You know that feeling when you step onto a festival ground and immediately think: “Okay, this is going to be good”? That was me at Elbriot 2025. The atmosphere in Hamburg was buzzing, the weather was perfect (maybe a little too perfect… more on that later), and you could feel the anticipation in the air. I was ready for a day packed with heavy riffs, good food, and hopefully a few surprises. Spoiler: I got all of that and more.
The Festival Itself
Let’s talk about the festival setup before we dive into the bands.
The Pros:
- Beer was flowing, and there was no shortage. Always a plus.
- The food was actually way better than I expected. The Asian street food, in particular, absolutely slapped. Easily some of the best festival food I’ve had in a while.
- No matter where you stood, you had a clear view of the stage. That’s something a lot of festivals could learn from.
- And the sound? Spot on. Whoever was handling live mixing deserves a raise, because everything sounded crisp and powerful.
The Cons:
- Here’s the thing: there was almost zero shade. Standing in the blazing sun all day without a break? Rough.
- Another thing I noticed — and some older folks I talked to agreed — there weren’t many seats. Eating your noodles while standing in the heat isn’t ideal, especially if you just need a short break or want to rest your legs and get ready for the next show.
So yeah, overall the festival nailed the essentials, but a couple of comfort tweaks would make a big difference.
The Bands – Who Brought the Fire?
- Siamese
These guys were the perfect opener. Tons of energy, got the crowd moving right away. Exactly what you want to kick things off. - Future Palace
Another really strong set! They radiated positive energy and kept the momentum going nicely. - The Chats
Okay, so here’s the thing — they were great on stage, but it felt like the wrong slot for them. The crowd didn’t connect as much as I expected. Earlier in the day, their energy might’ve hit harder. - Smash Into Pieces
Fantastic show! Their energy was infectious, and you could see how much fun the crowd was having. - Kissin’ Dynamite
Wow. Their whole vibe was like being transported straight back to the 80s in the best way possible. High energy, big hooks — honestly, I just wish their set had been longer. - Kerry King
So, I’d heard good things about his solo project… and while the show was tight, it really just felt like Slayer without the label. Not bad at all, but also not exactly groundbreaking. - Kreator
Absolute legends. Their set was on fire, the crowd was chanting along, and the energy back and forth between stage and audience was electric. - Papa Roach
This one blew me away. I’ve known their music since the 2000s, but I didn’t expect this. Their set was insanely good — pure energy, strong stage presence, and even some meaningful talk between songs. It never dragged for a second. Hands down one of the highlights of the day.
Final Thoughts
All in all, Elbriot 2025 was a blast. Great bands, great sound, great food — and just the right amount of chaos. I’d absolutely recommend checking it out if you get the chance next year.
If you go, just do yourself a favor: bring sunscreen. Trust me, you don’t want to end up with the kind of sunburn I did. But hey, that’s on me, not the festival.
Would I go again? 100%. And if you love live music, good vibes, and a city that knows how to host a proper metal fest, you should too.
You can get more Info here: https://www.elbriot.de