We are getting ever so closer to returning to a place we hold dear to our hearts. We are, of course, talking about Hellfest , the biggest rock and metal festival in the world that has featured some of the most absolutely brilliant lineups ever since its inception back in 2006. Originated from the ashes of Fury Fest, Hellfest has grown exponentially over the years and now features six different stages, each offering unique facets and subgenres of rock and metal, a complete tasting platter for every palate. From hard rock, heavy metal and folk to black metal, death metal and hardcore punk, there is something for everyone at Hellfest.
This year is, as always, no exception, as a marvelous, musical tasting course is being served once more in six different stages, during four days. Each stage of Hellfest is synonymous with a particular group of genres, but the fun is actually in going from one stage to the next, intertwining flavours of different varieties. The theme this year is the pit, a place where all our problems go away for a brief moment, and all that remains is that desire to unleash unbelievable energy upon the bodies of our peers. Part of the reason why we love Hellfest so much is the decour and how it changes every year to match the audiovisual aspect of the festival. But, in the end, the most important reason why we travel hundreds of kilometers to the greatest festival of them all is because of the lineup, and this year, it is as impressive as ever. So, as always, we shall introduce thirteen names you absolutely cannot miss during this year’s edition.
Blood Incantation
Transcending time and space, Blood Incantation belong to a class that is entirely their own. Explorers of metaphysics, mysticism, and the vastness of space, this North American quartet melds together the brutality of death metal and its tectonic technicality with psychedelic soundscapes, progressive melodies and the cadence of krautrock, creating a sound that is unlike anything we have ever heard. Their latest record, Absolute Elsewhere, is a monstrous opus that sends the listener through a stargate into a journey across multiple dimensions. It is as if Blood Incantation have created their own sonic language within extreme music, one that only they can fully comprehend, and that we can only marvel at.
Having taken the Altar by the storm once in the past, Blood Incantation are ready to once again alter the perception of reality of anyone who dares witness them once again. Get ready to be torn apart by cosmic forces!
The Dillinger Escape Plan
A name that is very well-known within the circle of mathcore, The Dillinger Escape Plan were known throughout their 20-year career for their dissonant, odd time signature polyrhythms, their surgical yet unconventional drum patterns, and unparalleled savagery that made you want to thrash any place you were at. After a heartbreaking farewell back in 2017, the group would reunite with original vocalist Dimitri Minakakis in 2023, announcing their intent to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of their much-lauded debut record, Calculating Infinity. Excitement from the world of underground music soon followed and the levels went completely through the roof.
A revisit to Hellfest was, therefore, an obvious choice for the band. Those that have witnessed The Dillinger Escape Plan on a live setting before can attest to the tremendous chaos and potency of their shows. The same is to be expected when the band performs at the Warzone this year.
La Dispute
Formed back in late 2004, and named after a famous prose comedy written by French playwright Pierre de Marivaux, La Dispute are one of the standard-bearers of the new wave of post-hardcore, next to artists such as Defeater and Touché Amoré. Playing a strain of post-hardcore that is highly influenced by jazz, blues and spoken word, La Dispute incorporate elements from other genres such as screamo, progressive and post rock, something that enabled them to develop a unique sound that sets them apart from other bands in the scene. Their latest record to date, No One Was Driving The Car, is as rageful as it is beautiful, featuring crunchy guitar riffs, harsh drumming, and vocals that switch between soft and raw forms, and exploring themes like technology, systems of control, and personal responsibility.
Having never stepped foot on a Hellfest stage before, La Dispute are ready to make every single body collide with great force. Catch them at the Warzone and prepare for a beating.
Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats
Riff worshipping isn’t just a throwaway phrase – it is a lifestyle. And no other band does it better than Cambridge’s own Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats. Tremendously inspired by Black Sabbath and splatter films, the group led by the charismatic Kevin “Uncle Acid” Starrs employ a sound that is both disconcerting and hypnotic, chock-full of haunting guitars, vibrant keyboard melodies, mesmerizing drum patterns, and enthralling vocals. All this is accompanied by visuals of occult rituals, spiritual cult leaders and overall sexual imagery that is deliciously macabre.
The band’s latest record, Nell’ Ora Blue is a love letter to the giallo cinematic genre, an audio experience of epic proportions that is surely to translate well in a live setting. Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats is an unusual sight at Hellfest, so we urge you to visit the Valley, and take part in the most incredible psychedelic journey of your lives.
Acid Bath
Often regarded as one of the first and most influential sludge metal bands, Acid Bath are an absolutely essential listen when one starts exploring the depths of the genre. Combining the crushing elements of doom metal with a myriad of other genres that range from hardcore punk and death metal to blues and grunge, Acid Bath attained a legendary status within the scene with only two records released, When the Kite String Pops and Paegan Terrorism Tactics. Having ended their career abruptly in 1997, the trio of vocalist Dax Riggs, guitarist Sammy Duet and drummer Mike Sanchez regrouped in 2024, summoning the help of bassist Shane Wesley and drummer Zack Simmons for a much-wanted reunion.
Having now played a few shows in their home country, Acid Bath are preparing to visit Europe for the very first time, and Hellfest is their most important stop. Get ready to be annihilated by the apocalyptic riffage of Acid Bath at the Valley!
Ceremony
Ceremony are an interesting proposition in any lineup they show up. Formed back in 2004, the group has gone through an intense metamorphosis over the years, starting off as a virulent and malignant force of hardcore punk and powerviolence, and now shaped into a post-punk delicacy with new wave and indie rock contours. But forget any notion of softness; Ceremony are still their raw, energetic and rageful selves, even without releasing a new record in seven years.
That same tempestuous energy is translated well into a live setting, with Ceremony being as vigorous as they are in the studio. Soon, you will be able to witness that ferocious hurricane at Hellfest for the first time, if you dare visit the Warzone.
Drain
Rising stars in the underground music scene, Drain are a band synonymous with destruction. Mixing that tough street grit from New York’s hardcore punk with the tasteful gloss of 80’s thrash, Drain’s sound is an unfiltered and unadulterated explosion of skull-shattering riffs, body-splitting drum shockwaves and groovy-as-hell bass lines, all strung together neatly and complemented by awesomely devastating vocals. Releases such as California Cursed and Living Proof perfectly showcase just how dominant Drain can be in the studio. No skips, no bullshit; just pure adrenaline rush.
And on stage, it gets even better. Violent and tumultuous are certainly ways one could describe a Drain show, but it is so much more than that. Come taste the havoc at the Warzone, if you dare, in what is the definitive debut of the band at Hellfest.
Oranssi Pazuzu
More of a mysterious entity than a band, Oranssi Pazuzu are an otherworldly force that has graced us with some of the best cosmic soundscapes in recent years. Twisting the unparalleled combativeness of black metal, pushing it to its limits, and then fusing it with psychedelic sonorities both marvellous and eerie, Oranssi Pazuzu explore the infinite beyond and abstract concepts with calculating ferocity. Dense, dissonant guitars and discordant drum patterns meet unearthly keyboard sounds and disembodied howls, making for a unique sound that cannot and should not be replicated.
The band’s latest release, Muuntautuja, is a voyage through the deepest recesses of the universe, bending the mind of the listener into an altered state of consciousness, and in a live setting, that same feeling holds true. Get ready to be transported into pure darkness when visiting the Temple.
Crypta
Speak of a supersonic assault of the senses and Crypta immediately comes to mind. Founded in 2019 by vocalist and bassist powerhouse Fernanda Lira, as well as the insanely talented drummer Luana Dametto, Crypta quickly became a force to be reckoned with within the death metal scene. Pulling their influence from early Sepultura, and bands such as Death, Morbid Angel and Deicide, Crypta mastered an amazing sound from the get-go, which they actively refine with each release. As their two records to date can attest, both Echoes of the Soul and Shades of Sorrow, Crypta employ a whirlwind of relentless riffage, devastating drumming and overpowering screams to rend the souls of the listener.
On stage, Crypta keep the blood flowing indefinitely, and decree only one law: moshing and crowdsurfing are absolutely mandatory. A heavy showcase of some of today’s best death metal music is about to be unleashed at the Altar during Crypta’s very first visit to Hellfest. Make sure you are there to experience the bloodbath.
Die Spitz
Punk rock has never been so alive and a band that has been helping keep the scene fresh and boundless are Die Spitz. With their origination point set in 2022, the quartet of vocalists and guitarists Ava Schrobilgen and Eleanor Livingston, bassist Kate Halter, and drummer Chloe de St. Aubin have already been making waves thanks to their hyper energetic and fierce sound, as well as a no bullshit attitude. Inspired by bands that range from Nirvana and Veruca Salt to Fleshwater, Mudhoney and Black Sabbath, Die Spitz are often described as a true wrecking ball against tyranny and oppression, hitting hard against misogyny and fascism with thunderous riffs, powerful drum hits, vicious bass lines, and fearless vocals.
Performing for the first time at Hellfest, the band promises to deliver an explosive performance at the Warzone that will surely take no prisoners. Do you dare be struck down by the undeniable riot grrrl power of Die Spitz?
Midnight Odyssey
One might think that Midnight Odyssey are something that appeared out of the blue, but the truth is, the project born from the chaotic mind of Dis Pater has been active for almost two decades. Having spawn a vast discography that includes nine full-length releases, Midnight Odyssey is a vessel through which Dis Pater explores classical mythology, spirituality, and oftentimes, death itself. Ever shifting between a highly atmospheric strand of black metal to full-blown medieval and cosmic ambient music, Dis Pater is no stranger to experimentation, and one can attest that one listening to records such as Ruins of a Celestial Fire or the Biolume trilogy.
Having only started to perform live very recently, the expectations are at an all time high. A truly mystical and Dantesque ceremony awaits those that dare enter the unholy ground of the Temple.
False Reality
Groove is the name of the game for False Reality. Formed in 2023 by individuals deeply rooted in the underground music scene, False Reality became notorious rather quickly thanks to their thrash-infused, hardcore crossover sound and fiercely energetic performances that draw influence from bands such as Trapped Under Ice, Deftones and early-era Sepultura. The band’s debut record, Faded Intentions, is as riotous as it is sonically expansive, delving deep into what is the purpose of human existence via bruising riffage and drumming, as well as the charismatic howling of vocalist Rachel Rigby.
As mentioned above, False Reality’s shows are a showcase of brutal energy release, and on their first ever performance at Hellfest and its magnificent Warzone, the band promises to leave the audience as maimed and mangled as possible. Take caution; this one will truly be the hardest stomach blow you will ever receive in your life.
Hulder
From the unhinged mind of one Marliese Beeuwsaert comes Hulder, a black metal project inspired by the darkest fringes of medieval history and Belgian folklore. Uncompromising, cold and melancholic, Hulder’s sound feels simultaneously delicate and all-consuming, with a vast array of shrilling riffs, blistering drumming and maddening wails that are intertwined with soft, ritualistic chanting, like an infernal battering ram smashing down the gates of Heaven itself. Hulder’s sophomore and latest full release to date, Verses in Harmony, is evidence of this ferocity, a testament to Hulder’s will to constantly reach new sonic heights.
A live show by Hulder is a rare sight and even rarer are the people that leave one such event without a dark mark upon their very souls. The Temple will be the perfect stage to witness Hulder’s debut at Hellfest; an indestructible conflagration is upon us and there is nothing we can do to stop it, except for letting it consume us whole.
