The second day of Mystic Festival on June 5th, 2026, leaned heavily into sludge, doom, and extreme metal, while still finding room for progressive experimentation, jazz-infused avant-garde, and electronic nostalgia. Throughout the day, we caught BLACK TUSK, CORONER, SEVERE TORTURE, DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT, BENEDICTION, SHINING, ROTTING CHRIST, ELECTRIC WIZARD, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, PRIMORDIAL, CARPENTER BRUT, and EIHWAR.
American sludge trio BLACK TUSK served as the perfect appetizer before the evening’s heavier attractions. Their filthy, swampy riffs carried the weight expected from sludge metal, yet the band’s boundless energy ensured the performance never dragged. Despite the slow and crushing nature of the music, BLACK TUSK attacked the stage with the force of a small power plant. Their latest studio album remains “The Way Forward,” released in 2024.
Swiss technical thrash pioneers CORONER once again demonstrated why they are regarded as one of the genre’s true innovators. Long before progressive and jazz influences became commonplace in extreme metal, CORONER had already perfected the formula without sacrificing aggression. Their performance may have been more restrained visually than many of the day’s acts, but musicianship of this calibre needs no theatrical embellishments. After an incredible 32-year gap between studio albums, the band recently returned with “Dissonance Theory,” a release well worth the wait.
If there was one band determined to embody the very essence of brutal death metal, it was SEVERE TORTURE. The Dutch veterans delivered exactly what fans came for: grotesque riffs, relentless blast beats, and enough lyrical gore to rival a forensic pathology textbook. It was ugly, rotten, and unapologetically extreme, precisely as brutal death metal should be. The band’s latest album is “Torn from the Jaws of Death,” released in 2024.
German black metallers DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT reminded everyone that black metal is capable of expressing far more than darkness and aggression. Their emotionally charged compositions balanced raw intensity with deep introspection, creating one of the day’s most moving performances. Although assigned the festival’s smallest stage, the intimate setting only strengthened the connection between the band and the audience. They are currently promoting their latest album, “Innern,” released in late 2025.
British death metal institution BENEDICTION returned to Mystic following the release of “Ravage of Empires,” in 2025. Unfortunately, longtime vocalist Dave Ingram was forced to step away from touring due to health issues, but his replacement, Dave Hunt of Anaal Nathrakh, proved to be an outstanding choice. An experienced frontman in his own right, Hunt handled both the vocal duties and the crowd with complete confidence, ensuring the band’s trademark blend of heaviness and good humour remained intact.
Despite sharing a time slot with DOWN, performing on one of the smaller stages and contending with rain, Norway’s SHINING refused to let circumstances stand in their way. Not to be confused with their Swedish namesakes, the Norwegian group combines jazz fusion, avant-garde metal and prominent saxophone melodies into a uniquely exhilarating experience. Frontman Jørgen Munkeby was an unstoppable force, constantly moving across the stage and beyond, turning the performance into one of the day’s most energetic spectacles.
Few bands can transform a concert into something resembling an ancient ritual quite like ROTTING CHRIST. Rather than relying solely on darkness and atmosphere, Sakis Tolis and company actively engaged the audience throughout the set, encouraging constant participation. The repetitive, hypnotic riffs gradually built an almost ceremonial atmosphere, making it feel as though the audience had become part of an invocation to forgotten Greek deities. Their latest studio album remains “Pro Xristou,” from 2024, while 2026 brought a reissue of “Aealo.”
When it comes to doom and stoner metal, there are few names larger than ELECTRIC WIZARD. Slow, crushing, smoke-filled and hypnotic, their performance attracted one of the day’s biggest crowds at the Park Stage. As the band tours relatively infrequently, this appearance felt particularly special for longtime fans. While their latest studio album remains “Wizard Bloody Wizard,” from 2017, they released the compilation “Black Magic Rituals & Perversions Vol. 1,” in 2024.
One of the undeniable highlights of the evening belonged to BLACK LABEL SOCIETY. Zakk Wylde and company delivered exactly what fans expected: southern metal overflowing with groove, towering riffs, memorable guitar solos and unmistakable charisma. The audience erupted the moment the curtain fell, enthusiastically welcoming both beloved classics and songs from the band’s newest album, “Engines of Demolition,” released in March 2026.
Ireland’s PRIMORDIAL once again demonstrated why they remain one of metal’s most emotionally powerful live bands. Blending doom, black metal and Celtic influences, the group created a performance overflowing with melancholy and passion. Frontman A.A. Nemtheanga’s commanding presence elevated every song, while the band’s instrumental chemistry remained impeccable throughout the set. They continue to promote “How It Ends,” from 2023, alongside two live albums released in 2024 and 2025.
By nightfall it was time for synthwave maestro CARPENTER BRUT to transform Mystic Festival into an ’80s-inspired horror soundtrack. His love for retro cinema, neon aesthetics and pulsating electronic music has long made him a favourite at metal festivals, and this performance proved exactly why. Alongside fan favourites, he introduced material from his latest release, “Leather Temple,” released earlier this year.
Closing the day was Norse trance duo EIHWAR. On paper, the combination of Nordic folk themes and electronic dance music sounded like the perfect way to end another packed festival day. Unfortunately, the performance itself never fully capitalised on that potential, lacking some of the energy and momentum needed to leave a lasting impression. Whether that was due to the performance itself or simple exhaustion after another marathon day is difficult to say. What could not be questioned, however, was Asruun’s stunning vocal performance, which remained flawless throughout the set. The duo are currently promoting their debut full-length, “Hugrheim,” released in 2026.
Day Three embraced the darker, slower and more atmospheric corners of heavy music while still leaving room for technical mastery, southern grooves and electronic experimentation. From the ritualistic intensity of ROTTING CHRIST and the crushing weight of ELECTRIC WIZARD to the irresistible energy of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and CARPENTER BRUT, another unforgettable chapter of Mystic Festival 2026 came to a close.
Photos by Maria Sawicka
