Photo Reports

Brutal Assault 2025 once again turned the historic Josefov Fortress into a haven for extreme music fans from all over the world. With a lineup that spanned legends, cult favorites, and fresh blood alike, the festival delivered four days of intensity, atmosphere, and unforgettable performances. From the crushing riffs echoing through the fortress walls to the vibrant energy of the crowd, it was a true celebration of heavy music in all its forms. Our photographer was on the ground to capture the madness, the magic, and everything in between. Dive into our gallery below and relive some of the most striking moments of this year’s Brutal Assault with Skálmöld, Static-X, Dying Fetus, Kerry King and Rotting Christ on the Marshall and Sea Shepherd stages!

The Hellsinki 02 stage offered another varied journey through the world of heavy music on the second day of Hellsinki Metal Festival 2025. Our photographer captured three acts that each brought something unique to the festival: the relentless deathcore assault of AngelMaker, the progressive and atmospheric metal of Enslaved, and a celebration of classic hard rock as Michael Schenker revisited the iconic UFO years with his “My Years in UFO” set.

From crushing breakdowns to timeless guitar melodies, the Hellsinki 02 stage once again proved there was something for every kind of metal fan. Dive into the gallery below and relive some of the highlights from Day 2.

The second day of Hellsinki Metal Festival 2025 kept the momentum going on the Hellsinki 01 stage with a lineup that spanned several corners of the heavy music spectrum. From the grindcore pioneers Napalm Death and the soaring modern metalcore of LANDMVRKS to the hardcore fury of Hatebreed, the day built towards a memorable finale as black metal legends Venom brought the festival’s main stage to a thunderous close.

Dive into the gallery below and relive the highlights.

The Swamp Stage delivered another strong and varied lineup on Day 2 of Alcatraz, bringing together some of heavy music’s most respected names alongside exciting newer talent. We captured the modern metalcore punch of Signs of Algorithm, the crushing death metal force of Baest and Vader, and the epic doom metal grandeur of Candlemass. Four bands, four distinct approaches to heaviness, and another memorable day at one of the festival’s most beloved stages.

Check out the gallery below for some highlights from Day 2 at the Swamp Stage.

The second day of Alcatraz brought another diverse selection of bands to the Helldorado Stage, ranging from progressive soundscapes to crushing modern metal. We captured the intricate compositions of Ne Obliviscaris, the technical brilliance of Rivers Of Nihil, the atmospheric melodies of VOLA, the high-energy metalcore of Fit For A King and the captivating performance of Leprous. Together, they showcased just how broad and exciting the modern heavy music landscape can be.

Check out the gallery below for some highlights from Day 2 at the Helldorado Stage.

Away from the sunshine and outdoors, the Hellsinki 03 stage inside Helsinki Ice Hall offered a haven for fans of the heavier and darker side of metal. Throughout the first day of Hellsinki Metal Festival 2025, the indoor stage played host to an impressive mix of styles, from the technical precision of Decapitated and the long-awaited return of Old Man’s Child to a captivating (and rather rare) closing performance by Finnish legends Moonsorrow.

Dive into the gallery below and relive some of the highlights from Day 1.

The first day of Hellsinki Metal Festival 2025 set the tone for another weekend of world-class heavy music. On the 2 outdoor stages (Hellsinki 01 and Hellsinki 02), festivalgoers were treated to a lineup spanning several generations of metal, from the long-awaited return of thrash legends Forbidden and the uncompromising Swedish death metal of Dismember to the industrial precision of Fear Factory. Bringing the evening to a spectacular close was the legendary King Diamond, whose theatrical performance provided a fitting finale to an unforgettable opening day.

Dive into the gallery below and relive some of the highlights from Day 1 of Hellsinki Metal Festival 2025.

The Prison Stage continued to deliver memorable moments on the second day of Alcatraz, bringing together four acts that each left their mark in a very different way. From the oriental metal flair of Myrath and the aggressive groove-laden assault of Nailbomb to the timeless heavy metal spirit of Doro and the theatrical spectacle of Avatar, which was also the one and only festival performance of the summer, the stage offered a diverse showcase of what makes live music at Alcatraz so compelling.

Check out the gallery below for some highlights from Day 2 at the Prison Stage.

The Helldorado Stage once again proved to be one of the most diverse corners of Alcatraz on the festival’s opening day. We caught four acts that each brought their own flavor to the stage: the crushing modern heaviness of Heriot, the relentless deathcore assault of Cabal, the rock ‘n’ roll swagger of The Hellacopters and the industrial metal power of pioneers Ministry. Together, they showcased the broad musical spectrum that makes Alcatraz such a compelling festival year after year.

Check out the gallery below for some highlights from Day 1 at the Helldorado Stage.

I caught Auri on their first tour ever, during their show in Tampere on Saturday the 16th of August. It was very special to be able to witness one of the very first live shows this band has ever put together. The candlelight stage setup gave even the big auditorium of Tampere-Talo the intimated atmosphere of a campfire hangout with friends.