If there was one band people kept mentioning after leaving La Morgue, it was Frayle. The American act brought a mesmerizing blend of gothic melancholy and crushing doom that completely transformed the atmosphere inside the tent. While the sun was still shining brightly outside, stepping into La Morgue almost felt like entering another world. Much of that magic came from vocalist Gwyn Strang, whose captivating stage presence drew the audience in from the very first notes of “Treacle and Revenge”. Whether delivering the haunting beauty of “Bright Eyes”, putting their own unmistakable stamp on Lana Del Rey‘s “Summertime Sadness”, or closing with the emotional weight of “Darker Than Black”, Frayle held the packed tent in the palm of their hand. With a new album only months away, this already felt like a band ready to reach an even bigger audience.

The future of heavy music looks to be in very capable hands. The UK’s Heriot delivered one of the most explosive early performances of the day, combining crushing riffs with relentless energy from beginning to end. There wasn’t a weak link on stage. Every band member attacked the performance with absolute conviction, making songs like “Sentenced to the Blade”, “Near Vision”, “Soul Chasm” and “Opaline” hit even harder. Their blend of metallic hardcore, sludge and modern heaviness proved to be a perfect fit for Alcatraz, leaving little doubt that we’ll be seeing this band on increasingly bigger stages in the years to come.

Fresh off the release of one of this year’s strongest doom records, Messa arrived at Alcatraz with plenty of expectations resting on their shoulders. They exceeded every single one. The Italians once again demonstrated why they occupy such a unique place within the contemporary doom scene. Their music feels cinematic without becoming theatrical, heavy without relying solely on volume. Songs like “Fire on the Roof”, “The Dress” and “Reveal” wrapped La Morgue in an almost hypnotic atmosphere, making it surprisingly easy to forget the warm summer afternoon waiting outside. Another unforgettable performance inside what once again proved to be one of the festival’s most atmospheric stages.

Whenever Cabal comes in our neighborhood, chances are we’ll end up standing in front of their stage. Friday once again reminded us why. The Danish deathcore outfit barely gave the audience time to breathe as breakdown followed breakdown with surgical precision. From “Become Nothing” and “Still Cursed” to “Death March” and “No Peace”, the band kept the Helldorado crowd moving throughout the entire set. Tight, aggressive and delivered with infectious enthusiasm, Cabal once again showed why they have become one of the most exciting names within modern extreme metal.

Sometimes timing is everything. Horror punk in broad daylight might sound like an odd combination on paper, but Wednesday 13 once again proved that it works perfectly during an Alcatraz afternoon. The iconic frontman remains one of the genre’s great entertainers, effortlessly balancing tongue-in-cheek horror aesthetics with genuine rock ‘n’ roll charisma. Supported by a razor-sharp backing band, classics such as “Look What the Bats Dragged In”, “Good Day to be a Bad Guy”, “I Walked with a Zombie” and the inevitable Murderdolls favourites “Summertime Suicide” and “Nowhere” were enthusiastically sung back by the crowd. Pure fun from beginning to end.

Thirty years with Motörhead. Ten years since the passing of Lemmy Kilmister. Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons didn’t need complicated concepts or elaborate production to make their point. They simply let the songs do the talking. An hour packed exclusively with Motörhead material is hard to dislike, especially when delivered by the guitarist who helped write so many of those classics in the first place. “Iron Fist”, “Damage Case”, “Ace of Spades”, “(We Are) The Road Crew” and the inevitable “Overkill” turned into one big celebration of one of heavy music’s greatest legacies. While nobody can truly replace Lemmy, this remains one of the closest ways to experience that unmistakable Motörhead spirit on a festival stage.

For black metal fans, Friday also offered something truly special. American veterans Absu celebrated the 30th anniversary of The Sun of Tiphareth by performing the landmark album in its entirety. Rather than relying on nostalgia alone, the performance served as a reminder of why this record still commands so much respect three decades later. Fierce, mystical and uncompromising, Absu embodied many of the qualities that continue to define black metal at its very best. A welcome trip back to one of the genre’s most influential chapters.

Watching Mastodon without Brent Hinds still takes some getting used to. His absence was inevitably noticeable, but it certainly didn’t prevent the remaining members from delivering the kind of commanding performance we’ve come to expect from the American progressive metal giants. The set opened to Ozzy Osbourne‘s “Crazy Train”, before launching into favourites such as “The Motherload”, “Crystal Skull”, “Steambreather” and the always thunderous “Blood and Thunder”. The emotional highlight came at the very end, however. Following their appearance at Black Sabbath‘s recent Back to the Beginning celebration, Mastodon closed with a heartfelt rendition of “Supernaut”, offering their own tribute to Ozzy and Black Sabbath. A beautiful way to honour the Prince of Darkness.

If anyone wondered how to close the first day of Alcatraz in style, Kreator had the answer. From the opening notes of “Violent Revolution”, Mille Petrozza and company unleashed an absolutely devastating display of Teutonic thrash metal. Fire, relentless riffs and one anthem after another kept the Prison Stage crowd in constant motion. Whether it was “Enemy of God”, “Hail to the Hordes”, “Phantom Antichrist”, “Flag of Hate” or the inevitable “Pleasure to Kill”, every song landed with maximum impact. It genuinely felt as if the gates of hell had opened over Kortrijk. Exactly what a Friday night headliner should accomplish.

While Kreator commanded the Prison Stage, industrial pioneers Ministry offered an equally compelling alternative over at the Helldorado Stage. Rumours had circulated beforehand suggesting Uncle Al might not have been in top form, but judging by this performance, nobody would have guessed. Al Jourgensen looked every bit as menacing as ever while the band sounded razor sharp throughout a crushing set. “Thieves”, “N.W.O.”, “Just One Fix”, “Jesus Built My Hotrod” and “So What” hit with overwhelming force, turning Helldorado into an industrial warzone. Proof that Ministry remains one of the genre’s absolute benchmark live acts.