The first edition of Rock Hard Festival Greece will take place in Athens, Greece on September 12 and 13, 2025. The festival features a one-off world exclusive performance of Candlemass featuring former vocalist Messiah Marcolin! This will be the first (and only) time in over 20 years that Messiah has performed live with the band.
Today, organizers reveal the final bands confirmed for the festival.
The mighty Swedish heavy metal warriors, HammerFall (pictured at top), are set to bring their thunderous anthems to Athens as the headliners of the inaugural Rock Hard Festival Greece! Taking place at Technopolis City of Athens on September 12-13, 2025, this two-day metal extravaganza will celebrate 20 years of Rock Hard in Greece with an epic lineup of international heavy metal legends.
Fresh off the release of their latest album, Avenge The Fallen, HammerFall returns stronger than ever. With an arsenal of classic anthems and new material that embodies their signature sound, the band is ready to deliver an electrifying headline performance that will shake the foundations of Athens, 7 years after their last performance in Greece.
Since their groundbreaking debut “Glory To The Brave” in 1997, HammerFall has been a dominant force in the heavy metal scene. Their arrival signalled a resurgence of traditional metal at a time when the genre was struggling for mainstream attention. Led by founding guitarist Oscar Dronjak and powerhouse vocalist Joacim Cans, the band revitalized the spirit of classic heavy metal with soaring melodies, galloping riffs, and anthemic choruses.
Their sophomore release, Legacy Of Kings (1998), cemented their status as one of the most promising acts of the era, leading to high-profile tours. Over the years, they have released a string of critically acclaimed albums, from Renegade and Crimson Thunder to more recent masterpieces like Hammer of Dawn and Avenge The Fallen. Songs like “Hearts On Fire”, “Let The Hammer Fall”, “Blood Bound” and “Any Means Necessary” have become anthems for metalheads worldwide.
With their relentless passion for traditional heavy metal and a reputation for delivering high-energy performances, HammerFall is the perfect choice to lead the charge at the first-ever Rock Hard Festival Greece. Fans can expect an electrifying setlist packed with legendary hits, fan favorites, and new anthems.
Join metalheads from across the world for this historic event and witness the might of HammerFall as they will be one of the headliners at Rock Hard Festival Greece 2025. Get ready to raise your fists, bang your heads, and let the hammer fall!
Are you ready for the heavy metal miracle? The masters of melodic power metal, Heavens Gate will be playing for one and only time at Rock Hard Festival Greece!
Nobody thought this would ever happen, so grab this opportunity to watch for what may be the last time, some classic masterpieces played live by Sascha Paeth, Bonny Bilski, Thorsten Müller and Robert Hunecke of Heavens Gate.
After almost 25 years, the heavy metal community will come together to pay tribute to one of the best power metal bands. Their albums In Control, Livin’ In hysteria, Hell For Sale and Planet E. were the epitome of powerful, creative and melodic metal and for a decade, Heavens Gate were on the peak of the German metal scene. Even though they stopped touring and releasing music, everyone has been asking for a comeback, because fans are eager to listen to their timeless classics.
Out of Wolfsburg, the long-haired youngsters could not expect the impact they would make when starting in the late eighties, but their world-class songwriting and innovative style, transported Heavens Gate to power metal leaders into the nineties, recognized by peers and fans worldwide.
Heavens Gate will join the current band of Sascha Paeth, Masters Of Ceremony, who will play for the first time in Greece. Sascha Paeth’s Masters Of Ceremony came out of nowhere in 2022 to release their amazing debut album. A versatile record from world class musicians with a modern sound, that showcases the virtuosity of the guitarist and the tremendous range of Adrienne Cowen. Being the rising star with her tremendous vocal range and growls, Adrienne has lead Seven Spires and earned a permanent spot in Avantasia. The band, as the name implies, is the creative child of guitar hero and power metal guru Sascha Paeth, who has been the producer, guitarist and reliable alter-ego of Tobias Sammet in Avantasia. Their show will be an explosive showcase of their capabilities. Adrienne will take over vocal duties on the Heavens Gate songs together with another Wolfsburg legend, Herbie Langhans, the vocal powerhouse of Greek metal export Firewind on this unprecedented metal event of the year.
The news of this one and only performance by Heavens Gate, will strike hard the hearts of all true metal fans of this genre, who never expected to see them playing live again. ONLY in Rock Hard Festival Greece!
The electrifying all-female heavy metal sensation, Cobra Spell, is set to make their highly anticipated Greek debut at Rock Hard Festival Greece 2025! On September 12-13 at Technopolis City of Athens, the festival will witness the first-ever performance of this international sleaze rock powerhouse on Greek soil, delivering a high-energy spectacle packed with 80s-inspired metallic rock anthems.
Founded in 2019 by virtuoso guitarist Sonia Anubis (ex-Crypta, ex-Burning Witches), Cobra Spell has rapidly risen as one of the most exciting new acts in the heavy metal scene. With a lineup completed by powerhouse vocalist Kristina Vega, Twitch streamer and guitar shredder Noelle dos Anjos, drum dynamo Hale Naphtha, and the thunderous bass of Roxy Herrera, the band embodies pure feminine strength and a fearless attitude that commands the stage.
Following the release of their critically acclaimed debut album 666 via Napalm Records in December 2023, Cobra Spell has been on a mission to dominate the global rock scene. Their music, infused with untamed energy and unapologetic sleaze metal spirit, channels the essence of 80s rock ‘n’ roll while adding a fresh, modern twist.
Having previously toured alongside legends such as Ross The Boss, Enforcer, and Evil Invaders, Cobra Spell now brings their explosive stage presence to Greece for the first time. Fans can expect an electrifying set filled with blistering guitar solos, high-voltage vocals, and an unstoppable energy that will leave Athens in awe. Get ready to witness the power of Cobra Spell at Rock Hard Festival Greece 2025 – a performance that promises to be fierce, fiery, and unforgettable!
The explosive modern hard rockers Ganzi Gun are set to kick off Rock Hard Festival Greece 2025! On September 12-13, at Technopolis City of Athens, the Athenian band will bring their dynamic presence and signature American heavy rock sound to a set filled with energy, melody, and relentless intensity.
With tracks like “Aggressive Response”, featuring renowned actor Pygmalion Dadakarides, along with songs from both of their albums, the band promises a captivating live performance packed with modern hard rock and electrifying performances.
Drawing inspiration from bands such as Shinedown, Nickelback, and Metallica, Ganzi Gun has crafted a distinct, powerful sound of their own. With each performance, they prove themselves as one of the strongest forces in the Greek hard rock scene.
Get ready for a heavy, high-energy show – Ganzi Gun are coming to Rock Hard Festival Greece 2025, ready to make the night unforgettable!
Those 4 new bands on the 2025 bill will come in addition to the eight previously announced artists:
– Candlemass ft. Messiah Marcolin – World Exclusive Reunion Performance
– Overkill
– Gus G. & Friends
– Innerwish
– The Crypt
– Battleroar
– Roy Khan & Tore Østby of Conception – Acoustic Performance Exclusive To V.I.P. Ticket Holders
– Daniel Gildenlöw & Johan Hallgren of Pain Of Salvation – Acoustic Performance Exclusive To V.I.P. Ticket Holders
Available for purchase now are:
– 2-Day standard tickets (only 3,700 tickets available)
– 2-Day VIP tickets (only 300 tickets available)
Further details on the tickets are available here.
Further details about the festival lineup is available here.
(Cobra Spell photo – Raquel Garcia)
