Festival Reports
Brutal Assault has been around for a while – this year it was edition #29, and it was simply fantastic. 4 (almost 5, to be precise) days of cheerful chaos mixed with serious music, the old cosy Josefov Fortress grounds and tunnels, the smell of good food and the rivers of beer – everything was almost like always but more mature, bigger, stronger. The whole festival was sold out, probably due to some giants like Gojira, and it was the second time in history that it happened. However, the huge mass of people just added an extra layer of awe to those who visited BA for the first time, and I believe that the overall impression was a total amazement. But let’s talk about each day separately.
The first official day of Brutal Assault started with nostalgia an wide smiles of those who had been missing it for the whole year, and it felt like coming home after a long time away. Dealing with the parking, all the tickets that were needed, putting up the tent, then finally – the festival gates and grounds. Ahhh, it felt good. The people wandering around, remembering or learning all the entries, exits, names of the stages, checking the festival app and the program, top-ups, first gulps of drinks…
…First bands.
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On this particular day of the 10-day Lokerse Feesten festival, fans of the harder scenes in music culture get to see nostalgic bands such as Melvins and Helmet on the main stage, together with a phenomenal combo of two main acts: the melancholic Amenra, founded in our own country, and titans from France, Gojira! who blew the world away with their stunt as the opening act for the Olympic Games. Between these icons, you also have Club Studio Brussel, which gave more of an underground feel, with bands that vary greatly in style, such as Coilgun‘s modern touch of hardcore, Envy creating epic emotional Japanese melodies, Red Kross daring to play classic pop with indie and punk, and Light of Eternity featuring the iconic Paul Ferguson on drums. There is guaranteed to be something for everyone.
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Every festival has its own rhythm, and Sunday at Alcatraz always feels a little different. There is still plenty of energy left in the crowd, but at the same time the realization slowly sets in that another edition is drawing to a close. One last chance to discover a new favourite band, one last moshpit, one last singalong with thousands of fellow metalheads before returning to everyday life. Fortunately, the final day delivered everything you could have hoped for, providing a fitting conclusion to another memorable weekend.
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After a blistering opening day, Alcatraz 2025 showed no signs of slowing down on Saturday. From progressive masterpieces and death metal violence to hard rock legends and theatrical spectacle, the festival once again offered a wonderfully diverse selection of heavy music. Established icons shared the bill with the next generation of metal’s biggest names, while several performances reminded us why live music remains the ultimate way to experience this scene. These were ten performances that stood out the most on Saturday.
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The first day of Alcatraz 2025 immediately reminded everyone why this festival has become such a staple of the European metal summer. From intimate performances inside La Morgue to overwhelming displays of power on the Prison Stage, Friday offered something for every kind of heavy music fan. Some bands confirmed exactly why they are festival favourites, others left many visitors talking long after they stepped off stage, and a few reminded us that legends never really lose their magic.
These were ten performances that stood out the most on Friday.
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The last day already. The weather has cooled down a bit, but our spirit definitely isn’t. Lets give it all of our energy on this last day!
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Day 3 is already coming. With two amazing days behind our backs already, lets see what day 3 has to bring us!
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The second day of Graspop Metal Meeting was promising to be even hotter! Lets see what today is going to bring.
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The first hot day of Graspop Metal Meeting is about to begin! Last year we had a lot of rain and mud. This year, only sunshine is predicted. So let’s start the party!
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As is tradition, Tuska Sunday carried a somewhat different atmosphere compared to the first two days. Things started a little later, wrapped up a little earlier and generally felt more relaxed. Families with children made their way around the festival grounds during the day, visitors squeezed in some last-minute shopping at the Tuska Expo and friends gathered one more time over food and drinks before another edition of the festival would come to an end. Naturally, there was still plenty of music left to enjoy.
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