High Parasite. It’s a relatively new band from the UK, so you might have missed it somehow. But it’s difficult to miss the name of the good old doom metal band “My Dying Bride“, right? Guess what: the singer of High Parasite is none other than Aaron Stainthorpe. The band might sound a bit old-school, especially with lots of new music around in the festival, but the three reasons of checking them out are:

1. It’s a definitely distinctive band nowadays, namely for its traditional and firm gothic metal/rock sound. No nonsense, just pure beautiful gothic.
2. The quality of overall music, their compositions, melodies are so beautiful that it’s difficult to walk away.
3. The charisma of musicians and especially of the singer who literally shines in his white suit is mesmerizing.

Their live shows are rare, surreal, and theatrical in the best way. A must-see for fans of darkwave-meets-metal hybrids and anything that doesn’t fit in a box.

Czech grindcore’s undisputed party kings, Gutalax turn every set into a filthy, foam-blasted toilet-themed riot. Equal parts brutality and absurdity, they blast through gory grooves with tongue planted firmly in cheek and sometimes other places. Their home crowd appearances are legendary. Expect surgical masks, inflatable toilets, and grind that’ll leave your face sore from both moshing and laughing.

Marseille’s metalcore export LANDMVRKS has been on a steady climb, but they still haven’t oversaturated the European scene. Their sound blends modern hardcore punch with melodic choruses that go full arena without losing grit. For fans of Architects or Polaris, this is the sweet spot between emotional weight and pure aggression. Expect massive pits and a ton of crowd energy.

Sweden’s underground tribute to the second wave of black metal, Blood Fire Death blends raw aggression with a reverent nod to its Bathory namesake and Quorthon. Their performances drip with that classic Scandinavian grimness, but with enough of their own identity to stay fresh. A gift for old-school purists and black metal lifers. And adding to that, the band usually consists of some major players in the black metal scene going from Nergal to Gaahl and members of bands like Watain, original Bathory line-up and so on. A must see for any fan of the underground and extreme!

Belgian shoegaze at its heaviest and dreamiest, Slow Crush floats somewhere between post-metal haze and shimmering melancholy. Ethereal vocals and cavernous guitars create a blissfully immersive wall of sound. They’re one of Europe’s strongest acts in this sphere, and their live shows are hypnotic. A perfect breather from the festival’s intensity without sacrificing any emotional depth. And they’re about to release a brand new album, so perfect timing for you to get to enjoy some of that new stuff live!

A fever dream of industrial sleaze and avant-garde pop horror, Patriarchy is unlike anything else on the line-up. Think Nine Inch Nails meets performance art meets a dominatrix from a cyberpunk movie you shouldn’t have watched as a kid. Their live shows are equal parts abrasive, seductive, and surreal, more ritual than concert. If you’re craving weird, erotic, genre-bending chaos, this is your holy hour.

With a new frontman and a revitalized edge, Fear Factory’s return to Brutal Assault feels both like a comeback and a victory lap. Their mechanical grooves and dystopian anthems hit just as hard now as they did in the late ‘90s, maybe harder. This is your chance to witness cyber-metal royalty back in full force. Expect precision, adrenaline, and that signature industrial coldness we’ve all missed.

Early 2000s nu-metal nostalgia lives on with Drowning Pool’s rare European appearance. Yes, that song will be played, but the band’s deeper cuts and live energy still hit hard. If you’re looking for a break from dissonant blackened chaos and want to scream along with your teenage self, this is the set. Love it or hate it, it’ll be unforgettable.