Final Day at Rock Castle: Musketeer Spirit, Heavy Guitars and the Return of a Lost Gem
The final day is the hottest of them all. We therefore cool down regularly with both the water mist available at the entrance to the festival grounds and chilled drinks from the nearby stands. Everyone finds their own way to spend the time: some visit one of the restaurants on the square, others head to the nearby municipal swimming pool, while others seek out a dose of culture in the form of the Slav Epic. Showing our festival wristband gets us a discount on admission. However, visits must be booked in advance and are only possible during the morning hours. The castle tower and noble chambers are also open to visitors. Those who are here purely for the music, however, make sure not to miss the first performers.
Waking Up at Full Speed
At 11:00, the park comes to life with modern metal featuring elements of electronic dance music from Alia Tempora. They are followed by Forrest Jump with their hard-hitting crossover sound. This is one of the last shows with guitarist Michal Stochleba, who has decided to leave for family reasons. Thunderous riffs then arrive courtesy of Italian thrash/death metal outfit Methedras. The area in front of the stage is slightly less crowded, as fans seek refuge in the shade beneath the trees. Moon Shot delight fans of Finnish rock. The line-up consists of experienced musicians from previously successful bands, including Henkka Seppälä of Children of Bodom. Rock Castle is their only festival appearance for the rest of the summer; in the autumn they will embark on their own indoor tour to promote the new album. Symphonic metal dominated by female vocals comes from Secret Rule, a modern band from Rome. We also enjoy Serenity and their captivating orchestral sound. The band celebrates its 20th anniversary next year and Prague is included on the tour, so if you missed their performance here, you will have another chance on 19 February 2027.
Steel Hearts, Ancient Warriors and a Party in Full Swing
The early evening belongs to proven Czech legend Citron, fronted by Jirka Rain, with whom our editorial team recently published an interview (which I invite you to read). Jarda Bartoň and Vašek Vlasák also take part in the performance. The set includes songs from the album "Plni Energie", which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Nad hlavou létá rokenrol rings out with Tanja, and we have Pár přání - all we want is Rock, Rock, Rock! After all, we all have an Ocelové srdce. Citron squeeze out the last reserves of energy amid the fire blasting from both the stage and the sun overhead, and we are now ready for the war kings.
Warkings take the stage in their iconic costumes, with the drums surrounded by defensive shields that even burst into flames at times. The dark sorceress Morgana le Fay is there too; known for her incredible range, she amazes us with both growling and screaming in songs such as Armageddon and Sparta. A major surprise for fans is a new member of the line-up. The original Crusader (The Crusader - often referred to as the Templar) has been replaced in the well-oiled war machine by the Highlander. Rock Castle thus becomes one of the first major battles in which the new guitarist appears. A touching moment comes when a little girl wearing hearing protectors appears on stage as a symbol of the new generation of metalheads. A devastating mosh pit surges through the crowd during We are the Fire, unleashed by The Viking (the band's bassist) with his Mjölnir. "We're pretending it's not Rock Castle, but the Colosseum in Rome and we're all gladiators!" the frontman declares, before the song of the same name brings the whole show to a grand close. Warkings leave us with scraped knees from the mosh pit and completely breathless. Thanks, guys!
Pragokoncert, however, gives us no time to catch our breath, as the area beneath the castle is taken over by the musketeers of D'Artagnan. Audience favourites, they steamroll through the park from the very first minute with their unstoppable energy. Their music is packed with brisk folk rhythms, bagpipes, violins, and both acoustic and electric guitars. The central figure and face of the band is charismatic singer Ben Metzner (also known from Feuerschwanz, who performed in Vizovice this year). They fire off one hit after another - Feuer & Flamme, Herzblut, Farewell. Mosh pits form below the stage, crowdsurfers appear from every direction, and the crowd starts rowing. A surprise comes when security brings a large equipment case right into the middle of the wild audience. "Why are they moving the gear through the festival grounds?" we wonder. We get the answer moments later: Ben suddenly appears from nowhere, jumps straight onto the case, shakes hands with the delighted crowd, speaks to us, spins a beer through the air, and we all jump and sing Was wollen wir trinken! D'Artagnan earn a huge ovation for one of the most entertaining performances of the entire festival!
From a Tribute to Ozzy to the Resurrection of a Legend
The highlight of the evening is the performance by Black Label Society, led by a world-renowned icon - Zakk Wylde once again confirms his reputation as one of the most distinctive guitarists on the planet. His pinch harmonics, lightning-fast solos and authentic vocals keep us completely transfixed; even slipping away for a beer is out of the question. Missing tracks such as Name in Blood (the opening track from the new album), A Love Unreal, or Set You Free is simply not an option. The peak of the show is the guitar solo, during which Zakk plays an entire rapid passage with the guitar positioned behind his neck, earning thunderous chants from the crowd. Another striking feature is his characteristic microphone stand, decorated with a crucifix and skulls. One of the most emotional moments of the evening, however, comes with No More Tears - a classic that Zakk co-wrote with Ozzy. Thousands of fists shoot into the air and countless smartphones capture this rare moment. Black Label Society give us an hour and a half of honest heavy metal, and we leave satisfied and ready for the final headliner.
That headliner is an American legend returning after many years away from live performance - Savatage. As they are the final act of the night, it is hardly surprising that the park has already thinned out a little. Even so, plenty of fans remain, unwilling to miss the concert. One unusual feature is that the band has two keyboard players. This allows them to reproduce their complex studio compositions live: while one keyboard holds down the solid foundation, the other weaves in rapid solos and symphonic flourishes. Together with the band we sing songs such as The Wake of Magellan and Chance. The grand finale, however, arrives with the anthem Hall of the Mountain King. By now, surely every remaining hand is in the air. We also have to praise the excellent sound. Although our bodies are running on their last reserves after the entire marathon, the final show recharges us with energy. We could not have wished for a better ending to the festival.
In Conclusion...
We leave the festival thrilled and full of impressions, with memories that will linger in the air for another year until we meet here again. Rock Castle is a festival with a beautiful setting and plenty of accommodation options - from the lively VIP campsite, through the relaxed recreational area by Vrabčí hájek pond, to the affordable Střelnice campsite. It is also a place where autograph sessions give you direct contact with the bands, while alternative activities and opportunities for cultural enrichment are available as well. A huge thank-you goes to the entire organising team, technicians, sound engineers and all the staff for the flawless running of the event, first-class service and brilliantly assembled programme. Putting together an event this diverse in genre and demanding in production requires an enormous amount of work and genuine passion. It was an unforgettable edition, and we are already looking forward to seeing what claws you bare next time!
Lenka Svatoňová