Gather ’round, metalheads! It’s time to debrief on Hellfest 2025. As with every edition of this sacred gathering of riffs, mosh pits, and face-melting solos, some sets were electrifying… while others fell painfully flat.
It’s always a pleasure to head out to Hellfest. Yup, leaving everything in real life to spend four days in the dust and excruciating heat to listen to some of the best bands in the world has become one of our most beloved June habits. This year was a good vintage, and we saw a lot of talented acts. Alas, disappointment is inevitable, and some artists left us cold. Here’s our brutally honest thoughts: the Top 5 Best and Top 5 Worst shows of Hellfest 2025.
Our Top 5 Favorite Sets at Hellfest 2025
1. VOLA
We stumbled upon VOLA while fleeing from Judas Priest (more on that later) and… instant obsession. This Danish-Swedish progressive metal band has four albums under its belt. How did we miss them until now?! Their frontman’s voice is otherworldly: deep, airy, and almost spectral live. The music was so radiant we nearly cried. And no, we’re not exaggerating. This was a huge surprise and a massive highlight.
2. Kittie
This all-female band is known for the powerful voice of its singer and its strong feminist stance. Kittie has 25 years of existence, and that alone commands respect. As longtime fans, we were burning to see them live, and they crushed it. The set was amazing, the setlist on point, and the power poses were all there. A pure moment of musical bliss!
3. Korn
Another band that needs no introduction. Korn basically invented nu metal, and we’ll be forever grateful for that. As always with legendary bands, there’s a bit of apprehension: will they live up to their reputation? The answer is a big yes. Jonathan Davis and the rest of the band were in top form. They fired off hit after hit and gave us that signature bagpipe sound. What stood out most was their energy: each member was clearly having a blast, and it was a joy to watch.
4. Ashen
We rarely fall head over feet for a new band, but Ashen blew us away. We’d spotted them earlier on Instagram for their single Cover Me Red and got up early to catch them live. Worth. Every. Second. They’ve got the look, the vocals, the charisma, and they even pulled off a killer cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit. Keep an eye on these guys.
5. Motionless in White
Another pleasant surprise. The app described them as an authentic band that isn’t afraid to experiment, and we weren’t disappointed. First thing that struck us: the intensity of the songs and the razor-sharp looks that immediately pulled us into the band’s universe. The show was explosive, drenched in a glorious gothic-emo vibe (we lived for it!). We loved every single second.
Bonus Mention: Refused
How could we not mention Refused, a punk band, sure, but such an iconic one? The guys were on their farewell tour after more than 30 years of existence. At first, the audience was a bit surprised, but they were quickly won over by Dennis Lyxen’s energy, impressive with his movements (borrowed by HPA from The Hives), his Jarvis Cocker-like style, and his thunderous screams. This politically engaged band took the time to speak out for Palestine and the LGBT cause. They’re one of the few to do so, hats off to them!
Our Top 5 Disappointments at Hellfest 2025
1. Judas Priest
We’ve never been huge fans (not really our generation), but we’ve always had a soft spot for Judas Priest, mainly because of the Breaking the Law music video. Sadly, that wasn’t enough: the show felt sluggish, and we slipped away before the end. Too bad.
2. Linkin Park
We came in with high hopes. We love Linkin Park, but the vibes were off from the start. Unfortunately, two days prior, they had to cancel a show due to illness, which already had us worried. They did show up, but the performance was awkward. Emily Armstrong, whom we’d previously admired with Dead Sara, was far from her usual level, and the band lacked energy. Mike Shinoda did his best to hold it together with heartfelt speeches. Things only picked up near the end. We still love them, but this wasn’t their night.
3. Gorilla Biscuits
We tried. We really did. But we couldn’t connect with this band at all: their frantic songs felt like every cliché of an aging hardcore punk band. The singer’s voice grated on us, and the repetitive melodies didn’t help. Pass.
4. Kim Dracula
Kim Dracula made it big on TikTok. We were intrigued, mainly by the genre-hopping promise. But instead of a sophisticated genre fusion, we got a deafening cacophony punctuated by hysterical saxophone solos and screeching vocals. The band looked disjointed and awkward. Not gonna lie, we bailed early.
5. Falling in Reverse
We don’t exactly hold Ronnie Radke in high regard. He’s, after all, a violent, transphobic, homophobic egotist who’s turned offensiveness into his brand. We hadn’t planned on seeing this show, but had to endure it to get good spots for Linkin Park (if only we’d known…). The set was self-indulgent, the visuals (including a weird Kylo Ren–meets–Balrog video) were laughable. Radke even played a song glorifying being an @$$hole (yes, really), with lyrics proudly declaring he was one… and that it was totally fine. Pathetic, and truly stomach-turning. Ronnie Radke continues to embody everything cringey and toxic in metal culture, and we’d rather look to the other side.
Final Thoughts: Hellfest 2025 Still Delivered
Despite a few letdowns, Hellfest 2025 reminded us why we keep coming back. We made so impressive discoveries, watched legendary comebacks, and partied hard with a crowd that lives and breathes metal. Much like last year, this edition was unforgettable. This festival is still worth the dust, the sweat, and the ringing ears. Long live Hellfest!
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