If someone asked me whether our country needs another metal music festival, I would probably say no – we don’t need another festival, we need better organization of the existing ones. Now, however, I know that Greece needed this SPECIFIC festival, which showed the way forward for the rest.

The passion of Sakis Fragos and the expertise of the Swedish co-organizers created an ideal combination that delivered an equally ideal festival. Things didn’t start well for me, since a procedural problem meant I missed GANZI GUN (sorry guys, next time…). When I finally entered Technopolis shortly after 6:15 p.m. and started walking around the venue, I realized something good had been built. Beyond the music, which was of course the heart of it, we must emphasize the excellent organization. There were multiple food, beer and water stands, a merch stand with goodies from the bands playing at the festival (though the POS connection was problematic), and most impressively, a rich bazaar full of records, clothes, and other metal gadgets that emptied our wallets. Add to this the signing sessions, reminiscent of major international festivals, where HAMMERFALL, OVERKILL, GUS G. and THE CRYPT greeted fanns with smiles, signed anything handed to them and posed for countless photos.

Friday, September 12

As far as the music is concerned… the first band I managed to catch was COBRA SPELL, Sonia Anubis’s almost all-female band (with the exception of guitarist Adri Funeirailles). Their blend of modern yet nitage-tinged polished metal, combined with polished stage presence, won the crowd over – even under the punishing sun. At this point, we should mention that one of the strongest points of the day, and of the festival as a whole, was that the first bands did not have to play in front of 30 people but metalheads honored them all from the beginning and showed up in numbers. The venue itself helped since there was plenty of shade in various parts of Technopoli and many many activites to fill the time between sets.

Next came one of my personal favorites, INNERWISH, in a very importan period for them as they celebrate 30 years of existence and prepare to give their biggest headline show in November. Their appearance at Rock Hard served as a perfect teaser to this live show and confirmed that they are one of the best bands of their kind in our country. Superb sound (over the two days), tight cohesion, and effortless stage presence. Well, that’s 30 years of experience. Expecting a full best-of set in November.

However, the highlight of the first day was, without doubt, OVERKILL. The American veterans of Thrash Metal drew the largest crowd, many of whom were there just for them. And of course, the main attraction was their charismatic frontman, Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth, who—despite nearing 70 and enduring health struggles—was unstoppable. In their 75-minute set, we heard anthems like “Rotten to the Core”, “Bring Me the Night”, “In Union We Stand”, and the furious closer “Fuck You”, which ignited the venue into chaos. A massive mosh pit raged almost from the start, resulting in a few broken bones and bruises (take care, guys!). With our ears still pleasantly ringing, OVERKILL’s performance came to an end.

After a short break, the Swedish war machine HAMMERFALL stormed the stage. Some fans left after OVERKILL, but that was a mistake. Even if Power Metal isn’t your favorite, you can’t deny HAMMERFALL’s consistency and power. Their set opened with “Avenge the Fallen” (from last year’s album), while “Hammer High”, “(We Make) Sweden Rock”, and encore “Hearts on Fire” turned Technopolis into a furnace. Just after 11:30 p.m., HAMMERFALL bid farewell, and we all began preparing for Day 2.

Saturday, September 13

The second day of the festival started very early for the VIP-Ticket holders with the two acoustic shows by CONCEPTION (Roy Khan and Tore Ostby) and PAIN OF SALVATION (Daniel Gildenlow and Johan Hallgren). This was an innovation rarely, if ever, seen in a Greek Festival. The rest of us arrived a little after 5 p.m. to catch on stage the mighty BATTLEROAR. For the last 1.5 year everywhere I go I see in front of me Michalis Karasoulis, an amazing singer who was recruited by BATTLEROAR. Michalis proved that the epic element suits him perfectly and BATTLEROAR that are made for big stages. They also announced a new album in works, their first since “Codex Epicus” in 2018, A busy 2026 awaits! We don’t mind at all…!

Then came a surprise highlight: Swedish heavy/doom metallers THE CRYPT. All eyes were on vocalist Pepper, clad in her imposing stage costume. Ideally, I’d like to see them in a dark, indoor venue, but even under the blazing Athenian sun, they created their trademark ominous atmosphere. Catchy songs, theatrical presence, and clear artistic vision—it all clicked.

Next on stage was a band consisting of members of HEAVENS GATE and MASTERS OF CEREMONY, Sascha Paeth’s current band. Initially, Adrienne Cowen of SEVEN SPIRES took on the role of vocals and then she was followed by the one and only Herbie Langhans of FIREWIND. The set they chose to perform on stage was very entertaining and uplifting, with highlights including “Livin’ in Hysteria” and “Can’t Stop Rockin’,” in which the two singers appeared together on stage. Certainly, the reappearance and perhaps last appearance of HEAVENS GATE after about 25 years can be considered one of the musical events of the year.

Shortly before the end of the festival, it was time for Gus G and his guests to take the stage. Roy Khan and Tore Ostby took their places to perform CONCEPTION’s “Roll The Fire,” with Gus G adding his own touches, of course. Next up was Gus’s long-time collaborator, Ronnie Romero, with whom he released a song a short while ago, “My Premonition.” Beyond that, of course, we also heard RAINBOW (“Kill The King”) and BLACK SABBATH, and of course we honored Ozzy by chanting his name rhythmically. Somewhere in between, David Ellefson, the former bassist of MEGADETH, also appeared… as if the festival hadn’t spoiled us enough!

After a 30 minute recess, time stopped. Or rather, it turned back about 20 years when the legendary Messiah Marcolin made his third and last (?) appearance with CANDLEMASS. For many fans, Marcolin is the voice of Candlemass, and his entrance proved why. He unleashed such intense headbanging early on that he collapsed on stage—only to laugh it off and keep going, promising not to fall again. His passion electrified the crowd, supported flawlessly by the rest of the band. Technopolis shook under the roar of Greek and foreign fans (many had traveled specifically for this exclusive show). “Samarithan”, “Bewitched”, and “Crystal Ball” (notably the first song ever performed by this lineup) were monumental. The closing “Solitude” drove fans into a frenzy. Honestly, even if they had closed with “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”, the reaction would have been the same. Whether this performance was a one-off remains uncertain—rumors suggest tensions between Marcolin and the band—but we can only hope history repeats itself.

Final thoughts.

After this year’s success, it’s safe to say Rock Hard is here to stay. Even the organizers likely didn’t expect such a large turnout, especially on Saturday. The real challenge now is how to top this year, since Sakis Fragos has made it clear he doesn’t want Rock Hard to become “just another festival.” The bar is high—and we expect pleasant surprises every year. See you in 2026…

P.S. 1: The following day, CONCEPTION played a surprise acoustic, mini- show on the historic Dionysiou Areopagitou Street. Under Parthenon’s shadow. Magical…

P.S. 2: A sign of the festival’s success was how the great musicians themselves—accustomed to the world’s biggest stages—reacted like fans when watching their peers, mingling comfortably among us with smiles and joy.

Live Correspondent: Kostas Boudoukos