rockblog.bluesspot

(Judith, Jules, Rosie, Sybille, Yvonne, Hans-Jürgen, JensM, JensS, Mike, Peter, Volker)

Die Musik aus 2025, die uns im RockBlogBluesSpot gefiel, packte, zum abfliegen oder tanzen brachte, die Nackenmuskulatur malträtierte, live und in Farbe, digital und auf Vinyl gepresst:

Judith:

Top 10 Konzerte:

1. Nine Inch Nails (27.06. Stadthalle Wien)
2. Dool (07.06. Rock Hard Festival)
3. Leprous (08.02. Carlswerk Köln)
4. Coltaine (14.08. Hoflärm Festival)
5. My Sleeping Karma (29.03. SOL Sonic Ride, Carlswerk, Köln & Freak Valley Festival)
6. High Desert Queen (29.03. SOL Sonic Ride, Carlswerk, Köln)
7. Daevar (29.03. SOL Sonic Ride, Carlswerk, Köln)
8. REZN (16.08., Hoflärm Festival)
9. DŸSE (04.07. Green Hell Festival)
10. Elephant Tree (16.08. Hoflärm Festival & 06.12. Vortex, Weidenau)

Top 10 Alben:

VORWORT: Vor Kurzem habe ich meine Top 20-Liste fürs Rock Hard Magazin eingereicht. Die Vorgabe war, unsere 20 Lieblingsplatten aus 2025 aufzulisten – und zwar nicht alphabetisch sortiert oder nach dem Erscheinungsdatum, sondern tatsächlich in einem Ranking. Verdammte Hacke, fiel das schwer! Für unsere alljährlichen Highlights hier bei RBBS wollte ich daher zunächst ganz einfach und praktisch per Copy/Paste die Rock-Hard-Liste übernehmen. Immerhin hatte ich hier bereits stundenlanges In-mich-Gehen investiert. Doch während ich dabei nicht nur die durch die Alben ausgelösten Gefühle mit einbezogen hatte, sondern auch Aspekte wie Arrangement, Präzision, Komplexität und Aufnahmequalität, lasse ich für die folgenden zehn Perlen ausschließlich meine Gefühle sprechen – die beeinflusst sind von Jugend und Nostalgie, von den jeweiligen Situationen und Gemütszuständen, in denen ich die Alben kennengelernt habe, sowie von packenden Live-Erlebnissen. And so the heart says:

1. DEFTONES – private music
2. ALPHAWHORES – You Can Come Out Now
3. TEMPLE FANG – Lifted From The Wind
4. KADAVAR – I Just Wanted To Be A Sound
5. IGORRR – Amen
6. BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME – The Blue Nowhere
7. PARADISE LOST – Ascension
8. THE GREAT MACHINE – Working Class Anarchist
9. DAEVAR – Sub Rosa
10. GRIN – Acid Gods

Fazit: Eine Liste zu erstellen, bei denen man den Verstand ausschalten darf, fällt leichter – und sieht am Ende ganz anders aus. 

Jules:

Meine live Highlights je Monat in 2025: 

Januar: Uncle Acid – Berlin
Februar: Pantera – Düsseldorf
März: Zerre – Siegen
April: Sula Bassana – Bochum
Mai: Speck – Moers
Juni: The Ocean – Siegen (Freak Valley Festival)
Juli: Melvins – Cottbus (Blue Moon Festival)
August: King Buffalo – Dortmund
September: Daily Thompson und Kardeathian – Paderborn
Oktober: Wedge – Essen
November: Mother Tongue – Berlin und Dortmund
Dezember: Clutch – Köln

Überraschungen: Feedy (Alterna Sounds), Red Mess (Vortex), True Voodoo (Röhre Moers), Alpaca (Rare Guitar)

Besonders gefreut hat mich dieses Jahr die Entwicklung von Kardeathian mitzuerleben, die sich von Gig zu Gig
gesteigert haben.

Alben:

Ohne wertende Reihenfolge…bunte Mischung bei mir.

Tremonti – The End Will Show Us How
Red Mess – High-Tech Starvation
Apex Ten – Atom
Lo-Pan – Get Well Soon
Messa – The Spin
Giobia – X-AEON
Skyjoggers – 12021:Post-Electric Apocalypse
Komatsu – A Breakfast for Champions
Apewards – Liminal Choices
Sarkh – Heretical Bastard
Causa Sui – In Flux
Kombynat Robotron – AANK
Telepathy – Transmissions

Sybille:

Alben des Jahres 2025

1. Motorpsycho – Motorpsycho
2. Temple Fang – Lifted from the wind
3. Kombynat Robotron – Aank
4. Highest Primzahl on Mars – What?
5. Skyjoggers -12021: Post-Electric Apocalypse

Konzerte:

1. Colour Haze – Sol Sonic Ride Cologne 29.03.2025
2. Motorpsycho – FreakValleyFestival 20.06.2025
3. HPOM – Backyard Club 05.09.2025
4. Suzan Köchers Suprafon – Kieselwiese, Hafen Dortmund 30.08.2025
5. Stargo, German Kult Rock Festival, Balver Höhle 02.08.2025

SOL Sonic Ride in Köln: von links Sybille, Jules und Peter

Rosie:

Konzerte: 

Yvonne:

Live-Erlebnisse:

Da Captain Trips – Psychedelic Network Festival
Kombynat Robotron – Freak Valley Festival
My Sleeping Karma – Herzberg Festival
Zement – Freak Valley Refueled
Kungens Män – Psychedelic Network Festival
Minerall – the psychedelic kraut explosion @ Vortex Siegen
Colour Haze – Finkenbach Festival
Battlesnake – Freak Valley Festival
SPECK – Yolo Hof
Honourary mention: Henge – Burg Herzberg Festival (seltsame Aliens, die in Gummimasken bei brütender Hitze ’ne tanzinduzierende und grinseauslösende, außerirdische Show abliefern)

Tonträger:

Kombynat Robotron – AANK
Da Captain Trips – In Between
Speck – Live at Freak Valley
Papir – IX

Helga – Burg Herzberg Festival

Minerall – Vortex Siegen

Hans-Jürgen

Festivals:
1. Storm Crusher Festival
2. Metalheadz Open Air
3. Der Detze Rockt
4. Headbangers Open Air
5. Hell Over Hammaburg

Konzerte:
1. RAM auf dem Headbangers Open Air
2. Beastö Blancö in Oberhausen
3. Flying Circus in Jülich
4. Velvet Viper in Mannhein
5. Dismenber auf dem Hard Rock Festival

Tonträger:
1. Wucan – Axioms
2. Flying Circus – The Eternal Moment
3. Coltaine – Brandung
4. Sanhedrin – Heat Lightning
5. Alice Cooper Band – The Revenge Of Alice Cooper

Jens M.

Die besten Platten… in Radical Eye’s Spot. Das ist wie immer ein wilder Mix, kreuz und quer durch alle Genres. Deshalb auch kein Ranking, denn je nach Stimmung ist der jeweilige Soundtrack meines Lebens immer die unangefochtene Nummer 1. Und natürlich gibt es zwischen den Zeilen noch eine ganze Menge mehr Musik zu entdecken. Das ist nur die Spitze des Eisberges, die sich 2025 besonders oft in meinem Gehirn und in meinem Herz manifestiert hat:

DEFTONES – private music
SOEN – Reliance
KADAVAR – I Just Wanted To Be A Sound
BARRENS – Corpse Lights
GRANDBROTHERS -Elsewhere
MOGWAI – The Bad Fire
PARADISE LOST – Ascension
MONKEYS ON MARS – EP (Monkey3 & Mars Red Sky)
MESSA – The Spin
DREAM THEATER – Parasomnia
Mavis Staples – Sad And Beautiful World
DJ Koze – Music Can Hear Us
Explosions In The Sky – American Primeval (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series)

Meine Konzerthighlights: „DoN’T Look AT THE TIME! HAVE A DRINK and enjoy REAL MUSIC!“ entdeckte ich kürzlich an der Bar des Hamburger Jazzclubs „Birdland“. Mehr kann ich nicht hinzufügen und auch hier gibt’s nur einen Ausschnitt der Momente, die besonders tiefe Erinnerungen in meiner Seele hinterlassen haben:

Kruder & Dorfmeister „The K&D Sessions live“ – Isarphilharmonie München, 3. Februar
PANTERA – Mitsubishi Electric Hall Düsseldorf, 9. Februar
Lenny Kravitz „Blue Electric Light“ – Uber Arena Berlin, 14. März
CALEXICO als Trio im Stadttheater Landsberg am 3. und 4. April
EXODUS & SACRED REICH im Backstage München, 14. Juni
The Ocean als Headliner auf dem Freak Valley Festival in Netphen-Deuz, 21. Juni
JUDAS PRIEST „Invincible Shield“ in der Olympiahalle München, 13. Juli
IRON MAIDEN „Run For Your Lives Tour“ auf der Waldbühne Berlin, 29. Juli
Sigur Rós mit Orchester im Konzerthaus Wien am 7. September
HIGH DESERT QUEEN und MASTERS OF REALITY auf dem Keep It Low Festival im Backstage München, 11. Oktober

Jens S.

And now for something completely different …
“Without music, life would be a mistake.”
– Friedrich Nietzsche
Like every year, It’s almost impossible to make a final best-of list of a year. Nevertheless, here are some albums, which inspired me in 2025! Not a strict ranking (that would be subjective anyway), but a selection of 20 albums that I particularly celebrated.
And here we go in chronological order (release date):
ZOAHR – MOSAIC: This is another standout record, which brilliantly tugs at the heartstrings whilst having an endless amount of highly anthemic and aggressive grooves, which allows this to perhaps be the band’s most convincing and highly confident album to date.
Godzillionaire – DIMINISHING RETURNS: The fuzzy guitars are still there, the thundering drums and bass, the colossal tone. But there’s also some real melody and genuine songwriting. Not to mention some welcome variety between tracks. Love it!
Naxatras – V: Space and Progressive rock have always been the sisters that could dervish and whirl in beautiful circles around each other. Combined with more jazzy and fusion tones; elements borrowed from many world music scenes and everything psychedelic, turns this album into grandiose 1001 nights fairytale proportions.
Nightstalker – RETURN FROM THE POINT OF NO RETURN: King Midas’ of the underground, everything they release has a golden hue to it. “Return to the Point of No Return” is no exception it has everything you could hope for from a band whose name has become synonymous with quality, an album that is muscular and meaty when it needs to be and hazy, lush and languid when it doesn’t.
Kryptograf – KRYPTONOMICON: At the end of the day “Krytonomicon” is a strong album that transfers the heavy rock/doom era, paired with a modern stoner note and psychedelic bonds, into today.
Temple Fang – LIFTED FROM THE WIND: This album showcases the band’s irrefutably organic creative process, in which each track unfurls at a most natural pace while expertly utilizing cinematic but clear-cut chapters to each song.
Apewards – LIMINAL CHOICES: All in all, “Liminal Choices” reveals an absolutely classic stoner rock album, with all the tried and tested ingredients of the genre. And once again a band output without any weak points.
Dwellers – CORRUPT TRANSLATION MACHINE: After 11 years, the Salt Lake City quartet returns with a brooding, masterful blend of progressive blues, psych haze, and grunge soul. Essential stoner/prog.
Paralyzed – RUMBLE & ROAR: They are here to move and groove you with infectious heavy stoner blues of their fourth long-player, and though we didn’t need further confirmation of the band’s talent and intensity, the album does just that.
Kal-El – ASTRAL VOYAGER VOL. 1: This album may draw from classic stoner and doom roots, but it’s anything but by-the-numbers. Packed with cinematic world-building and interstellar atmosphere, it plays more like a sci-fi epic than a standard riff fest. From crushing doom to blazing rock and spaced-out psychedelia, each track unfolds like a chapter in a larger cosmic saga—boldly paving the way for Vol. 2.
Woodhawk – LOVE FINDS A WAY: Calgary’s „Woodhawk“ stand tall with all the other killer bands bringing the heavy rock from The Great White North. The trio’s new record, and third overall, Love Finds A Way, is nine tracks of melodic stoner rock with great vocals, tons of riffs, and organ leading the way, and that makes this listener very happy.
Seedy Jeezus – DAMNED TO THE DEPTHS: The whole album is unique but also contains comfortable familiarity for any fan of classic rock music, meaning each song has its own character and personality while, at the same time, paying homage to classic rock tracks of the past. Be assured, if this album was released in 1975 we might be looking back on it as a 1970’s prog rock masterpiece.
Sheev – ATE’S ALCHEMIST: Overall, “Ate’s Alchemist” offers a wonderful road trip through the psyche – dark, brutally honest and yet just as damn catchy. Each song puts its own adventure at your feet (or rather “in your ear canals”): sometimes aggressive, sometimes Floyd-psychedelic, but always unpredictable and addictive
Margarita Witch Cult – STRUNG OUT IN HELL: Two years after the self title record, „MWC“ are faithful and close to their sound, which is a modern and faster version of Sabbath riffs. Loud, raw, and melodic, “Strung Out In Hell” is a very good surprise with a furious and intense rock n roll energy. You’ll never get bored because each song is a gem.
CARSON – WHEN GODS KNOW WHY: Their third full-length album is their most vibrant yet, leaning harder into the alternative rock energy the band is known for. However, the scenes do flicker between these live wire jams and moodier, darker sentiments, often within the same song.
Stoned Jesus – SONGS TO SUN: SJ return with perhaps their most ambitious and creative release to date. The attention to details doesn’t go unnoticed, nor do the heartfelt sentiments and emotions conveyed throughout. The layering and production compliment the progressive approach, elevating an already impressive album into the stratosphere.
The Lunar Effect – FORTUNE’S ALWAYS HIDING: The last stoner remnants may have almost completely disappeared into obscurity, but there is more blues, more heaviness and more classic rock elements. The band takes the proverbial next step and unpacks their next strong album. It really can be that simple sometimes.
Brimstone Coven – THE LIGHT SHINES NOT FOR THEE: Brimstone Coven have produced yet another amazing release with this output. Don’t let this one sneak past your radar, it’s a decorative and ravishing release that will be a favorite for many hard riff rock listeners. IMHO no other current band today is performing traditional doom better than these guys.
Bone Church – DELIVERANCE: While the first records leaned way more into the doom side of things, especially vibe wise, the seven songs on “Deliverance” are as party album as these guys can possibly get; more „ZZ Top“ than „Sabbath“, with other Southern Rock and rocking blues bands thrown into their already killer mix of heavy.
Maha Sohona – A DARK PLACE: I love ‚em because they’ve evolved their signature blend of heavy psych, stoner and space rock with cinematic depth, powerful riffs and hypnotic grooves. The parts are reminiscent of “Elder”, “Tool” or “Alice in Chains” and create an extensive, immersive and cathartic listening experience that can be both beautifully heavy and meditative.
But as soon as you’ve scribbled them down, the next album that you’ve completely forgotten pops up and suddenly the whole thing feels like an incomplete puzzle. Maybe I should order a continuation from me.
… and last, but finally not least, don’t forget:
„Music is healing. Music holds things together.”
– Prince Rogers Nelson

Mike:

Konzerte:

Speck – Alte Schlosserei
Steven Wilson
Brant Bjork
Stoned Jesus
SOL SONIC RIDE Cologne – Club Volta/
Astral Kompakt & Schubmodul – Alte Schlosserei
Freak Valley Festival
FVF Early Bird mit MEATBODIES & RED MESS
WDR Big Band
Speck & Kardeathian – Alte Schlosserei

Vinyl:

Temple Fang – Lifted From The Wind
Speck -Live at Freak Valley
BEAT Live: Adrian Belew, Steve Vai, Tony Levin and Danny Carey plays KING CRIMSON
A Perfekt Circle – Mer de Noms, RE
Sound of Smoke – Phases

Peter:

Volker:

Konzerte:

Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats presentato da Nell ´Ora Blue im Heimathafen Berlin Neukölln am 25.01.25 – schaurig verstörend und schön!
Focus beim Down The Hill Festival am 23.08.25 – Zeitreise mit Freudentränen und Gänsehaut
My Sleeping Karma bei sieben Auftritten – Volker in sämtlich möglichen Aggregatzuständen
The Devil And The Almighty Blues bei drei Auftritten – Die Retter des Bluesrock in dunkelbrachialsten Tönen
Coogans Bluff bei drei Auftritten – tanzen mit nackigen Füßen auf einem Teppich aus Soul und Swing
Highest Primzahl On Mars (dreimal), Speck (zweimal) und Minerall – Abflug, Abflug, Abflug
The Obsessed am 15.10. im Club Volta – knorriger geht es nicht
Erja Lyytinen im Backyard Club am 27.10. – The Queen of Slide Guitar und wir/sie hatte(n) mächtig Spaß
Kanaan (zwei mal) – jeweils 45 Minuten ProgPsychedelicStoner mit unirdisch guten Musikern
Wucan im Bora am 04.10. – mit allen Fasern mit dem 60er und 70er Jahre Rockzeug im Laufe ihrer Bandspanne immer mehr und besser gewachsen
Behemoth am 12.04. in Köln – Spektakel der polnischen Gotteslästerer
Mastodon am 12.08. in Köln – ProgstonerMetal der Extraklasse
The Baboon Show beim Rock im Wald am 24.07. – was für eine Energie
AKa Rinde alias Andrej Dietrich zweimal – Singer/Songwriter/Preacher man
Rotor (dreimal) – Rotor ist Rotor ist Rotor
Mephistofeles beim Heavy Psych Fest in Dresden- ein argentinisches Powertrio mit einem wahren Gitarrenhelden

Alben:

Minerall – Vortex Siegen

Nergal – Behemoth

Erja Lyytinen – Backyard Club

Filed under: Ankündigungen/Annoucements, Meinung, Bestenliste RBBS 2025, RockBlogBluesSpot Highlights 2025