Mystic Festival has firmly found its home in Gdańsk, Poland, anchoring itself by the Baltic Sea with growing confidence. This year’s edition, running from June 4th to June 7th, 2025, proved just how international the event has become. While Polish metal fans turned out in force, the so-called “Danish Invasion,” as dubbed by promoter Mystic Coalition, was hard to miss. Danish and other Nordic languages filled the air, making it clear that Mystic is no longer just a local celebration but an increasingly global gathering.
The atmosphere remained relaxed compared to many high-intensity festivals. Shows didn’t begin until the afternoon, around 3 PM, the venue layout was easy to navigate, and being set in the city meant that festivalgoers could retreat to the comfort of proper beds instead of camping. Even the persistent rain couldn’t dampen the mood, and day one delivered an impressively varied lineup.
Opening the festival, ALCEST brought a dreamy, melancholic mood that gently ushered the crowd into the experience. Neige and the band drew from their 2024 release” Les chants de l’aurore,” performing “Améthyste” and “Flamme jumelle” alongside older, beloved tracks. Their signature blend of black metal and shoegaze gave the audience a soft landing into the festival’s heavier terrain.
CASTLE RAT shifted the mood with thick, syrupy doom metal laced with theatrical flair. This NYC-based band, having debuted in 2024 and quickly followed up with “The Bestiary” in 2025, turned their set into a performance piece. Dressed in fantasy-themed costumes, each member took on a role within the CASTLE RAT mythos, while the commanding vocals of Rat Queen elevated the already massive sound. Their blend of showmanship and sonic weight made them one of the day’s standout acts.
WITCH CLUB SATAN took over the Shrine stage with raw, primitive black metal that harkened back to the early days of the Norwegian scene. The all-female trio, fresh off the release of their 2024 self-titled LP, drew a packed house. While their sound didn’t break new ground, it captured the brutal essence of first-wave black metal with conviction. There was a sense that some in the audience came more out of curiosity than devotion, but the band’s sheer energy won over many.
MIDNIGHT brought chaos in the best possible way. Blending black and speed metal, they tore through a set that felt like a non-stop assault. Touring behind their latest album “Steel, Rust and Disgust,” they wasted no time in igniting the crowd. Athenar, ever the vibrant frontman, kept things moving at breakneck pace. Their music might be straightforward, but the live experience is anything but forgettable.
ZEMIAL offered a detour into the more esoteric side of black metal. Though not as internationally known as some of their Greek peers, the band showed their range by stepping beyond the genre’s typical boundaries. With no full-length album since 2013’s “Nykta,” and only a 2022 EP since, they still managed to captivate through sheer musical depth and atmosphere.
Jerry Cantrell brought a dose of emotional heaviness, drawing on decades of work both with ALICE IN CHAINS and as a solo artist. His set included selections from last year’s “I Want Blood,” alongside older solo tracks and a few ALICE IN CHAINS staples. The performance felt personal and powerful, a reminder of Cantrell‘s enduring impact on heavy music.
Then came a true surprise for long-time fans. THE KOVENANT, silent for nearly fifteen years, made a dramatic return in 2024 and appeared at Mystic with something special. Performing their 1998 album “Nexus Polaris” in full, they delivered a tightly executed set that blended industrial and Gothic metal with a strong sense of nostalgia. With only a handful of post-comeback shows under their belt, this performance felt like a rare gift.
EXODUS followed with a masterclass in thrash metal. Reuniting with vocalist Rob Dukes after a decade-long absence, the band sounded revitalized and razor-sharp. Their set pulled from recent material, including tracks from “Persona Non Grata,” while also delivering crowd favorites like “Toxic Waltz.” The energy was relentless, and the crowd responded with nonstop moshing and flying beer cups.
Closing out the night, COMBICHIRST transformed the rain-soaked grounds into a full-on industrial rave. While they began in the aggrotech realm, their sound has shifted decisively into industrial metal territory. Led by the ever-charismatic Andy LaPlegua, they turned up the intensity with material from their 2024 release “CMBCRST,” delivering one of the wildest parties of the night.
That wrapped up the first day of Mystic Festival 2025, and despite the downpour, spirits stayed high. The mix of old legends, new discoveries, and everything in between set the tone for a truly memorable weekend.
