Hellfest has just come to an end. Here’s a look back at the 5 female-fronted metal bands that left a lasting impression.
We’re back from four intense days at Hellfest, our favorite festival, hands down. It’s basically Disneyland for metalheads and lovers of all things loud. With over 250 bands on the lineup, it’s always overwhelming, but in the best way possible! You come for the headliners and end up discovering so many new favorites.
This year, the female-fronted metal bands brought the fire. The organizers even dedicated an entire stage on Friday to them, and the talent on display was nothing short of spectacular. If you’re into metal or punk, these 5 female-fronted metal bands should be on your radar.
Jinjer
We caught the Ukrainian metal band Jinjer on the Altar stage, and they destroyed everything. The place was bursting with people. Honestly, they should’ve been on one of the main stages. Their sound is massive, inventive, and razor-sharp.
Tatiana Shmailyuk, the lead vocalist, goes from clean vocals to guttural growls in a split second and it’s a jaw-dropping performance. This set was a massive standout for us. Check their music. Like right now.
Kittie
Legends in the world of female-fronted metal bands, Kittie is, in fact, all women, and every single one of them brings serious heat. The lead singer’s voice is a powerful force, both raw and magnetic. Their songs, which tackle themes like abuse and resilience, hit hard and were delivered with true conviction.
There’s a quiet strength about this Canadian metal band: they are veterans who know exactly what they’re doing. The stage visuals, featuring a witch about to be burned at the stake, added a haunting touch. Special shoutout to the bassist, whose stage presence and epic hair flips had the crowd cheering.
Poppy
Poppy is… an alien in the best way. Originally an American pop artist, she’s not always welcomed with open arms in the metal scene, some guys say she can’t scream. But after her performance at Hellfest, consider us convinced.
Her mix of sugary melodies and piercing screams created a wonderfully unsettling vibe. Oversized, glowing eyes of Poppy watched over the crowd from the background, adding to the weird atmosphere. Also, her band was dressed like ninjas (a nod to another group we’re quite fond of). She won over the skeptics in no time.
Spiritbox
Go Canada! Spiritbox are arguably the cool kids of the metal scene right now: they’re so talented they shared stages with Korn, Linkin Park, and Gojira. Their aesthetic is sleek, emotional, and intense.
Vocalist Courtney LaPlante’s voice can switch from delicate and ethereal to full-on beast mode in an instant. It’s spine-tingling to witness. The set was all monochrome and minimalistic. The ambiance was heavy, emotional, yet crushing. We were hooked from start to finish.
Walls of Jericho
Time for a punk detour and a powerful one! The American band Walls of Jericho came out with a bang. Their set was pure rage and release: fast, furious, and, obviously, political. The lead singer, Candace Kucsulain, radiates such confidence and power, it left us breathless.
Honestly, seeing this as a kid might have made us a little less shy growing up. We didn’t know the band before, but we’re discovering their discography as we speak.
Of course, we also caught sets from giants like Within Temptation and Epica, and they absolutely crushed it, as expected. But since those names are already HUGE in the scene, we wanted to spotlight bands you might not already know.
Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open, friends: these five female-fronted metal bands will make their mark in metal. We’re sure of it.
What’s your favorite female-fronted band? Drop the name in the comments!
