Surviving the Sun at Hole in the Sun: A Metalhead’s Guide to German Festival Adventures
When deciding which summer festival to claim my hard-earned euros for, Hole in the Sun lured me in with an impressive selection of bands, mostly reading like my personal playlist. As someone whose previous German adventures could fit on apostcard, I snatched my ticket faster than you can shout “Transylvanian Hunger”! Getting There: A Quest Worthy of Tolkien. I won’t bore you with the full journey from Asturias to Marburg, but here’s a hint: I had at least 30-minute transfer between trains, and somehow managed to use every single minute. And here I thought Spanish railways weren’t punctual – how wrong I was!
That said, the bus stop turned out to be a highlight: shoutout to my new friends Ezgi and Dennis, whose metal spirit and good humour made the journey memorable! Sometimes the best discoveries aren’t on stage!
Finding the venue involved a 15-minute walk from Rauschenberg Markt and a hilarious battle between Google Maps and the organizers’ signs, which pointed in completely opposite directions. Perhaps it was meant for cars, but clearer signage wouldn’t hurt—we’re metalheads, not orienteering champions. Pro tip: trust Google Maps and follow the left-hand path.
The Grounds: Surprisingly Civilized
Entrance was relaxed, with a welcoming vibe—no intrusive security, more of a “we trust you, don’t make us regret it” energy. Security guys were relaxed and professional, and despite the diverse crowd, I witnessed zero incidents.
Once inside, the organization was solid: two bars (€4 beers, €6 cocktails), covered seating areas, essential when the sun decides to cosplay as nuclear blast from Terminator 2 (and I say that as someone who once survived ten Spanish summers), and a food truck serving quality grub at prices that didn’t require selling a kidney. Four portable toilets provided much-needed assistance to all those seeking relief,
and usually, there was no line.
Thursday 26.06: The Warm-Up
I decided to skip the natural wine tasting by Wyrd Wines —that’s ten beers in my currency!
Werwolf: German black metal band, not too known, but that’s not a bad thing at all! A good show, strong 90s black metal vibe and imagery. Solid musicianship, though their stage presence needed more venom—less standing, more commanding!
Tsatthoggva: They returned with their classic lineup, plenty of intense energy, and just enough S&M flair to keep things interesting. These sadistic maestros transformed from their earlier mediocrity into a whirlwind of leather, chains, and sonic punishment. The band brought the crowd to life with an intense, theatrically sadomasochistic set.
Dikasterion: This Belgian band laid down hard rock and punk inspired black metal; not my usual jam, but the beer table offered perfect acoustics for their set.
Bloody Vengeance: A German band from Leipzig, which includes one of the live Blasphemy members. They delivered raw, unhinged carnage, unleashed chaos and raw aggression that sent the pit into overdrive. Too chaotic for my tastes, but their crowd was absolutely possessed.
The last show ended at about midnight. The night weather was quite chilly, so I was glad the team lit a fire at the end of the show, which created a warm and friendly ambience, as well as allowed us to warm up a bit, while waiting for the bus back to Marburg.
Friday 27.06: The Fiery Core
Nekus: A local band from Marburg opened strongly with their devastating blend of death and doom metal, featuring crushing riffs reminiscent of Rattenfanger and Abyssal. Their harsh screams and deep growls created an impressive atmosphere.
Ch’ahom: Another German band that, personally, reminded me of Tzompantli from USA, but more blackened and with more ambient elements of ancient pre-Hispanic rituals, with flavourfully ritualistic passages of percussion and flutes. Guttural howls, relentless percussion, and grimy, buzz saw guitars that war/bestial black metal is known for. Though I missed their live performance, friends raved about their show.
Heinous: Belgian brutality incarnate, led by the former Enthroned frontman Sabathan, that I expected to see live. Loved their aggressive and raw style. The most remarkable aspect to the band’s sound, however, are the roaring, almost psychotic vocals. The band leads the listener into a black metal banger that combines Dissection riffing with Dark Funeral speed. Raw, intense, brilliant.
Coldborn: Technical proficiency trapped in an emotional void. They left me underwhelmed despite technically solid music. While their 90’s black metal approach was competent, it felt emotionally sterile and lacking in presentation.
Pale Spektre: Festival discovery alert! Their dark, ritualistic black-death chaos felt like being trapped inside an occult ceremony. Absolutely mesmerizing—hunt down their Bandcamp immediately. You might also check YouTube for their performance.
Vortex of the End: I saw them before a few times, like at the A Thousand Lost Civilizations in Brussels in 2019. Veterans who’ve shed their industrial chains-and- brutalism aesthetic but kept the intensity. Their blend of old and new material created sonic earthquakes that had the crowd in raptures.
Goat Torment: The highlight. Again, I saw them before at ATLC in Brussels, and I have been a huge fan since then. These Belgian demons don’t just play black metal; they conduct satanic warfare, Every song felt like marching into battle under Satan’s own banner. The crowd’s energy was nuclear, and YouTube footage confirms this was legendary. Essential viewing.
Kringa: A sophisticated Austrian black metal with their vocalist’s diverse emotional range. They brought avant-garde flavours, furious vocals, and an aura of black metal theatre. Not my absolute favorite, but high quality nonetheless. Their show is available on YouTube.
Fides Inversa: The band delivered an intense solidity and massiveness of the black metal attack. Wraath is a goddamn prophet of darkness who knows how to communicate with the audience. The crowd’s energy was nuclear. You can watch their show on YouTube as well.
Whoredom Rife: My all-time favorite Nidrosian Black Metal band since their inception. Their music style is rich and dense, there’s a sense of epicism; it’s tight, raw, and merciless. The gig playlist was excellent and included many of my favorite tracks, like From Nameless Pagan Graves and Summoning the Ravens. The last one was Under A Funeral Moon by Darkthrone if my memory serves me. I do like their shows, though, sometimes the band members can be hyperactive on stage. Kudos to Krell and other band members for maintaining close contact with the audience!
Saturday 28.06: The Grand Finale
As I mentioned earlier, I didn’t check the bus schedule and missed the first two bands (Wrang and Hexekration Rites) on Saturday, although I was truly interested in seeing Hexekration Rites. What a bummer!
However, according to my friends, due to the immense heat, it was only possible to be in front of the stage where it cast a shadow. Note to self and organizers: consider starting later, as the blazing sun and early hour made it tough for everyone.
Deathless Void: Another discovery of this festival. A Dutch atmospheric black death, which reminded me of Akhlys and Parfaxitas at some point, was truly impressive both musically and in terms of performance. Do not miss their latest album The Voluptuous Fire Of Sin’ it’s truly worth listening!
Hagizza: This Austrian band has horrifyingly disturbing, crushingly heavy and filled with chaotic rhythms. Not my music — I don’t find their vocal exercises attractive (like the mix of the cleaner chanting and the screeching and other weird noises), but many visitors were happy to see them.
Balmog: The only Spanish band on the fest from Galicia, who replaced the Mephorash (they dropped out of the lineup due to their drummer’s departure). I’ve already seen them in Spanish gigs, like Necesse Mori in 2022. They have a pretty individual way in terms of their musical approach; an explosive and dark, and harsh. I’m not even angry at their drummer, who launched the stick at my head with deadly
precision.
Venefixion: French death metallers Venefixion unleashed a furious, high-energy performance, blending the raw aggression of Celtic Frost, Morbid Angel, and Autopsy into their own brand of blackened death metal. Their set was pure sonic hellfire. Check out the YouTube for their show.
Baxaxaxa: I saw this legendary underground Bavarian band in Barcelona recently, so I was well aware of what to expect: a raw satanic black metal in the early 90s vein with traditional black metal riffing and drumming. Despite their fun to a Slavic eye name (we write laughter in the same way), their performance was pretty strong.
Purgatory: They know how to make some awesome death metal. I head banged to them so much that at some point, I realized that I needed to stroll in the fields around the venue to refresh my head and admire the beautiful sunset view.
Lvcifyre: Another band I was eager to catch live. Hailing from the UK, they deliver brutal, unrelenting blackened death metal that echoes the weight of Immolation, yet their sound feels like a volatile fusion of Morbid Angel and Deathspell Omega. Dissonant guitars and an oppressive, suffocating atmosphere made for a truly intense black-death experience. I truly enjoyed their set.
Archgoat: Finnish legends doing what they do best. Yes, the setlist rarely changes, but when you’ve perfected the formula for sonic blasphemy, why mess with it? The crowd support was immense, and their show was predictably good. If you’ve seen Archgoat live once, you know what to expect.
The Aftermath
I loved chilling by the campfire after each festival day — perfect ending to the madness. What I didn’t love was turning into a sleepy scarecrow while waiting two hours for the bus. After sweating through the day like a roast chicken, an earlier ride back would’ve been a dream. Maybe an extra bus for those of us who hit our limit before 02:00?
Why This Gem Didn’t Sell Out:
Despite the incredible line-up, the festival didn’t reach capacity. Based on my experience, here are some potential reasons:
- Mixed Messaging – While touting itself as “nonpolitical,” the rule explicitly banishing certain fans adds a layer of contradiction and discomfort that may deter some potential attendees. Remember how the Samhain festival received a backlash when people were prohibited from wearing selected t-
shirts? - The Great Accommodation Quest: Rauschenberg, charming as it is, seems to have forgotten the memo on visitor lodging. Unless you fancy a camping trip without guaranteed showers – a true test of dedication for some – finding a bed meant an off-site odyssey.
- Transportation Headaches – Infrequent weekend bus service and those two-hour waits for the final bus after exhausting festival days could deter many potential attendees.
- Weather vs. scheduling mismatch – Daytime performances during scorching heat made the experience uncomfortable, with only shaded areas bearable. When even a Spain resident is complaining about the heat, you know there’s a problem! Perhaps a slight shift in the schedule, favoring cooler evening slots, would make the experience less painful.
Final Verdict
Despite some logistical issues, Hole in the Sun delivered an exceptional festival experience that reminded me why I fell in love with extreme music in the first place. The combination of outstanding bands, passionate audiences, and those perfect post-show campfire moments created something genuinely special.
Yes, I missed bands due to bus schedules. Yes, I got a drumstick to the head (thanks, Balmog!). And yes, I spent more time than I’d like in German heat. But these minor inconveniences pale in comparison to discovering new bands like Deathless Void and Pale Spektre, or witnessing Goat Torment and Whoredom Rife on stage.
The organizers have already promised that the third edition, set for June 25-27, 2026, will carry on that glorious ‘All Killer-Zero Filler’ spirit. This isn’t your average, sterile festival experience; it’s a raw, passionate gathering for those who truly live and breathe extreme music.
So, if you’re ready for an adventure that guarantees epic music and possibly a few more surprises, mark your calendars.
Gallery
All pictures by Alex, YouTube videos by zer0moon
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