It is that time of the year again when we eagerly anticipate the coming of another wonderful and magnificent edition of SonicBlast, the best psychedelic festival in this beautiful blue rock we call home. As is usual, we shall be telling you about a few of the bands that will take part of the lineup that we think you should not miss, by any means necessary. Okay, maybe not so dramatically, but we do mean it to some extent – SonicBlast in itself is a festival no one should ever miss, and each of the following names are enough reason that uphold that sentiment.
Turbonegro
With their striking image that includes sailor hats and ultra-tight leather pants, as well as provocative and scating humour, and an assortment of fervently catchy songs, Turbonegro are an absolute phenomenon in international rock. Formed in the late 1980s, and blending the aural stylings of glam rock, punk rock and hard rock into what the band describes as deathpunk, Turbonegro quickly grew into a force to be reckoned with, thanks to juggernaut-like records such as Ass Cobra and Apocalypse Dudes. Irreverent, noisy, subversive, but always proud of their sleaziness, Turbonegro are on a league that is entirely their own, even if they haven’t released a new return since 2018s RockNRoll Machine.
Their live shows are equally as entertaining, standing as a fantastic example of how to properly pull off a rock show. Get ready to headbang and mosh to the sound of hits such as “Hurry Up & Die”, “All My Friends Are Dead” and the absolutely iconic “I Got Erection”. You won’t regret it.
Chat Pile
Drawing their name from the large mounds of toxic mining waste that litter the landscape of northeastern Oklahoma, Chat Pile are a curious group. Fusing noise rock and sludge metal with the intent of capturing the anxiety and fear of seeing the world tear itself apart, Chat Pile’s sound and lyrics reflect the environmental and social issues that stem from the legacy of industrial waste, on a planet that is being slowly consumed by a climate apocalypse without precedent. Influenced by bands such as Big Black, Godflesh, Korn and Sonic Youth, Chat Pile showcases ferocity and madness through abrasive guitar riffs, drunken-sounding and animalistic vocals, and colossal drum pummels, enveloping the listener in a world of sonic chaos, a terrifying reminder that the American dream is no more, if it ever existed in the first place.
The lunacy of their sound is translated quite well to a live setting, with vocalist Raygun Busch prowling the stage like a deranged serial killer seeking prey, while the rest of band channels somber energy that could be traced back to an insane asylum. Chat Pile is set to release their third full-length, Who Loves The Sun, in September. Hopefully that means we get to hear some new material when the band sets foot on the SonicBlast main stage.
Kylesa
It’s been almost ten years since Kylesa announced an indefinite hiatus, leaving an enormous void in the hearts of many a fan. And one can understand why that void would be so painful; after all, Kylesa were one of the absolute giants of sludge metal, seemingly unstoppable in their barrage of great records, such as Static Tensions, Spiral Shadow and Ultraviolet, that continuously brought a breath of fresh air to the genre thanks to their progressive and psychedelic tones, mixed with a ton of awesome riffs. But as luck would have it, both vocalists and guitarists Laura Pleasants and Phillip Cope decided that they had enough rest, and that the time was now to bring back Kylesa from its long slumber. Reunited in 2025 with renewed, unwavering ambition, and now joined by bassist John Jesse and drummer Roy Mayorga, Kylesa have been on a path to reconquer the world in a furious manner.
If you were lucky enough to see Kylesa play live before their hiatus, then you know how totally devastating their sets can be. And if you are among the many who will be seeing them live for the first time, a forewarning; prepare to have your mind expanded to the point of complete collapse, as your body twists and turn to the sound of the heaviest riffage on the planet. Be there or be square.
Trash Talk
Formed in 2005, and hailing from Sacramento, in California, Trash Talk are a band that combines modern hardcore and thrash metal with the aggression of its descendents, having mastered a sonically violent sound that is both exciting, unrelenting and entirely fresh. Spearheaded by vocalist Lee Spielman and bassist Spencer Pollard, Trash Talk climbed the ranks of the underground scene with records such as Walking Disease and Eyes & Nines, even going as far as releasing two records, 119 and No Peace, on Tyler, the Creator’s own label, Odd Future Records. Persistent touring and high-energy performances generated considerable attention over the years, garnering the attention of many fans around the globe, both from the hardcore punk, thrash metal and hip-hop scenes.
On a live setting, Trash Talk are as meteoric and lightning-fast as they are on record, so you better pump yourself with energy if you don’t want to get trampled by the hurricane that is Trash Talk.
Midnight
Some people just don’t give a shit. While most folks in the underground metal scene will tell you that opinions don’t matter, only for you to see them moments later crying about a stupid movie no one really cares about, there are some that don’t see the point in taking things too seriously. The latter is exactly the case with Athenar, the sarcastic, machete-wielding, hooded figure behind Midnight. Initially created as a solo side-project when Athenar was still in Boulder – a heavy metal band created in the early 90s -, Midnight have grown in popularity and relevance over the years despite not having played live once. After eight years of EPs and splits – which were to be the only type of releases Midnight would put out – Athenar stretched his multi-instrumentalist muscles and unleashed a beast of a debut full-length, entitled Satanic Royalty. He then got a hold of a few live members – or maybe even took them hostage, who knows for sure – and what followed was a steady stream of shows coupled with a myriad of studio releases, all of them following the mantras of blasphemy, sex and absurdity, as well as quite a few crossings of the Atlantic Ocean to play all over Europe.
However, on their first time playing at SonicBlast, Midnight are not about to play a show like they have in the past. In fact, this year marks the 15th Anniversary of the aforementioned Satanic Royalty, and Athenar and co. will be playing the record in its entirety, and perhaps some other material if they feel like it. Get ready for total black/speed metal devastation, and be careful not to get hit by one or two amps on the way.
Bongzilla
Get you green herbs, bongs, and ganja stashes at the ready; Bongzilla are finally making their way to SonicBlast! Pioneers of weed-worshipping sludgecore, the trio of vocalist and bassist Muleboy, guitarist Spanky, and drummer Magma are unequivocal masters of a powerful, downtuned, and corrosively heavy sound that made them cornerstones of the stoner metal scene. Records such as Stash, Amerijuanican and Weedsconsin are chock-full of slow-paced, industrial-sized, crushing riffs, drumming that hits like a damn dumpster truck, and hazily deranged vocals that get your blood boiling. All of this is part of the perfect recipe that Bongzilla has crafted for a good ol’ headbanging session, whether you are blasting the band’s music in your bedroom, or even in your car, when turning it into a portable greenhouse of happy times.
On a live setting, Bongzilla are as mind-expanding as in the studio, and at SonicBlast, they will play not one, but two sets, as a celebration of their 30-year long career. Get ready for the ultimate journeys into ultra stoned, sludgey psychedelia.
N8NOFACE
N8NOFACE is an artist who defies any attempt at comparison or definition. Originally from Tucson, Arizona, his minimal-wave/synth-punk sound is not rooted in nostalgic lo-fi or home-recording formulas, but in a style entirely his own. The result is rapid-fire synth-punk built for moshing. His damaged pop songs tell stories from the underbelly of Tucson and Los Angeles: narcos, drug deals and jackings gone wrong, toxic relationships, police brutality, and American people too focused on surviving to care who the president is. N8NOFACE’s own past drug-addled ultraviolent lifestyle fuelled and shaped much of what became his sound, and ever since cleaning up, has kept one foot firmly in the synth-punk world while also exploring his more vulnerable, tender side.
When stepping on stage, N8NOFACE has been described as being the definition of nervous energy as he jolts and dances like the ghost of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis has possessed his soul, and we couldn’t agree more. Prepare your body for an unforgettable experience, and be ready to dance the night away, as N8NOFACE warms your heart and soul.
Madmess
Emerging from the heart of Porto around 2017, Madmess have crafted a unique sound inside the realm of heavy psych rock. Drawing inspiration from the iconic sounds of 70s blues rock and proto-metal, and with a clear aim to always create and innovate through experimentation and improvisation, Madmess’ music transports listeners on a mind-altering voyage. Their most recent record, 2025’s enormous The Third Coming, is a perfect example of this, standing as the band’s most brilliant release to date. Madmess are never afraid to play around with different genres and musical stylings, breaking boundaries where they see fit, creating rich aural experiences that are meant to be played on repeat for an endless amount of time.
And if you enjoy vivid trips to otherworldly dimensions that alter your mind, body and soul, then you will surely love Madmess. The band perfectly translates their sound from the studio to a live setting in a seamless fashion, performing their songs like one big, fuzzy jam session. Be entranced and ascend to a higher state of consciousness.
Capela Mortuária
As one of the most recent manifestations to burst out in the scene, Capela Mortuária was born from the need to express the energy of the bustling underground scene in Braga through riffage, pummeling and screams. With an EP, Ossadas, and a full-length release, Monstro, already under their belt, Capela Mortuária serve fast and furious thrash metal mixed with lyrics that are shouted with a pointing finger, a clenched fish, and absolutely no bullshit. Having performed on a dozen of stages around Portugal and with some incursions already done in Spain, Capela Mortuária have been honing their skills and perfecting their sound, becoming a beast of a band in their own right.
Capela Mortuária are no strangers to the audience of SonicBlast, having performed at the festival last year. If you missed them then, then this your chance to make up for such a mistake. Get ready for brutal dose of thrash metal like you have never seen or heard before.
Words by Filipe Silva
