Blood Fire Death: A Tribute to Quorthon and the music of Bathory, Mastodon and Mayhem join the line-up of Brutal Assault 2025

The Brutal Assault festival returns to the historic Josefov Fortress in 2025, from August 6 to August 9, bringing a unique showcase of the most prominent names on the metal scene. Following the announcement of headliners Gojira, Dimmu Borgir, and Ministry, the festival reveals another batch of acts. The biggest highlights include the progressive titans Mastodon, the exclusive tribute Blood Fire Death: A Tribute to Quorthon and the Music of Bathory, and the legendary Norwegian black metal band Mayhem.

Mastodon, one of the most notable representatives of progressive metal, will return to Josefov with their mix of epic compositions, technical excellence, and uncompromising energy. The exceptional project Blood Fire Death: A Tribute to Quorthon and the Music of Bathory will revive the legacy of one of the greatest icons in metal history, Quorthon. This exclusive concert will feature cult songs by Bathory, performed by stars of the Norwegian and Swedish metal scene, including members of Watain, Enslaved, Emperor, Vltimas, Aura Noir, Djevel, and Mayhem. A special performance celebrating the band’s history will also be delivered by Mayhem, the legends of Norwegian black metal. The band, which was instrumental in the birth of the second wave of black metal, will present a setlist marking their forty years on the scene.

Alongside these icons, the festival has announced a diverse selection of bands across subgenres. Fans can look forward to Attila, an energetic “party-core” band; Blood Red Throne, veterans of death metal; Italy’s Fleshgod Apocalypse, known for their fusion of brutal death metal and opera; Britain’s Green Lung, purveyors of modern doom metal with psychedelic elements; Hellripper, Scotland’s king of arcane mosh; Orange Goblin, a stoner metal mainstay; and Kublai Khan TX, delivering hard and aggressive metalcore.

The lineup further expands with fascinating names such as Aluk Todolo, a French experimental trio blending metal, drone, and psychedelia, and the musical “cartel” Brujeria, who are returning to the stage despite the recent tragic loss of two members, with a new lineup. From Japan comes metalcore sensation Crystal Lake, while Dark Angel, veterans of thrash metal, bring their classic aggressive sound. Brutal death metal will be represented by Defeated Sanity, and Gutalax will bring their signature fecal goregrind.

Other bands include DevilDriver, an American groove metal staple, and Fit for a King, a modern metalcore outfit full of energy. Doom-laden and melancholic tones will be provided by Frayle, while grindcore fans can enjoy Gadget. Portuguese black metal mystery Gaerea and dark electronica from Gost add variety to the lineup. Legends like Macabre, pioneers of murder metal, and thrash metal icon Overkill will also be present. Additionally, fans can look forward to Priest with their dark synthwave, Protector, pioneers of thrash/death metal, and Rivers of Nihil, offering progressive death metal with jazz influences. Hellish performances by Hellbutcher and avant-garde Klidas will not be missing.

Other highlights include Tsjuder, uncompromising Norwegian black metal; the French Landmvrks, melodic metalcore; and The Halo Effect, a project by former members of In Flames. Overseas brutality and activism will be delivered by To the Grave, while the heaviness of deathcore-infused metalcore will be represented by Within Destruction. Psychedelic doom and stoner metal will be brought by Americans Rezn, and death metal with hardcore elements by Mammoth Grinder.

NEW BANDS:
ALUK TODOLO, ATTILA, BLOOD FIRE DEATH: A TRIBUTE TO QUORTHON AND THE MUSIC OF
BATHORY, BLOOD RED THRONE, BRUJERIA, CRYSTAL LAKE, DARK ANGEL, DEFEATED SANITY,
DEVILDRIVER, FIT FOR A KING, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, FRAYLE, GADGET, GAEREA, GOST,
GREEN LUNG, GUTALAX, HELLBUTCHER, HELLRIPPER, KLIDAS, KUBLAI KHAN TX, LANDMVRKS,
MACABRE, MALEVOLENT CREATION, MAMMOTH GRINDER, MASTODON, MAYHEM, ORANGE
GOBLIN, OVERKILL, PRIEST, PROTECTOR, REZN, RIVERS OF NIHIL, THE HALO EFFECT, TO THE
GRAVE, TSJUDER, WITHIN DESTRUCTION.

FULL LINE-UP:
ALUK TODOLO, ANGELMAKER, ASPHYX, ATTILA, AUGUST BURNS RED, AVULSED, BENIGHTED,
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, BLOOD FIRE DEATH: A TRIBUTE TO QUORTHON AND THE
MUSIC OF BATHORY, BLOOD RED THRONE, BRUJERIA, CRYSTAL LAKE, DARK ANGEL,
DEFEATED SANITY, DEVILDRIVER, DIMMU BORGIR, DOPE, FIT FOR A KING, FLESHGOD
APOCALYPSE, FRAYLE, GADGET, GAEREA, GOJIRA, GOST, GRAVE, GREEN LUNG, GUTALAX,
HELLBUTCHER, HELLRIPPER, KATAKLYSM, KLIDAS, KUBLAI KHAN TX, LANDMVRKS, MACABRE,
MALEVOLENT CREATION, MAMMOTH GRINDER, MASTODON, MAYHEM, MINISTRY,
OBITUARY, ORANGE GOBLIN, OVERKILL, PIG DESTROYER, PRIEST, PROTECTOR, PSYCROPTIC,
REZN, RIVERS OF NIHIL, STATIC-X, SUFFOCATION, THE HALO EFFECT, THE KOVENANT,
THROWN, TO THE GRAVE, TSJUDER, UNLEASHED, WITHIN DESTRUCTION

Tickets: https://brutalassault.cz/cs/tickets