Outdoor event featuring a bonfire, crocus flowers, and Gotthard, creates a castle garden ambiance that resonates powerfully with hard rock music enthusiasts
In the picturesque town of Tettnang, the air was filled with the thundering beats of drums and the electrifying screams of guitar solos as hard rock and metal bands took to the stage. The audience was in high spirits, singing along heartily at times and even throwing beach balls during the performances.
The Swiss hard rock scene may not be as commercially dominant as some other countries’, but it certainly has its standout acts. One such band is Coroner, a thrash metal pioneer that formed in Zürich in 1983. Known for their complex, progressive music blending thrash metal with classical, avant-garde, jazz, and industrial metal elements, Coroner is credited as one of the pioneers in the progressive metal realm. Their influential albums like Punishment for Decadence (1988), No More Color (1989), Mental Vortex (1991), and Grin (1993) have left a lasting impact on the metal underground. After a long hiatus, Coroner reunited in 2010 and is scheduled to release their first studio album in 32 years, Dissonance Theory, in October 2025.
Paleface Swiss, a more recent addition to the Swiss metal scene, has also gained international recognition. Their song "Cursed" reached number seven on the global Spotify metal charts, highlighting their impact on the global metal scene.
As the night progressed, the stage was shared by two of Switzerland's most successful hard rock bands: Gotthard and Krokus. Gotthard, the most successful Swiss rock band in terms of records sold and number one albums, leans more towards hard rock and pop, with keyboardist Ernesto Ghezzi contributing to their sound. Their performances were action-packed, with both singers interacting a lot with the audience.
Krokus, founded in 1975, is another powerhouse of Swiss hard rock. The older members of Krokus, including Chris von Rohr, born in 1951, showed great enthusiasm for their music. Krokus has reached the top of the Swiss charts, played at popular festivals, and sold 15 million records, earning awards and honors from Sony Music.
Both bands occasionally reference AC/DC in their music, and their performances at the Tettnang festival were a testament to their enduring appeal. The audience enjoyed well-known songs from both bands, such as Gotthard's "Higher", "Starlight", "Mountain Mama", "Hush", and "Boom Boom", and Krokus' "Headhunter", "Fire", "Rockin' In Da Free World", "Heatstrokes", and "Live For The Action".
The security had their hands full at the festival due to the lively audience, but despite some disagreements in audience zones, it's likely that festivals with harder sounds and an older audience can indeed be quite peaceful in Tettnang. Some festival-goers traveled from other parts of Germany, Switzerland, and Austria to attend the concert, and many expressed excitement about future concerts, such as a December show in Zurich for the final tour stop of Gotthard.
In conclusion, the Tettnang festival was a celebration of Swiss hard rock and metal, showcasing the pioneering influence of bands like Coroner and the current success of bands like Paleface Swiss, as well as the enduring appeal of established acts like Gotthard and Krokus. The lively audience, despite some minor issues, added to the overall excitement and energy of the event.
Regionally, the Swiss metal scene has flourished with standout acts like Coroner and Paleface Swiss making a global impact in the entertainment industry. The music of these bands, ranging from progressive metal to hard rock, continues to captivate audiences and leave a lasting impression, with sports-like enthusiasm evident at their performances.
