ASP at Carlswerk Victoria: “Mehr denn je! Tour 2026”
Cologne, October 2, 2026
ASP is a household name in the German -Speaking alternative scene, specifically the “Schwarze Szene” (Black/Gothic scene). Formed in Frankfurt am Main in 1999 and led by Alexander “Asp” Frank Spreng, the band blends Gothic rock, dark wave, Gothic metal and Neue Deutsche Härte, though they reject such labels and call their style “Gothic Novel Rock” (or “Asphalt-Folk”). Their albums are literary, multi-release story cycles rather than loose collections of songs. In Germany, that makes them a heavyweight. In the US, this subculture stays small and deeply underground.
At Carlswerk Victoria, that storytelling became a live experience. An ASP show is less a standard rock concert than a dark, romantic fairy tale. Spreng is the focal point. In his signature gothic make-up, he commands the room through expressive gestures and intense eye contact rather than rock-star posturing, and his voice moves effortlessly from fragile, melancholic whispers to room-shaking power.
Behind him, the band delivered heavy, driving guitar riffs and a crushing rhythm section, layered with industrial electronics and dark synths. It was loud enough for serious head-banging, yet complex enough to keep a poetic, narrative weight. Light design shifted with the mood of each chapter.
The bond between band and audience is what sets an ASP show apart. Fans don’t just watch, they take part. During anthems like “Ich will brennen” and “Ich bin ein wahrer Satan”, the whole hall turned into one synchronized choir, singing every line back to the stage.
Photography note: Shooting was not permitted from the pit, only from the crowd, but the band generously allowed seven songs, which ended up covering about 45 minutes. The crowd was intense and fully engaged, yet no mosh pit formed and there was no aggression, so shooting from the middle of the room felt safe. The lights and stage fog were designed to create a mystical atmosphere.
The band explicitly asked fans and attendees not to post setlist spoilers online to preserve the surprise for later stops on the “Mehr denn je!” tour. With that we can point at some standout songs of the night: ”Ich will brennen”, “Werben”, “Schwarzes Blut”, “Krabat”, “Ich bin ein wahrer Satan”,”Denn ich bin der Meister” (editor’s favourite), “Mehr denn je!”, “Mondlicht Romantasy”, “Schockrock”.
A quick note about the sound quality: the mix was excellent, instruments and some additional backing tracks & sound effects were well defined, beefy guitars and solos, with the vocals clearly standing out.
Kudos for the band for ultra-fast photo approval process, within few hours after submission.
Accreditation: Concertteam NRW & ASP-Team
