Schattenspiele 2026 at Hirsch Nuremberg, Schattenmann Pre-Listening Party Concert Review

L7
3 hours ago
4 min read

Expectations

First concert of the year for me, and honestly I was really happy to finally be back in a venue again.

Quick personal note: I’ve had some unexpected heart issues lately and I’m still waiting for final results. There’s a chance an operation could be needed, hopefully not. If there are no videos for a while, that’s the reason, but for now, let’s focus on the good stuff.

Schattenspiele is basically a mini festival hosted by Schattenmann, and it’s a concept I already liked in the past. This time it was even more interesting because it also worked as a pre-listening party for their upcoming album (release is in March, around mid-March). So my expectations were simple: good atmosphere at Hirsch, fair prices, and hopefully a new Schattenmann album that actually makes me curious again.

Arrival & Merch

The whole event took place at Hirsch in Nuremberg, and Hirsch is always a safe bet. Great vibe, great layout, and it just feels like a real rock venue.

One of the biggest highlights from the start was the price: 34 euros for three bands plus the pre-listening and signing sessions. That’s honestly crazy good value in 2026.

The schedule was also planned really well:

Signing session with Schattenmann
First half of the new album (pre-listening)
First support band
Second half of the album (pre-listening)
Second support band
Schattenmann live

It never felt like waiting around, the night had a flow and it felt like a real event, not just “doors, supports, headliner, goodbye”.

Induction

The first band was Induction from the Czech Republic and they played power metal. I didn’t know them before this show, so for me it was a pure “let’s see what happens” situation.

And yeah, they surprised me in a really positive way.

Tight sound, good stage presence, and the singer was genuinely strong. The whole thing reminded me a little bit of early Beast in Black, not in a copy way, more in that sense of energy and melody that instantly works live.

Induction is definitely one of those bands I would watch again, especially if they play as support somewhere nearby.

Schattenmann Pre-Listening Party

After Induction we got the second part of the pre-listening, so we basically heard the full upcoming album split into two halves during the night.

I’ve known Schattenmann since around 2018. I used to listen to them more back then, and in recent years a bit less, not because I stopped liking them, more because I already played the older stuff a lot.

But this new album honestly brought that curiosity back. I had multiple moments where I thought: wow, this actually sounds really good.

I’m pretty sure I’ll buy the new album, and I’d recommend at least giving it a proper listen when it drops. I’m always in the “support the band and buy physical” camp, but even if you don’t, at least check it out on Spotify once, because it really made a good first impression.

Also a small extra detail, I love the single artworks and the new album cover too. The designer did a great job. I already ordered a T-shirt with the new cover on it, that tells you enough.

Aesthetic Perfection

Next up was Aesthetic Perfection.

Most people probably know them from touring with Till Lindemann, and that 2025 run was the moment where they really won me over. Big halls suited them perfectly.

So I was curious how that sound would translate to Hirsch, which is obviously much smaller, more direct, more “in your face”.

And it worked extremely well.

I honestly can’t even say if big venues or small venues are better for them, both are great in different ways. In arenas the sound feels huge, in a club everything hits closer and the electronic elements feel even more intense.

Daniel is clearly the core of Aesthetic Perfection, it’s his project, and live he’s just very good. Strong performance, great energy, crowd interaction, no weak moments. This time they played as a trio (with Lindemann they were four). Neuzid wasn’t there, not sure if that changes on other dates, but the show still felt complete.

After the set you could take photos and get things signed. I picked up the newest album, the reimagined version of older tracks, and it sounds really good. Signature on it too, perfect concert souvenir.

Schattenmann

Then it was time for Schattenmann, and what impressed me immediately was the crowd.

They have a seriously strong fanbase. People were singing along, clapping, supporting every track, and you could tell that a lot of fans knew the lyrics to basically everything. It felt sold out or extremely close to it, there was barely any space left.

Schattenmann are also very charismatic live, and the visual side is a big part of the show. Each member has a distinct look and character, and they use the whole “shadow” theme really well.

The coolest detail for me is the glow effect they use, like that mini golf paint. In normal light you don’t see much, but when the lights go down, the green glowing elements suddenly take over visually. During certain moments the lighting drops and you mostly see those glowing parts, and it looks insanely good live.

They played new songs of course and they sounded great. They also played older songs from the era when I listened to them more, and everything worked. Once the new album is out, I’m sure a couple of tracks will end up in my playlists again.

Final Thoughts

Schattenspiele 2026 was exactly what this kind of event should be: good organization, a great venue atmosphere, three strong bands, and a format that keeps you engaged the whole night.

The price was honestly one of the best parts, 34 euros for all of that is a win.

If I have time next year, I’ll absolutely go again. Even if the lineup changes, the concept works, the crowd is into it, and you leave with a really good feeling.