Four days of relentless guitars, genre-smashing performances, and yes—a generous helping of Swedish summer rain—came together for a festival that was anything but predictable.
WEDNESDAY – Baptism By Fire (And Rain)
Sweden Rock has always had a knack for the unexpected, and 2025’s opening act proved just that. The Swedish legends-in-the-making Korslagda Kukar drew a massive early crowd at the Blåkläder Stage. With a name that dared the stiff to look away, they delivered a chaotic, charged-up set that felt less like an opener and more like a challenge: top this. As the energy in the crowd built steadily, Skillet cranked it up a notch, their theatrical hard rock igniting the stage under perfect skies. Signs Of The Swarm answered the call with a set that could’ve melted concrete. Deep gutturals, precision blasts, and crowd energy that bordered on violent devotion.
The real surprise came with Nothing More. Their dynamic performance—part alt-metal, part art-rock freakout, was both technically brilliant and emotionally raw. There’s always one band that seems to convert a skeptical crowd into followers; this year, it was them.
Jinjer brought the pain and poetry in equal measure, with vocalist Tatiana Shmayluk moving like a storm front between beauty and brutality.
But the evening’s scale shifted dramatically with Within Temptation, who proved once again why they remain symphonic metal royalty. Towering vocals, dystopian visuals, and a polished sonic assault that hit hard without ever feeling sterile. Then came the deluge—the skies cracked open and dumped a biblical amount of rain. Just before Slipknot, the skies cleared, and the rain stopped. Their set was pure intensity: tight, relentless, and electrifying. The crowd surged, energy crackled, and the band delivered a performance that was both fierce and flawless. This was Slipknot at their peak—raw, powerful, and unstoppable.
King Diamond closed out the night like some gothic specter summoned by the storm. His falsetto echoed across sodden fields, backed by haunting visuals and a band as sharp as his on-stage theatrics. It was theatrical metal at its most mesmerizing.
THURSDAY – Rising Stars And Punk Royalty
By Thursday, the rain had calmed, but the energy was still sky-high. It started off with the buzz of an up-and-coming band 802 who tore through their set with the fire of a group ready to make their mark. Their mix of classic rock influences with modern energy left no doubt that this was a band to watch.
Next, Goodnight Greatness kept the vibe alive with their energetic rock sound—punchy, hard-hitting rock ’n’ roll that makes you want to throw your fist in the air.
Slomosa followed with a deep, groove-laden set. Their slow-burning stoner rock filled the air with thick, atmospheric riffs.
Moonspell delivered a moody, hypnotic set that felt custom-made for the slate-grey skies. The Portuguese veterans brought fire to the drizzle with style and a surprising edge.
One of the day’s most buzzed-about performances came from The Warning. The young Mexican power trio commanded the stage like veterans. No gimmicks, no filler, just raw talent and total control.
Then came the wild card: Sex Pistols resurrected and recharged with Frank Carter stepping in on vocals. It was equal parts nostalgia and nuclear-grade energy. Carter didn’t mimic Rotten; he embodied the band’s raw nerve and added his own snarl. Punk’s not dead—it just changed jackets.
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The Ghost Inside delivered one of the most emotionally heavy sets of the festival. There’s power in their precision, and even more in their resilience. Their connection with the audience was palpable.
And then Korn. When the bass dropped during 'Freak On A Leash', the crowd nearly cracked in half. Nu-metal’s been through the wringer, but Korn reminded everyone why they’ve endured. It was cathartic, feral, and absolutely massive.
FRIDAY – National Day, International Chaos
National Day celebrations meant beer flowed earlier, and by the time Dragonforce hit the stage with their hyper-speed antics, the crowd was fully in the zone. Guitar solos flew like fireworks, and the crowd ate it up.
Royal Republic injected some playful sleaze and precision-tight funk-rock into the day. They were born for festival crowds—unashamed, unfiltered, and fun as hell.
Huggorm served up sharp Scandinavian punk with venom and bite, while Apocalyptica reminded us that classical training doesn’t mean you can’t destroy a stage. Their cello-metal still hits hard, and their rendition of Metallica’s 'Battery' brought goosebumps.
Sabïre and AVIANA brought different flavors of modern metal. The former sleazy and unhinged, the latter bleak and brutal.
D-A-D pulled off one of the most feel-good sets of the festival. Equal parts Danish weirdness and pure rock ’n’ roll, they knew exactly when to lean into nostalgia and when to shake things up.
Then came the legends: Scorpions. Yes, they’ve been around forever. And yes they still rock harder than most half their age.
But it was Meshuggah who ended the day with sheer precision violence. No other band sounds like them. No other band wants to. Their set was pure alien machinery, mathematical, brutal, and hypnotic.
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SATURDAY – A Wet Finale Worth Every Drop
By Saturday, the festival grounds felt like a small town. People were trading war stories of mosh pits, queue escapades, and legendary crowd moments.
Joddla Med Siv kicked things off with chaotic energy, followed by Turbonegro, who brought the denim, the filth, and the glory. Crucified Barbara came out swinging with a reunion set that hit like they'd never left. Tight, furious, and with zero patience for nostalgia—they were there to burn.
And finally, Sabaton. It had been 20 years since they last stormed Sweden Rock, back in June 2005—and closing the show as headliners this year felt like destiny. There’s no band more theatrical, more proudly bombastic, and frankly, more Swedish to end a festival like this. Pyro rained down like hellfire, the drummer perched atop a tank, and a nation celebrated with fists in the air. It wasn’t subtle, but it didn’t need to be. It was epic.
Sweden Rock Festival 2025 was a celebration of everything that makes rock ’n’ roll great: the energy, the passion, and the relentless pursuit of a good time. The rain didn’t matter, the music was what carried us through. The performances were electric, and the crowd, as always, was the true star of the show. The festival proved once again that no matter the weather, no matter the lineup—when rock ’n’ roll calls, you answer.
And we can’t wait to do it all over again next year.
Nicole Palmlund
Images: Nicole Palmlund
