Another year has gone by and while I normally be a twin sister to the Grinch when it comes to the whole end of the year thing. This is probably the first year since who knows that I actually feel a bit of joy in December. Let’s call it a Christmas Miracle for now.
While looking back on this years music and concerts, I couldn’t really choose between making a release list only or a gigs only list. So I thought let’s mix the two together.
So here you go. My yearlist filled with amazing and memorable moments in chronological order cause there is not really one favorite this time. (maybe there is but I will let you decide)
Enemy Inside – Venom
The third album released by this German metal band with leading lady Nastassja Giulia was the first review I wrote this year. You can read the full review here. And safe to say, I still listen to some songs from the album because it’s so different from their previous two albums. This and the fact I saw them live in Utrecht in April and at Wacken Open Air really gives this band an honorable place in the list this year.
Twenty One Pilots – Clancy World Tour Amsterdam
The second time I saw this band live. The first time was back in 2019 for the Bandito tour. Around that time my own mental health started to get worse, probably the reason why Trench was and still is such a meaningfull album cause I recognize myself in the lyrics. But fast forward to April 2025. I am in a much better place at the moment and I was at the tour to celebrate everything with my friends. For me it felt like a full circle moment and the whole vibe during the concert was amazing.
Yungblud – Idols
The first part of a two piece set which he started 4 years ago. All the ins and outs can be figured out here It’s safe to say that 2025 is the year of Dominic Harrison and even on this year’s list he has 3 times a spot. Since the release of ”Idols” it has been on my list non stop and my all time favourites are: ”Zombie”, ”Ghosts” and ”War”.
Linkin Park – From Zero World Tour Arnhem
This concert was a special one. Cause I actually had tickets for the last Linkin Park concert in the Ziggodome. But due to circumstances I wasn´t able to attend. And we all know what happened after it. So I was pretty determined to attend this concert and it exceeded my expectations. I thought it was pretty good and it really felt Linkin Park entered a new phase and era and I really have good hopes for this band.
Iron Maiden – Run For Your Lives Tour Arnhem
A special concert cause I gave this to my dad for his 60th birthday. A little dad and daughter trip. And a meetup with a very good and dear group of friends I met during the Book of Souls tour. Little did I know it would been the last time I would actually see one of my friends from that group. He sadly passed away in october due to some sickness and I will now always cherise this concert and all the lovely and amazing memories we created together. Now about the show itself. It was pretty good, the audience was a bit boring in all fairness. The majority of the people was standing still and barely moved. The decorpieces were different than what Iron Maiden normally uses and it felt new and refreshing. I want to give the new drummer Simon Dawson a big compliment cause he had some big shoes to fill after the departure of Nicko Mcbrain, who is very loved by the fans, but he really did an amazing job on this tour.
Wacken Open Air
The hardest part will be to give a summary of all the amazing moments I created at this festival. Read my first time experience here.
But eventhough I was almost completely covered in mud and my tent ended up in a spa experience for rubber ducks. Wacken 2025 will be a memory I will never forget. What are the odds of meeting someone with who you feel an instant connection with? Well I did. But besides finding love at Wacken Open Air I saw some amazing bands live like Papa Roach, Saltatio Mortis, Bad Loverz, Miracle of Sounds and many more. Really looking forward to Wacken 2026.
Twenty One Pilots – Breach
The final album to conclude a decade of story telling. Clancy his story has come to an end or has it not? Spoiler alert for all the Twenty One Pilots fans: It’s a never ending cycle in which you make a decision every day on which side of the story you want to be and how you deal with it. And I think they couldn’t have finished it in any better way. Because everyone with mental health issues and struggles know. That dealing with your own mind is a daily battle/ struggle with better days in it.
Yungblud – Idols World Tour Amsterdam
The show that was mostly about the new album Idols but we got a live version of ”My Only Angel” and ”Changes” aswell. A classic show with plenty of Yungblud energy. Funny part was me and my friend ended up on the local radiostation and we got a special gift from Yungblud. He made a little ghost drawing for us and we got it tattooed a month later.
Sabaton – Legends
History is full with amazing legends and who else than Sabaton are the perfect teachers to teach us all about it. The full lecture is available online here. But I must admit, the first few times I listened to it I was a bit megh about it. Some stuff feels a bit repeated in all fairness but the more I listen now to the album and the songs. The more I am actually now starting to like it and it´s safe to say I keep adding more and more songs to my list now. My favourites are: ”Hordes of Khan”, ”Maid of Steel” and ”I, Emperor”.
Yungblud and Aerosmith – One More Time
The third and final spot for mister Yungblud on this list. A lovely and surprising collab with the boys from Aerosmith. My hyped up review from earlier on is a piece i’m still proud of. Cause there is absolutely nothing wrong with the EP and all the songs are lovely. I really hope we can expect more surprising collabs between old rockstars and the next generation. What a better way to combine the old with the new.
Citizen Soldier – European Tour Amsterdam
A small little gig in the Melkweg. A very special one for myself. I discovered this band during a very dark and bad period in my life. And I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t without the help of their music. So I was determined to attend this gig. Funny story I discovered their touring schedule while I was queuing for Twenty One Pilots, the other band that helped me get through everything. The concert felt like a massive group therapy session. Tissues were handed over by strangers in the crowd and I have never seen so many people cry their eyes out and also get hugged and loved by other people in the crowd. It was a beautiful experience and I really can’t wait till I can see them again live.
Sabaton – The Legendary Tour Amsterdam
My first time seeing Sabaton live. I didn’t had any idea what to expect this time. They announced they would bring a orchestra with them on this tour and I thought maybe they play the whole concert with the orchestra. But it was different. The orchestra was the pre show and we got treated by powerfull and smashing concert from the boys. An amazing experience. The stage, the legendary figures and all the stage props were absolutely amazing and it felt like a full story telling experience. I am myself a huge history nerd and seeing that combined with heavy metal. Felt like an early christmas gift.
And with that final performance my end of the yearlist has come to an end and with that I can say another year of amazing new music, gigs and amazing memories. Moments of full circles, hard times coming to and end, creating new experiences, finding new love and losing loved ones aswell.
I really wanna wish you the best holidays you can have, creating amazing new memories with people you feel comfortable around and wish you all the best in 2026
