Party San 2025 – To Hell and Back
Here we go again! Back to one of Germany’s most infamous festivals: the legendary Party San Metal Open Air. “Welcome to Hell” and “Hell is Here” aren’t just slogans — they’re a promise. At Party San, good intentions stay at the gates. We make bad decisions, meet old and new friends, hang disco balls on anything we can, and inevitably end up dancing to ABBA.
Metal Exposure (as a magazine) has been coming here since 2010-ish, and it’s one of our absolute favourite festivals. For one of the writers, this year was extra special: after ten years away, Tabitha (T), finally returned to Schlotheim — excitement high and beer in hand.
The Wednesday line was short enough to complain about but quick enough to forget, and the weather made for perfect camp-building. Soon the party tents were up, drinks flowing, and reunions in full swing. The first night was pure PS-spirit: Cuba Libre, bad singalongs, and questionable decisions. It got chilly, but in true Party San tradition the days that followed were blazing hot.
And then the music. From Party Cannon’s inflatable grind chaos to Wayfarer’s blackened Americana, Rotting Christ’s commanding anthems, and the grim spectacle of Gorgoroth ending with Chopin’s Funeral March — Party San once again proved that Hell is here. Sure, for Tabitha (T) there were lows (sorry Tiamat, sorry Triptykon), but with Ereb Altor’s Viking doom, Chaos Invocation’s ritual, and Bloodbath closing with ‘Eaten’, the highs were unforgettable. For Roel (R) highs where Tiamat (not sorry), Møl, Harakiri for the Sky (Yeah for Radiohead), Crypt Sermon, Fulci and Bloodbath. But most of all the hours spend together with friends whom I only see once or twice a year.
If Party San is Hell, then we’re happily damned!
Day One – Thursday
Thursday kicked off with us still relatively fresh. Normally there is a big party on Wednesday at our camp. But weirdly enough it did not kick of this year. So, our spirits were still high, hangovers light, and enough energy to take on the first full day of Party. San. A special day for one of the better record labels in Germany (AOP records). They provided Party. San with all the bands in the tent stage (Servant, Outlaw, Theotoxin, Firtan, Karg, Chaos Invocation and Agrypnie) and two bands on the main (The Spirit and Harakiri for the Sky).
The festival kicked off on the Main Stage with Rotpit, followed by the brutal slam of Extermination Dismemberment. Rotpit was a nice death metal starter for the festival, but Extermination Dismemberment showed up no holds barred, fusing Death Metal with industrial noises into a sound made for headbanging, slamming and jumping around. The first pit was created during the low grunts and breakdowns and many were to follow. A nice counterweight to all the black metal that was to come this day.
In the Tent Stage, the first band for T was Servant, who went straight into their set without much talk, just playing tight, no-nonsense black metal. The drums were a little too loud in the mix, but otherwise it sounded solid. The setlist was the usual, no surprises, but a good and fitting start to the weekend.
The first black metal on the mainstage of the day came with …And Oceans. A band that surprised R as they actually performed very well before a small crowd. The symphonic black metal they make, countered the colder sound of Servant. The setlist was well thought out and really flowed and directed the high energy that was on stage. The fact that they kept up the energy even though the temperature had gone up by now was impressive.
An energy that I (R) could not keep up. The heat just zapped it from your body, and you had to really be observant of your own functioning. Thankfully (T) had arrived on the festival grounds during Servant and was able to see the next few bands, while I (R) went back to the tent to sit down and keep cool.
Next up were Outlaw, who looked striking in red corpse paint. The tent filled quickly, but the sound was not optimal at the start and the performance itself felt a bit flat. A long interlude didn’t help either. Nice enough, but after a few songs it became clear that this set wasn’t going to take off.
Things picked up with Theotoxin, who kept the corpse paint streak alive but added a lot more punch. Their black/death attack was sharp and loud, finally waking up the tent properly. The sound was powerful, and the crowd responded with much more energy — more headbanging, more movement. It was the first real jolt of adrenaline of the day.
After my nice cooldown I (R) got back on the grounds just in time to see Firtan. Their combination of Pagan and black metal creating a wonderful atmosphere. The violinist helped the band create a different sound from the other bands of the day. The band closed of their set with a violin solo making it a very rounded off show that kept me there while Grand Magus started to play on the Main Stage.
Thankfully Firtan had kept me there as Grand Magus was actually a bit disappointing. A band that is very revered for their Viking infused heavy metal sound with great vocals but had a lot of problems with these vocals. The bassists’ vocals sounded off and many of the high notes by the main vocalist were either not heard, blown away or not picked up. The songs themselves still held fast and prolonged the watch time the band actually got. It made the decision to see Karg from the front very easy.
Karg delivered their Post-Black metal sound with verve. V. Wahntraum’s vocals held up and the sound (close to the stage) was excellent. The emotional intensity of the music shined through, and the tent slowly filled up. As a project of the singer of Harakiri for the Sky it is always tricky to not compare them to the bigger band. But the band held its own and definitely had their own sound and show. That being said it was a nice warm up for the Harakiri show later on in the evening. It was busy day for him any since he already made a guest appearance during Firtan their show earlier on.
After some food during Fleshgod Apocalypse (who sounded okay from afar) Chaos Invocation delivered one of the most ritualistic sets of the weekend. They opened with Wherever We Roam and later played This World Wants Us Dead, which felt almost like a black metal ballad (“blallad”, anyone?). The audience was clearly into it, with steady headbanging and even a small moshpit forming. At one point someone shouted “Satan!!” at exactly the right moment, which had the whole tent laughing while the band stayed completely stoic.
With the Karg show still on our mind Harakiri for the Sky was next on the big stage. After seven years of absence the band returned to the big stage. Now in a way better timeslot. The sun going down increased the atmosphere the band wants to put out. And the band delivered a masterclass in Post-Black metal. Creating a sound full of sorrow and grief. It all culminated in the last song of their set. Inviting P.G. of the band Groza on stage, they played a beautiful heavier rendition of the song Street Spirit (Fade out) by Radiohead. A definite highlight of the day and even the festival.
The song still in our heads, we made our way to Agrypnie in the tent. But sadly, the tent was very full, and a good spot was not found. So, with our heads bent down we went to the beer bar instead to get a beer and wait for Napalm Death.
Napalm Death did not disappoint. Even though these fellas are getting older they still bring the energy and the heavily message laden music. Barney’s message: Take care of each other and especially of those in need. Something loudly cheered upon by the crowd as Party San. Barney still walks across the stage like a bewitched Pinocchio getting everyone fired up to the grind and death noises of the band. All in all, just a great show.
Afterwards Dark Angel followed, but I (R) had decided it would be way more fun to have a party at the tents, so we went there to fire up our little music boxes and dance to wave music. This (as always) ended up being a lot of fun with a lot alcohol and dance moves straight from the 90’s.
Back to Dark Angel though, we have to confess even though they had a premiere headliner slot, we didn’t find them worthy of this. The band seems to be past their glory days, though their egos barely fitted on stage. Time to give way for some fresh blood and big names in this decade on these headliner slots. The crowd was quite thin, though the first few rows seemed to go crazy, only to be rewarded with a lot of middle fingers by the band. Respect though for the songs dedicated to founding guitarist Jim Durkin who past away in 2023.
Day Two – Friday
By Friday, the ‘still fresh’ look had faded a bit — but nothing a strong coffee (or a stronger beer) couldn’t fix. Time for grind, death, and black in the blazing sun.
It has become a Party San tradition to kick off Friday on the Main Stage with a grind band, and this year Party Cannon had the honour. By now, the whole festival knows what that means: bring your inflatables, wear something ridiculous, and dive into the circle pit with whatever random object you can find. From the first note, the pit was filled with beach balls, pool toys, and even the occasional rubber duck, all while the band hammered out their slammy goregrind. Musically brutal, visually absurd — and completely in line with Party San’s sense of humour. A chaotic, sweaty, and hilarious start of the day.
After a quick rebuild Hyperdontia followed Party Cannon on the mainstage. They created a different vibe completely. Party Cannon went for the cheap laugh, Hyperdontia just went for the fast heavy death metal riffs. As the neck was already warmed up by Party Cannon headbanging just continued to these serious sounds.
Hyperdontia was followed by the gothic stylings of The Vision Bleak. Their start was stiff, and the vocals were off-pitch throughout, but with Night of the Living Dead the crowd began to warm up, though the set never reached full power.
Crypt Sermon from Pennsylvania came next and turned things around completely. Opening with Heavy Is the Crown of Bone and moving straight into Christ Is Dead, they showed how doom-tinged heavy metal is supposed to sound. The singer was top-notch — charismatic, powerful, and in constant connection with the audience. Also wearing fabulous boots, one might add! The show was extra special, because on this day their new EP was released! Of course, they played one of their new songs Thunder (Perfect Mind) which was well received by the audience. Crypt Sermon was my (T) favourite performance of the festival!
The Main Stage then continued with another U.S. band, this time Wayfarer from Colorado. They brought one of the most mesmerising performances of the festival with their blend of black metal and Americana. The sun was blazing, which usually doesn’t combine well with black metal, but was kind of on brand with Wayfarer.
On the Tent Stage, the day continued with Heretic Warfare. A nice starter on this stage, but the endless solos got stale fast. So instead of staying for these a beer was had. Naxen followed but also disappointed.
Thankfully Hellbutcher took up the gauntlet and did his thing. The old school Nifelheim vibe never fails to grip you and shake you around. Nice to see the old men still holding trve and bringing the good stuff.
Afterwards it just got too hot, and a rest pause was needed at the tents. At the tents there were cooled beverages a chair and most of all: shade, something the festival grounds famously lack.
After missing a few bands (Brujeria was missed (fellow campsiters said it was a GREAT show)). Drudensang was up next in the tent for us. They had great songs (clean vocals were very off though), but the rituals that took place on stage were completely lost. The lack of front lights and the use of a smoke machine made it impossible to see what was going on.
Few bands feel as at home at Party San as Rotting Christ, and once again they proved why. Their set was massive — tight drums, layered riffs, and Sakis Tolis commanding the stage with the authority of a veteran. The sound was among the best of the weekend, clear and heavy enough to carry their anthems across the entire field.
The setlist leaned on fan favourites: Non Serviam, Fire, God and Fear, Elthe Kyrie, Grandis Spiritus Diavolos. When they closed with The Raven, it was the perfect ending to a commanding performance.
It’s telling that this was one of the most packed audiences of the whole weekend — much fuller and more energetic than during Triptykon’s headliner later that night. Rotting Christ felt like the real main act of Friday.
I Am Morbid brought their Morbid Angel legacy, before the headliner Triptykon playing Celtic Frost (which they also did in 2017, btw!) left the crowd divided. Expectations were high, but the performance lacked fire and the audience was smaller than earlier that evening.
Day two also needs a special shout out to the whisky bar Seven Lords for providing a nice hidey hole when in need for a bit of a bar feel. A great place to have a nice Cider/Rum/Whisky with friends and not care for the bands for a bit.
Day Three – Saturday
By Saturday, the dust, the heat, and two days of headbanging had taken their toll… at this point, there was nothing fresh about us anymore (even though there are no complaints about the sanitary services – great showers and plenty of toilets!) Fresh or no fresh, this is Party San, so the only option was to push through and go out in style, even though this did mean missing a few bands at the start of the day.
Saturday began on the Main Stage with Scalpture and Blockheads, followed by Necrowretch, who had the challenge of playing death metal in the blazing sun — with lots of pyro to add to the heat. No corpse paint, just riffs and fire, occasionally hiding in the shadows of the stage to escape the heat.
Ereb Altor brought their epic Viking doom to the Main Stage and did not disappoint. The setlist was made up of their usual live staples, starting with the instantly recognizable Valkyrian Fate. No Bathory cover this time, sadly, as A Fine Day to Die would have been a perfect ending to the show. Still, their own songs carried the weight well. The sound was heavy and atmospheric, and while the vocals weren’t always on pitch, that didn’t hurt the experience. If anything, the small imperfections made it feel rawer and more authentic, perfectly suited to their windswept, battle-worn style. It was a powerful and heartfelt show that stood out as one of the more memorable moments of the day and was well worth the sunburn!
Skeletal Remains, Pig Destroyer, and Grave followed. Pig Destroyer absolutely putting the hammer down with a hard, gory and heavy set. The crowd was limited, but the attendees did go all out with the headbanging.
Tiamat’s performance of clouds was a divider of the reviewers. On the one side was T who thought it was lackluster and a big disappointment. On the other side was R who thought it was an awesome show that just got better and better. Both agree that the start was rough and not without its hiccups. The sound was flat and missed balance. The singer also looked rough on his feet and a little shaky. But after a few songs the balance was there, and the balance was found and the sound improved. For T this meant she enjoyed a few moments, for R it meant he was thinking this might be the show of the day. Especially the moment they started singing vote for love was magical. So for R it became a nostalgic highlight while for T it ended up being one of the loser shows of the festival.
It was time for one of the most anticipated performances of the festival: the grim black metal of Gorgoroth, with Hoest (Taake) on vocal duty. Spikes, leather, and chains — he was dressed to the teeth in classic black metal gear. One detail stood out though: his leather strap contraption (let’s call it that) clearly wasn’t built for comfort, as he kept pulling at it throughout the show. It was a slightly distracting but oddly human moment in an otherwise grim spectacle. The music itself was exactly what you expect from Gorgoroth: relentless blast beats, cutting riffs, and a grim, ritualistic presence. The audience was fully immersed with plenty of headbanging and horns in the air. Not subtle, not polished — just pure black metal fury, executed with precision. As the band left the stage, Chopin’s Marche Funèbre (Funeral March) echoed across the field, wrapping the show in a chilling, almost surreal after-show atmosphere. A perfect funereal punctuation mark before the night’s final act:
Closing the festival were the Swedish death metal titans Bloodbath. I hadn’t seen them live in ages, so I had to come to terms with the fact that Nick Holmes (Paradise Lost) is now the man behind the mic. On record his performance has been praised plenty but live at Party. San his delivery felt a little different — solid, but lacking the raw oomph I associate with these songs. He was fiddling around with his voice changer and kept this going for a few songs. After three songs he made a joke about it.
The setlist itself was a death metal feast: So You Die, Brave New Hell, Breeding Death, Like Fire, Putrefying Corpse, Cancer of the Soul, Cry My Name, Outnumbering the Day, and Mock the Cross. Naturally, they ended with Eaten, which had the crowd shouting along one last time before the festival grounds fell quiet.
A strong closer on paper, and certainly not a bad show, but for me it didn’t reach the crushing heights I had hoped for.
Meanwhile during the day in the Tent Stage, Dödsrit kept the tent packed, but lacked the energy we are used to. It might be because of the sheer number of shows seen before this one that it felt like this was just another show for them. Afterwards it was time for MØL. Blackgaze with a hardcore tune to it that at first didn’t get a lot of people going. But the energy and lust of the guys on stage turned it around. The tent filled up and people got more excited. After Kvaen, Fulci closed the tent stage with tremendously hard heavy low death metal. Keeping the energy of the earlier death metal bands going. Together with Pig Destroyer the best death metal shows of the day.
In conclusion
And then it was over. Three days of dust, heat, riffs, and questionable decisions had flown by way too fast. We packed up sore, sunburned, half-broken, but grinning.
For me, coming back to Party San after ten years was something special.
It felt like I’d never been gone — the same chaos, the same warmth, the same Hell we call home. From the grind-party madness of Party Cannon to the crushing power of Rotting Christ and the surprising highlight that was Crypt Sermon, it was one of those weekends you’ll keep replaying in your head for months.
We left Schlotheim tired but happy, already counting the days until Hell opens its gates again. Party San, see you next year!
