ROCK AM RING DAY 3: Great Line-Up Makes For Tough Clashes

This weekend, it is finally time again for Rock Am Ring, one of Europe’s premier music festivals, held at the iconic Nürburgring in Germany! This legendary event brings together fans of rock, metal, and alternative music for a thrilling weekend of unforgettable performances. From navigating the stellar lineup of headliners and rising stars to tips for soaking in every moment of the live shows, we’ve got you covered with photos and words of many of the acts on this year’s impeccable lineup to ensure you can enjoy the festival from afar. We are excited to witness this epic celebration of music once again.

Time races by on the festival grounds at the Nürburgring, bringing us to the final day of yet another unforgettable Rock Am Ring. This year’s closing day delivered a lineup packed with energy and standout performances, leaving a lasting impression for more reasons than one.

The day kicked off on the Utopia Stage with Dead Poet Society, a band riding a wave of momentum. Their 2024 album FISSION propelled them to the mainstage, and their set proved why they’ve earned the spotlight. With a sound that echoes hints of Nothing But Thieves while remaining distinctly their own, the band captivated the crowd that trickled in throughout the set. Between songs, they engaged the audience with a relaxed, approachable vibe, exuding confidence and charisma. As a rising act, Dead Poet Society are just getting started, and we’re eager to see where their future releases take them.

With a tight schedule, we caught but a fleeting glimpse of Polaris on the Mandora Stage before heading to the Orbit Stage for I See Stars. The Australian metalcore outfit lived up to their reputation for explosive live energy. Even witnessing just the opening song was enough to confirm the legend—Polaris delivered a high-octane performance that set the stage ablaze, figuratively. Check out the gallery below for a snapshot of their energized performance.

Next up, I See Stars on the Orbit Stage was a personal highlight. As a longtime fan, seeing them perform twice in a relatively short span feels surreal, especially considering it had been over a decade since their last European appearance before opening for Palaye Royale in 2024. With a new album slated for release later this year, the band is poised to make waves across the continent once more. Their setlist blended fresh singles from the upcoming, yet-to-be-titled record with tracks from their 2016 album Treehouse and three classics from even earlier work from the 2013 album New Demons. Devin Oliver’s vocals were nothing short of extraordinary, and the band’s tight performance held the crowd in a trance. Despite the early afternoon slot, they drew an impressive crowd, a testament to their enduring appeal.

The anticipation for I See Stars’ new album is sky-high, and we’re rooting for it to elevate their popularity to new heights—they undeniably deserve it.

Today brought intense energy with a lot of epic performances, at more timeslots than one setting the stage for a tough choice between two incredible bands. At the dawn of the evening, a clash happened for us. On the Orbit stage, Deafheaven, a heavy metal band, were gearing up to perform tracks in order to promote their recently released album, Lonely People With Power, which had us eager to catch their live show. Meanwhile, just 20 minutes later, The Ghost Inside were set to take the Mandora stage, making it a challenge to decide where to focus our attention.

We opted to photograph and experience Deafheaven for the first 15 minutes before heading to the Mandora stage. Those brief moments were nothing short of captivating. Deafheaven’s stage presence was commanding, with their opening songs delivering raw intensity. Vocalist George Clarke’s ability to produce such visceral sounds left us in awe. The band owned the stage, engaging the crowd with a personal touch—rather than simply urging the audience to move, Clarke declared, “You and I are gonna move,” creating a shared energy. With Lonely People With Power as their latest release, we hope Deafheaven tours extensively, giving more fans a chance to witness their dynamic performance.

Switching stages, we arrived at the Mandora stage to catch The Ghost Inside, a band we’d seen close out Jera On Air last year with unforgettable energy. Tonight, performing for a massive crowd a few hours into the evening, they delivered another high-octane set. The Ghost Inside’s shows are a masterclass in intensity, packed with blistering breakdowns and crowd-pleasing sing-alongs. From the opening notes, the audience was relentless—crowdsurfers soared, mosh pits erupted during breakdowns, and walls of death formed as fans screamed iconic one-liners back at the band. A The Ghost Inside performance is always a spectacle, and our photos capture the atmosphere of the night.

After a brief pause, another intense showdown loomed. On the Mandora stage, Lorna Shore, a leading force in deathcore, was set to perform. Meanwhile, Falling In Reverse would command the Utopia stage with their own set. Having seen Lorna Shore more frequently in recent years, we faced a tough choice but ultimately opted to catch Falling In Reverse. Beyond their fewer local appearances, the band is renowned for their top-tier production, which we were excited to experience again. With a 90-minute slot (which turned out to be more like 70, but who’s counting), Falling In Reverse pulled out all the stops, delivering a spectacular show.

Amid loud applause, frontman Ronnie Radke and the band kicked off their set with Prequel. From there, the production escalated, featuring an elaborate light show and an impressive array of pyrotechnics. Tracks like Zombified showcased the intense visual effects, with fire and video backdrops amplifying the energy of the performance.

The recipe shifted when Falling In Reverse performed the song Just Like You, where a cameraman came on stage and live footage of the band and the audience was shown on the screen. The song is well-known for the chorus, in which Radke sings he is aware he’s an asshole but honestly “I’m just like you”. It makes for an exceptionally fun live track and the live footage of the audience with the lyrics showing on screen was a nice touch.

It’s worth noting that Ronnie Radke is often considered controversial to the point that bands have cancelled tours with Falling In Reverse after receiving backlash on social media, but here on the festival grounds, the festival goers came out in droves to witness the band’s performance. As far as the eyes could see, there were people singing, moshing and dancing along to the show.

The set concluded with a trio of their heaviest songs, peaking with the intense Ronald, before closing with fan-favourite Watch The World Burn, with an extended outro, where he played the breakdown thrice rather than just the once. With a reception this massive, the band is bound to return to Germany sooner rather than later.

Powerwolf

Stray From The Path

The final day of Rock Am Ring 2025 was a thrilling showcase of both emerging and established talent, leaving us already excited for next year’s edition. Check out photos of the performances of Rock Am Ring throughout this page and stay tuned for all our Rock Am Ring coverage by following our socials over on X, Instagram and Facebook.