Live Shows: my Top 12.5 of 2025

Live shows were good in 2025. OK being away for over 4 months meant I missed a lot. Yet I got rewarded by some great gigs in Brazil. This year I put some restrictions in order to make chosing more difficult. So one evening or festival can not be mentioned more than once. Even if Musicon remains my favourite place to be, no mention here while I loved several nighst or days there (Pungeant Stench, Festerfest) . So here is my top 12 and a half over 2025. What I found is that while I don't like coverbands all that much, nostalgia did play a large role in my ranking. And oops I forgot to mention the best thrash metal show of the year by Dark Angel.

12.5 Temic - Boerderij  Zoetermeer
Double headliner show with Temic being the nice surprise. Rendezvous Point were OK too, but not matching the openers.

12. Samhain Festival - Muziekgieterij Maastricht

Fen and Dodheimsgard gave me two highlights of the day making the drive down to Maastricht worthwhile. And than Moonspell closed the day in style.

11. Jeff Scott Soto & Eric martin - Country Club Novo Friburgo

What a surprisingly perfect show of Classic Rock, highlighting in JSS singing an Yngwie medley.

10. Kiko Loureiro & Marty Friedman - Sacadura 154 Rio

Tuned out that Marty was only a guest, but his few solo songs and the joined Kiko songs were awesome. This while Kiko honoured his past in Megadeth and Angra. 

9. Renegade - Patronaat Haarlem

Always remaining sad I missed Thin Lizzy with Phil Lynott as that was before my gigging days. This is the best alternative, great band and setlist.

8. Beyond Creation, Daath, Cynic & Rivers of Nihil - Patronaat Haarlem

Four times great technical death metal on one evening. Beyond Creation among my favourites in the genre and Cynic taking revenge for 24's Effenaar set.

7. Eternal Storm - Innocence Hengelo

With Alex I was one of the two visitors who travelled from far to see a specific band. Totally worth the trip and what a nice day in Hengelo it was.

6. Prog Power Europe - Sjiwa Baarlo

Atmosphere is always top and this year Threshold, Voidchaser and Tiberius were my favourites. A bit worried about the 2026 program so far, but counting all shall work out fine again.

5. Saxon & Grand Slam - 013 Tilburg

Carnaval weekend and I trained south for some good old Heavy Metal. Girlschool could not match these two highlights of my heavy metal year.

4. Mearfest - Queenshall - Nuneaton

Talking about great atmospheres Mearfest is also always way up there. NWOBHM days coming alive with highlights around, but Stormchild and Sacred Alien deserve a special mention.

3. Queensryche - Effenaar Eindhoven

Playing the EP and Warning in full meant nothing could go wrong really. Band in peak form and reminding us why we loved them so much in the eighties.

2. Papangu - Garage Grindhouse, Little Devil, Patronaat & Circo Voador

When I get to see the same band 4 times in six months and all shows are very different it says a lot. Also hosting them one night, meant a band I shall always follow closely and hope to see soon again.

1. Keep It True - Tauber Frankenhalle Lauda - Königshofen

My first KIT and it made me wonder why. So many highlihts of metal from the time I fell in love with it (or just slightly later) Highlights: Riot V, Heir Apparent, S.A. Slayer, Slaughter Xstroyes and Sacred Blade. Great music, great festival and in 2026 I shall miss out again.

CD's: My Top 25 of 2025

2025 was a very good year for new music to me. Even if living between two countries complicates purchases at times. As a result of not being around non stop I did hear some albums once, liked them but never bought them due to a continental shift was coming up. Examples that immediately come to mind are O.r.k., M.S.G., Tokyo Blade and Thought Chamber. Even after the missed out albums (and there were many) I had to make choices. Since I hope that my list results in one person discovering one new band or album I left out the biggest names in progmetal (Dream Theater) and progrock (Steven Wilson) even if liking their albums a lot. Further it hurts to leave out bands like Everon, Wretch, Hyena, Saor, Ophelion and the always delivering Cosmograf. Still 25 means 25 (or 26 as you shall see fast). So here is my top 25 of 2025:

25. Tiberius - Singing For Company

The party band from this year's ProgPower turned out to be very nice on album too. Accessible progmetal with great songs and top vocals.

24: Martyr - Dark Believer / August Life - Passage of Time

My two favourite Dutch metal albums of the year were released close to each other. I received them at the same time and liked them equally well. Heavy Metal with links to 80's progmetal at times too.

23. Selvans - Saturnalia

The weirdest album on my list. Italian Folk Black Heavy metal of the dramatic kind sung in Italian. An interesting ride it is and packed in the nicest artwork of 2025.

22. Pentesilea Road - Sonnets from the Drowsiness

Vito wrote another masterpiece. 100 minutes is too long for me to capture all fast, but this captivating progmetal of the lighter side works wonders. Like the debut in spite of great vocals I prefer the instrumentals even a noch better.

21.Jacob Roberge - The Passing

I am less and less into progressive rock compared to metal, but the surprise in the genre this year was Jacob Roberge. Five good varying songs followed by a 31 minute epic gave him the new Neal Morse title. Agree but than fresher and less of a repeat.

20.An Abstract Illusion - The Sleeping City

One hour of a mix of prog death black and moody metal. Too early to fully know the album for me, but definitely one to go back to and yes Woe remains their classic it seems so far.

19. Impureza - Alcázares

Hailing from France yet singing in Spanish about Spanish history. Mixing death metal with flamenco it is definitely one to take your time for. But if doing so you shall be rewarded.

18. Species - Changelings

Tech Metal or technical thrash I love it. This Polish trio at times make me think of Toxik or Watchtower even and that is a huge compliment. Hope they tour Europe next year,

17. Green Carnation - The Dark Poem part I: The Shores of Melancholia

Again maybe not heard enough times yet, but they always are among the peak atmospheric prog metallers around. This time is not different. Looking forward to parts II and III.

16. Imminent Sonic Destruction - Floodgate

One of the finest progmetal bands that formed within the past fifteen years. Floodgate is another hit for me.Their mix of progmetal with rare outbursts results in eight catchy songs you should hear at least once really.

15. Changeling - Changelings

Leaving Obscura can do work wonders just look at Obsidious. Tom Geldschläger formed Cahngeling and released this beautiful progressive death metal album. A style that was very strong this year.

14. Gypsy's Kiss - Piece by Piece

The band celebrated their 50th anniversary already and this new album is filled with feel good hard rock songs to me. After seeing them at Mearfest in 2024 songs came even more alive and the new album is as good.

13. Rivers of Nihil - Rivers of Nihil

This is definitely their easiest album for those afraid of gunts. Another high mixing the death with the progmetal and yes there is a saxophone ad live he was great too.

12. Wings of Steel - Winds of Time

The bright hope for Heavy metal in the years to come? I don't know, but this is another top class heavy metal album that brings us back to the eighties glory days. Still sorry I missed them in Breda.

11. In Mourning - The Immortal

The progressive death doom masters do it again on what might become one of their best albums ever. Their mix of the heavy and increasing clean always works well. In March they play in Utrecht.

10. In the Woods.. - Otra

The gothic progressive metal of late by In the Woods.. never came this close to Swallow the Sun. This means the best atmospheric doomy metal album of the year.

9. Philosophobia - The Constant Void

After a good debut album, their second should please anyone who was into progmetal in the nineties. This style is out of fashion with younger bands, but to me still the best way to play progmetal.

8. Katagory V - Awaken a New Age of Chaos

Back after a ten year hiatus, but I did not know their old work. This is proper US metal, so we mix heavy metal with some prog and power metal. Still needing to check out their back catalogue.

7. Tiktaalika - Gods of Pangea

The first thrash metal banger of the year was written by progmetal guitar hero Charles Griffiths. I loved this album from the start and the different vocalists all fit in well with the songs. Nice retro thrash artwork too.

6. Coroner - Dissonance Theory

I did see Coroner live opening for Watchtower in the early nineties, but never knew their albums. I got the DVD some years ago and now a new album is released after 32 years. Listening to Dissonence Theory I am absolutely blown away by their tech metal. Surprise come back of the year to many, but I have one more to come.

Now before sharing my top 5 I have to state that all five of these albums can be my album of the year depending on the day. Loved them to bits. So I start with two bands who in recent years already released an album of the year for me.

5. A-Z - A2Z2

Not the most surprising album of the year as I know what  I get from this band even if only their second album. Melodic Progmetal songs of around 5 minutes with the beautiful voice of Ray Alder guiding us through some nice hooks. and yes the band is awesome too.

4. Lunar - Tempora Mutantor

Lunar what a band and why are they not yet huge? Progressive metal of the modern kind with at times grunts and great songs telling us how to watch the weather change. How do I get to see them playing live is one of the big questions in modern music for me.

3 Cea Serin - The World Outside

This is my surprise comeback of the year. Proper old school progmetal played over six songs only, still lasting 70 minutes. Normally I lose interest with 70 minute albums, not here. The songs all over ten minutes fly by and even Steve Blaze (Lillian Axe) provides a guitar solo. I wish Progpower would book more bands like this.

2. Dessiderium - Keys to the Palace

Another discovery album number five, but a new project to me. This is Alex Haddad going solo and what a surprise it was. Progressive death metal while he also holds a good clean voice. Can I mention Opeth? I can, but this is a very good album by all means form the guitarist of Atheist. Must hear material for all who like their prog and death blending into great long songs.

1. Jack the Joker - The Devil to Pay in the Backlands

No I am not Brazil biased here. These guys just released the best progmetal album of the year to me and while doing that top all other genres too. Another long album with 67 minutes that flies by. Musically the funky bass stands out, but what a joy to hear 11 great songs including two epics with enough variation to make many people happy. Bring them to Progpower Europe soonest please.

 

Azul Limão and Taurus - Audio Rebel Rio de Janeiro, 19 December 2025

Algorythms on Facebook I tend to hate them, for the nonsense they propose to me. Not this time as I was not aware of an underground metal show celebrating 40 years existence of two local bands Azul Limão and Taurus. Apart from not knowing these two bands, also the venue Audio Rebel never appeared on my radar before. Turned out it did not exist yet, when I lived iin Rio. All the more reasons to attend. So in the evening  I took the metro to Botafogo (bairro) and had a firm walk to Audio Rebel. Arriving there all looked welcoming from the start. The venue turned out to be a house inbetween large flats and existed mainly of a long corridor. When I expected the venue to be a door to the right at the corridor, it turned out to be even further down. the hall. A bar served several beers from bottle and can and I picked Patagonia IPA to be my beer for the night. Well half the night as the stock finished after the first band a reoccuring fact when I pick a favourite beer. At the merch stand I later met Ader executivo produtor from the label Dies Irae. He tours Europe often and also gets European bands to play Brazil. So we shall maintain in contact and I hope that one day I can be of help getting a Dutch band to play in Brazil (and I know just the right candidates). The other guy at the merch stand was even a more intersting story, as he stated playing in The Netherlands in the past, but forgot where. Wen he told his band was Apokalyptic Raids, I could help out as he played Nobel in 2016 and I was there. Great how the metal world turns in small circles and thsi welcoming feeling I had all night.

Now on the musical ground I was somewhat starting behind the pack, as I did not know any music in advance. I do have the book United Forces on Brazils's Metal Underground 1986-1991 and I am sure I read about Taurus there. When coming home I have to check again. Opening band of the evening were Azul Limão. They play Heavy Metal of the eighties kind with clear NWOBHM influences. Musically great and holding a good fontman it did not take long, before I joined the shouting of Who-whooo-ho-ho or Metal with the crowd. Talking about the crowd the venue is not huge, but it was packed. Azul Limão do sing in Portuguese, which to me adds to the fun in a way as I extend my metal vocabulary. This was one very entertaining show and long enough as after all we had 40 years to celebrate (with a break throughout nineties when heavy metal suffered worldwide). The set closed with two Taurus members joining in and a song I did not know (but everyone else did) closed the sheir show in style. I asked original member guitarist Marcos Dantas what was considered their classic album and he stated their debut Vingança as a favourite. So I got it at a very fair price and a very eighties metal cover it has (topless woman, skulls, horse, sword, castle on a mountain). A new album is coming out, so I shall get it after release

Next band were Taurus who according to Metal Archives are from Niteroi, which is Brazil's answer to Zoetermeer but then 10 times bigger. Their metal is more speed thrash driven and they  also released their debut Signo deTaurus in 1986. I had to get that CD too, as this show was as impressive. Throughout the set there were some speeches, by the two original band members and also two fans came on stage. All in good mood, just showing how much metal means in our lives throughout the decades. Taurus turned out to be another band to follow for me and their long set flew by. This time I knew one song as when Marcos from Azul Limão was invited on stage we got a great Ace of Spades cover. Being a notch heavier it seemed to me that some people came for Azul Limão and others for Taurus, but to me the match was very good. So I discovered in one evening two to me new bands to follow and one venue I hope to return to soon. Slowly finding my way into Rio's metal world I unfortunately lost the Laws show in Garage a night later. But metal is alive and kicking also in Rio.

 

An Abstract Illusion - Born Divided - Green Carnation - The Reticent - Wings of Steel

It is mid December and I must admit defeat over keeping up with metal. Spending 4 months a year in Brazil turned out to impact my purchases of new music, especially when unreliable long distance postage gets involved. Anyway here are five more albums that I want to share a few words on and than somewhere next week I hope to present my top 25 of 2025.

An Abstract Illusion - The Sleeping City

I was blown away by Woe a few years back. They came toProgpower, where sound issues made them not meet that level on stage. Now they are back with The Sleeping City and I so far only played it some five times, which is not enough. Yes it is a great album again and the mix prog death black metal is great again. The CD arrived home after I left, so I will read along with lyrics in 2026 and get the better picture.

Born Divided - Chronicle of a Shipwreck

I bumped into this band on Youtube and l like their blend of djenty prog emo with extreme metal. Accessible songs and a beautiful cover. Got it on bandcamp and liking what I hear there.

Green Carnation - A Dark Poem part I

Green Carnation releasing a trilogy within the next year. Part I is called The Shores of Melancholia. It arived two days before I flew out, so playing it once on CD and now on bandcamp who ask me to open my heart and my wallet, which I already did. Musically it is Green Carnation, so moody melancholic progressive metal of the slow kind. And that is good I will get parts II and III as well.

The Reticent - Please

The Reticent I called the band who write possible the best progmetal concept albums of this century when I discovered On The Eve of a Goodbye. The Oubliette confirmed my statement and now Please is securing their spot same again. Never a band for happy themes or music. Still when you take your time for please you must like lots of it too. OK the spoken word intermezzo's only work when reading along and getting into the full story. Musically they or more he Chris Hathcock mixes progmetal again with a few more aggressive or desperate outbursts. Announced for Progpower 2026 the band I am already looking out for most. Now I own it on bandcamp, the CD should follow in Baarlo.

Wings of Steel - Winds of Time

Looking for a young and upcoming US metal band? Wings of steel are the band to go to. At KIT I got their debut Gates of Twilight and now Winds of Time arrived after many weeks stuck in the post. So I only listened on whatsapp again and how good is it to hear new bands giving us a voice to die for and than musically playing that heavy metal, which made us all fall in love with the genre. Still sorry I was not around to see them in Breda end September, but they tour a lot so I hope catching them in 2026.

Festival Novas Frequências (Papangu) - Circo Voador Rio de Janeiro, 7 December 2025

Six weeks without a live show, turned out to be  a long time indeed. So when I read about Papangu's visit to Rio in December I knew I had to be there. In The Netherlands my rule of thumb is music beats football. In Brazil it can be that futebol bate musica. On this afternoon the choice was between Fluminense's last competition match or Novas Frequências festival. Asking Papangu about the time-schedule, which was not found online by me, it showed that they would start when the match was just finished. So no double program and Circo Voador it was. This venue is one of the classics in Rio and actually the most beautifull I've been to so far. It s a circus tent indeed next to Lapa's famous arcos. As we are in Rio that means only the back and top of a tent. On the sides it opens to a large outside area with food, drink and tables available. Keeping an eye on their program from now on, as this was a ver nice setting for a show indeed. Side comment to Dynamo Metal Fest a small pizza with proper thin crust and good taste at 3,50 euros, watch and learn.

Arriving around 17:30 I immediately bumped into Vitor, drummer of Papangu, who invited me backstage to say hi the band and others too. A very warm welcome, but I think I stated before that Papangu are truly nice guys. Finding out how tickets for drinks worked and staying Dutch with Amstel this evening I took my place in the arena for a good close look at Papangu. The other two bands on the bill where unknown to me and would prove to be very different

 

Papangu kicked of at 18:15 and seeing them for the 4th time within six months should indicate they can not surprise me any longer. Well guess what they could. Papangu does not follow setlists and with a new album being recorded in Berlin straight after their European tour the evening started with lots of new material. Just when you think it is more jazz over metal this time, they cranck up the volume and go black metal again. I am already curious about their next album and what styles it shall bring. Seeing the band in Rio again, meant more people already knowing them and the  chance to chant Papangu back to the band. Tonight brought lots of instrumental parts and quite asome jazz, but at the same time the heaviest version I ever witnessed of Boitatá. Highlight might have been the instrumental with the same guest guitarist that played Garage Grindhouse earlier this year (sorry forgot his name) .So another great show by Papangu it was and I hope that in 2026 I can see them again in Rio.

Hereafter the shows would be by bands I never heard of until the announcement of this evening. Test e Deafkids turned out to be different indeed. The stage showed two drums, plus percussion at one drum at the back. In front we got a guitarist who also played percussion or bongos and a bassist who would scream at us at times. That is lots of drums/percussion and this resulted in rhytms all over their set of noise drones and postrock. Vocals if happening were either very distorted or towards the extreme. I had found my place at the back in the stands and came to the conclusion that this band was great for seeing live and not so much to play on CD at home. A good set they gave us and open minded souls must have loved this.

The headliner this evening were Metá Metá and yet a completely different direction musically. This trio had a female vocalist with strong expression, an acoustic guitarist who sang at times and a saxophonist who played flute at times. The place was filled and people danced and sung along with to me new music. The way the guitarist mistreated his guitar was impressive and loud given the setting. The saxophone did add to the atmosphere and vocals could go up to hysterical screams. While Test e Deafkids were a band to see live, I thought this more a CD band, but they did not bring merch. 

So the evening ended and I was pleased I opted for the music. It was great to see Papangu again and even without Marco on bass in quartet formation they were huge again. Outside it was all about samba, but I slowly get to know my way around in the Rio underground scene, which should lead to at least one more 2025 show.

Dutch Doom Day - Bibelot Dordrecht, 1 November 2025

Baroeg is still on tour, but works are progressing well. For Dutch Doom Day this meant the venue was Bibelot Dordrecht this year. I attended DDD before. Usually because of one band I really want to see and the rest can surprise me. The comfort style within doom metal for me is the eighties Black Sabbath and the Scandinavian stream of bands following that path (Candlemass, Sorcerer, Krux). Today's line-up might all have been doom, not one band sounded like any other, so lack of variatiomn was no issue. I am leaving for Brazil tomorrow, so I had to get some stuff still and missed as a result opening band Remembrace. Since they are the only Dutch band ob the bill, I guess I can see them still somewhere some day.

So upon arrival the first Chilean band was about to begin. The event information said progressive doom, so my interest was there. Now in reality the progressive part came more to the fore in songs building up. slowly with some gothic vocals over same. Arriving at the vocals I must mention the elephant in the hall. Vocals came from tape. Mostly backing vocals, but at time also lead vocals. This made it hard to tell what was sung live and what was not. This distracted quite a bit for me. Maybe I got used to it throughout their set, but I liked their last two songs best.

Next band were High Warden from Germany and people more in the now within doom than I (Vitus Frank and Rene) told me this would be good. The information said slow Heavy Metal and that was a good description. A trio with flying V guitar made them look heavy metal to start with and I did like their set. They have only one CD and one demo, so I guess we got most of their songs. At times increasing the pace made their set varied enough and they went down pretty well indeed with those in. A good band that got us pleased into the one hour break to catch some food, which resulted in a packed nearby snackbar under Dordrecht's windmill.

After the break it was back to Chile for Mourners Lament. Doom/Death Metal they play and very well so. This became fast the first absolute high of the festival for me. Their long songs were building up to epic highs and the vocals grunted over the riffs with the occassional clean lines. The best about doom is when bands manage to get you under their spell and you stand banging slowly watching it all come over you. This was the case here and I would get a CD afterwards to show my appreciation. Halfway the set  vocalist Alfredo asked if anyone spoke Spanish. This before playing their Spanish language song Ocaso. I kept quiet a my Portanyol does not count as Spanish. Meanwhile I am planning to improve my Spanish the coming months, so I got their last album and am now reading along with Ocaso playing on CD. A great band they were and I hope their European tour is a success.

And than yet again for something completely different. Pantheist the band build around the Greek Belgian from Wales (thanks Rene) The main man stood centre stage behind his keyboards and a female vocalist stood next to him in support. This was very different, but also pretty hard to digest for me. First I am not the biggest fan of female operatic voices. Further their music was very slow indeed and finally my struggle to enjoy bands after just being blast away by the previous band. So I gave Pantheist some four songs before heading to the bar downstairs, where I could sit to regain forces for the headliner.

Headliner today were In the Woods... from Norway. Technically not a doom band as they started black metal and now lean towards the more progressive side with melodic death metal leanings to. I have only one of their older albums, but this year's Otra to me is an absolute winner. Seven songs where the catchiness of chorusses is key. At times they sound to me like mixing Swallow the Sun with Voyager. But they are older than them, so let's give them their own credit for sounding so fine. At least on album that is. Live they encountered some issues. Ending soundcheck on time at 21:45 they disappeared for 15 minutes to come back at ten and kick off sounding a bit messy. Throughout their set this would remain the case in waves to me. Bass and drums were often too loud in comparison with guitars, keyboards and vocals. Luckily the songs themselves are strong enough to still give us a great show.  This included four songs of Otra, where vocalist Bernt proved he has no problems with either the harsher vocals nor the epical clean ones. So I loved their set, but sound made it not one of the annual highlights for me. Still a good closer of one doom fine day in Dordrecht. Thanks to those putting this together and the bands entertaining us in so many different forms of doom. Next year back in Baroeg I hope to be there again as well.

Coroner - Species

Technical Thrash Metal. Loved it in the late eighties when bands like Toxik, Watchtower, Hades and Annihilator released some of the best albums in thrash. Now end 2025 these two bands create a sort of revival.

Coroner - Dissonance Theory

Coroner is one of those many bands whom I missed when they originally came up. I did not have their albums, nor anyone near me. No internet meant missing out. I even saw them live, but that was when they opened for Watchtower who came touring one of the best albums ever released Control and Resistence. So I was more anxious on what was to come, than paying attention. In hindsight a mistake as Coroner play very close to my prefered styles. In 2016 I first dove into the band when I bought their DVD with live shows, a documentary and a CD. Dissonance Theory is their first studio album in 32 years and to start with the best it is the comeback of the year, even if not for me as I was not in the know in the early nineties. This album holds 8 songs plus an instrumental intro and outro. It is impossible to name one favourite song, as they are all very good. If you like a clear produced thrash album, filled with hooks, riffs and solos of the catchy kind than get this album. I bought the CD version which holds as a bonus their 1986 demo with Tom G Warrior on vocals. A must hear album to all into thrash and prog as well.

Species - Changelings

When you say Poland and metal first thoughts go out to atmospheric progmetal of Riverside or extreme metal by bands like Behemoth or Vader. Now Poland also gives us a highflyer in the technical thrash metal genre: Species. Formed in 2018 and releasing a debut album in 2022 which I missed, Changelings is their second full lenght. Seven songs with all those treats you like in tech metal. Fast rolling riffs, breaks, solos and a dominant bass come to the fore, while they keep their thrashing up. Dressed in Hawaiian shirts this trio knows how to keep my attention spanned. Seven songs and just over 40 minutes is the perfect lenght for an album like this with so much happening. Would be nice to see them coming to The Netherlands in 2026.

Samhain Festival (Day 2) - Muziekgieterij Maastricht, 26 October 2025

Samhain festival in the Muziekgieterij, that meant two firsts for me: festival and venue. The festival is build around black metal mainly. Do not think of the church burning face painted black metal, but more the save the planet variations. Lots of atmospheric long build ups here. Now Black Metal is not my base stream in metal, but the Sunday had my three favourites of the line-up playing. Knowing that Frank would be there with Daan , so no wandering around alone made me decide to drive down to Maastricht. Rain and a badly signed roadblock around Eindhoven resulting in a large detour, made the way down a long drive indeed.

I knew I would miss part of openers Wiegedood, but did not expect this much. The band Wiegeddod would open the festival playing two hours passing their De Doden Hebben Het Goed trilogy in full. The last bit I did see sounded good. Dark moods and atmosphere is their thing over long songs. 

Next band were Phuthulmu. Not an easy name, nor is their music. The only vowel they use in bandname and songtitles is the u, but you struggle understanding anything anyway. The small hall meanwhile turned out to be of very decent size, so throughout the day there never was a moment it felt too busy. This also as the festival did not sell out. So I stayed short and checked out te venue better. A great large hall with two balconies going high up. A large bar area with lots of different beers, which I did not touch as driver. Than upon entering there was enough space with some foodstands and merch in a different side hall. So the venue overall was great and I hope to be back more often.

Meanwhile in the main hall Sylvaine were preparing themselves. This band is build around Norwegian multi instrumentalist Kathrine. When the band kicked off her heavy vocals surprised me, as her fragile looks made me fear angelic singing. That was a plus and so were the French /German band. They went through their dark set in style and I liked it from start to finish. Maybe not for me to play at home, but live a good band. We agreed that Daan's idea for them to sell huge blond wigs as merch should be a hit.

In the small hall the metal was upped hereafter. Necronautical played a set that came closest to a proper metal set. Lots of energy, lots of fists in the air and a set that flew by for me. I also meanwhile found out that staying inbetween the Baroeg alike poles gave a better overview of the stage. For me Necronautical became the first true highlight of the day and I knew a next one was waiting fo rme.

Fen were preparing themselves in the main hall and they were the biggest reason I drove to Maastricht to start with. I saw them once before, when they toured their magnificent Winter album. I told Frank and Daan I considered them to be the Rush of Black Metal. This maybe mostly based upon the tact that they are a trio and vocalist /guitarist The Watcher looks like Geddy Lee from a distance. Musically their music is atmospheric Black Metal with long songs, where at times clean vocals are blended in. During the first song sound was being perfected, but hereafter we got a beauty of a show. Their energy on stage was great and the playing tight and flawless. This hour really flew by and they reconfirmed to me why  consider them possibly my favourite black metal band.

For me at festivals after an absolute high the next band suffers. In this case Shagor, from The Netherlands. I gave them a few songs, but than went for a bite. Being a Dutch band I count on seeing them again somewhere along their tours. Meanwhile it turned out that the vegan paddo Kroket was great indeed. 

In the big hall it was time for Winterfylleth and I decided to watch one show from the balconies, being able to hang for a bit. Winterfylleth I saw before with Fen and they play Black metal, but their looks make you expect different. Three vocalists with one being the guy from Necronautical and one Mark Deeks I know from Ard. It was nice to see keyboards, being played live on stage and adding to the fun. This was again a pleasant surprise as I did not expect liking them this much. 

Hemelbestormer play instrumental black metal and are Dutch too. I looked at the remaining program and decided to give myself a rest. I saw one song and went  looking for a chair in the bar area for talking music and life with Frank and Daan. Interesting how Maastricht being three hours away still resulted in meeting more known faces over the day. It's a small world we walk in, when it comes to metal in Holland.

T

he second main reason for attending Samhain for me were on next and this was Dodheimsgard. I saw them a few years ago in Musicon and loved their set. When they released Black Medium Current two years ago I bought it and it still an album I go back to when I want to hear something extreme, yet different and orignal at the same time. They opened the set with the opener of BMC and immediately it was clear we were in for a treat. Their frontman Vicotnik is a performer we had not seen yet on stage. Crawling around, dancing wildly or banging his head, he kept all eyes on him. Well not only him as the different looking band memebers also impressed massively. Looking at show and performances this was the highlight of the day and also musically they were ace. It Does Not Follow was maybe the absolute high to me, as I do know the song and the danceable intro is so damn catchy. If I liked their show last time, now I turned into a proper fan (just like the Fen fan in me).

So after a highlight etc. Well Sunken came on in the small hall ad were comepletely differennt indeed. These Danes from Aarhus presented the thickest wall of sound of the day. The shrieking emotional vocals over it made it an impressive sight. Yet for me it reminded me of the Blues. After some 20 minutes I saw enough, while to Daan they were the highlight of the day.  

And than it was closing time with Moonspell from Portugal. This tour they only go back to their past, playing Wolfheart in full. It was immediately clear that we got a band with experience on stage. On the vocal front being helped by the female vocalist of Glasya they presented their album great. The only side step was to their EP that came before. I liked it all over, but the songs where they go too folky and almost pirate metal could have been skipped for me. Than again I am not the most typical Moonspell fan as my favourite by them is 1755. Well it was great ending with a set I did recogniz eand than it was driving home, which all went smooth. If one thing got I confirmed today is that I shall follow de Muziekgieterij agenda more closely. A lovely venue and who knows a weekend Maastricht is in the cards one day.

August Life - Cea Serin - In Mourning - Tiberius - Voidchaser

Another Progmetal attack to remind me where my comfort zone lies.

August Life - Passage of Time

In 2018 August Life released their debut album New Eternity and I was pleasantly surprised with this Dutch band. Now they are back with Passage of Time and it still sounds good. Actually on my PPE recommendations for 2026 I mentioned them as the Dutch band. They might not play progmetal to some purists, but those into PPE bands like Jon Oliva, Crimson Glory and Symphony X definitely must find something to their liking here. So bordering between Heavy Metal and progmetal most striking to me is the build up of the CD. Opening with their 12:28 epic Guidelines and closing with two of the calmest songs. This also hints at their diversity through the album and when than Bryan's voice at times reminds me of a heavier Graham Bonnet we have an album that is a joy from start to finish. After their debut I believe Covid stopped them from touring. Let's hope they play in a venue nearby any day soon.

Cea Serin - The World Outside

In the category surprising comebacks Cea Serin scores very high on several fronts. I only had their 2004 debut Where Memories Combine. Missing their 2014 album they are now back another 11 years later. The biggest surprise is that to me this must be one of the best progmetal albums of the year. Six songs lasting 70 minutes and all of them between 10:07 and 13:30 minutes. Somehow the songs don't seem to be long. Cea Serin are actually a duo who do get help. Rory Faciane on drums and percussion and Jay Lamm on guitars,  vocals, bass and keyboards. Further we get many guest guitarists including one solo by Steve Blaze (Lillian Axe). The fact that these long songs fly by is a sign of their strenght and I don't have a favourite between them.  Dare I say that the world would be very happy if Dream Theater would release an album this heavy and good this century? Yes I dare to state that and anyone into progmetal should check this out.

In Mourning - The Immortal

In Mourning do not play progmetal, yet they played PPE twice. I love their doomy proggy melodic death metal. This is their seventh full lenght and it might be among their very best. Slowly over time the clean vocals increased and now most songs hold them. Still the overall sound is of the heavy melodic death kind and I can't wait to see them in March in Utrecht. Few bands know how to mix the melancholy and the melody this nice with the very heavy. Even the artwork should result in nice grey T-shirts. A very complete album I shall revisit lots of time still.

Tiberius - Singing For Company

Tiberius were the ultimate party band at this year's progpower. Never standing still on or off the stage I picked up this 2025 album after their show. I am glad to inform that at home without the partying the music holds firm too. Musically I think at times of bands like Protest the Hero, upbeat modern prog, with djenty bits. Vocally Ton was right and Myles Kennedy comes to mind. If I have a comment it must be that lyrics coming with the CD would be nice as online they are available. These Scotts are from Edinburgh, so I hope one day visting their beautiful hometown again and see them playing in Bannermans.

Voidchaser - Trust & Solace

That tremendous Sunday afternoon at PPE this year resulted in two new favourites. Voidchaser played 

after Tiberius and kept the party going. Less jumping around, but musically to me a notch better. This band came closest to tech metal at this year's edition and tech metal is what I love. They are also not afraid to mix the extreme vocals with the clean and mostly over frantic or epic music. So far they released three EP's only, so I got the last two. EP's they are, but because of instrumental bonus versions lasting 40 and 60 minutes. Well that Inside Out hobby of adding instrumental disks is not for me, but here it works pretty ok. Still I now wait for a full lenght with ten songs. Same comment as above on missing lyrics, so please include with the full album.

Metal Experience Fest 6 - Nobel Leiden, 11 October 2025

Metal Experience Fest, what started as a triple birthday party now already reached edition 6. This time only the big hall of Nobel and all bands somehow linked to thrash metal. Even so a varied line-up and two international headliners of name and fame. So going there was no issue, getting there was. No trains between The Hague and Leiden today due to maintenance. Taking a bus instead was longer but OK. Unfortunately trains heading for Leiden from both Haarlem and Hoofddorp were suffering unscheduled obstructions too, so I guess some people arrived late by public transport reasons.

First band on stage were Silenxce from the bollenstreek. Even being from not that far from my home I had never heard of them before being announced for MEF. They play thrash metal, but not of the most aggressive kind. Actually I thought at times they would fit at ProgPower too with their technical parts woven in. They even stated leaving the calmer songs out, so maybe even more variation comes with a longer set. They looked like an old band reforming every now and than. But their rather static presentation was compensated by good musicianship and nice songs. A good opener they were.

Next band were Grindpad from Utrecht. I've seen them before this year and Grindpad is good at making a party. Now on the large stage gave them more space to run around and yes sharks would fly. Their image is build around a shark and a bitten surfboard (two on stage). Their banner is impressive and I had to laugh at how the design showed four sixpacks, while on the stage I spotted more beer bellies.  While they were here to give us a party, their music is good too. So I stayed inbetween banging my head and havng a laugh throughout their set. 

As if one party was not enough, Insanity Alert came on next. These Austrian thrashers with dutch vocalist Heavy Kevy also guarantee a party. Performance being hectic and fast lots of jokes to keep that Grindpad smile on my face still. Some might say that songs like Run to the Pit and Beer in the Park are hard to take serious, but I loved seeing them again after a few years break. Highlight of the cover parts was to me Moshemian Thrashody, Caught in the first row, no escape from the circle pit. Recovering forces at the lobby, where lots of people I know were walking around.

So I missed the opening track of Hellripper. Possibly the band I looked out for most, as I saw them two year ago twice and bought most of their albums hereafter. Hellripper plays speedmetal with old skool black influences. On album a soloproject by James McBain, live he gathered a strong band around him. So when I found my spot at the floor to fully get into their show desaster struck quick. The band noticed first that a woman or girl was not well and collapsed. Now I do not know what happened so no point in speculating. But when we were all asked to leave the hall the mood was down and worried. After a while the hall reopened and Hellripper could continue. For me the night would not go back to the high from before. This also as I now watched from the end of the hall, getting less into the show.

Headliners Angelus Apatrida now also started a bit later and I already decided to stick with my bus home as scheduled. So a reduced show I got from the Spaniards. Yesterday was not the first time I heard them being called the best European thrash metal band of the moment. I could see where that is coming from as AA are a powerfull machine leaving no prisoners behind. Well prisoners or not left behind I decided to go, just like more people depending on public transport. The evening was a succes and I hope that next year MEF and I are back in Nobel for this gathering of metalheads.