Often somewhat overlooked when talking about power metal, despite their almost 3 decades of existence, Magic Kingdom is set to be opening the Prison Stage on day 2 of Alcatraz 2025. Power metal full of dragons, wizards, and whirlwind solos, they don’t hold back on the fantasy. Helmed by shred wizard Dushan Petrossi, their music is fast, melodic, and full of heroic flair. Expect double bass gallops, operatic vocals, and high-octane instrumental acrobatics. Their shows are every time an epic journey straight out of a power metal dream, which seems like the perfect opener for a magical metal day yet again!

With Signs of Algorithm, one of Belgium’s most promising modern metalcore/deathcore acts around will be opening the Swamp Stage on the second Alcatraz day. The proggy metalcore with techy riffs, dynamic breakdowns, and emotion-laced melodies will prove to you how much of a modern force they are. Their latest album shows maturity and evolution, balancing aggression with atmospheric depth. They tackle personal and societal struggles with unflinching sincerity, and their live energy is unmatched. Catch them live before they explode further, and maybe on the big Swamp Stage is a good moment to do so!

And on this second day of Alcatraz, the much more intimate club-like La Morgue stage will get an early demolish crew to swallow with the modern thrashers of Primal Creation, a band we can say are regulars at our own events and always kill it live. Their riffs are tight, their transitions complex, and their vocals filled with urgency. Lyrically, they tackle themes of societal decay and manipulation, which are done clever without being preachy. They’re one of Belgium’s most compelling underground acts, carving their own path in a saturated genre. A good place to stop at when arriving early at the festival and get your first moshpit on the record!