If there’s one piece of advice we can give for Saturday, it’s simple: don’t arrive late. Every festival has that first band many people accidentally miss while grabbing breakfast, waiting in the queue or making their way to the grounds. We’d argue Balance Breach deserve much better than that. They have been handed the honour of opening the festival grounds for the day at the same time of Melrose Avenue, and they’ve more than earned it. Their modern melodic metal has continued to evolve over the years, combining crushing riffs with soaring melodies and plenty of emotion. It’s exactly the kind of energetic wake-up call that deserves a healthy crowd in front of the stage.

It’s honestly a little surprising that it has taken this long, but Majestica are finally making their Finnish debut. Tommy Johansson and company have become one of the most beloved names in modern power metal thanks to their infectious melodies, incredible musicianship and uplifting energy. If power metal is your thing, this is one of those “finally!” moments you won’t want to miss.

Sometimes a band arrives at Tuska with momentum that’s impossible to ignore, and The Funeral Portrait certainly fit that description. Even before setting foot on a Finnish stage, they’ve already built a loyal following here, making this long-awaited first visit one of the more intriguing debuts of the weekend. Expect an emotional, theatrical performance that blends modern rock with post-hardcore influences and plenty of singalong moments. If you’re looking to get your emo fix like you’d get from for instance My Chemical Romance, you’re at the right address with these guys!

Anyone who’s followed GRIMM over the past couple of years will probably know by now that we’re big believers in Kallomäki. We’ve had the pleasure of covering them several times, and every new release and live performance has only strengthened that impression. Their pagan folk with a touch of metal feels unmistakably Finnish while still carving out its own identity, making them one of the country’s most exciting rising bands. If you’ve somehow not checked them out yet, Tuska is the perfect opportunity to fix that.

Few bands have exploded onto the modern deathcore scene quite like Paleface Swiss. Their uncompromising heaviness, relentless energy and emotionally charged performances have earned them a dedicated following around the world, making it somewhat remarkable that this is only now their first appearance in Finland. If you’re looking for one of Saturday’s most intense pits, we’d be very surprised if this isn’t where you’ll find it.

Finnish extreme metal continues to produce fascinating new bands, and Omnivortex are among the finest examples. Their recently released EP further showcased their impressive blend of technical death metal, progressive songwriting and atmospheric passages, creating music that rewards repeat listens without sacrificing sheer intensity. If you’re curious about where the next generation of Finnish extreme metal is heading, this is a great place to start.