{"id":43478,"date":"2026-06-24T11:30:06","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T09:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orkus1.com\/thats-how-it-was-at-rock-am-ring-2026-with-bad-omens-volbeat-electric-callboy-ice-nine-kills-and-many-more-part-2-of-3\/"},"modified":"2026-06-25T11:00:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T09:00:13","slug":"thats-how-it-was-at-rock-am-ring-2026-with-bad-omens-volbeat-electric-callboy-ice-nine-kills-and-many-more-part-2-of-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orkus1.com\/en\/thats-how-it-was-at-rock-am-ring-2026-with-bad-omens-volbeat-electric-callboy-ice-nine-kills-and-many-more-part-2-of-3\/","title":{"rendered":"That’s how it was at ROCK AM RING 2026 with BAD OMENS, VOLBEAT, ELECTRIC CALLBOY, ICE NINE KILLS, and many more (Part 2 of 3)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Rock am Ring<\/p>\n\n

June 5\u20137, 2026, N\u00fcrburgring<\/p>\n\n

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Saturday: A Feeling That Brings Us Together \u2013 The Magic of Community<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

After a short night, people\u2019s eyes turned to the sky again on Saturday. It was probably a good idea to keep rain gear close at hand\u2014but in the end, the weather played only a minor role that day. Once again, the sense of community was what really stood out. Right in front of a stage, a visitor returned with drinks and, without realizing it, stood in front of a woman who was significantly shorter than him. Another festivalgoer gave him a friendly tap on the shoulder to point it out. The man apologized immediately, let her right up to the front, and, laughing, they all exchanged a few friendly words before continuing to party together. An unassuming scene that many probably wouldn\u2019t have even noticed\u2014and yet one that says so much about Rock am Ring. The American post-hardcore veterans LetLive<\/strong> kicked things off on the Orbit Stage. Frontman Jason Aalon Butler, known to many as the singer of Fever 333, could barely stay on stage. With wide leaps and a dash into the middle of the pit, he made the audience part of the show from the very first moment. <\/p>\n\n

Rock ‘n’ Roll Within Reach<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

With The Pretty Reckless<\/strong>, New York rock \u2019n\u2019 roll took the main stage. Frontwoman Taylor Momsen appeared in heavy boots, a leather jacket, fishnet stockings, and a black negligee. Smokey eyes, countless necklaces, and her untamed rock \u2019n\u2019 roll attitude made it clear who was in charge here. With her distinctive, smoky voice, she gave \u201cDeath By Rock and Roll\u201d and \u201cFollow Me Down\u201d the necessary punch, all while shaking her hair wildly, turning toward the crowd with flirtatious glances, and repeatedly making deliberately sensual gestures without ever losing her rock-and-roll charisma. \u201cRock am Ring, how are you guys doing? We have a new album coming out. It\u2019s called \u2018Dear God.\u2019 It\u2019ll be available on June 26th,\u201d Momsen announced the upcoming album before the new songs \u201cFor I Am Death\u201d and \u201cWhen I Wake Up\u201d went over surprisingly well with the audience. She dedicated \u201cWitches Burn\u201d to \u201call of the women\u201d before heading down to the barrier for \u201cGoing to Hell\u201d and getting up close to the fans there for a moment. <\/p>\n\n

What Really Matters<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

A few raindrops briefly prompted people to put on ponchos, but they disappeared just as quickly. Instead, Bury Tomorrow<\/strong> took the Mandora Stage. Already during the track \u201cBoltcutter,\u201d which Dani Winter-Bates performed while kneeling and with complete devotion, it became clear just how intensely the frontman lived every line. Things became particularly poignant between songs. The Englishman reminded the crowd that metal and hardcore should be a safe space for everyone\u2014regardless of background, gender, sexual orientation, or identity. Instead of letting ourselves be divided, he said, we should celebrate what brings people together. Words that could hardly have been more apt this weekend. With \u201cYokai,\u201d the infield then transformed into a sea of jumping people and fountains of fire. During \u201cBlack Flame,\u201d the singer called out to countless crowd surfers and greeted them at the photo pit with high-fives. His gaze finally fell on a young girl on the shoulders of an adult. \u201cHow old are you?\u201d he asked. \u201cEight.\u201d \u2013 \u201cYou\u2019re amazing. You\u2019re the next generation,\u201d he replied with a smile, before Bury Tomorrow<\/strong> brought the show to a fitting close with \u201cDeath (Even Colder).\u201d <\/p>\n\n

In the Fast Lane<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Landmvrks are <\/strong>among the bands that have taken a huge step forward over the past two years. Following their Ring debut on the third stage in 2024, the French band now took the Mandora Stage\u2014and seemed completely at home there. Their latest album, \u201cThe Darkest Place I\u2019ve Ever Been,\u201d adds even more atmosphere, dynamism, and great melodies to their already brutal metalcore, without sacrificing any of its intensity. Flanked by two massive Roman figures\u2014inspired by the album cover\u2014 Landmvrks<\/strong> kicked off their set uncompromisingly with \u201cCreature.\u201d Frontman Florent Salfati made use of every corner of the stage, while crowd surfers, circle pits, and the first mosh pits weren\u2019t long in coming. \u201cWe are so happy to be back here,\u201d the singer exclaimed, before songs like \u201cBlistering,\u201d \u201cA Line in the Dust,\u201d and \u201cSulfur\u201d\u2014especially the new material\u2014impressively demonstrated why there\u2019s currently almost no way to ignore these French musicians. In keeping with the band\u2019s urban vibe, Florent grabbed a spray can before \u201cSombre 16\u201d and immortalized the striking \u201cV\u201d from their latest album as graffiti on a black canvas. It was a simple yet effective gesture that perfectly underscored the French band\u2019s street style. A little later, Marc Zelli from Paleface Swiss injected some extra energy during \u201cSay No Word.\u201d As rain and sunshine fell simultaneously, a full rainbow arched over the audience. When crowd surfers were still being carried over the crowd after the previous song, the frontman couldn\u2019t help but laugh: \u201cEveryone\u2019s okay? I see some crowd surfers. The song is over!\u201d He then deliberately signaled a calmer moment with \u201cSuffocate.\u201d Initially accompanied only by an acoustic guitar, the song invited the Ringrockers to sing along, before the band gradually joined in again and brought the performance to a powerful close. <\/p>\n\n

Nothing is predictable<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Seeing Ice Nine Kills<\/strong> is far more than just attending a concert. The American band transformed the Mandora into a bloody chamber of horrors, where nearly every song became a scene from a movie. No sooner had Hannibal Lecter appeared and attacked a police officer than, during \u201cMeat & Greet,\u201d a butcher with a goat\u2019s head and a chainsaw made his entrance. Sparks flew, fake blood flowed, and frontman Spencer Charnas slipped seemingly effortlessly from one role to the next. Even after that, the macabre spectacle showed no signs of ending. While bills flew through the air during \u201cThe Laugh Track,\u201d \u201cThe Shower Scene\u201d reenacted the famous shower scene from Alfred Hitchcock\u2019s \u201cPsycho.\u201d And Ice Nine Kills surprised <\/strong>the crowd with an unexpected guest: Alissa White-Gluz<\/strong> took the stage for \u201cTwisting the Knife,\u201d even though she wasn\u2019t part of the festival lineup that weekend. Together with Art the Clown, the band continued its macabre horror performance, which culminated in a scene as bloody as it was impressive when the horror clown ripped his victim\u2019s still-beating heart from his chest. <\/p>\n\n

There are no rules at this party<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Hardly any other band embodies the evolution of Rock am Ring as much as Electric Callboy<\/strong>. Just three years after they formed, the band from Castrop-Rauxel\u2014still performing under their old name at the time\u2014took the Ring stage for the first time. Now they looked out at an infield that, right from the start of their set, had swelled to the size of a headliner\u2019s crowd. Their introduction was understandably emotional: even as little boys, they had dreamed of standing right here on the big stage one day. After a loud bang, the band stormed onto the stage in metallic-blue quilted vests with a space-age look, which they promptly ripped off shortly thereafter. With \u201cTanzneid,\u201d Electric Callboy<\/strong> also gave the crowd a first taste of their album, set for release in August. Metalcore met \u201990s Eurodance, brutal breakdowns met danceable disco beats. \u201cYou guys look like you need a killer workout,\u201d the band laughed, before the entire infield transformed into a massive fitness and dance floor. \u201cGrab a partner\u2014we\u2019re dancing the disco fox now,\u201d the band announced during \u201cHurrikan,\u201d before the entire infield merged into one massive party amid disco fox moves, rowing motions, wild jumping, and exuberant chaos. Each pit seemed to have its own vibe\u2014and yet everyone was having fun together. \u201cHypa Hypa,\u201d \u201cPump It,\u201d and \u201cMC Thunder\u201d kicked things up a notch. \u201cRevery\u201d brought a moment of calm. Blue flames, piano, acoustic guitar, and thousands of cell phone lights gave \u201cEverytime We Touch\u201d an almost magical atmosphere. Fans embraced each other, while others did push-ups in the pit. The contemplative mood didn\u2019t last long, though. With \u201cLet the Good Times Roll\u201d\u2014a collaboration with The Offspring<\/strong> released just the day before\u2014the party immediately picked up steam again, before Electric Callboy sent the N\u00fcrburgring into a frenzy with \u201cRATATATA,\u201d \u201cSpaceman,\u201d and \u201cWe Got the Moves,\u201d sent the N\u00fcrburgring into a massive frenzy. <\/p>\n\n

Against the current<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

After the collective frenzy at Electric Callboy\u2019s set<\/strong>, Volbeat<\/strong> faced no easy task. The Danes, however, rose to the challenge in their own way. Instead of an elaborate production, the band opted for a no-frills rock show. Apart from the band\u2019s logo on the screens, the stage design was deliberately minimalist, while frontman Michael Poulsen took the stage at the Utopia Stage wearing a blue racing jersey. \u201cThe Mirror and the Ripper\u201d kicked off the set with the words: \u201cRock am Ring, you bring the fucking noise.\u201d With \u201cDemonic Depression,\u201d \u201cBy a Monster\u2019s Hand,\u201d and the unwieldily titled \u201cIn the Barn of the Goat Giving Birth to Satan\u2019s Spawn in a Dying World of Doom,\u201d Volbeat<\/strong> performed three tracks from their latest album, \u201cGod of Angels Trust.\u201d The new material takes on a noticeably harder tone and deals with inner struggles, redemption, and hope. Nevertheless, the songs fit seamlessly among the numerous classics. This has always been one of Volbeat\u2019s<\/strong> greatest strengths: Michael Poulsen blends metal, rock \u2019n\u2019 roll, country, and blues into catchy anthems that the audience sings along to just as naturally as the band\u2019s biggest crowd favorites. With a mischievous grin, he even had the crowd practice the full title of \u201cIn the Barn of the Goat Giving Birth to Satan\u2019s Spawn in a Dying World of Doom.\u201d \u201cSerious stuff,\u201d he commented dryly, before the banger descended upon the N\u00fcrburgring with massive riffs and a pounding groove. Things got amusing when the frontman stepped onto the catwalk with an acoustic guitar and explained with a wink, they were now traveling back to a time without social media\u2014\u201cno TikToks, or Facebook, or Instagram, Ding Dong, or Flip Flop\u2014just good rocking chairs and vinyls with Johnny Cash.\u201d Together, the Ringrockers sang along to the brief detour into \u201cRing of Fire,\u201d before the frontman laughingly admitted during \u201cSad Man\u2019s Tongue\u201d that he\u2019d \u201cstolen\u201d the song from Johnny Cash on the spot. <\/p>\n\n

A Heart in the Right Place<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Michael warmly thanked the German fans for their decades of support and reminded them that Germany had been with Volbeat <\/strong>since their very <\/strong>first demos. Things got emotional with \u201cFallen,\u201d the song the singer dedicated to his late father, as well as to everyone who has lost a loved one. He dedicated \u201cFor Evigt\u201d to his wife and children\u2014who were presumably sleeping in the tour bus backstage at that very moment\u2014and to the audience. \u201cAlright, let\u2019s wake my kids up,\u201d he joked, as cell phone lights illuminated the infield. The song\u2014about memory, transience, and the hope that love and connection can outlast death\u2014turned into one of the most beautiful sing-along moments of the set. The performance didn\u2019t go entirely smoothly, however. Minor sound issues and a performance that at times seemed a bit routine meant the spark didn\u2019t quite catch on with everyone. But when tens of thousands sing along even to the Danish lyrics of \u201cFor Evigt,\u201d it becomes clear why Volbeat<\/strong> has held a permanent spot on Europe\u2019s biggest festival stages for years. <\/p>\n\n

Calm in the Storm<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

A steady drizzle fell during the more than one-hour set change in front of the Mandora Stage. Meanwhile, the Ringrockers affectionately helped each other put on their ponchos. Hardly any band was more eagerly anticipated that Saturday than Bad Omens<\/strong>. After the cancellation of their spring tour and their performance at Rock am Ring in 2024, their big moment at the N\u00fcrburgring had finally arrived. At 12:30 a.m., complete silence reigned. To the melancholic piano strains of \u201cSpecter,\u201d Noah Sebastian stood alone in the spotlight. Fog enveloped his legs, and his voice floated crystal-clear across the infield. As he sang the lines \u201cBecause I\u2019ve kept my distance, it just made it worse,\u201d he slowly sank to his knees. Accompanied by a blood-curdling scream, the entire stage set was revealed. Above him, a monumental structure of floating LED triangles came to life. Dynamic visuals, columns of fog, lighting, and a spectacular laser show\u2014which was used repeatedly as the performance progressed\u2014merged into one of the most impressive productions of the entire weekend. And yet, all of that almost faded into the background. All eyes were on Noah Sebastian. Rarely has a frontman seemed so present and yet so introspective at the same time. He didn\u2019t need grand gestures. Every small movement seemed to carry meaning. When he spread his arms wide and sang in a calm voice, \u201cDo you feel love?\u201d\u2014only to answer himself with \u201cI know, I don\u2019t\u201d\u2014time seemed to stand still for a moment. Bad Omens<\/strong> thrive on contrasts. Almost weightless melodies were followed by breakdowns as heavy as a ton, and vulnerable moments gave way to brutal outbursts. Noah\u2019s voice moved effortlessly between fragile vulnerability and tremendous intensity. The fans sang along line by line, while longing, pain, and hope washed over the infield like a shared heartbeat. During \u201cConcrete Jungle,\u201d all the pent-up energy erupted. Thunderstorm-like visuals swept across the LED screens, flames shot up and even soared above the stage, and with a piercing primal scream, Noah shattered the silence that had built up. The crowd went wild, and he shouted at the top of his lungs: \u201cI\u2019m the fucking king.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

Between the worlds<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

From that moment on, there was no stopping them. \u201cCircle, circle, circle. Move your ass!\u201d Noah shouted before \u201cNowhere to Go,\u201d then, a little later, announced a massive wall of death and added with a grin, \u201cIt\u2019s time for metalcore after midnight.\u201d During \u201cArtificial Suicide,\u201d the intensity reached a new level. Blinding white light, massive columns of fog, and the song\u2019s uncompromising heaviness made the Ring tremble. Afterward, Bad Omens<\/strong> deliberately slowed the tempo. \u201cWhat It Cost\u201d felt like a deep breath before the emotional climax of the evening. With calm gestures, Noah moved around the microphone stand while strings enveloped the moment in a warm, almost protective veil. But the calm was deceptive\u2026 With a resolute \u201cBang your fucking heads!\u201d he swept the audience along with him once more. \u201cLike a Villain\u201d erupted against a blazing backdrop of red-orange light, lava-like visuals, fierce bursts of fire, and swirling mosh pits. The energy only grew more intense from there. Noah grinned as he explained that he\u2019d tried to learn German using a language app on the way there. \u201cBut it didn\u2019t work. Fucking hard language. Very cool, but hard. I just wanted you guys to know that I did try. I\u2019ve got nothing to say in German. Couldn\u2019t do it. You win,\u201d he admitted with a smile. He then announced \u201cJust Pretend\u201d and asked the crowd to turn on their cell phone flashlights. Within seconds, a never-ending starry sky of thousands of lights shone over the infield, and the massive chorus carried every single line through the night. Noah stood calmly at the center of that moment, letting the crowd take center stage. With a tenderness and devotion that got under your skin, he seemed to truly feel his lyrics. During \u201cImpose,\u201d the mood turned introspective. Dark blue light plunged the singer almost completely into shadow before electronic sounds abruptly gave way to raw screams, and a shower of black-and-white confetti rained down over the crowd. Countless hands reached for the falling confetti strips to preserve a small piece of this special moment. But Bad Omens<\/strong> weren\u2019t done yet. \u201cI wanna see some diabolical fucking shit!\u201d During their encore, the band and the audience pushed each other to ever-higher volumes as they alternated between \u201cConcrete!\u201d and \u201cJungle!\u201d, before \u201cDethrone\u201d ushered in the final outburst. Bursts of fire shot up not only from the stage but also from the massive video cubes above the infield, making the heat palpable deep into the crowd. Amid columns of fog and guitar riffs as heavy as tons, Noah Sebastian brought the N\u00fcrburgring to its knees with a force you could literally feel in your body. <\/p>\n\n

And yet, in the end, something entirely different stuck in the memory: a frontman who captivated not with exaggerated gestures, but with an almost palpable calm. Perhaps that was precisely the greatest strength of this performance. While a monumental spectacle raged all around him, a single glance, a gesture, or a moment of quiet vulnerability was all it took for Noah Sebastian to completely captivate tens of thousands of people. Overwhelmed by all these impressions, the second day at the Ring came to an end. First, we had to process all these experiences. <\/p>\n\n

Due to photography restrictions, we were unfortunately unable to take any pictures of Bad Omens for you. <\/em><\/p>\n\n

Text: Nadine KloppertPhotos: Michael Gamon<\/p>\n\n

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