Rock im Park 2025: Slipknot, In Flames, Spiritbox Rage in the Rain (Day 1)

Rock im Park 2025 kicked off its first day with a sold-out crowd at the Zeppelinfeld in Nuremberg, Germany. As one of the country’s largest and most anticipated rock festivals, Rock im Park welcomed approximately 75,000 attendees for its opening day. The festival grounds feature four stages: the two primary outdoor stages, where major headliners perform; a smaller indoor stage that is almost like a mini arena; and a fourth outdoor stage for the best up-and-coming acts of today.

Kris Barras Band kicked off the Atmos Stage with a solid 40-minute set, starting right as the festival gates opened. Despite the early hour and heavy rain, they managed to pull in a decent crowd, proving that fans were keen to get an early start and catch their set.

The set began with “Hail Mary,” where Kris Barras wasted no time to showcase his incredible guitar skills and gritty vocals. Next came “Ignite (Light It Up)” and “Dead Horses,” which both had a bluesy vibe with a harder rock edge. It really felt like the band were going full out, moving up and down the stage and encouraging the crowd to move and shout along too. Their enthusiasm clearly working as the crowd grew throughout the set, even despite the heavy rain.

They wrapped up their set with “Who Needs Enemies”. At this point, the crowd succumbed to the rain and began moshing and slipping in the mud – they looked like they were having the time of their lives! For an early slot, and with less-than-ideal weather, Kris Barras Band did well to draw a crowd and deliver a confident performance.

Skillet were up next, over on the Utopia Stage which is the largest stage on site. They delivered exactly what the fans were looking for – strong rock anthems with catchy choruses with moments to sing along to.

They kicked off with “Showtime” and kept things rolling with “Feel Invincible” and “Rise.” John Cooper led the band confidently, backed up by Korey Cooper, Jen Ledger, and Seth Morrison. The production wasn’t as flashy as some of their arena shows, but their performance didn’t need pyro or geysers as their stage presence and energetic performance was more than enough to deliver a standout set.

When the rain started falling yet again, the crowd didn’t seem to mind – in fact, it almost added to the whole experience. For example, during “Monster,” one of their biggest songs, people sang along loudly and got on one another’s shoulders. Pits opened up throughout the crowd and surfers made their way to the front. Some brave members of the crowd dove into puddles of mud, making the most of the bad weather.

Other songs like “Awake and Alive,” “Hero,” and “Comatose” were popular with the crowd too. They closed the set with “The Resistance,” ending on a perfect note that distracted everyone from the less than perfect weather. All in all, Skillet delivered a solid set that gave the crowd exactly what they wanted. Nothing surprising, but a reliable and well-executed performance that kept the audience engaged – even with the rain coming down.

The sun finally came out for Spiritbox’s mid afternoon set as they took to the massive Utopia Stage. Spiritbox have been steadily on the up and today they were playing to a crowd of approximately 50,000 people.

Kicking things off with “Fata Morgana” from their new album Tsunami Sea, they set the tone early – intense and heavy. Courtney LaPlante’s voice was as impressive as ever, switching effortlessly between clean vocals and full-on growls.

The band sounded tight from start to finish. Mike Stringer’s guitar work stood out, mixing intricate riffs with dreamy chords that complimented Courtney’s vocals perfectly.

Fan favourites like “Circle With Me” and “Cellar Door” got big reactions from the crowd. “Circle With Me” had people moshing and singing along, and “Cellar Door” brought the set to a huge finish with LaPlante’s vocals really hitting home. People who’ve seen them on this run of shows have said they’re incredibly polished live, and that definitely came across here.

All in all, Spiritbox proved they’re more than capable of owning a big festival stage.

It was now time for Spiritual Cramp to hit the Atmos Stage – the smallest stage on site, nestled amongst the trees just off the path on the way to the main stage. It’s a perfect setting for any up and coming band as it gives them the opportunity to draw in the crowds on their way to the main arena.

For those unfamiliar with Spiritual Cramp’s style, they mix a range of genres which creates a groovy punk sound that could attract a broad audience. Right from the first track, the band came out with their mix of punk and funk. Songs like “I Feel Bad Bein’ Me” and “The Erasure” had just the right mix of grit and groove. Frontman Michael Bingham was in his element – jumping between sneering vocals and interacting with the crowd. He’s got that rare ability to be chaotic and totally focused the same time.

The whole band sounded on point. Guitars were sharp and punchy, the bass and drums kept everything grounded, and the random tambourine hits somehow just worked. Their energy was infectious – no backing tracks, no filler, just proper live music. The crowd, growing steadily throughout the set, responded too. There was loads of movement, with a few pits breaking out and people properly getting into it. The band clearly fed off that, pushing even harder as the set went on.

All in all, Spiritual Cramp didn’t just show up – they made a real statement. Loud, sweaty, and unfiltered, they turned their slot into a highlight. Definitely a band to keep an eye on.

Bullet for My Valentine attracted a massive crowd to Rock Im Park’s biggest stage, and from the moment they walked on, it was clear they were out to make a lasting impact. The crowd stretched as far as the eye could see, but somehow the band made it feel personal – they all spent much of the set making eye contact with the audience. Even from a distance, it felt like they were performing directly to you.

The band powered through a set full of fan favourites, like “Your Betrayal” and “4 Words (To Choke Upon)”, which had the crowd shouting every word back. But it was “Tears Don’t Fall” that created the most powerful moment of the set. As the opening chords rang out, the skies opened and the rain came pouring down. Instead of dampening the mood, it added something special. The downpour almost felt like part of the show, with the light bouncing off the gigantic raindrops like a natural light show.

In the end, soaked through and smiling, fans left knowing they’d witnessed one of the most memorable sets of the weekend.

With over three decades behind them, In Flames came into Rock Im Park as one of the most anticipated acts of the weekend – and they knew it. For many in the crowd, this was the set they were waiting for, and with that kind of legacy, expectations were high.Hitting the Mandora Stage, In Flames kicked things off with “Pinball Map” and “Deliver Us”, then included newer material like “Meet Your Maker” that proved they’re not just coasting on nostalgia.

Anders Fridén’s vocals were commanding, and his ability to hold a crowd of thousands while still making it feel personal was genuinely impressive. You could see fans of all ages had been waiting it out in the rain to catch a glimpse of this bands – T-shirts lined the front barrier and many sang along to every word.

In Flames had a lot to live up to, and they delivered. No gimmicks, no over-the-top production – just a band at the top of their game, still hungry, still powerful, and still one of the best to do it.

Before Slipknot took the stage at Rock im Park, there was a noticeable shift in the atmosphere. You could tell the crowd was bracing itself for one of the heaviest sets of the day. The eerie intro notes of “742617000027” started playing, creating a tense mood. Many members of the crowd began shouting excitedly and some already began opening up moshpits before the band had even taken to the stage.

As the band walked out, many fans noticed that Clown was missing from the lineup – a situation that’s been happening regularly at recent shows. Despite his absence, the rest of the band delivered a performance full of aggression. They kicked off with “(sic),” a fitting start that immediately got the crowd going.

They went on to play a great mix of their biggest hits and fan favorites. One standout moment was “Psychosocial,” during which the crowd got particularly rough, with mosh pits getting bigger and bigger. Although the atmosphere was a little tense at times, the crowd still looked after one another – picking up anyone who fell down and properly supporting those who chose to attempt to crowd surf.

Midway through the set, just before “The Heretic Anthem,” Corey started the now-classic chant, “If you’re 555, then I’m 666,” and the crowd completely lost it. It’s one of those iconic moments Slipknot fans always look forward to, and with thousands shouting it back through the pouring rain and thick mud, it really made everyone feel like true maggots.

Later in the set, “Duality” arrived just before the encore, sparking a massive singalong and more intense movement in the pit. The encore itself wrapped up the show perfectly, with the biggest mosh pits of the entire weekend opening up as Slipknot closed out their performance.

Their set was a solid, chaotic but polished show. Even without Clown, the band proved why they continue to be one of the most compelling live acts in nu metal.

Rock Im Park returns on June 5th to June 7th 2026. For more details visit the Official Rock Im Park Website.

Our photographer Lorna Leahy Photography was on hand to capture some highlights throughout the first day. Check out the gallery here.

Rock im Park @ Zeppelinfeld (Nuremberg, Germany) on June 6th, 2025 (Day One)

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