Live | Dynamo Metalfest 2025 – IJssportcentrum – Eindhoven [NL]

15-16-17 August 2025

ANNIVERSARY EDITION – LEGENDS, YOUNG HEROES AND A 9-YEAR-OLD CROWD-SURFER

Ten years of Dynamo Metalfest. Ten years of thrashing on Eindhoven’s ice rink. And what an edition this turned out to be. This year’s festival felt more than ever like a tribute to the past, a nod to the present, and a crushing declaration of love to the future. In short: metal lives, metal evolves, but also metal unites. And for three days straight, that was celebrated with full force. What stood out? Not just the legendary line-up, but especially the crowd. Where you used to see mostly dudes in battle vests—practically born for Dynamo—you now see families, kids in ear protection, and yes, the next generation singing Slayer at the top of their lungs as if they lived through the 80s themselves.

Speaking of the next generation: one hero deserves a special mention. Nine‑year‑old Luuk, buzzing with endless energy, unofficially broke the crowd surfing record this weekend. Relentless, he slid over the sea of hands again and again. Where others would collapse against the barriers after just one round, he simply started again. The catch crew had their hands full—they even played rock-paper-scissors to decide who’d catch him next. Their grins said it all: this is exactly why we do it.

FRIDAY – 15 August – Metal History Rewritten

Dynamo 2025 kicked off with a rare set from Nailbomb. Thirty years after their original shows in Eindhoven, Max Cavalera’s raw project returned—not as a reunion or a nostalgia act, but as 90s rage injected with fresh blood. Despite the searing heat, the crowd bounced like a solid wall. A blistering drum solo sealed the deal. This was fireworks with no fuse.

Next, Paradise Lost delivered spine‑steeped melancholy. Greg Mackintosh made his guitar weep while the crowd melted into a dark, warm blanket of gothic metal—as if it were 1995 again. I even squeezed in the Nailbomb signing before heading to the next act.

Fear Factory recalibrated everything with an industrial precision bombardment. The pit ignited from the first song—Eindhoven became a factory at full throttle. We got a special set from their 1995 tour, combining old-school energy with new fans diving head-first into the chaos.

Mastodon did what they do best: hypnotize, challenge, astonish. Their cover of Ozzy’s ,,Shot in the Dark” culminated in a jaw-dropping drum solo.

Headliner Opeth closed the night in style—death metal fused with haunting melancholy. Frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt made us laugh, listen, and headbang. Their newest album, ‘The Last Will and Testament’, marks a heartfelt return to their roots. The result? Goosebumps and sore muscles—a perfect closer.

SATURDAY – 16 August – From Kawaii Chaos to Thrash Legends

Day two launched with the classic Dynamo punch: hard, direct, zero warm-up. The first day already made history; day two felt like the perfect storm—a riot of styles: thrash, symphonic, industrial, metalcore—all with one goal: never letting the crowd catch a breath. Heavy Hoompa cranked up the vibe even before the gates opened at 11 AM. Now both stages were active, unlike the day before.

Inherited, the young winners of the Dynamo Band Battle, blew everything apart at noon. Raw, hungry, and clearly born in the wrong era—like Sepultura meets Hatebreed in a dark alley. The riffs were heavier than demolition balls, the energy unstoppable. Eindhoven was awake—whether it liked it or not.

Hanabie returned in spectacular form—metalcore meets J-pop meets electronic insanity. They asked the crowd to jump—and they jumped. Pure entertainment. After a standout set two years ago, they rightly earned a mainstage slot.

Bark, a last-minute addition, proved some emergency substitutions are gold. Faster, darker, heavier—pure chaos wrapped in leather and sweat. Under Martin Furia’s leadership, they bulldozed through their set without mercy or break. Once you’re in, there’s no escape.

Charlotte Wessels offered an emotional interlude. ,,The Crying Room” hit hard, leaving the crowd silent—even the hardest headbangers softened. A fan holding a sign reading “I love to cry too” summed it up perfectly. Seeing so many former Delain members on stage was a joy—the love between them came through. Pure bliss from start to finish.

Celestial Sanctuary delivered modern death metal with old-school roots. They stomped, crushed, and rolled across the audience with a sound echoing Carcass and Dying Fetus, but with their own filthy twist. This was not for smiling—this was destruction.

Static‑X redefined resilience after tragedy. Their blend of old and new material felt like a tribute. ,,Push It” had everyone bouncing, and the new tracks proved the Evil Disco still ain’t done partying. A first-time experience for me—but surely not the last. Their mojo remains—and so does a cheeky robot that sometimes crowd surfed the crowd. Clearly, the band hasn’t lost their spark.

Wraith grabbed the old-school thrash crown. Riffs faster than your neck can take, vocals that test eardrums. Exactly how thrash should be done.

Between sets, Heavy Hoompa kept things lively at the mainstage. For those seeking calm or checking out vinyl, the Metal Market and signing booths were busy—long waits, but totally worth it.

Obituary then entered the mainstage—and time stood still. These death metal pioneers not only retained their raw power but unleashed it. ,,Slowly We Rot” and ,,Cause of Death” thundered across the venue as if it were 1989. The crowd devoured it with dark smiles.

Conjurer showed that slow and heavy can hit harder than fast and furious. Their blend of doom, sludge, and post-metal built a storm that struck like an apocalypse.

Ministry, armed with their sixteenth album, plowed through the rink like a raging machine. Al Jourgensen spits socio-political critique and industrial grooves like a chainsawed wake-up call.

Thrown might be young, but they’re a live weapon. Their breakdowns surgical, their energy merciless. A many’s first introduction to them—and what a statement it was. We’ll be seeing a lot more of them.

As the day’s climax neared, we caught glimpses of both past and future. Seven‑year‑olds belting ,,Run to the Hills” before Kreator hit the stage was magic. Mille Petrozza and co. gave an explosive performance—pyro, chaos, and a crowd surfing down to the last soul, including someone in a wheelchair surfing like a pro. Dynamo = inclusion. Job well done!

Sirenia brought orchestral grandeur and gothic darkness as the last act on the Kink Distortion stage. Heavy guitars and Emmanuelle Zoldan’s powerful vocals made for a captivating experience—though indoors might’ve suited her voice better. Still, a treat for symphonic metal fans.

Within Temptation closed the night. I’d had some doubts about their live vocals, but Sharon den Adel won me over. Pure, strong, emotional. From opener ,,We Go To War” to closer ,,Mother Earth”, each note embodied over 20 years of symphonic metal mastery. A fitting finale to a day showcasing every corner of the metal scene.

SUNDAY – 17 August – The Grand Finale and a Record-Breaking Crowd-Surfer

Clouds drifted above Eindhoven as the final day dawned. After two days of riffs, mosh pits, and friendships forged in dust and beer, today was the grand finale. Neck muscles bruised and voices hoarse—but nobody was going home before the last note faded. On the parking lot, I even ran into folks having breakfast—a cheese sandwich shaped like a giant bottle of Tripel Karmeliet before 10:30 AM. Now that’s the real Dynamo vibe!

We began in a haze—musically and mentally. Pothamus built sludge layers into a sonic wall that didn’t push you back—it enveloped you. People swayed with closed eyes, surrendered to trance.

No rest after that—Hellripper launched like the devil chased them. Black/speed metal with Venom and Slayer vibes, delivered with Scottish intensity. Laughter, screams, and a pit that felt more like tearing than dancing.

Terrifier lived up to the name—no frills, just a punishing barrage. Riffs so tight the air itself trembled. Dynamo was wide awake now.

Italian grandeur arrived with Fleshgod Apocalypse—double bass drums rolling like thunder. Classical magnificence met death metal violence, like Bach and Morbid Angel teaming up. The crowd devoured it. And that bizarre sing‑along ,,I’m Blue (Da Ba Dee)”? Brilliant.

Mawiza brought Chile to Eindhoven—Mapuche instruments, traditional chants, and metal fury. A visually and musically unique set that stood out. I saw someone headbanging while filming, but go silent during the ceremonial parts.

Ne Obliviscaris sent the crowd on a rollercoaster of prog, classical, and extreme metal. Violin and blast beats in the same track? No problem. It sounded like an epic fantasy soundtrack—with growls. Frontman James Dorton’s raw emotion wasn’t just visible—it was felt to your core. A first for me, but definitely not the last.

Coffin Feeder crushed the audience with death, grind, and hardcore fusion. Brutal, mean, with the pit descending into a warzone.

Kataklysm then hammered in a wall of hyperblast and asked the crowd to crowd‑surf en masse. Pre-start already saw waves of surfers arriving. Appreciation to the catch crew for safely returning every one of them. And once again, Luuk the nine‑year‑old flew across the crowd like a human boomerang. The audience carried him as if he were mascot—security recognized him. Record broken? Definitely. Respect earned!

Dymytry Paradox, with industrial heavy metal and a slick show, captivated the crowd. Their masks added a sinister edge, and the hooks stuck in your head.

When Kerry King stepped on stage, it felt like a piece of Slayer entered the rink. With his venomous precision, he tore through new material and classic thrash. Raw, brutal—unmistakably Kerry King. Mark Osegueda on vocals proved to be a stellar addition; his voice and stage presence elevated the performance without feeling imitative. When they launched into ,,Raining Blood”, the tent exploded. The crowd became a churning mass and energy hit peak levels. The catch crew worked non-stop to manage the tide of stage divers—deservedly earning a roaring applause. Their effort highlighted how intense and exhilarating the show was.

Rivers of Nihil delivered progressive death metal with layers you only catch after several listens. But live? It felt like being swept up in a musical storm. Every song was a wall of sound—technical virtuosity fused with raw power. Drums pounded, riffs cut deep, and guttural grunts gave way to atmospheric breaks—before plunging back into the next wave. The crowd surrendered to the precision and intensity as the band dominated the stage. As the opening chords of ,,Bow Down” rang out, the crowd transformed into a roaring singing mass.

I Prevail fuse emotion with pure energy, and even hardened death‑metal fans found themselves singing along. The band effortlessly shifted between brute force and melody, and the crowd loved every second. Mid-set, the show was briefly halted when someone felt unwell, prompting the arrival of first‑aid. That moment of stillness demonstrated how caring the band was—they urged everyone to look after each other and stay safe. It was a meaningful message amidst the mayhem. Energy came surging back with a fiery cover of Taylor Swift’s ,,Blank Space”.

The crowd sang along in unison—it never occurred to me how well a Swift song could translate into metal—but I Prevail made it sound number‑one themselves. As a grand finale, they performed a cover medley of classics—Deftones’ ,,My Own Summer (Shove It)”, Alice in Chains’ ,,Them Bones”, and System of a Down’s ,,Chop Suey!”—a recognition party that unleashed the crowd completely. The set closed emotionally with ,,Hurricane”, dedicated to Dave Shapiro, the band’s former manager killed in a plane crash. A powerful tribute, proving I Prevail can hit hard—and hit you in the heart.

Kublai Khan TX then delivered a set that felt like a sledgehammer. Breakdowns were so heavy you could feel them in your ribs. From the first note, it was clear—this was raw hardcore meant to live, fall, and rise again. The energy in front of the stage was fierce. Barriers were tested—people slammed, hung on them, or got grabbed just to headbang with reckless abandon, as if life depended on it. Every millimetre, the crowd inched forward. The audience fully embraced the band’s unforgiving power. No frills, no compromise. Just pure, uncompromising aggression—and the crowd devoured it.

As the festival’s final act, Gojira took the stage and turned the field into a blazing inferno of fire, riffs, and raw emotion. Their trademark blend of technical precision, thundering grooves, and soulful themes held everyone captive. Fire cannons roared, and the air smelled of petroleum, beer, and sand—a heady mix that matched Gojira’s intense presence. The crowd felt it: it was time to give everything. On ,,Flying Whales”, the Wall of Death cleaved the field in two, and the masses collided in an explosive surge of energy—wild, brutal, beautiful. ,,Ah Ça Ira” followed, delivering message, power, and emotion in a wall of sound you can’t help but respect.

Mid‑set, drummer Mario Duplantier paused and with a grin asked, “Are you okay with five minutes of double bass?” Of course, we were. They kicked into ,,From The Sky”, unleashing a punishing barrage of double‑pedal drumming—a technical spectacle that left jaws dropped and necks stiff. Once again, Gojira proved why they’re modern metal’s top tier—not just through artistry, but by transcending live. Brutal. Spiritual. Perfect.

DYNAMO METALFEST 2025 – FINAL CONCLUSION – Generations United in a Riff Storm

Dynamo Metalfest 2025 was more than a festival. It was a celebration of thirty years of metal in Eindhoven—a weekend where past, present, and future converged with riffs, ferocity, and fellowship. Old-school legends stood shoulder to shoulder with wide-eyed young headbangers—from lifelong Slayer disciples to kids crowd‑surfing in ear protection. And perhaps most striking of all: Luuk, the nine-year‑old, surfing like a seasoned pro. Dynamo proved once and for all: metal knows no age—only devotion.

The line-up catered to every taste: hypnotic sludge, raw thrash, sing‑along metalcore, technical death metal, industrial mayhem, and legendary closers still at the peak of their craft. Every day had its unique flavor, but one constant prevailed: a tight-knit community, united by music.

That’s not to say everything was perfect. Day one’s entrance was chaotic—misdirected queues and wait times nearing two hours set a frustrating tone for many. And the food prices? With €10.50 for fries and a frikadel, the festival fare was steep—even by festival standards.

Still, the positives outweighed the setbacks: bar service ran like a well-oiled machine, the atmosphere remained warm and communal across three days, and the mainstage—with its LED backdrop—added a dramatic punch to every performance. While organizational tweaks are needed, the festival’s spirit shone through.

The ice rink is empty. Ears still ring. Neck muscles ache. But hearts are full. Dynamo Metalfest 2025 will go down in history as the edition that didn’t just celebrate metal—it embodied what truly matters in this scene: passion, inclusivity, and collective belonging—whether you’re nine or ninety‑nine.

Until next year, Dynamo. And who knows… maybe that surfing kid Luuk will be on stage. \m/

All photos by Wendy Steenmans