Ministry are the forefathers of industrial metal – a band that emerged from the synth-pop beginnings of the early 80s to create a sound so brutal and mechanical that it influenced entire genres. Al Jourgensen, the walking enfant terrible, transformed electronic beats into thunderous walls of guitar, paving the way for acts such as Nine Inch Nails, Rammstein and Fear Factory. Classics such as ‘Stigmata’ and ‘Jesus Built My Hotrod’ were disturbing and fascinating at the same time – a mixture of punk rage, metal heaviness and technoid rhythms. Ministry shows are assaults on the senses: bright lights, booming bass, distorted vocals and an apocalyptic atmosphere that is second to none. After ten years, they return to the Wacken field to celebrate their industrial life one last time – a unique spectacle for anyone who wants to feel the pulse of the machine age.

Static-X brought a new kind of noise to the metal world in the late 1990s. They called their mix of industrial beats, heavy guitars and a dark, electric atmosphere ‘Evil Disco’. Frontman Wayne Static founded the band together with drummer Ken Jay, moved from Chicago to Los Angeles and achieved surprise success with their debut album ‘Wisconsin Death Trip’. Songs like ‘Push It’ and ‘I’m with Stupid’ combined machine-like precision with unbridled energy and made Static-X stars of the nu metal era. After Wayne’s tragic death in 2014, the remaining members found a way to carry on his legacy and preserve the essence of their music. Today, every concert sounds like an infernal dance in the engine room. A hot, mercilessly grooving monument to a musician who sought new paths until the very end.

Grave Digger have been a rock in the surf of German heavy metal for 45 years. Founded in 1980 by Chris Boltendahl, the Teutonic metalheads have made history with albums such as ‘Heavy Metal Breakdown’ and ‘Tunes of War’ and are still tirelessly on the road today. Their songs sound like battle cries full of pathos, power and unmistakable riff violence. For their 45th anniversary, they are bringing the full force of the Grave Digger myth to Wacken: a journey through almost half a century of metal with all the anthems that have shaped generations. On the hallowed ground, they celebrate themselves – loud, proud, uncompromising – and show that true heavy metal is timeless and hasn’t gotten any quieter.

Prong have been an integral part of the New York metal scene since the mid-1980s and were one of the first bands to fuse thrash, hardcore, industrial and groove. Led by guitarist and singer Tommy Victor, the band shaped a sound with albums such as ‘Beg to Differ’ and ‘Cleansing’ that later influenced greats such as Nine Inch Nails and Korn. Prong songs are like steel beams: edgy, heavy and full of energy, with riffs that drill into your brain. Their latest work, State of Emergency, shows that they have lost none of their punch. In Wacken, they will make hell groove – powerful, precise and with the attitude of a band that has never known anything but charging forward.

Apocalyptica started out in 1993 as four students who played Metallica songs on their cellos for fun, creating a completely new sound that irrevocably fused classical music and metal. Their debut made them pioneers, and their courage to write their own pieces and engage in spectacular collaborations made them kings of a new art form. Millions of fans later, they stand as legends on the world’s biggest stages. When they return to Wacken in 2025, their mix of elegance and brute energy will electrify the crowd: four cellos that rumble like thunder and songs that strike the head and heart at the same time.

PENNYWISE, born and bred in sunny California, has been rocking stages since 1988, helping to lead the punk renaissance of the nineties. Their smash hit album “About Time” in 1994 was a game-changer, propelling them to new heights of success. With the charismatic Jim Lindberg at the helm, the band still brings the heat, keeping their sound as fierce and magnetic as day one.

n recent years, Imminence, the Swedish alternative metalcore band, has carved out its own distinctive brand and exceeded genre expectations. By blending classic string arrangements with Scandinavian metal influences, the band’s musical and visual realm emerges as one of the most innovative and thrilling entities in the global metal scene.

The all-female band Vixen emerged during the glory days of glam metal. Best-known for hits such as “Cryin’” and “Edge of a Broken Heart,” Vixen is recognized as one of the best pivotal bands in rock music. Their intense tour activity included this unmissable concert at Wacken Festival.

If you’ve always wanted to know what a mixture of Jamaican sounds like paired with metal guitars, punk and drum and bass, you shouldn’t miss Skindred. With 14 albums through its career, the band celebrates its 25th birthday with the new album “Smile”. It is all about fun!

Charlotte Jane is probably the best new voice the UK has to offer right now. Her musical career started at the age of three in her grandparents‘ soul band, shortly after she began writing her own songs and Lewis Capaldi calls her „one of the fucking greatest things in the world.“ In 2019, the young Brit impresses with vocal power and terrific songwriting on her debut EP „Nowhere To Hide,“ and with the singles „All My Life“ and „Down Days,“ which are streamed millions of times, she underscores her ambition to soon be a big one