From House Of Protection to Destroy Boys and beyond… here are our picks for the unmissable acts at this year’s German mega-festival. It’s gonna be loud.

Words by Felix Bartlett | 06 May, 2025

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Festival season is finally within arm’s reach, and we’re more than ready to don the all-black-everything, inhale bratwurst at 2 a.m., and lose our voices screaming our favourite lyrics at Germany’s legendary twin monsters: Rock am Ring and Rock im Park. With line-ups so stacked they might legally qualify as a safety hazard, this year sees a wild mix of genre titans, emotional wrecking balls, and riff-slinging newcomers lighting up the Nürburgring and Zeppelinfeld in June.

While the likes of Slipknot, Bring Me The Horizon and Korn tend to steal the spotlight, we’re here to spotlight the next-gen heroes, punk revivalists, goth dreamboats and all-out noise merchants you need to be front and centre for. Hydrate. Stretch. Let’s go.

House Of Protection

File this under “future festival headliners.” The UK alt-duo are arriving at Rock am Ring armed with melancholic synths, heartbreak choruses and enough emotional weight to flatten the front row. Their new single ‘I Need More Than This’ is a shimmering slow-burner that captures exactly why they’re on everyone’s radar right now—blending introspective lyrics with thumping production and cinematic drama. Their set will be the kind you stumble into for the vibes and leave from converted.

The Warning

Three sisters from Monterrey, Mexico. One of the fiercest live bands on the planet. If you haven’t been baptised in the pit at a Warning show yet, this is your moment. Known for their blend of classic rock with modern metalcore flair and absolutely refuse to dial it down. Bonus: they always look like they’re habving a bloody good time on stage, which is always contagious.

Spiritual Cramp

If Joe Strummer and Beastie Boys had a baby and raised it on Bay Area hardcore, you’d get Spiritual Cramp. Their raw, swaggering punk energy is exactly what Rock im Park needs to blast off early on Saturday afternoon. Their latest record toes the line between chaos and catchiness, and live, it’s nothing short of a punk sermon. Come ready to sweat.

Touché Amoré

One of the most emotionally devastating bands in the post-hardcore world returns to Germany to wreck you in broad daylight. Jeremy Bolm’s barked confessions are catharsis in real-time, and songs like ‘Flowers and You’ or ‘Limelight’ will have even the most stoic metalheads wiping away a tear. It’s gonna hurt. You’re gonna love it.

Defects

The UK is having a serious metalcore renaissance, and Defects are among the loudest voices in the room. With earth-shattering breakdowns and hooks sharp enough to cut steel, these guys are gunning for bigger stages—and Rock am Ring might just be the one where everything explodes. If you’re craving a circle pit before lunchtime, make this your alarm clock.

I See Stars

Electrocore isn’t dead—it’s evolving. Michigan’s I See Stars are bringing their glitched-out, post-EDM chaos back to Europe with new music in tow and a point to prove. Expect neon visuals, dubstep drops, and a crowd that looks like they fell through the Internet. It’s a full-on audiovisual meltdown, and honestly, we’re here for it.

Zetra

Draped in mystery, synths, and probably some very heavy velvet, Zetra sound like the lovechild of Type O Negative and Depeche Mode, with a sprinkle of celestial doom. Their goth-drenched shoegaze will offer a welcome break from the mosh—a slow, shimmering descent into the void. Catch them as the sun goes down for maximum theatrical effect.

LØLØ

If Paramore’s angst met Halsey’s pop venom in a dive bar and started a fire, LØLØ would be the one pouring gasoline. Her voice is huge, her lyrics cut deep, and her presence onstage is something you don’t forget in a hurry. She’s the kind of artist people walk away from saying, “Who was that?!” You’ll want to be there before the secret’s out.

Thrown

Don’t bother bringing a neck brace—you’ll already be broken by the time Thrown are through with you. The Swedish outfit have been carving a name out with down-tuned riffs, primal screams and a live show that feels more like an exorcism. This is the kind of set you feel in your ribcage. Pure sonic punishment, no apologies.

Destroy Boys

Closing out our must-sees are California punk firebrands Destroy Boys. Think riot grrrl spirit, pit-starting energy, and the kind of snarling hooks that will still be echoing in your head by Monday morning. This is punk as it should be—messy, loud, emotional, and proud. If you want to shout along with something real, make this set non-negotiable.

Rock am Ring / Rock im Park goes down June 6–8, 2025.