From Tunisia comes Myrath, masters of “desert metal”—a glorious fusion of progressive power metal with Middle Eastern melodies, orchestration, and cinematic flair. Their music is steeped in myth and melody, weaving Arabic instrumentation with soaring clean vocals and virtuosic guitar work. On stage, they bring this tapestry to life, taking the audience on an epic, narrative journey that feels transported from another world . Expect theatrical intensity, exotic mystique, and storytelling that lingers long after the last note. They recently announced to be releasing a best of album soon and it seems like this show at Alcatraz will be one of the very few if not only one in Europe this summer, so make sure you show up early and not miss this!

Germany’s KNIFE aren’t here to mess around! Their music is a whirlwind of razor-sharp riffs, blistering tempos, and venomous blackened thrash aggression that channels the raw spirit of early metal mayhem. Drawing from the unholy marriage of Motörhead’s speed and Venom’s filth, they deliver a live performance that’s pure chaos, dripping with leather, spikes, and a punk-infused sneer. Their shows feel like being hit head-on by a biker gang riding straight out of hell, with zero intention of slowing down. At Alcatraz 2025, expect no polish, no pretense… just speed, filth, and firepower from a band that lives and breathes the underground, playing on a stage that with its club feel and no fences keeping the crowd on a distance, this will destroy. If you like your metal dangerous and unhinged, KNIFE is non-negotiable viewing.

Denmark’s BAEST have built a reputation as one of the most ferocious live death metal acts in Europe, and for good reason. Their old-school Swedish-inspired death metal sound comes alive on stage with an energy that’s equal parts precision and pure savagery. Crushing riffs, cavernous growls, and relentless blast beats hit with bone-breaking force, but it’s the way the band connects with the crowd, grinning, headbanging, and pushing the intensity higher, that makes them unmissable. Whether you’re a long-time death metal devotee or just want to be flattened by one of the genre’s best modern representatives, BAEST at Alcatraz 2025 will deliver a set that leaves no survivors. And next week, they’re releasing a brand new album that is now already promising to be one of the top albums of the year! Don’t sit on this one!

Never underestimate the power of a single chorus. Best known for their anthemic track “Bodies”, Drowning Pool specialize in delivering high-voltage grooves that are instantly recognizable and ridiculously singable. Their legacy in early-2000s alt-metal still resonates, and they know exactly how to ignite festival pits. Expect explosive riffs, crowd unity, and a huge dose of head-nodding fun.

Rivers of Nihil occupy a unique space where tech-death ambition meets post-rock atmosphere. They’re lauded for weaving aggressive complexity and jazz-tinged textures into emotionally resonant soundscapes . Live, they’re magnetic—one fan put it best: “I ended up enjoying this more than Cynic… the atmosphere was so fucking great… I absolutely died when they played The Silent Life” . This is music for thinkers and headbangers alike, where every chord carries weight and they have a live saxophonist! How can you not go see that!

When Max Cavalera and Alex Newport resurrected Nailbomb, it wasn’t just a reunion, it was the return of raw, industrial-thrash anarchy. Originally a one-album project from the mid-’90s, they’re back for a brutal European festival tour, dusting off the industrial grit, punk fury, and seismic riffs of Point Blank for a limited, explosive run including Alcatraz 2025 . Think mosh meets manifesto.

As a powerhouse in European metalcore, Caliban deliver emotionally charged, groove-laden madness that melds melody with breakdowns. Their live shows are raucous yet precise with vocal hooks that stick in your head, guitars that nail you in the chest, and a stage presence that commands every eye. If you crave a cathartic experience wrapped in heavy riffs and heart, Caliban’s set will ignite that. We saw them on their recent European tour in support of their latest album and we can attest to the fact that their shows are epic!

Avatar turns metal performance into full-on theatre. Expect choreographed spectacle, grand costumes, tongue-in-cheek humor, and dramatic showmanship, fans and others rave about live shows that feel more like polished rock musicals than typical concerts . Their energy ramps from zero to a thousand in every single song. And those who saw Avatar on the headline spot at Alcatraz several years ago, know that they most definitely can master a stage and slot like this. Also, they have been releasing new tracks in anticipation of their new album and hinting at a new era and band like you’ve never seen them before. If it’s like they’re saying that up to now this was just the apatizer, we can’t wait to get the main course!