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My first Wacken Open Air 2025 review begins with a wild ride: Metal Train madness, rain-soaked pits, epic bands, and unforgettable memories. Here’s my full Wacken review, start to finish.
Getting There – The Metal Train Adventure
The Wacken Open Air 2025 trip started on July 28th in Munich, boarding the legendary Metal Train with my friend. This was no ordinary train ride, it was a rolling festival. We lucked out with friendly cabin neighbors from Austria, and together we spent most of the journey in one of the party wagons.
And yes, there was beer. So much beer. I’d planned to stick to Radler, but somehow it was always just beer that appeared in my hand. Sixteen hours later (plus two hours delay—thanks, Deutsche Bahn), we rolled into Itzehoe.
Oh, and somewhere between Munich and Itzehoe… we met Jesus. Yes, that Jesus. He blessed us all, and now we know he’s from Australia. Honestly, it felt like a good omen for the days ahead.
Arrival and First Impressions – Starting the Wacken Open Air 2025 Journey
From Itzehoe, a shuttle bus took us to the Wacken festival grounds. First mission: grab our wristbands at the band pick-up. Naturally, that’s when the skies opened up. We stood there, soaked, holding all our luggage, wondering if this was some kind of endurance test only true metalheads pass.
Then it was off to our tent in the Residenz Evil area. Finally unpack, dry off, and chill. The plan to head into the village that evening? Abandoned in favor of staying warm and dry. Sometimes survival comes before sightseeing.
Day 1 Highlights – Power Metal and Rain Dances at Wacken Open Air 2025
July 30th started slow, with sleeping in, then heading toward the Infield as the weather improved (by “improved” I mean “only occasional drizzle”).
Highlights? Wind Rose delivered a show so good it should be prescribed as therapy. Hanabie blew me away, not only musically, but also because somewhere in the mosh pit there was an actual unicorn and Snow White. Tarja and Marko Hietala reunited for a magical set, and Saltatio Mortis powered through pouring rain like absolute legends. At Wacken, even rain becomes part of the stage show.
Day 2: Mud, Legends, and Early Exits
July 31st brought peak mud levels. Leg day? Skipped. Wading through knee-deep sludge counts as a full workout.
Highlights: Clawfinger, tight, energetic, and unapologetically old-school. Guns N’ Roses, however… a mixed bag. Three and a half hours was just too much; I lasted about two and a half before heading back. Sometimes less is more, even in rock ‘n’ roll.
Day 3 – Surprises, Showstoppers, and Wacken Open Air 2025 Memories
August 1st started dry, then descended into the kind of rain northern Germany seems to keep on permanent standby.
Highlights? Drowning Pool were phenomenal. Peyton Parrish, who I didn’t know before, was a surprisingly great find. Then came Papa Roach with a set so explosive it felt like 20 minutes instead of an hour. Dimmu Borgir? Solid, but not quite my thing. And finally, Bad Loverz closed the night with pure chaos and fun, their alter ego status as Saltatio Mortis explained a lot about their unhinged energy.
Day 4: Tattoos, Rain, and Machine Head
August 2nd started fine… until the rain began around noon and simply didn’t stop. At this point, the ground was more soup than soil, but hey, metalheads adapt.
I caught Majestica only from the tattoo chair (great set, though!), and August Burns Red while waiting at the merch stand. Gojira delivered a jaw-dropping performance, and after a teaser announcement for next year (hello, Orbit Culture), it was time for Machine Head. And despite the biblical rain, they crushed it. Sometimes the worse the weather, the better the memory.
The Journey Home – Closing My Wacken Open Air 2025 Review
The return trip on the Metal Train was still lively, party wagons buzzing, air guitars swinging but definitely calmer. People were exhausted, voices hoarse, smiles satisfied. The party was still alive, though, and the last round of singalongs and air-guitar solos made sure the journey ended with a bang.
Final Thoughts – Why My Wacken Open Air 2025 Review Ends on a High Note
My first Wacken Open Air? A total win. Sure, the weather was awful, but you can’t control that. The tent was dry, the showers were decent, and the toilets were mostly clean (with toilet paper most of the time). The staff and crew were friendly, the atmosphere was unbeatable, and the only real downside is that I bought way too many T-shirts and am now broke.
And it’s not just about the main stages. There’s a whole world beyond them. From the post-apocalyptic flair of the Wasteland, to the fun chaos of Wackinger Village, to the quirky charm of Space Camp, there’s always something going on. Honestly, you could skip half the big shows and still have an incredible time exploring everything else.
The price for all this? More than fair. And the logistics of putting together a festival for 85,000 people, smooth transport, endless entertainment, working infrastructure deserve serious respect. Hats off to the crew that makes Wacken possible every year.
But maybe the biggest thing? The vibe was unreal. Everyone was friendly, open, and ready to connect. Even for an introvert like me, it was ridiculously easy to start conversations, share a laugh, or get help when needed. The sense of community and willingness to help each other out was something truly special.
Wacken is not just a festival, it’s a survival camp, a music paradise, and the craziest family reunion on earth. Will I go again? Absolutely. Tickets for 2026 are already in the bag. If you’re tempted to join the madness yourself, you can grab your tickets at wacken.com.
Want to be part of Wacken Open Air 2026? Grab your tickets now.
