As the weather (finally) starts to clear up for all of New York State, we are gearing closer to festival season. However, for all you metal heads, there is PLENTY of great festivals in and outside New York State that one must go check out at least once in their lifetime. So we hope this list will help you make plans if you have time this summer to see a metal festival. So without further ado, here are the top ten most anticipated metal festivals that you need to check out in 2015.
Honorable Mention: GWAR-B-Q
With no official announcement for this year as of yet, GWAR-B-Q is GWAR’s hometown party in Richmond, VA that has been running five years strong every August, even post Dave Brockie. Last year’s featured Body Count, Hatebreed, Misfits, and more. But with nothing announced, we can only anticipate at the moment.
- Maryland Deathfest
For those who love nothing but death metal, Maryland Deathfest is a wet dream come true for you. With 80 bands over four days (May 21-24) on three stages in Baltimore, MD, makes it the premiere death metal event. Some of the bands are Obituary, Napalm Death, Coke Bust, Suffocation, Amorphous, Skinless and much, much more.
- Southeast Beach
If you plan on making a trip to Jacksonville, FL next month, be sure to catch Southeast Beast on April 4 and 5, which will be loaded with local CNY favorites such as Earth Crisis and GhostxShip, along with NYC veterans Cro-Mags, Biohazard, and Life Of Agony and more. So hardcore and nice Florida weather? Sounds like a no brainer!
- This Is Hardcore
Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love will be the city of bloody knuckles from July 23-26 when This Is Hardcore brutally takes over the Electric Factory in downtown Philly. With no lineup announced yet, look for it to be announced early summer. And for your own safety, DO NOT WEAR ANY NEW YORK SPORTS GEAR OF ANY KIND IF YOU GO.
- Carolina Rebellion
Rapidly growing bigger every year, Carolina Rebellion has become one of the premiere music festivals in the United States. With Slipknot, Korn, Marilyn Manson, Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies, In This Moment, and many more hard rock and metal bands filling the bill, it’s worth taking the weekend of May 2 and 3 down to Charlotte, NC.
- Black N Blue Bowl
Brooklyn, NY is the perfect and ideal spot for Black N Blue Bowl, which features the best metal and hardcore in and outside of NYC. Webster Hall for two days, May 16 and 17 will be slaughtered by the likes of Madball, Earth Crisis, The Regulators, Crumbsuckers, Sick Of It All, Candiria, and many more.
- **NEW FESTIVAL** Full Terror Assault
Recently announced, the United States FINALLY has an OPEN AIR FESTIVAL in Rock-In-Cave, Indiana called Full Terror Assault. The first annual festival will be running for 3 Days, September 10-12 and will feature 75 Bands including Fear Factory, Terrorizer, Broken Hope, Misery Index, and many more. And the kicker to this show…..BYOB.
- Rockstar Mayhem Tour
Growing strong since 2008, Rockstar Mayhem Tour essentially replaced Ozzfest as the premiere traveling metal festival. Although no lineup officially announced, rumor has it Slayer and King Diamond will be headlining along with Thy Art Is Murder and Whitechappel. Look for the official announcement on April 13. It’s a safe bet plenty of venues across New York State will get stops including, SPAC and Darien Lake.
- Rock On The Range
Since being founded in 2007, Rock On The Range has been rapidly growing, with bands of all kind just BEGGING to play in any slot. Always held a couple of weekends before memorial day, this year, they offer a very diverse lineup, Slipknot, Judas Priest, and Linkin Park lead to what will be guaranteed to be sold out like it has been every year. It has become easily a top 3 music festival in the United States.
- New England Metal and Hardcore Festival
Always a steady landmark for all types of metal each year, this year’s New England Metal and Hardcore Festival in Worcester, MA is held April 17-19, with bands like Testament, Motionless In White, Cavalera Conspiracy, Between The Buried And Me, Corrosion Of Conformity, Exodus and much more. Easy to travel from just about anywhere in New York State, it is definitely a must go every year.
- Heavy Montreal
It was hard to choose, but this festival every year has been just way to hard to ignore. But this year’s Heavy Montreal has Slipknot, Faith No More, Korn, Lamb Of God, Meshuggah, and Mastodon headlining over a heavy and diverse lineup. If you have a passport, you have to make the trip over the border this August 7-9.
What festivals on this list are you excited about? What festivals would you include on this list that is not mentioned? Sound off on the comments below.
