so; you already know the headliners, after all. The “newcomer” concept was good, at least in theory, for pumping some fresh blood into the RHF. But the newcomers weren’t really that new. “New Kids in the Pott”? Sorry, no. One band has been around for 20 years, according to their own statement, the second one has been on the road for 11 years. And a quick glance at the crowd is enough to see why fewer headbangers find their way to the RHF year after year. We’re all just getting old.

[Dajana] Of course, the “Satanorium” once again offered an extensive supporting program. In addition to various readings, the highlight was undoubtedly the listening session and Q&A with ARMORED SAINT! Friday, 3:30-4:30 p.m.! So, DON’T MISS IT! ♥
Of course, there were also signing sessions again, and the :: WDR Rockpalast :: streamed the festival live, so that all those who couldn’t be there could at least get a little taste of the festival atmosphere - but above all, enjoy some great live music on their screens.

[Dajana] As always at the end of our introduction, our heartfelt thanks go out to the ROCK HARD team. What would the festival season be if we couldn’t kick it off with the ROCK HARD FESTIVAL ;) It’s always a very special pleasure for us to be part of this party. A big virtual kiss to everyone involved :)
And of course, lots of love goes out to all the many helpers, restroom attendants, medics, and the :: Südwestfälischen Sicherheitsdienst ::, who were there for us day and night, and of course the :: Pit-Unicorns ::, who ensured our safety in the photo pit ♥♥♥

Stories • BRT, Sui, Psycho, Dirk, Seb, Dajana • Pics © Dajana & Dajana Winkel • Photography