Thrash at the Monastery: Kreator, Destruction & Tankard in Gießen (Festival Review)
- L7
- Aug 25
- 3 min read
Expectations
What a dream lineup: Kreator, Destruction, and Tankard at the historic Kloster Schiffenberg. Honestly, what more could a thrash fan want? I had already seen Kreator earlier this month in Hamburg, which was absolutely crushing, but this was my very first time seeing Tankard and Destruction. An unforgettable opportunity to finally tick them off my list!
Arrival, Merch & Beer
The organization of the Giessener Kultursommer was outstanding. A free shuttle bus ran every 10–15 minutes from Philosophikum to the monastery, always making sure the buses weren’t overcrowded. Comfortable, fast, and stress-free travel to the venue.
Walking through the entrance was quick and easy, and the sight of the monastery transformed into a thrash metal fortress was truly special. The grounds were well prepared with plenty of food options and enough beer stands that waiting in line was never a problem.
Merch from all three bands was top-notch. It was the kind of merch table where you wish you could buy everything. The prices were fair too: I grabbed a Destruction tour shirt for 30 euros, a Tankard tour shirt for another 30, and added a special Tankard beer cup with “The Morning After” design for 5 euros — easily one of the coolest pieces of band merch I’ve picked up this year.
The beer was Licher Pils, priced at 5.50 euros with 1.50 pfand. They even had one-liter cups for 11 euros plus 3 euros pfand. And I can’t forget the Wildschweinbratwurst — so good I ended up having two of them. Honestly, one of the highlights of the night.
Tankard
What a way to kick things off! Tankard brought a perfect mix of thrash aggression and humor, both in their lyrics and in how they interacted with the crowd. The audience was instantly fired up, moshing, headbanging, and singing along. That’s what I love about thrash fans — the energy never drops, no matter the band or the song. It was the ideal start to the evening, and now I really want to see Tankard again, maybe in a smaller club or even in a pub in Frankfurt.
Destruction
Destruction’s latest album is, for me, one of the best releases of the year. I had been waiting eagerly to finally see them live, and they delivered a flawless set. A perfect balance of new material and classic thrash anthems. Schmier’s vocals were razor-sharp, switching between tones that are incredibly demanding, yet he nailed every line. The band’s riffs and stage presence were absolutely crushing. A fantastic performance that makes me hope for a dedicated solo tour soon.
Kreator
Having already experienced Kreator earlier this month, I knew what was coming — but it still blew me away. Their stage setup, complete with fire and massive visuals, was spectacular. The setlist spanned decades, hitting all the big classics, while every note was executed with precision and fury. Even if you aren’t a die-hard Kreator fan, you owe it to yourself to see them live at least once. The energy, the atmosphere, the sheer force of their sound — nothing compares.
My personal highlight remains Hate Über Alles. Even though the band has countless iconic songs, that one just grabs me every single time. Hearing it live, surrounded by flames and a roaring crowd, was unforgettable.
Final Thoughts
From start to finish, Thrash at the Monastery was everything I could have hoped for. Perfectly organized, great food and drinks, incredible energy from the crowd, and three thrash giants giving their all in one of the most unique locations I’ve ever visited.
A night to remember — and one that makes me already curious about what Gießen has in store for next year. If it’s anything like this, I’ll be back without hesitation.
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