This year marked Brutal Assaults 30th anniversary, and organizers made it a special one for metal fans with over 140 bands spanning from avant-garde to extreme black metal, covering every heavy metal genre in between.

As I reflect on my experience, I have nothing but incredible memories of the festival. While exhausted by the end of the five-day span, I would say that having statistics like thirty-four bands covered, two face-to-face interviews with Gene Hoglan from Dark Angel and Malevolent Creation, and seventy-three thousand steps taken over a range of temperatures from the upper fiftys to the middle eightys Fahrenheit, makes Brutal Assault one of the most unique and popular European summer metal festivals year after year.

The 18th-century Josefov Fortress in Jaromer, Czech Republic, serves as the festivals home base, with its massive worn brick walls and labyrinthine hallways and catacombs making it an iconic location for any metalhead. If this is your first time hearing about Brutal Assault, I recommend checking out the video below for a brief walkaround of the festival grounds.

In recent years, my typical reporting method has shifted towards being more concise, relying on bullet points and videos to convey the essence of the festival. This year was no exception, and without further ado, here are the highlighted performances from this years Brutal Assault.

Headliners included Macabre (warm-up day), Kerry King, Rotting Christ, Gojira, Blood Fire Death, Fear Factory, Mayhem, Dimmu Borgir, Cult of Luna, Opeth, and The Halo Effect. Among these bands, one stood out above the rest: Gojira. Their set was not only awe-inspiring but also a testament to their dedication to the craft, solidifying this years Olympic gold medal status among heavy music fans worldwide.

Gojira has consistently delivered excellent performances in the past, with last years Summer Olympics performance further establishing them as one of the worlds top metal acts. This years show took their usual high standards to a new plane, showcasing perfect sound quality, fantastic musicianship, an electric stage show, and infectious energy emanating from both band members and crowd alike.

Some other notable performances worth mentioning include Dark Angel, Oranssi Pazuzu, Zeke, Gutalax, Obituary, Asphyx, Grave, Exhorder, Tsjuder, Hanabie (despite initial skepticism, they were an incredibly fun to experience), and Malevolent Creation from a limited-capacity performance.

Despite some performances that didnt quite meet expectations Ministry lacking emotion, Sylvaine coming across as overhyped and boring, Gaerea presenting an overly gimmicky atmosphere, and Agnostic Front relying too heavily on fronting - the overall festival experience was still overwhelmingly positive. Particularly of note were Grave with their classic brutal sound taking center stage with renewed intensity, Gutalax providing an unforgettable live spectacle, and Hanabie offering a wildly entertaining show for all to enjoy.

In conclusion, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this years Brutal Assault. Even though exhaustion reigned supreme by the final day as I often do after attending festivals like this one. If youre on the fence about visiting this top-tier festival next year or have never attended before, I highly recommend it. Until then, stay heavy and keep pushing forward, the true spirit of metal lives on through fans like all of you.