Metal Colonia Fest – A Newcomer’s Experience
When the organizers of Metal Colonia Fest say “underground,” they mean: bands that aren’t mainstream, but deliver music of real quality. Most acts come from Cologne and the surrounding region, making the festival a showcase of the local scene. As an absolute newcomer, here’s how I experienced my first time at this event.
Getting There
Club Volta, the festival’s venue, is tucked into the ex-industrial jungle of the Mülheim district. Google Maps got me to the right spot, but the narrow gated entrance was easy to miss. After looping around through a maze of side streets, I finally found the larger, more obvious entrance. Running late, I went straight for the paid parking next to the venue. By Cologne standards it wasn’t outrageous, but after 10 hours the bill added up to €17.
The Venue
Club Volta is a transitional space between a small and medium concert hall: a square-shaped room with clean design, a generous stage, and high ceilings. The bar is placed opposite the stage, open and accessible, giving the room a balanced layout.
The stage itself is fairly low — maybe 70–80 cm high — the kind of setup where you could literally touch the singer’s foot. There’s no pit, which makes the shows intimate and direct. One odd detail: the backstage is upstairs on the opposite side of the venue, meaning bands have to haul their gear across the crowd space.
The enclosed yard outside, shared with Carlswerk Victoria, offered an additional bar, but food options were scarce: fries or deep-fried hot dogs (without buns). For an all-day festival, that felt a bit thin. Thankfully, I had stashed sandwiches, protein bars, and water in my car.
The Event
With an entry fee of €30 (35 door price), the Metal Colonia Fest was advertised with a 1 PM kickoff, featuring ten bands scheduled roughly an hour apart. The last four acts were given longer slots, with the headliner set to start at 10:40 PM.
To my surprise, the timing was kept impressively well. Beyond the inevitable small technical hiccups, set changes went smoothly. Some bands were efficient, others took their time, but the overall rhythm was solid. The last band went on only 15–20 minutes later than planned — a remarkable feat for such a long lineup.
Sound quality was equally impressive. Levels were strong but not painfully loud, and simple foam earplugs were enough. I had earmuffs ready but never needed them. Importantly, every band received fair access to the sound system — none of the “good ol’ American screw-the-opener” tricks I’ve seen at other festivals.
The Music
The lineup was diverse, offering something for every taste in the metal spectrum: from instrumental explorations to thrash to the most extreme shades of brutal slamming death metal. The balance kept the day fresh and engaging, no matter your personal preference.
Lights & Atmosphere
The modern stage lighting suited the venue’s scale. Beams, strobes, and colors were used with taste. Early in the day, however, the first couple of bands were drowned in relentless red light — a photographer’s nightmare. After casually mentioning this to one of the organizers, the mix was quickly adjusted, and suddenly the stage came alive with variety.
Photography
With no pit in front of the stage, photography required some strategic maneuvering through the crowd. On arrival I was told there was a standard three-song photography window for each band — enough to capture plenty of shots, including a lens switch. I stuck to the rule, though I noticed a bit of flouting.
In total, four photographers covered the festival, which felt like just the right number: enough to document the event thoroughly without getting in each other’s way.
Final Thoughts
The Underground Metal Festival of Cologne was a well-run, welcoming event with a strong local identity. The sound was excellent, the schedule impressively punctual, and the lineup diverse enough to please fans across the metal spectrum.
Everything — from the venue to the lights to the fair treatment of every band — showed care and respect for both musicians and fans.
For €30 (35 door price), the ticket felt like good value for ten bands and a full day of underground metal. For anyone curious about the Cologne scene, or for underground metal fans looking for a genuine community experience, this festival is absolutely worth checking out.
Separate photo galleries will follow in additional posts.
