[2025] Recommended German bands. Popular overseas bands.

Mirror MirrorBLIND GUARDIAN

Blind Guardian- Mirror Mirror

Blind Guardian, Germany’s proud champions of power metal.

Formed in 1984, they have gained popularity since their 1988 debut album, Battalions of Fear, with a fast and melodic sound.

Their hallmark features include lyrics inspired by fantasy works and grand orchestration.

Released in April 1998, the album Nightfall in Middle-Earth is an ambitious concept piece based on J.

R.

R.

Tolkien’s The Silmarillion, and is highly regarded as one of the band’s signature works.

With complex song structures and powerful choral arrangements, their music is perfect for fans of fantasy novels and epic storytelling.

Man On A MissionGamma Ray

Gamma Ray – Man On A Mission

Gamma Ray is the band formed by Kai Hansen, the guitarist-vocalist who left Helloween.

They solidified the genre of melodic speed metal that followed from Scorpions and Helloween, and gained tremendous popularity.

Wirtshaus GaudiEQUILIBRIUM

EQUILIBRIUM – Wirtshaus Gaudi (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

Equilibrium, a folk metal band that Germany is proud of.

Formed in Bavaria in 2001, the band has gained popularity with its unique sound that exquisitely fuses folk music and metal.

Characterized by lyrics inspired by traditional Germanic melodies and mythology, they continue to captivate fans.

With their 2019 album Renegades, they shifted primarily to English lyrics and expanded their international presence.

Incorporating elements of metalcore and industrial metal, Equilibrium keeps evolving.

Highly recommended for those drawn to a sound that is both intense and beautiful.

Im Garten SandosaAmon Düül

Im Garten Sandosa – Amon Düül (1969)

The wave of rock began in the United States in the 1950s, spread to the United Kingdom in the early 1960s, and it was in the late 1960s that original bands started to emerge from Germany.

Formed in 1967, Amon Düül was one of the earliest German rock bands, creating psychedelic music.

SehnsuchtEinstürzende Neubauten

Einstürzende Neubauten – Sehnsucht (Official Video)

Einstürzende Neubauten have continued to reign as towering figures in experimental and industrial music.

Formed in West Berlin in 1980, they drew attention with a unique style that used “found” objects—such as metal and drills—as instruments.

Their 1981 debut album, Kollaps, was practically a declaration of war on conventional listening.

Their music has influenced many artists, and from 2001 they established a unique production system through their “Supporter Project,” which became a forerunner of today’s crowdfunding.

They’re highly recommended not only for those interested in noise music, but also for anyone eager to explore the possibilities of sound.

Burning HeartFair Warning

FAIR WARNING – Burning Heart

They are a German band categorized as melodic hard rock.

After winning the Newcomer Award in Japan’s hard rock/metal magazine BURRN!, they gained popularity in Japan and even held a Japan tour in 1993.

Since then, they have performed in Japan repeatedly.

Revolution ActionAtari Teenage Riot

Atari Teenage Riot – “Revolution Action”

Atari Teenage Riot, pioneers of digital hardcore born in Berlin.

Since their formation in 1992, led by Alec Empire, they have continued to captivate fans around the world with radical messages and eardrum-shattering beats.

Their 1995 debut album, “Delete Yourself,” rapidly spread their name and even earned support from the Beastie Boys’ label.

A track from their 2011 album “Is This Hyperreal?” was nominated for MTV’s Best Protest Song, underscoring their social impact.

Including their political stance, their music continues to be loved across generations.