Once again, Hellfest is set to open its gates in a few weeks, and with it comes, once again, one of the best line-ups that you will see this summer. Think of Iron Maiden, Deftones, Judas Priest, Nightwish, A Perfect Circle, Rise Against, Napalm Death on the same bill… and you’ll understand how the festival manages to sell every ticket in a couple of days !
So let’s go through a few bands we would advise you to go and see at this year’s edition !
Black Bomb A
French Hardcore veterans (23 years and 6 records on) are at it again this year, right on time to wake you up, if you were planning on having a lazy Sunday! This constantly touring band has proven here in France that they know how to build intense shows, even for half an hour, even right after noon. One year after having had Jamey Jasta as their opener during their summer tour, BBA will blast their very best songs, and we know that there is going to be a massive crowd in front of the Main Stage, event at such an early hour.
Baroness
Here is what I wrote about the band in last year’s review : “Every song is a triumph, and rarely have I seen so much emotion after each song at Hellfest. This band is gold, and we won’t be waiting very long to get to see them again, because this is the kind of show that we’re looking for when we go to festivals !”
It seems that I wasn’t the only one who’s been impressed with the band’s performance, as Baroness are one of the few bands which have been selected to come and play two years in a row, and this time with a bigger slot, which is exactly what they deserve ! Let’s hope that playing at the same time as Iron Maiden won’t cause them any trouble, as Baroness know how to energize an audience !
Asking Alexandria
Like them or not, Asking Alexandria is one of today’s most important metalcore bands, one of those which, despite some ups and downs, are still at it, releasing solid albums, and keeping –at least live- the same energy as when they first began. Five years after first playing here in Clisson, the band has known some kind of big changes, and now it seems that Danny Worsnop, Ben Bruce and their bandmates have found their cruise speed, with a new anthemic sound, mixing up old and new elements in their latest record (S/T). While this year’s Hellfest line-up is more focused on less mainstream bands, let’s see how the audience will welcome the crew back, let’s hope that it will be in the best kind of way !
Parkway Drive
Our last big pick of this line-up isn’t the least, as we are talking about metalcore titans Parkway Drive. From their first appearance at Hellfest almost ten years ago (2009), to this year’s tour, the band has reached a new popularity level. Their two last releases, Ire and Reverence, have shown their ability to craft some heavy metal anthems, as well as the biggest sounding metalcore bangers. We can be sure of one thing, it’s that Parkway Drive are going to set Hellfest on fire, as their reputation on stage has never weakened.
This kind of show, as well as Avenged Sevenfold’s, who are playing right before, is also important, to show the world that this new scene matters, and that these bands aren’t here to pretend. They are the future of heavy music, and if they follow this path, they can be the kind of band that will be headlining the biggest festivals around the world.
So brace yourselves !
