< PreviousSerial killers, gore and tragedy aren’t new to metal, and there are plenty of heavy songs about vile people and events. But industrial project Skynd take this idea to a whole new level: Their songs, videos and even release model are based on true crime stories. This year, they’re returning to the Holy Ground. The Bullhead caught up with lead singer Skynd to find out which cases make her toes curl and why she doesn’t want to record an albumby Victoria Schaffrath True crime has become a popular topic in recent years. What drew you to it initially? Skynd: It all started when I met my imaginary friend, back when I was three or four years old. He just appeared one night. I had this little music player that I would listen to children’s stories on, but he would keep turning the volume down and whispering all those true horror stories to me. He followed me throughout all my childhood, actually, he’s still here today. But back then, I couldn’t process the stories. Imagine a kid being told about Gary Heidnik! Rapists and murderers aren’t something a six- or seven-year-old brain can understand. But my imaginary friend wouldn’t go away, so I had to find an outlet to try and make sense of the stories, and I found writing. In the beginning, it took the shape of poems, and then I was writing down facts. I got older, and when I first listened to “The Wall” by Pink Floyd, it inspired me to translate these heavy themes and true crime stories into music. So true crime came first, metal came second? Skynd: When I realised that I wanted to tell these stories, I didn’t have a specific genre in mind. “Tyler Hadley” about a 17-year-old who bludgeoned his parents to death turned into more of a trap song, and I try not to define my music too much. But when I met my collaborator Father in Australia, I knew right away that he was someone who understood my creative language and who would be the perfect partner to produce it. He has more of a background in metal than I had initially, but we found that it’s the perfect vehicle for the stories we wanted to tell. You have also spoken about your respect for the victims and the cases, and that you’re trying to bring visibility and start conversations rather than sensationalise. How does that shape your creative process? Skynd: First of all, I have a lot of compassion for the victims. I often honour them by naming them in the songs, as I did in “John Wayne Gacy” (editor’s not: raped and killed 33 boys and young men). But I’m also interested in the perpetrators, in the human psyche. What makes someone lose their humanity? Within our community, the “Skyndicate”, we try to have these conversations about compassion and about not thinking purely in good and bad labels. True crime cases often are extremes, and, understandably, people don’t want to think about them, but no person is born purely evil. How does the trauma we carry influence us? I try to put this aspect into my lyrics. When you think about Aileen Wuornos, a US serial killer, she wasn’t just the monster she’s made out to be. I certainly didn’t want to make her look like the hero, but the truth is she had been traumatised her entire life, and it was really important to me to show that side of her as well. Your music videos visualise the crimes you sing about. How do you find actors to play these extreme roles? Skynd: I have a great team that totally gets my vision both musically and visually. I want to be really artistic with the music videos, but I also want to stay true to the facts. So we always try to find actors who are almost lookalikes of the perpetrators. Luckily, my team understands this assignment. Are there any cases that you have a hard time writing about? Skynd: Absolutely. Anders Breivik (editor’s note: Swedish mass murderer and terrorist) is one example. It’s in my notebook, and it’s one of the cases I really want to write about, but I haven’t found the right words yet. I think it has to do with the fact that this is a grown, racist man shooting children. It’s the same with cases involving violence against children and pedophilia; the language just hasn’t come to me. Except for “Chris Watts” (editor’s note: killed his pregnant wife and two children), though I had to turn that one into a ballad to have some sort of comfort singing about these kids. Although you have been releasing music „ ?“ Sometimes Skynd go for a minimalist stage design, as seen here. However, the project is planning a special show for their Wacken set in the dark.„’ , . “ since 2018, there is no Skynd album. Yet? Skynd: I think each case deserves the attention of a single, so we’re not planning an album. I would almost be disgusted with myself if I had to write an album of twelve songs, singing about experiences and memories that are not my own and then deciding which one is more important than the other. In the beginning, when Father asked whether we’re doing an album, I straight up told him: “No.” I also feel like a traditional album doesn’t fit into the digital media landscape anymore. Especially since people get distracted so easily nowadays. You’ve worked with Jonathan Davis of Korn, who headlined Wacken last year. Are you taking any notes from their spectacular show? Skynd: Korn shows are always great, and Jonathan is a big role model for me. When he worked with us on “Gary Heidnik”, there was nothing in it for him. And yet, he inadvertently opened so many doors for us. Especially as a female artist, you always have to prove yourself. His name on the song lent us credibility that really helped us in being taken seriously. So while they always draw the biggest crowds and have an amazing show, if anything, I’m taking notes on being the person who supports other artists. I’ll be forever grateful to him and really want to be this person for another artist else, someday. What do you have planned for Wacken 2025? Skynd: We’ll be playing at night, around 10:15. I’m so excited because the last time we came to W:O:A in 2019, we played during the day. Of course, that was fantastic as well, but I just love the atmosphere you can create in the dark. I’m trying to get a great light show together. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I promise it will be exceptional! Out of all the different true crime podcasts, movies or documentaries, do you have any favourites? Skynd: Oh, I can go on forever. Recently, I’ve been really hooked on “Fred And Rose West” on Netflix. “The Jinx” is an absolute classic when it comes to documentaries and has a mind-blowing twist. And there’s always “American Horror Story”, which is often spun around a true case. Seems like there’s a constant flow of inspiration for you. Skynd: Let’s just say I’m not scared of running out of things to write about. Sadly, crime happens every day. Credits: Rocktografia, Peter Leukhardt Unmistakably Skynd, though anonymous: the singer and her musical partner Father do not disclose their identities.Dirk Strübe in front of the Service Centre for Commercial Vehicles in Hannover with a brand-new California For more than a decade, Dirk Strübe, Head of the Commercial Vehicles Service Centre at VW, has been upholding the values and spirit of Wacken Open Air – with the help of his Californiaby Andrea Leim he quaint village of Wacken is once again about to become the interna- tional metal community’s ep- icentre, with all amps blast- ing on 11. Amidst the crowds: Dirk Strübe, head of Volkswa- gen’s Commercial Vehicles Ser- vice Centre – and staunch W:O:A supporter! For more than ten years, he and his close-knit group of friends have been travelling to the festival grounds in Northern Germany. His VW California bus has been their loyal companion. “I first took my friends from university to Wacken in 2013,” Strübe remembers. “I’ve been in- fected ever since.” His crew counts 23, with most of them returning every year to their fixed camping spot on field Y, which has become a home away from home: fresh beer on tap, a fully equipped fridge, an illuminated flag post, a dedicated breakfast tent and proprietary portaloos. It even comes with a real bullhead: “We got it off of eBay a few years ago, and it’s been part of the camp ever since.” But what makes Wacken so special for regular Strübe? “The wonderful atmosphere on the entire festival grounds,” he an- swers without a second thought. “The fantastic bands, the peace- ful community, having so many chances at cultural exchange and meeting international friends and most of all my crew.” Dirk’s VW California has been part of the crew since his first time at W:O:A. The vehicle not only gets him to Wacken, but also provides shelter on the camp- grounds. “Especially during a festival, the California is worth its weight in gold,” Strübe con- firms. “If you’re only getting a few hours of sleep, they’re made more restorative by the Califor- nia.” Adding to that are features like the built-in sink, an outdoor shower, an independent heat- er and the four-by-four drive. If you’ve ever been to the Holy Ground, you know that heavy rainfall can make leaving the festival site a challenge. Strübe, however, has never had an issue with that: “The 4x4 has often saved me from getting stuck in the mud. I’ve never had to call on a tractor for help!” By the way, his taste in music is equally solid. “For me, Motör- head and Lemmy are on another level. But the best show I’ve ever seen was Twisted Sister during their farewell tour in 2016. I’ve not seen a band that brings more passion and energy since. Abso- lutely brilliant.” This year, one slot at W:O:A has been etched into his schedule for months: “I am a huge fan of the Cologne dialect, so I’m very excited for BAP.” A trip to the village is also a must. Like many regulars, Dirk’s crew has estab- lished Wacken traditions that don’t necessarily involve music at all. One of those includes being fed by a true master of the barbe- cue – literally: “One of my friends has won actual barbecue awards.” So the crew will be having a fiery feast on Thursday. “This doesn’t compare to a regular barbecue,” the Hannover native laughs. “It’s a ceremony!” One the troupe cel- ebrates like any worthy Wacken ritual. Dirk Strübe is already plan- ning his trip to the North for 2026. “I’ll return with the Cali- fornia, the bullhead and my crew. It doesn’t get better than that.” What has worked so well for Dirk Strübe will now be- come an official connection as well: As a mobility part- ner of W:O:A 2025, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is bringing the bus spirit and the theme ‘The Wild Side of California’ to this year’s festival! Whether as a meet- ing point, retreat or photo opportunity, the California Camp will be a highlight for all fans of the bus and the festival. Dirk Strübe is sure to drop by too. Fotos: Kay Kirchwitz, Privat On Thursday, the gang is fed by their barbecue champion (left) Their camp comes with a flag, Portaloos, a tipi tent and most importantly Strübe’s California Strübe’s crew at Wacken Open Airby Timon Menge ebastian Fitzek cap- tivates millions with goosebump-inducing thrillers that have cata- pulted him to the top of the bestseller lists. There is hardly a German bookshelf that does not contain at least one of his works. In 2025, he is bringing his stories to Wacken Open Air. You are not only an author, but also a drummer. Have you ever performed as a Germany’s king of crime is heading to W:O:A for a reading! Sebastian Fitzek will celebrate his Holy Ground debut on the Welcome to the Jungle Stage on Thursday, delivering literary thrills to Wacken. We spoke with him about his short career as a drummer, his inspiration and the parallels between songs and books. musician, or do you just play for yourself? Sebastian Fitzek: My last “big” gig was in 1989 at a school band competition in Berlin. I remember that pretty well. And another gig that sounds like something out of a bad novel: Back then, we were playing funk, and a university had hired us for a party. At least that’s what our bass player said, who had already blown out half his ear canal and was convinced that a funk band had been requested. The only problem was that they actually wanted punk, not funk. After the first song, we were met with bewildered stares. Someone politely asked if we could play something else, for example, something by Ton Steine Scherben (German punk heroes). We said: “Nope, but why don’t you come up and show us how it’s done?” And so we learned the songs live on stage and improvised a Rio Reiser (lead singer of Ton Steine Scherben) memorial set. Often, song lyrics are very metaphorical. It’s only when you read them very carefully that you realise they reflect the personal stories of the person who wrote them. Is it the same with your books? Sebastian Fitzek: Yes, definitely. Sometimes students approach me or I get emails along the lines of: “It’s great that you’re still alive. Usually, we only ever read stuff by deceased authors. But is the meaning really what our teacher claims?” I then deliver some good and some bad news. The good news that the students want to hear is that I didn’t put as much thought into it as their teacher did. The bad news: They’re still right. The reader often knows more than the author and recognises the hidden truth. That’s what ultimately gives the book its authenticity. It’s the same with songs: I believe that many songs are written and move people, while the composers may not even know why they wrote them that way. That’s when you need a third party, because it’s very difficult to analyse yourself. When did you start writing novels? Sebastian Fitzek: I had my first idea in 2000, then I sat down to work on it, revise it, and I looked for a publisher at the same time. By 2004, I had signed my first contract with Droemer Knaur. Two years later, in 2006, my debut novel “Therapy” was published. So it took around six years from the initial idea to the finished book. How many books do you write per year? Sebastian Fitzek: Usually one. Sometimes I’m bitten by the bug and add a second one. But that’s usually not a thriller, as is the case with “Horror Date” at the moment. Every year or two, I add something humorous. Most of your writing is very dark, very creepy. That’s also true for metal lyrics and the music that goes with them. Where else do you see parallels between your books and metal? Sebastian Fitzek: In the staging, because the show is always part of the overall work of art. Live performances are a very important factor, because of the interaction with the audience. I don’t even know if there is a metal band that solely does studio productions. I don’t think so. When it comes down to it, interaction and absolute professionalism are very important. What inspires you to write? Sebastian Fitzek: My inspiration comes from everyday life – a completely normal day- to-day life. I just seem to look at it from a slightly strange angle. The best example: a mailman once asked me to accept a parcel for a neighbour. It doesn’t get much more mundane than that. 99 per cent of Wacken fans have probably experienced this. I lived on a small street at the time and was convinced I knew everyone there. Except the name on the parcel didn’t mean anything to me. And that’s where the difference begins: while many people would probably just write this moment off, my mind immediately went into overdrive, which is kind of an occupational hazard. I asked myself: Why don’t I recognise the name? What’s the story here? Is it a new, creepy neighbour? Or a parcel that is better left unopened? Suddenly, I was in the middle of my own thriller - and spent days thinking about who might be ringing my doorbell. Years later, this impulse actually turned into a book: “The Package”. Do you think Wacken will provide you with inspiration for a new book? Sebastian Fitzek: One hundred per cent. That always happens when I do something for the first time, and especially when I meet people I’ve never met before. People often ask me what I like best about my job. The best thing is not publishing books, not writing. The best thing is being able to meet people I would never have met without my books. “ .” Goosebumps guaranteed: Sebastian Fitzek, king of thriller, is heading to W:O:A Our North German cheese specialties are handmade, conveniently packaged, and ready for festival life. Whether it‘s a tent breakfast, a snack before the next gig, or provisions for the journey home – this isn‘t your average cheese. This is North German cheese culture. Live on site: W:O:A Farmers Market 2025 GUT VON HOLSTEIN – REAL CHEESE. REAL NORTH.by Andrea Leim uckwalking from Duck- burg to Wacken – sorry, Quacken! The first family of waterfowl is heading to Wacken, with sever- al heavy adventures and music in tow: Donald Duck is entering the festival’s very own talent com- petition, Metal Battle, while his nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie are turning Mu- sic Camp upside down. All this is happening in the newest edition of the Donald Duck pock- et books, the famed comic adap- tations called “Lustiges Taschen- buch” in Germany. The special edition was cre- ated by a true pro among comic book artists: Ferran Rodriguez has worked on characters such as Sonic The Hedgehog, Disney’s Arielle, Tarzan or Dumbo, as well as comics within the “Angry Birds” or “Star Wars” universe. But nothing beats the world’s most popular duck: “Donald is still my favourite character, even after all these years,” the Spaniard admits. Musically, the “Heavy Metal” edition wasn’t a stretch for Rodri- guez, who grew up on Motörhead and Led Zeppelin. W:O:A, how- ever, was new ground for him: “Friends of mine had always been talking about one day heading to Wacken,” Ferran reports. “When I did some research online, I was amazed at how big it is. Insane!” When he was asked to con- tribute to a pocket book straight from the Holy Ground, the story had already been worked out, so he went straight to detailing on Wacken Open Air presents: a ducktastic “Heavy Metal” pocket book Artist Ferran Rodriguez Heavy metal Donald: long hair, studded boots, a guitar and a bullhead on his chest This character seems familiarthe characters with the art direc- tor. When his colleague sent him a preview of the designs, called a scratch, Ferran couldn’t help but smirk: “I immediately saw Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister. I replied and told my art director: ‘That’s Lemmy, isn’t it?!’” Indeed, on the first pages of the comic book, there’s a character resem- bling the legendary Motörhead frontman who’s who’s so revered among W:O:A fans. Metalheads can certainly draw their own conclusions on who is depicted. Ferran Rodriguez remem- bers his connection to the icon fondly: “More than 40 years ago, I went to a Motörhead show in Barcelona with my buddies,” the artist recalls. “We snuck in a recording device to get the show on tape. That wasn’t al- lowed, of course, but we were full of mischief and felt that the risk was worth it.” But to no avail: “We got away with smuggling the recorder in only to realise that its batteries hadn’t been working.” The memories still make him laugh: “What a bum- mer!” While he won’t be able to catch another Motörhead show in Wacken, Ferran can always head to the Landgasthof for Lemmy’s memorial. Meanwhile, the 2025 live acts have certain- ly piqued his interest: “I’m re- ally excited for the shows, but also the art tent and the Space Camp. After all, I studied biolo- gy and am a scientist!” Before turning to comic art- istry, the Spaniard even taught at a university and relished working amongst students and faculty. “Being an artist can be a lonely experience,” Ferran explains. Naturally, that makes heading to the festival even more exciting. “During trade fairs and events like Wacken Open Air, I get feedback on my work straight from the people. I really like that.” Since 1967, the Donald Duck pocket books have been released by Ger- man Egmont Ehapa Media pub- lishing, counting 600 editions as well as several spin-offs, English and special editions. The newest addition, “LTB Heavy Metal”, is sure to be the loudest version yet: “We are thrilled about this unique and exciting collabora- tion with Wacken Open Air,” publishing director Jörg Risken says. “We wanted to offer our fans something completely different while bridging the gap between two seemingly different worlds.” Of course, Wacken co-founder Holger Hübner is a huge fan of the special edition: “Metal is for everyone –even for ducks!” Credits: Ferran Rodriguez, ©2025 Egmont Ehapa Media/Disney Schaut euch diese Menge an! Die sind aber laut! Keine Sorge, wir sind lauter! Ich glaube, ich träume! Ich auf der großen Faster- Harder- Bühne! Ich fühle mich wie ein Rockstar! Endlich auf dem Festival- Gelände... Wow! Hier sieht es aus wie bei einem Zeltlager von unserem Fähnlein Fieselschweif! Ob wir noch ein Plätzchen für unser Zelt finden? Sneak a preview of “Heavy Metal”Next >