Photo Reports
The first day of Tolminator roared to life on the main stage with a lineup that perfectly set the tone for the week ahead. From the thrash assault of Warbringer and Angelus Apatrida to the melodic force of Omnium Gatherum and the dark, dramatic flair of High Parasite, all leading up to the legendary Kreator closing the night in pure destruction, it was a start to remember.
All these moments were captured through the lens of our intern photographer Nox, who did a stellar job freezing the intensity, sweat, and emotion that define the Tolminator experience. Dive into the gallery below and relive the chaos and passion of Day 1 on the Tolminator Stage!
This past summer, we embarked on a unique journey to the Tolminator Festival in Slovenia, known as one of the most scenic and spirited metal festivals in Europe. But this year wasn’t just about music and mayhem. It was the first edition of a new project where we invited trainees to step behind the scenes and learn everything that goes into running a festival, from sound and tech to reporting and photography.
Our photography team was made up of trainee Nox, who took on their first major assignment with passion and sharp eyes, and our seasoned house photographer Tom, who guided them throughout the festival. Together, they captured the atmosphere of Tolminator in a way that words alone can’t describe. Their photos—raw, joyful, chaotic, and full of life—showcase the very soul of the festival: its people.
Whether it’s a crowd-surfing fan, a dusty circle pit, or a quiet moment by the Soča river, these images explain why we love Tolminator so much. It’s why we didn’t just go, we organized a bus trip, making sure as many people as possible could experience it with us.
This article marks the first in a series documenting our project and the festival experience. Stay tuned, next up: photos of the bands that shook the valley.
Want to see the people of Tolminator? Scroll down and dive into the gallery…
Charon are back! After over a decade of silence, they returned with a small tour around Finland, starting in Tampere. We made it to their packed gig at Olympia-kortteli on Friday the 29th of August.
As JP Leppäluoto putted it “Now that we’re back we have nothing to prove anymore and just want to enjoy the gigs and so should you” and that’s exactly what I did, I enjoyed the gig and had fun and felt nostalgia over songs I hadn’t even ever heard before.
After their successful show last autumn Apulanta joined forces again with Lahti’s Symphony Orchestra for an even greater experience. This time they played a fantastic two and a half hour long show at Tampere’s Ratina Stadium. This massive production on 23.08.25 didn’t leave any hearts desires unfulfilled and went all out making the show look and sound amazing.
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 day 1 at this year’s Brutal Assault on the more underground Obscure and Octagon stages with 3 Inches of Blood, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Inter Arma, Frayle, Ruïm and Oranssi Pazuzu!
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!
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.
Lokerse Feesten – Tuesday, August 5: Big Acts, Small Stage Magic
Tuesday at Lokerse Feesten was a day of contrasts. On the main stage, Gojira, Amenra, Melvins, and Helmet delivered powerhouse performances —but a majority of photographers, like us, had to sit this one out. Despite holding press accreditation with a photo pass, the rules were strict: no pictures of the main stage, not from the pit, not even from the crowd. Nevertheless, attending the concerts in full allowed us to experience the high-energy shows on the main stage, which we’ll cover in a separate article.
Luckily, the festival’s Club Studio Brussel offered a different vibe. Between the big acts, we headed there and found an intimate, energetic space where photography was allowed. The smaller stage allowed us to get close, snap shots, and feel the raw connection between artist and audience that sometimes gets lost in the festival frenzy.
Even with photography limits on the main stage, Tuesday proved that Lokerse Feesten still delivers: unforgettable music, a buzzing crowd, and pockets of up-close magic that make the festival experience so special.
A fixed highlight in our festival calendar: STARS IN TOWN in Switzerland. One of the staple events in our Swiss festival calendar is this festival. Since 2010, STARS IN TOWN on the Herrenacker square in Schaffhausen has thrilled rock and pop fans with a huge variety of music. The special atmosphere in the heart of Schaffhausen’s old town always adds a truly unique vibe to the event.
In addition to the ‘Talent Stage’ in the pedestrian zone—where promising newcomers perform for a wide audience surrounded by food trucks offering delicacies from around the world—the main acts take to the big stage.
As every year, the festival kicks off on a Wednesday with the so-called ‘Super Wednesday’. The honour of opening this year’s festival went to the local heroes ELLIS MANO BAND. These Swiss blues rockers launched the lineup with musical finesse and soulful tunes reminiscent of Joe Cocker. Neither the band nor the audience let the rain dampen their spirits—they simply enjoyed the performance.
Next up to take the stage were UGLY KID JOE. The Californians delivered their signature blend of hard rock, metal, and funk. Always in tow: their two massive hits from the early ’90s—‘Everything About You’ and their cover of Harry Chapin’s ‘Cat’s In The Cradle’. Both songs still earn the band plenty of radio airplay and recognition across generations. Only their cover of ‘Ace of Spades’ might have been better left out—at least according to the author of these lines, a passionate Lemmy fan himself.
ALICE COOPER: The Shock Rock Icon! What else could you maybe say about ALICE COOPER? The embodiment of shock rock took to the sacred stage to close out the evening and showed exactly why it’s called ‘Super Wednesday’. The grand stage setup—with staircases on both sides and massive LED backdrops alternating between live footage and videos—was pure cinematic spectacle. The standout alongside Alice was ‘Hurricane Nita’ Strauss, whose high-energy stage presence electrified the crowd. Perfect sound, brilliant choreography, and classic shock effects—including the ever-present guillotine and Alice’s mock beheading—delivered everything the audience could hope for from a major show. Alice as a living rock legend himself was bursting with energy, showing no signs of his 77 years. Not a single person in the packed Herrenacker crowd went home disappointed.
It was a night to remember – this ‘Super Wednesday’ truly lived up to its name! We’re already looking forward to next year.
It was a steamy Midwest night When Worlds Collided for The Taste of Armageddon Tour 2025 featuring Powerman5000, Ill Niño, Hed PE and Priest on Thursday July 24, 2025 at Piere’s in Ft Wayne, Indiana.
First up was Priest, hailing all the way from Sweden! Including 2 former members of the band Ghost, they brought a very unique synth, electronic, somewhat 80’s vibe to the stage. At one point, the vocalist walked through the crowd “blessing” those in his path.
Next up was Hed PE, bringing their SoCal vibes to Piere’s! This was my 3rd time seeing the band and they delivered as usual. They blend nu metal, metal, reggae and hip hop into this delightful treat for your ear drums! They are fun and they WILL make you dance!!
Ill Niño took the stage next, Nu Metal band based out of New Jersey. I was pumped to see them with their new vocalist. I had seen them decades ago at Ozzfest. I was blown away, the vocals sounded amazing. They have 2 types of drum kits on stage. They were very energetic and just everything a Nu Metal band should be and more.
Finally it was time for a Bombshell of a band, Powerman5000! What a powerhouse, originally formed in 1991! This was my first time seeing them, surprisingly since When Worlds Collide was one of the anthems of my younger years! They sounded amazing and were also full of energy on stage. Their bass player Murv was so fun to watch!
This tour package was phenomenal and I am so glad that I got to experience it!
