If modern nu metal is your thing, Graphic Nature should already be on your radar.

The British band takes plenty of inspiration from the classics without ever sounding like a tribute act, mixing nu metal grooves with modern metalcore aggression and massive breakdowns. The result is heavy, energetic and tailor-made for a festival crowd.

They’re one of the first bands to hit the Helldorado Stage on Saturday, but don’t let the early timeslot fool you. We have a feeling this is one of those bands that could be playing much higher up festival posters in a few years. Sometimes it’s worth getting out of bed early to say you saw them before everyone else did.

Miracle of Sound might be one of the more unusual names on this year’s Alcatraz bill, and that’s exactly why we’re so happy to see him there.

Gavin Dunne has built an enormous following by writing songs inspired by games, films and popular culture, but even if you’ve never picked up a controller, there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself enjoying what he does. His music blends rock, metal and folk influences with the kind of huge choruses that are almost impossible not to sing along with.

With a catalogue that’s become the soundtrack to countless people’s favourite games, we’re curious to see how those songs translate to a festival stage. We have a feeling this could end up being one of Saturday’s most feel-good sets.

The leading virtuoso behind this band is Gus G, a very known and impressive guitarist who played with Ozzy Osbourne. They currently are working on new heavy and powerful material, so maybe we will get surprised.

Of course, Firewind have always been much more than just Gus G.’s incredible guitar playing. The Greek power metal veterans have built an impressive catalogue over more than two decades, filled with soaring choruses, memorable riffs and plenty of opportunities for Gus G. to remind everyone why he’s regarded as one of the finest guitarists in the business.

Whether they decide to give us a taste of what’s still to come or stick to the classics, this should be a treat for anyone who appreciates traditional heavy and power metal done right.

Few bands put as much effort into creating a full visual experience as Mushroomhead.

From the masks and costumes to the percussion setups and theatrical stage production, there’s always something happening wherever you look. Add to that their unmistakable blend of alternative metal, industrial and nu metal, and you’ve got a show that engages both your eyes and your ears.

It’s been great seeing the band finding new momentum again in recent years, and we can’t wait to experience that controlled chaos at Alcatraz. If you’ve never seen Mushroomhead before, do yourself a favour and change that.

For all the female fronted (and backed) lovers out there, go check the Canadian Kittie out. They bring Nu Metal: grunts combined with clean vocals. They were formed exactly 30 years ago so hopefully they will celebrate their pearl-birthday with something special. Feel imprisoned by their charm, which is also the place to be.

After spending years away from the spotlight, Kittie have come back stronger than ever. Their return has reminded everyone why they became one of the defining bands of the early nu metal movement in the first place, and their live performances prove they haven’t lost any of the fire that made them stand out all those years ago.

Thirty years is quite the milestone. We wouldn’t blame them if they decided to make this anniversary tour just that little bit more special.

Some bands are simply fun to watch, and Castle Rat are one of the best recent examples we can think of.

We caught them in Helsinki last year without really knowing what to expect, and they completely blew us away. Their blend of doom metal, classic heavy metal and fantasy storytelling is already enjoyable enough on record, but it’s the live show that truly elevates everything. Every member plays a character, making the whole performance feel like a heavy metal adventure unfolding right in front of yo

With more and more viral clips of their performances finding their way across social media, it feels like the secret is slowly getting out. We’d recommend taking this opportunity to catch them on the intimate La Morgue stage while you still can. We have a feeling they won’t stay on stages that size forever.

If you’ve somehow managed to miss Orbit Culture over the last couple of years, now is the perfect time to fix that.

The Swedish outfit has been on an incredible rise, steadily building a reputation as one of the strongest modern melodic death metal bands around. Their sound blends crushing riffs, massive grooves and memorable melodies into songs that feel equally suited for headphones and festival stages.

Every time we’ve seen them, they’ve seemed to come back bigger and tighter than before. It feels like they’re well on their way to becoming one of the genre’s leading names, so catching them now almost feels like witnessing that final step before they make the leap to even bigger stages.

When people talk about legendary crossover bands, Ratos de Porão deserve to be part of that conversation.

The Brazilian veterans have spent more than four decades tearing down the walls between hardcore punk, thrash and extreme metal, becoming one of the country’s most influential heavy bands along the way. Good friends of Sepultura, they helped shape Brazil’s heavy music scene into what it is today.

If your idea of a good time involves fast riffs, even faster songs and a pit that never seems to stop moving, this is absolutely where you should be. Whether you come from the hardcore scene, the thrash scene or somewhere in between, Ratos de Porão speak everyone’s language.