The first day of the second edition of Hellsinki Metal Festival is filled with an impressive line-up of extreme metal bands, topped off with the musical exelence that is the headliner of tonight. Our editorial team picked out 8 bands that they think you definitely shouldn’t miss out on with Wolfheart, Gutalax, Massacre, Deicide, Terrorizer, Triumph of Death plays Hellhammer, Heaven Shall Burn and Avantasia! What bands are you really looking forward to today? Let us know in the comments!

The second edition of Hellsinki Metal promises to be again absolutely great! Just in case you weren’t convinced enough yet, here are our reasons why we believe you should get a ticket still for the 2024 edition if you haven’t yet! With a massive line-up, added features and an overall excellent festival experience promised, you won’t want to sit this one out!

Árstíðir Lífsins on its sixth full length album “Aldrlok” recounts the timeless tales of old Norse history and turbulent times of change in Iceland. The nine cuts combine modern and classic black metal into an epic black metal album that stands unique in the band’s musical works, out via Ván Records.

The long-awaited second album “Ancient Doom Metal” by the Russian epic doom metal act Scald captures the pondering power of bands like Manowar and Candlemass, the mystical and a true Viking tradition in honor of Bathory. Out now via High Roller Records since last Friday, July 26th.

In anticipation of this Friday’s release of their new album ‘Trenches’ via Soulseller Records, Norway’s Svartelder shared the new track ‘The Forgiving Isolation’!

Japanese death metal icons Defiled are back, planning to leave a trail of bodies with their upcoming album ‘Horror Beyond Horror’, set for release via Season of Mist in September, and shared the video single ‘Smoke And Mirrors’!

Gaerea is ready to venture onto different paths, infusing their intense black metal music with other influences, guiding us into the darkness with their upcoming album ‘Coma’, set for release in October via Season of Mist and shared a couple of weeks ago the lead single ‘Hope Shatters’ with a captivating video! Catch them live at select Europe festivals like Dark River Festival in Finland in 10 days, or at the end of the year on their North American tour supporting Zeal & Ardor!

French black metal outfit Seth once again steals the spotlight with its grand seventh opus: ‘La France des Maudits’ is a symphonic masterpiece that brings vehemence and an outstanding performance. Out via Season of Mist.