The Obscure and Octagon stages delivered some of the most intense sets of Day 1 at Brutal Assault 2025. From the triumphant return of 3 Inches of Blood to the symphonic fury of Fleshgod Apocalypse, the crushing weight of Inter Arma, the haunting doom of Frayle, the occult darkness of Ruïm, and the mind-bending chaos of Oranssi Pazuzu, it was truely a journey through the extremes of heavy music!

UK sludge masters Mastiff recently signed with Church Road Records and are now unveiling their new single ‘A Story Behind Every Light’, a track from the upcoming EP ‘For all the Dead Dreams’ set for release in October!

Finnish death/doom mastodons Hooded Menace reawaken classic horror on new single ‘Pale Masquerade’ another track from their upcoming album ‘Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration’, set for release in October via Season of Mist!

Japanese legends Boris are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their landmark albums ‘Pink’ and ‘dronevil’ with special editions of both, coming October 17 on Relapse Records!

Funeral doom titans Evoken announce new album ‘Mendacium’ to be released in October via Profound Lore Records and share a first track with album opener ‘Matins’!

Dungeon doom/death/black trio Cultic brings warlocks and dragons by unleashing the video single ‘Nomad’, a track from their upcoming third album ‘Lore’, out in October via Eleventh Key Records!

Legends of doom, Paradise Lost has shared the 3rd single ‘Tyrants Serenade’ from their upcoming album ‘Ascension’, out next month with Nuclear Blast!

From sludge legends to Olympic headliners and unexpected big performances on the smaller stage… Lokerse Feesten delivered on August 5th a day that was nothing short of historic. Melvins, Helmet, Coilguns, Amenra, Gojira on the main stage and Coilguns, envy, Red Kross and Light of Eternity on the Club Studio Brussel stage shook Lokeren to its core.

The legendary Finnish metal band Soulgrind is back after 15 years with new music under the form of their tenth album ‘Ad Pulchram Mortem’, set for release with Inverse Records and a first single and video ‘Jylhä metsämies’!

Finnish death doom mastodons Hooded Menace are casting their music in ghoulish new light on their upcoming new album ‘Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration’, set for release in October with Season of Mist and shared its lead single ‘Portrait Without a Face’!