Live report CLAWFINGER & SICKRET, Grosse Freiheit 36, Hamburg – November 3rd, 2026

Crossover pioneers Clawfinger have just released a strong new album and are now hitting the road to bring the new material, along with some old classics, to the stage. Joining them on the tour are Sickret, a Swiss metal band with a stronger focus on nu metal. Tonight, the tour rolls into Hamburg’s Grosse Freiheit 36 after the show was moved from Übel & Gefährlich to this legendary venue on the Reeperbahn.

Sickret

Sickret hit the stage at 8:00 PM and get the evening underway. Although the band was formed in 2010, their sound is firmly rooted in the ’90s nu-metal and crossover scene. Acts like Limp Bizkit and Downset are clearly part of the musical DNA here.

One year after opening for Skindred at the same venue, Sickret return to Große Freiheit 36 and deliver a solid set. The band has 40 minutes to make its mark, and the members themselves seem to be having the best time. It takes a while for the energy to reach the crowd, but things pick up toward the end, when the audience even joins in with a bit of clapping.

Still, the connection never really clicks. Frontman Timmy Michels screams his heart out, and the band’s stage presence makes it clear that everyone is fully committed. But despite the effort and enthusiasm, there is not much that sticks after eight songs. A decent performance, but one that ultimately leaves only a modest impression.

(click on pics to enlarge)

Clawfinger

After a short 20-minute changeover, Clawfinger hit the stage right on time at 9:00 PM. The show opens with a brief spoken-word intro that refers to the title of the band’s latest album while also poking fun at the fact that the members aren’t exactly spring chickens anymore. Aching knees and a few other signs of getting older are apparently part of the package now. It’s delivered with a wink and a good sense of humor, putting a smile on everyone’s face. At least the writer of this report can certainly relate.

Clawfinger then rap and rock their way through 22 songs, showing everyone what old-school crossover is all about. With a 100-minute set, the band delivers more than enough music for a proper crossover party. And even though much of the crowd has grown older alongside the band, the energy shoots through the roof as soon as they kick off with “Before We All Die.”

Clawfinger take us on a ride through three decades of crossover and rap metal, packed with classics like “The Truth” and “Undone.” It’s also a trip down memory lane and something of a fountain of youth when those old songs come blasting through the speakers. Things get even more entertaining before “Out to Get Me.” The original video is shown on the big screen at Grosse Freiheit 36, and what once passed for cutting-edge technology now brings a smile to your face – especially when you take a closer look at the animation of that giant lizard and monster.

During “Hypocrite,” Zak and Jocke share the front of the stage, while “Going Down (Like Titanic)” from the new album brings back those unmistakable ’90s hip-hop vibes. “Scum” is another track that feels particularly relevant on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections. Everyone knows exactly what this one is about, and it’s a damn good song, too.

A Clawfinger show without some serious jumping around is simply out of the question, and “Undone” is where things really get moving. Eventually, we reach the final stretch of the evening. Zak announces the last song, and the reaction of disappoint ment in the room isn’t strong enough for him. In his usual entertaining and humorous way, he explains once again how the whole routine has worked since the early days of rock music: the band announces the final song, the crowd gets upset, the band plays it, disappears behind the curtain and then comes back for the encore. This time, the whole thing works like a charm, and everyone is clearly having fun with the ritual.

As promised, Clawfinger return to the stage and deliver three encore songs, including the massive “The Truth.”

This was a great performance from a band that has helped write crossover history – and is still adding to it. Sure, we’ve all gotten older, but the spirit and the songs are still there. And that’s what really counts. Even if a knee or two starts acting up, Clawfinger made everyone forget about it for 100 minutes.