Vancouver Island is set to shake when Mosh the Rock Island MetalFest 2026 takes over Fred Milne Park in Sooke, BC on Sunday, August 9, 2026. This all-ages, family-friendly outdoor metal festival brings together a stacked lineup of international, national, and regional talent for a full day of crushing riffs, pit energy, and community spirit on the West Coast.
Headlining the festival are Vancouver’s Multiple Juno Award–winning metal heavyweights Anciients. Joining them as co-headliners are Arrow In The Quiver (Vancouver), The Rising Fall (Chicago, IL), and Squidhammer (Watertown, PA), delivering a powerful blend of progressive, extreme, and modern metal.
The day will also showcase a strong lineup of West Coast metal acts, including: Wolf Venom (Sooke, BC) The Grundles (Duncan, BC) Dead Rights (Victoria, BC) Overditch (Victoria, BC) Neveranother (Vancouver, BC) Conjure Hand (Victoria, BC) As Ash Fell (Nanaimo, BC) Mutual Trauma (Victoria, BC)
With a world-class headliner, international acts, and a powerful lineup of Vancouver Island talent, Mosh the Rock Island MetalFest 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated metal events of the summer.
In addition to the music, festival-goers can enjoy food trucks, local vendors, and a licensed beer garden, making it a full festival experience in a scenic coastal setting. This is an all-ages, family-friendly event.
Event Details: Date: Sunday, August 9, 2026 Location: Fred Milne Park, Sooke, BC Gates Open: 11:00 AM First Band: 12:00 PM Ticket Information: Advance Tickets: $50 Gate Tickets: $65 Youth (12–17): $25 Children (11 & under): FREE with adult ticket
Hard Copy Advance Tickets Available At: Phoenix Bar and Grill Cavity Curiosity Shop Long & McQuade Sooke Forbes IDA Sooke Pharmasave
55Gore and StuhlGäng to lead an evening of absolute grind chaos at the official pre-show
Merry’s Sideshow to bring stunts and gore to Grand Central for free-entry afterparty
Tickets already nearing the 50% sold mark following last year’s sell-out
Manchester, UK; 14 January 2026: The organisers behind Manchester’s Goremageddon have unveiled full details for the 2026 pre-show and official afterparty, promising a full weekend of “absolute grind chaos.”
Ahead of the main festival at The Bread Shed on 21 March, the pre-show brings 55Gore and StuhlGäng to a limited-capacity venue, AATMA, on 20 March. The line-up is rounded out by GRUNK, Hideous Crawling Abomination, Shoplifterz, Megafart and LARSxULRICH. Due to the venue’s capacity, the organisers have issued a warning that tickets are already extremely limited.
The post-festival celebrations at Grand Central will feature live stunts from Merry’s Sideshow. In a shift from the musical assault, the afterparty will feature a “very special and intimate experience.” Attendees can expect stomach-churning live stunts, including The Human Blockhead, Wolf Trap and Mental Flossing.
The afterparty is free entry for all Goremageddon 2026 ticket holders and will conclude with a DJ spinning the most chaotic tracks for the “party animals” left standing.
Rancid Offal Promotions, the team behind Goremageddon, said: “We wanted to make sure the 2026 edition wasn’t just a day of music, but a full weekend of insanity. The pre-show is a total grindhouse, and bringing Merry’s Sideshow into the mix for the afterparty adds that extra layer of shock that the grind scene lives for. Tickets for the main event are already nearing 50% sold. We sold out last year, so don’t leave it too late to join the carnage.”
The main event on 21 March at The Bread Shed remains the weekend’s focal point, featuring a stacked international line-up led by Taiwanese gore overlords Fatuous Rump in their exclusive UK debut.
“It’s one of the premier festivals of its kind in Canada, showcasing the biggest names in local, national, and international heavy metal music.” – Vancouver Sun
After celebrating a milestone 15th anniversary marked by record‑breaking crowds and its most successful edition to date, ARMSTRONG METALFEST returns for its 16th chapter on July 17 and 18, 2026, at the Hassen Arena in Armstrong, BC. Fans can look forward to two full days of moshing, headbanging, and camping. Early bird tickets are now available!
Early bird weekend passes are $179.99 CAD until March 1st. Once early bird sales end, pre‑sale passes will be offered at $229.99 CAD, with gate admission priced at $274.99 CAD.
All prices apply to full weekend passes and are subject to applicable taxes. Each weekend pass grants general admission and access to the festival grounds, camping area, and arena from 9:00 AM on Friday, July 17, 2026, until 10:00 AM on Sunday, July 18, 2026. Free camping is included.
Please Note: Camping – RV / Non-Hookup RV / Vehicle Passes: Make sure to reserve your vehicle spot to get the best location on the grounds. A fee is required for a weekend pass per vehicle in addition to your day or weekend pass. RV hookups include water and power. If you choose to park your vehicle outside the camping area in the main parking lot, then a vehicle pass is not required.
Since its inception in 2009 (with a brief hiatus in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), West Metal Entertainment and Armstrong MetalFest have championed hundreds of local bands while welcoming renowned international acts to the quiet town of Armstrong, British Columbia.
Armstrong MetalFest has hosted legendary headliners like Kataklysm, Cattle Decapitation, Archspire, Nekrogoblikon, Origin, Warbringer, Fallujah, Striker, and Beyond Creation, alongside rising stars from across North America. And when the final riff fades, the festival vanishes without a trace, leaving the landscape as untouched as it was before.
West Metal Entertainment, a non-profit society, not only produces Armstrong MetalFest annually but also supports the regional music scene by organizing performances at various venues, including all-ages shows, to inspire musical passion in both youth and adults.
Milwaukee Metal Festival 2026 is pleased to now reveal the headliner day splits! ACID BATH will conquer Friday, followed by KILLSWITCH ENGAGE on Saturday with newly added headliner MINISTRY to close out the weekend! In addition, the festival has announced over 20 new additions, which can be found below!
All single day, 2-day and 3-day ticketing options can be found HERE.
The festival will now take place June 5 – 7, 2026, with the pre-party kicking off on June 4! The festival will take place once again at The Rave/Eagles Ballroom.
Co-organizer Jamey Jasta comments: “2026 is shaping up to be our best year yet and we’re just getting started! More bands, more stages, more vendors, more food, more signings, it’s gonna be the best weekend EVER! See you in the good the land!”
The current lineup is now as follows with more TBA:
ACID BATH KILLSWITCH ENGAGE MINISTRY OBITUARY POWERTRIP AGALLOCH AFTER THE BURIAL ALL SHALL PERISH NAILS IRON REAGAN HAVOK NUNSLAUGHTER HIRAX INTEGRITY PRONG INTERNAL BLEEDING UADA DEADGUY MASTER WEEKEND NACHOS MORTA SKULD POLKADOT CADAVER SWORN ENEMY BELUSHI SPEEDBALL INCITE CASKET ROBBERY DUSK JEFFREY NOTHING BRICK BY BRICK DEAD BY WEDNESDAY HUMAN ARTIFACTS THANATOTIC DESIRE EYES OF THE LIVING MISERY STRIKING 13 TRIP TO THE MORGUE DARK HORSE PROPHET & OVER 40 MORE ARTISTS / BANDS TO BE ANNOUNCED!
UK exclusive performances from the brutal slamming death metallers Devourment and Ohio brutal death metal powerhouse Regurgitation, with their first ever UK show
New additions also include Immortal Suffering, Unbirth, Butcher ABC, Fecundation, Guttural Slug, Darkall Slaves, Kakothansy, Crepitation, Strangle Wire, Lymphoaedema, Ovulating Cadaver, Repulsed and Dissolving Entity
Offal Fest is taking place on 24-26 July 2026 at The Bread Shed, Manchester. Purchase tickets: Offal-Fest.com
Manchester, UK; 21 November 2025:Offal Fest, dedicated to the most extreme sounds in gore, grind, slam and brutal death metal, has secured two monumental UK-exclusive headlining performances and unveiled its (nearly) full 2026 line-up.
Brutal slamming death metal pioneers Devourment are confirmed to headline the Saturday night, bringing a UK-exclusive set to the Manchester stage. Joining them as the Sunday headliners, making their first-ever UK appearance for a special exclusive performance, are Ohio brutal death metal powerhouse, Regurgitation.
The all-star international roster is significantly bolstered by the addition of New York brutal death metal legends ImmortalSuffering, who will be returning to the UK next year for an exclusive performance. Anyone who caught their incredible performance earlier this year already knows the sheer ferocity they bring to the stage.
Offal Fest continues its tradition of championing outstanding international extreme talent, welcoming a substantial wave of European and Asian heavy-hitters. This includes insane Italian talent with Unbirth and Inverecund, Butcher ABC from Japan and Fecundation from Korea. Guttural Slug from Denmark will return after their crushing live debut at the first iteration of Offal Fest, and the international bill is rounded out by Darkall Slaves hailing from France and Kakothanasy from Switzerland, both performing a UK exclusive set.
The line-up is also packed with outstanding UK and Irish talent, including the “wobble-box superstars” Crepitation, who will be headlining the pre-show, alongside Irish acts StrangleWire and one-man gorenoise chaos Lymphoeadema. Completing the UK contingent are OvulatingCadaver, Repulsed and Dissolving Entity, all adding to the ferocious three-day experience.
They join the previously announced mix of established and rising acts in the extreme metal scene. Scottish brutal death metal band Laceration, London-based brutal death metal band Twitch Of The Death Nerve, Czech brutal death metal band Epicardiectomy, Greek three-piece brutal death metallers Embryectomy, Glaswegian five-piece death metal band Scordatura, veteran US brutal death metal band Lividity, the long-awaited reunion of UK brutal death metal band Infected Disarray, Manchester newcomers Disgracing, who made their live debut at this year’s Offal and Manchester four-piece Brutal Death Metal band Coprocephalic Mutation will be returning to the fest in 2026.
Fans should note that while the full line-up is confirmed, there is one TBC spot at the bottom of the poster, with more information to be announced very soon on social channels; day splits will also be announced at a later date.
Rancid Offal Promotions, the team behind Goremageddon and Offal Fest, said: “We are excited to finally drop the full line-up for Offal! We knew we had to go absolutely huge this year, building on this year’s massive success. So, locking down Devourment for a UK exclusive and getting Regurgitation over for their first-ever UK gig is just insane. We’ve managed to pull in extreme talent from all over the world – Japan, Korea, Europe – alongside the best of the UK, Irish and local scenes. Get ready for three days of utter brutality next year in the new home of extreme metal; Manchester!”
Offal Fest 2025 was a sold-out success. The event featured the likes of Foetal Juice, 357 Homicide, a UK exclusive performance by Skinless, who performed their album “Progression Towards Evil” in full, a UK exclusive set from Begging For Incest, exclusive co-headlining sets by Defeated Sanity and Wormed, as well as exclusive performances from Imperious Mortality, Plasma, Cerebral Effusion and 55Gore.
Offal Fest 2026 is taking place on 24-26 July 2026 at The Bread Shed in Manchester. Secure your entry via https://offal-fest.com/
Mosh the Rock Island MetalFest, proudly presented by Royalty Entertainment, is now accepting band submissions for its 2026 lineup! Applications are open until November 30th, so don’t miss your chance to be part of this epic event, taking place on August 9th at FRED MILNE PARK in Sooke, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island, Canada.
This all-day, open-air festival is a celebration of metal and hard rock, welcoming fans of all ages to a family-friendly atmosphere filled with heavy riffs and high energy. Mosh the Rock extends heartfelt thanks to the local community for their incredible support and can’t wait to bring the noise back to Sooke in 2026!
Bands from all subgenres of METAL are encouraged to apply. Send your EPK, including photos, music links, bios, and more to: MoshTheRock26[@]gmail[.]com.
Following the overwhelming success of its inaugural year in 2025, Mosh the Rock 2026 is already shaping up to be even bigger and louder!
Founded by Royal Savoie, event promoter, music manager, and host of THRASHCAN on 101.9 FM CFUV.CA in Victoria, BC, Mosh the Rock made its debut with a killer lineup featuring bands from across British Columbia, including: Torrefy (Victoria), Thirteen Goats (Vancouver), Yegg (Nanaimo), Mutual Trauma (Victoria), Dead After Dark (Penticton), Burnt Lung (Vancouver), Pharm (Kelowna), Cybörg (Victoria), Joker’s Revenge (Nanaimo), Blacktop Social (Nanaimo), and Wolf Venom (Sooke).
Get ready for Mosh the Rock2026 is coming, and it’s going to be louder than ever.
One Band To Rule Them All! and Play Wacken Open Air!
One band to rule them all! Wacken Metal Battle Canada returns for 2026 battles across the country to send one independent metal band to play at Wacken Open Air, one of the world’s most prestigious and largest metal festivals.
Band submissions for Canada are now open until November 30th.
The national final for 2026 battles will be held in Montreal, QC.
“Canadian metal bands, this is your chance once again. This is the first step to a world of opportunity waiting for you. We invite you to play some great shows, expand your audience, and ultimately have your shot at playing Wacken Open Air,” adds WMBC organizer JJ Tartaglia.
The 2026 WMBC champion will receive the following: – A slot at the 2026 Wacken Open Air Festival. – Full professional backline provided. – $1,000 CAD towards flights to Germany. – VIP camping at the festival.
Canadian Battle Cities: Vancouver, BC Vancouver Island, BC BC Interior Edmonton, AB Toronto, ON Hamilton, ON Ottawa, ON Montreal, QC Quebec City, QC
Watch – Wacken Metal Battle 2025 – Aftermovie | Have You Heard the Future of Metal? – https://youtu.be/nCulXiLlaSw
The 2025 Canadian Battle Final took place on May 31st at Vancouver’s Rickshaw Theatre, where Hamilton, Ontario’s KILLOTINE, the Ontario regional winner, delivered a standout performance that earned them the top national title. A panel of industry judges selected KILLOTINE to represent Canada at the prestigious International Wacken Battle, held during Wacken Open Air from July 30th to August 2nd in Wacken, Germany, where over 85,000 metal fans from around the globe gathered.
Joining KILLOTINE on stage at the Canadian final were fellow regional champions: SOULTHIEF (Eastern Canada Winner – Ottawa, ON), BEYOND SUFFERING(Alberta Winner – Calgary, AB), and YEGG (British Columbia Winner – Nanaimo, BC). The event also featured a special guest headliner: Vancouver’s Arrow In The Quiver, the 2024 BC Final winner.
The national judging panel included a lineup of respected figures from the Canadian metal and music industry: Brittney Slayes (Unleash The Archers), JJ Tartaglia (Canadian Organizer of Wacken Metal Battle Canada), JJ Caithcart (Founder of SCRAPE Records and Host of Different Stages Radio), Kris Schulz (Founder of Empower Through Music and Owner of Horizon School of Music), Abelardo Mayoral (Founder and Operator of The Invisible Orange and OrangeTickets), Stan Schinners (Owner of Broken Neck Radio), Justin Dobbin (Owner and President of Main Stage Rehearsal Studios).
For the last 9 years of battles (2013-2016, 2018-2019, 2023-2025), Wacken Metal Battle Canada has hosted battles across the country to send one independent metal band to perform at the world’s largest metal festival, Wacken Open Air in Wacken, Germany. 2019 saw the festival celebrate its 30th anniversary, but due to COVID, the 2020 and 2021 editions were both canceled.
As the metal community regains its strength, Wacken Open Air 2026 will be the 35th edition of the festival and will be held from July 29th to August 1st. The 2026 event is nearly sold out with a line-up that includes Def Leppard, Lamb Of God, In Flames, Savatage, Powerwolf, Emperor, Sepultura, and Running Wild, among others. Details here.
Wacken Metal Battle Canada is part of an international competition that sees bands from across the country battle each other for the chance to win their spot among over 55 other countries’ champions, and represent Canada in an international battle of the bands at the world’s largest outdoor metal festival: Wacken Open Air. The battles have been hosted at the festival for over a decade and give independent bands the opportunity to showcase their talents to an international audience, along with the chance to win multiple prizes.
How it works: Participating cities will host qualifying rounds plus a city final organized by a local city concert promoter, where one band will move forward to the Canadian national final. The winner of the national final will move on to perform at the Wacken Open Air 2026 and compete against the winners of other participating countries in a final global battle. All bands will be judged during battle rounds by respected local music industry representatives.
Iron Fortress Records presents the inaugural IRON FORTRESS DEATH FEST 2025, a full day of death metal depravity featuring a sample of the Iron Fortress label roster that is taking place in just over one week.
The IRON FORTRESS DEATH FEST is a label showcase that highlights the supreme debauchery of what Iron Fortress Records has to offer and includes sets by Gored Embrace, Chorus Of Demons, Hamarr, Swampgrave, Dysmorphia, 1 Body 6 Graves, Scab Hag, Ripped Open, Coagulating, Cell Intruder, Ectospire, and Cryptual.
IRON FORTRESS DEATH FEST will take place Saturday, October 18th at The Black Circle in Indianapolis, Indiana, beginning at 2:00pm. Tickets will be $30 day-of the event, but can be acquired for $20 in advance.
Ben DePaoli, sole owner and operator of Iron Fortress Records and this event, states, “It’s time to gather into the inner sanctum of the Iron Fortress and explore its stench ridden corridors! IRON FORTRESS DEATH FEST was put together to showcase the Iron Fortress Records label roster which is chock full of young and underground death metal bands eager for bloodshed. I can’t wait to gather all these incredible bands into one cavernous day of death metal. Come hang out, watch some brutality, mingle with the bands and I, throw back some demon juice, and headbang until you need a pain pill for your newly formed spinal injury!”
View the full IRON FORTRESS DEATH FEST lineup and set times below. Tickets are available now at THIS LOCATION.
IRON FORTRESS DEATH FEST Lineup – October 18th, 2025: Doors 2:00 Ripped Open 3:00-3:25 Ectospire 3:40-4:05 Cell Intruder 4:20-4:45 1 Body 6 Graves 5:00-5:25 Cryptual 5:40-6:05 Scab Hag 6:20-6:45 Coagulating 7:00-7:25 Dysmorphia 7:40-8:05 Swampgrave 8:20-8:45 Hamarr 9:00-9:25 Chorus of Demons 9:40-10:05 Decedent 10:20-10:45
One Band To Conquer Them All! After another successful year in 2025, to send one unsigned and independent American band to play the world’s most prestigious and largest already sold-out metal festivals, Wacken Open Air, Wacken Metal Battle USA announces submissions for the 2026 battle are now open as of October 1st until December 1st
“I am beyond stoked to bring back the Wacken Metal Battle to the US. Every year we get invited to participate is an opportunity to grow. This year will be no different. We will be bringing back some cities that haven’t participated in a few years, and we will be adding at least one new city/state to the competition. Do you have what it takes to represent the US at Wacken? Sign up now!” – Eric Dow – Artist & Promoter Relations.
The 2026 WMBU champion will receive the following:
A slot at the 2025 Wacken Open Air Festival.
Full professional backline provided.
$1,000 USD towards flights to Germany.
VIP camping at the festival.
At the 2025 WMBU national finals held this past June at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ, Southern California and Arizona-based band MOURNING HIGH emerged as the seventh champion selected to represent the United States at the prestigious international showdown, Wacken Open Air, that took place from July 30th to August 2nd in Wacken, Germany, where over 185,000 attendees from around the world gathered.
Mourning High, crowned the West Coast Winner, competed alongside five other standout American bands:PRIME PROPHECY(New Jersey), WHAT’S WRONG(Pacific Northwest), PONTIFEX (Florida), FIREHAZE(East Coast), and BROKEN TIME (Texas).
A panel of seasoned industry professionals, including Jeff Buttermark (FM Management), Shawn Quinn (Napalm Records/FM Management), and Rob Caggiano (formerly of Anthrax and Volbeat), ultimately selected Mourning High as the top U.S. act to perform at the International Wacken Battle.
For the last 7 years of battles (2017-2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), Wacken Metal Battle USAhas hosted battles across the country to send one independent metal band to perform at the world’s largest metal festival, Wacken Open Air in Wacken, Germany. 2019 saw the festival celebrate its 30th anniversary, but due to COVID, the 2020 and 2021 editions were both canceled. As the metal community regains its strength, Wacken Open Air 2026 will be the 35th edition of the festival and will be held from July 29th to August 1st.
The 2026 event is already sold out with a line-up that includes Def Leppard, Lamb Of God, In Flames, Powerwolf, Emperor, Sepultura, and Running Wild, among others. Details here.
Wacken Metal Battle USA is part of an international competition that sees bands from across the country battle each other for the chance to win their spot among over 55 other countries’ champions, and represent the USA in an international battle of the bands at the world’s largest outdoor metal festival: Wacken Open Air. The battles have been hosted at the festival for over a decade and give independent bands the opportunity to showcase their talents to an international audience, along with the chance to win multiple prizes.
How it works: Participating cities will host qualifying rounds plus a city final organized by a local city concert promoter, where one band will move forward to the American national final (date and city to be determined). The winner of the national final will move on to perform at the Wacken Open Air 2026 and compete against the winners of 30 other countries in a final global battle. All bands will be judged during battle rounds by respected local music industry representatives.
July 31st – Aug 2nd – Camping & Extreme Music In Alberta’s Badlands – Drumheller, AB
Hashtags #LAHXIV, #LAHOA, #LAHOA2026
Set against the rugged backdrop of Alberta’s badlands, where sculpted sandstone, wind-carved hoodoos, and sweeping canyons dominate the landscape, Canada’s most decibel-breaking extreme music gathering, the Loud As Hell Open Air Festival, returns for its 14th edition in 2026. From July 31st to August 2nd, Drumheller’s Dinosaurs Down Stampede will erupt with the ferocity of rising Canadian and international metal acts, roaring through the heart of the nation’s largest dinosaur fossil beds.
Band submissions for the 2026 edition officially open on October 1st and will be accepted until October 31st. This is your band’s chance to join one of the loudest and most brutal festivals in Canada, where underground talent meets prehistoric fury.
Early Bird tickets go on sale December 1st, 2026. Don’t miss your chance to lock in the loudest weekend of the summer at a killer price. Get ready for prehistoric heaviness and decibel-shattering performances in one of Canada’s most surreal landscapes. Loud As Hell is coming… and it’s going to be louder than ever.
The 2025 edition of Loud As Hell delivered three relentless days of headbanging, moshing, and pure metal chaos, featuring over 40 bands from Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.
Acts like Revocation, Insurrection, First Fragment, Gorgatron, Filth, Opal in Sky, Judicator, Beguiler, Gore Pig, Spit On Your Grave, Hazzerd, Cyborg Octopus, and Thirteen Goats tore through the badlands with crushing performances. The festival even hosted a heavy metal wedding, adding a unique twist to the weekend’s sonic carnage (video).
Since launching in 2012, Loud As Hell Open Air Festival has cemented its place as a cornerstone of Canada’s extreme music scene, showcasing hundreds of bands from across the country and around the world, save for a brief pause in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the years, the festival has hosted heavyweights like Beyond Creation, Striker, Green Jelly, The Convalescence, Jungle Rot, Narcotic Wasteland, Into Eternity, Goatwhore, Fit for An Autopsy, Archspire, Unleash The Archers, Protest the Hero, AngelMaker, and many more, drawing metalheads from coast to coast for a weekend of sonic devastation.
In 2026, Loud As Hell returns for its 14th edition, presented by Loud As Hell Productions, Jurassic Ink Custom Tattoo, Prairie Fire Events, and Asher Media Relations. Renowned for delivering one of the most punishing lineups in Western Canada, the festival promises another unforgettable experience packed with crushing performances, freak shows, burlesque acts, clinics, vendors, and yes, dinosaurs. Loud As Hell isn’t just a festival. It’s a full-throttle celebration of metal mayhem.
Wacken 2026 – we’re coming back! Powerwolf will return to the holy ground for a full headlining metal mass. It’s going to be louder and wilder than ever before!
A new gathering in the Pacific Northwestern heavy metal community arrives, as the inaugural edition of SOLDIERS OF STEEL FESTIVAL comes to Seattle this Friday, August 1st and Saturday, August 2nd.
SOLDIERS OF STEEL FESTIVAL is a showcase of American Pacific Northwest traditional heavy metal and adjacent bands old and new. Its maiden edition will feature sets from The Lord Weird, Slough Feg, Leather Leone (Chastain set), Q5, Twisted Tower Dire, Danava, Greyhawk, Hammer Head (exclusive first reunion show), Taist Of Iron, and more! The festival is presented by NW MetalFest, NW Metalworx Music, Nameless Grave Records, and BabeFinder General LLC.
Brandon Corsair of Nameless Grave Records and more, one of the co-promoters of the event, states, “We – the NW Metalworx guys, Amy from Solicitor, and myself – felt like the region was really lacking in a suitable heavy metal centered festival post-COVID, with the last I can think of being NW Metalfest II and Eliminator Festival in 2019. We have such a rich scene – both of great modern bands and classic ones that are still active – that a festival like this felt almost like it had to happen, and so, SOLDIERS OF STEEL FESTIVAL was born! We can’t wait for everyone to headbang to the lineup that we put together for this first edition of the festival. See you there!”
SOLDIERS OF STEEL FESTIVAL will take place at Substation in Seattle, Washington. View the full festival lineup below. Tickets are available now at THIS LOCATION.
SOLDIERS OF STEEL FESTIVAL Lineup:
August 1st, 2025: Slough Feg Q5 Danava Taist Of Iron Serpent Rider Coven Blade Rope
August 2nd, 2025: Leather Twisted Tower Dire Greyhawk Hammer Head Hellslaught Solicitor Silver Talon Time Rift I Am The Intimidator Colony Drop
A new gathering in the Pacific Northwestern heavy metal community has been unveiled, as the inaugural edition of SOLDIERS OF STEEL FESTIVAL has been confirmed for the first weekend of August in Seattle.
SOLDIERS OF STEEL FESTIVAL is a showcase of American Pacific Northwest traditional heavy metal and adjacent bands old and new. Its maiden edition will feature sets from The Lord Weird, Slough Feg, Leather Leone (Chastain set), Q5, Twisted Tower Dire, Danava, Greyhawk, Hammer Head (exclusive first reunion show), Taist Of Iron, and more! The festival is presented by NW MetalFest, NW Metalworx Music, Nameless Grave Records, and BabeFinder General LLC.
Brandon Corsair of Nameless Grave Records and more, one of the co-promoters of the event, states, “We – the NW Metalworx guys, Amy from Solicitor, and myself – felt like the region was really lacking in a suitable heavy metal centered festival post-COVID, with the last I can think of being NW Metalfest II and Eliminator Festival in 2019.
We have such a rich scene – both of great modern bands and classic ones that are still active – that a festival like this felt almost like it had to happen, and so, SOLDIERS OF STEEL FESTIVALwas born! We can’t wait for everyone to headbang to the lineup that we put together for this first edition of the festival. See you there!”
SOLDIERS OF STEEL FESTIVAL will take place August 1st and 2nd at the Substation in Seattle, Washington. View the full festival lineup below. Tickets are available now at THIS LOCATION.
SOLDIERS OF STEEL FESTIVAL Lineup:
August 1st, 2025: Slough Feg Q5 Danava Taist Of Iron Serpent Rider Coven Blade Rope
August 2nd, 2025: Leather Twisted Tower Dire Greyhawk Hammer Head Rick Pierce Group Solicitor Silver Talon Time Rift I Am The Intimidator Colony Drop
Celebrating 15 Years of mountain moshing in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, Armstrong MetalFest unveils its conquering 2025 lineup with BORN OF OSIRIS, HAVOK, GLYPH, RIOT CITY, THE BROWNING, VIRVUM and lots more from across Canada and beyond.
All tickets provide general admission and grant access to the festival grounds, camping area, and arena from 9:00 AM on Friday, July 11, 2025, until 10:00 AM on Sunday, July 13, 2025. Free camping is included.
Tickets will be mailed starting after March 1st if you have chosen the “Ticket Mailed” option.
Hosted on July 11th and 12th in Armstrong, BC at the Hassen Arena, this year’s two days of moshing, headbanging, and camping is a very special one as festival council members comment:
“The band council worked hard on this year’s lineup. I am so excited to have the Browning back. They were amazing on stage. I have been wanting to see Born of Osiris play live for years. I love them, and now I get to see them in my own little town.” – Heather Valstar, Vice President of West Metal Entertainment Society
“I’m really excited about the diversity of this year’s line-up. The selection team has really put in the work. There’s sure to be something for everyone: a great mix of trusted favorites and new additions to your playlist for the rest of the year!” – Kate Kutzner, President of West Metal Entertainment Society
“This year’s festival is a work of art! I can’t believe we are on the 15th year already. Time flies when you’re setting up a festival full of crushing riffs, soaring vocals and down right nasty beats. Life rules, bring on the summer!” – Festival Co-Founder / General Manager – Jessie Valstar.
Headlining opening night, Friday, July 11th, Denver thrashers HAVOK are no strangers to the mosh pits, these veterans have unleashed five studio albums – Burn (2009), Time Is Up (2011), Unnatural Selection (2013), Conformicide (2017), V (2020) – and recently surprised fans this past November with the EP “New Eyes”. Music Video – Death Is An Illusion – https://youtu.be/hkUgz-DeFAo
Also supporting the Friday night stage, the Pacific Northwest’s Glyph (ft. members fromGatekeeper, Greyhawk, Hjelvik), which is not just a heavy metal band, they are a crew of intergalactic mercenaries escaping a dying planet in their spaceship, the VSS Dragonlord. Clearly, Glyph isn’t just writing songs, they’re building worlds and they bring it forth in their latest album “Honor, Power, Glory” released in March 2024. Lyric Video – March of the Northern Clan (feat. Nathan Harrison) – https://youtu.be/htSyUb25wD4
Another highlight for Friday is the screaming heavy metal from Calgary’s speed demons Riot City, who bring forth theirsteel, spikes and leather! A youthful band that represent the new face of Canadian metal. An amalgam of ripping and hot heavy metal, created in pure and youthful madness, they’re bullet belts feature two full lengths “Electric Elite” (2022), “Burn The Night” (2019) and their latest live album “Live in Newcastle” (2023). Album Stream – Electric Elite – https://youtu.be/j3hA1nrG7M0
Saturday, July 12th will be headlined by international tour de force, progressive deathcore titans, Chicago’s BORN OF OSIRIS. The group is signed to Sumerian Records and has released seven full lengths and two EPs. Their album, A Higher Place, reached number 73 on the Billboard 200. Their second full-length album, The Discovery, debuted at 87 on the Billboard 200. The band unveiled their latest single “In Desolation” this past August. Visualizer – In Desolation – https://youtu.be/9OyMRRAq9fI
Also featured on Saturday is AMF alumni Kansas City’s THE BROWNING who will be unleashing their unique eclectic blend of electronicore and deathcore. This past November, they released their sixth album “OMNI” that features 10 powerful tracks, including collaborations with Nik Nocturnal and the eponymous song with THE DEFECT. Music Video – OMNI (feat. THE DEFECT) – https://youtu.be/VhyuduP3MdY
Performing for the first time at AMF and adding to the nostalgia of Saturday night, VIRVUM, progressive / technical death metal all the way from Zürich, Switzerland that many in Canada have been waiting a long time to witness. There’s no better place to see them along with the backdrop of the Canadian Rockies than at AMF 2025. The Cypher Supreme – https://youtu.be/9W9Kp38I9yY
Other to be treasured highlights of this year’s fest not to miss is Montreal, QC up and coming thrashers DROWNING IN BLOOD, who are notorious pit mongrels and have made quite a name for themselves in Eastern Canada. Vancouver’s GRAVEMASS,they might be a new band, but they feature some serious experienced metalheads from Zimmers Hole, West of Hell, The Golers, Punch Drunk, 3 Inches of Blood and Revocation. Switzerland’s technical death/black metal Stortregn, they deliver a mix of charging riffs, blast beats and brutality that leaves the listener begging for more.
The Defect is an electronic rock/metal project created by husband and wife duo – Jonny McBee (The Browning) and Moon McBee. Their debut album “Death X Destiny” was recently released on Feb 7th, 2025 under record label FiXT. From the Salish lands of Spokane, WA, Hísemtuks Hími•n introduce their Indigenous melodic black metal of hard hitting riffs, fast paced drumming and a lot of melody. This project has strong roots in the Spokane Tribe/Nez Perce. Most songs are about Native American mythology, history, and folklore.
AMF 2025 Lineup: Havok (Denver, CO) Born of Osiris (Chicago, IL) Glyph (Seattle, WA) Riot City (Calgary, AB) The Browning (Kansas City, KS) Virvum (Zürich, Switzerland) Atavistia (Vancouver, BC) Drowning In Blood (Montreal, QC) Convictions (Fremont, OH) Scalding (Vancouver, BC) Syryn (Calgary, AB) Stortregn (Geneva, Switzerland) The Defect (Kansas City, KS) Gravemass (Vancouver, BC) Lover (Calgary, AB) Yegg (Vancouver Island, BC) Hísemtuks Hími•n (Spokane, WA) The Spruce Moose (Edmonton, AB) Volt (Fort McMurray, AB) Jisei (Vancouver, BC) Nomad (Okanagan Valley, BC) Planetkiller (Kelowna, BC) Shackled To The Throne (Edmonton, AB) The Cadavor Dog (High River, AB) Famous Strangers (Edmonton, AB) Valley of Despair (Edmonton, AB) Naitaka (Kelowna, BC) FloodGate (Kelowna, BC)
Partners: WCMFA AlumaPro Welding & Fabrication Ltd Vox and Hops Rancho Vignola Creative BC Province of BC Shepherds Hardware Askews Foods ACE Containers Asher Media Relations Staggs Head Sunbelt Rentals Bravewords V13 Metal-Rules Absolute Underground Mag Broken Neck Radio Ghost Cult Magazine This Day In Metal Valstar Electric Voets
The Electric Highway Festival is excited to announce the full lineup for the 2025 edition of the Festival being held inCalgary, AB on April 4 & 5 at Dickens (1000 9 Ave SW).
Canadian veteran sludge metal band BISON headlines the whole festival while doom metal band CASTLE headlines Friday night. They will be joined by Southern California band FEVER DOG, and various Western Canadian bands including LA CHINGA, BUFFALO BUD BUSTER, THE GETMINES, 88 MILE TRIP, and more.
The Final Full Line Up by Day:
Friday, April 4, 2025 Castle (San Francisco/ Vancouver) Buffalo Bud Buster (Calgary) Blacksmith and Brewer (Vancouver)) CHÛNK (Vancouver) Hydracat (Edmonton) The Astral Prophets (Calgary) BUNS (Calgary) Doors 5pm – Show 6pm
Saturday, April 5, 2025 Bison (Vancouver) La Chinga (Vancouver) Fever Dog (Southern California) The Getmines (Vancouver) 88 Mile Trip (Vancouver) Lover (Calgary) GEOFF (Calgary) Doors 5pm – Show 6pm
Advance 2-day passes are available for $75. Advance single-day tickets are $40 for Friday and $45 for Saturday
The Electric Highway Festival hosts various genres that range from Desert Rock, Stoner Metal, Doom, Sludge, Trippy Psychedelic, Surf Rock, Acid Rock, Noise Rock, Fuzz Rock, Space Rock, Blues Rock, Heavy Psych, Heavy Blues, Southern Rock, Fuzzy Punk, Sludgy Hardcore bands and variations of any of the previously mentioned styles. The festival includes a vendor area with interesting goods for attendees to take home with them.
Previous editions of the festival featured one of the event’s past favorites Californian headliners Sasquatch, Juno Award-winning Canadian band ANCIIENTS, Vancouver’s La Chinga, Space Queen, Dead Quiet, and more, Gnarwhal from Yellowknife, NWT, Calgary’s Gone Cosmic, Hombre, Flashback among many more, and a whole host of other great bands.
Montréal (CA) – Prepare for ProgStorm, Canada’s first progressive metal festival! Into Eternity, one of the most respected names in progressive metal, will headline the inaugural ProgStorm Festival in Montréal on August 9, 2025. This marks the band’s highly anticipated return to the city, where they haven’t performed in several years. Fans will be able to experience their unique fusion of progressive, death, and power metal, as Into Eternity closes the first day of this one-of-a-kind event at Le Ministère.
Into Eternity has a rich history with Montréal, having shared the stage with some of the biggest names in metal at the Bell Centre. In 2006, they performed during Gigantour alongside Megadeth, Opeth, Lamb of God, and Arch Enemy, leaving an unforgettable mark on the Montréal metal scene. They returned in 2007 to perform again at the Bell Centre with Dream Theater and Redemption, further solidifying their place in the legacy of progressive metal.
Now, their long-awaited return to Montréal for ProgStorm Festival is set to captivate fans in a more intimate setting, making this a truly special moment for the band and their loyal followers. Stu Block, the band’s lead vocalist, also known for his work with Iced Earth, adds to the excitement, making this performance a must-see for fans of both progressive and traditional metal. A few words from founding member and lead guitarist, Tim Roth:
“Into Eternity is pleased to announce we are finally coming back to the great Heavy Metal city of Montreal! We will be headlining the ProgStorm Festival in August 2025. It is going to be incredible to finally come back to the Heavy Metal Capital of Canada Montreal Quebec! Rehearsals will be starting shortly and we are planning a great new Into Eternity setlist. We have fond memories of playing the Bell Centre in Montreal on our Tour with Megadeth and then again when we toured with Dream Theater. Montreal has always been a favourite city of ours to play from clubs to arenas. Thanks to the ProgStorm Festival team for inviting us to perform. Hopefully we will see some of our old friends at the show. See you all this August!”
The ProgStorm Festival, presented by The Progspace and organized by Metal Shed Productions and collaborators, will be Canada’s first-ever festival dedicated entirely to the progressive metal genre. Scheduled for August 9th and 10th, 2025, this festival is set to showcase a diverse range of progressive metal sub-genres, from the classic sounds to the most experimental and extreme.
Stay tuned for more updates as the full lineup for ProgStorm Festival is being unveiled!
Nestled in the badlands of Drumheller, AB, one of Canada’s loudest decibel-breaking open-air extreme music events, LOUD AS HELL FESTIVAL will host its 13th annual festivities from August 1st to 3rd, 2025.
Showcasing the best up-and-coming Canadian and international talent to roar through the country’s largest dinosaur fossil grounds, LAH has launched its early bird weekend passes.
This weekend pass grants you full access to all the headbanging, moshing, and metal mayhem that Loud As Hell Open Air has to offer. Don’t miss out on this limited-time offer!
The early bird weekend pass price is $140 CAD (this includes camping on-site). The weekend pass full price of $175 CAD will be in effect when the festival 2025 lineup is announced in the new year.
In additional news, LAH has revamped their website www.LoudAsHell.ca with a fresh new look and design, along with online shopping of LAH merch, pictures, and videos to reminisce of years past along with updated festival Information and FAQ section.
About: LOUD AS HELL OPEN AIR FESTIVAL has hosted hundreds of Canadian and international bands annually since 2012 with the exception of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During its decade of showcasing Canadian and international bands, the festival has grown into a pilgrimage for metalheads from across the country.
LOUD AS HELL OPEN AIR FESTIVAL 2025 will be celebrating its thirteenth festival event presented by Loud As Hell Productions, Jurassic Ink Custom Tattoo, Prairie Fire Events, and Asher Media Relations. LAH always works its hardest to deliver the best lineup in the West ready to melt your face off. Featuring bands from across Canada and beyond, you won’t want to miss any of it. And don’t forget about their freak shows, burlesque dancers, clinics, vendors, and dinosaurs!
Finland’s most legendary metal festival Nummirock will take place for the 38th time in Kauhajoki, Finland from 19-22 June 2024.
This year’s performers from abroad: Body Count (US), Kerry King (US), Thy Art Is Murder (AU), Suffocation (US), Eluveitie (CH), Blackbraid (US), The Halo Effect (SWE), Shadow of Intent (US), Rise of the Northstar (FRA), Mister Misery (SWE), Thrown (SWE), Party Cannon (UK)
The selected bands from the metal country of Finland, where there are more than 53 metal bands per 100,000 inhabitants, are as follows Insomnium, Ensiferum, Rytmihäiriö, Tarot, Huora, Warmen, Crownshift, Horna, Martti Servo ja Napander, Shade Empire, Deathchain, Kaunis Kuolematon, Fear of Domination, Inferia, Kallomäki, Marianas Rest, Nicole, Suotana, Kyy, Verikalpa, Swansong, Prestige, Satanic North, Horizon Ignited, As I May, Anima Hereticae, FM2000, Vaasa Palaa, St. Aurora, De La Rocka, Stereo Terror DJ’s, Poponjet, WikiRock, Enemies Everywhere, Grillijono K.O., Vehje & Nummirock Ensemble.
Promoter Mr. Tero Viertola comments: “We are very honoured to have Kerry King back on the Nummirock main stage after a 26-year hiatus. In 1998 Kerry visited our main stage with Slayer. In addition to a diverse line-up, we have the most spectacular and experiential festival camping area in the country, which takes on a life of its own throughout the festival week. Welcome to Nummirock.”
If you’re a band or musician and would like your music reviewed or be interviewed by Stone, please click the link under the “ALBUM REVIEWS ARCHIVES” section below!
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