Brutal Assault is boldly expanding its musical catalogue, inviting an increasingly diverse selection of interesting artists to the Josefov Fortress. At the same time, the festival has managed to enlist some of its older staples, resulting in a killer lineup. There were multiple clashes to contend with, unfortunately, but that is to be expected with such a strong bill.
Day one welcomed us with tropical conditions, highly atypical for the area. Temperatures approaching 40°C felt like a vestibule to hell, which was ironically quite appropriate for the occasion. It was certainly one of the hottest editions of Brutal Assault in recent years.
We kicked off our Tropical Assault with US band ELDER. Typically classified as a stoner rock outfit, the band is not particularly fond of labels, preferring to draw from whatever feels right to serve the song. This approach results in music that is far too vibrant to be easily categorised. As the festival’s opening act, ELDER delivered a stunning performance, with the band tight as a drum and shredding their guitars like there was no tomorrow. Their latest album, “Through Zero,” was released in May 2026, offering plenty of fresh material to bring to the stage.
Attending post-black metal shows during the day, particularly in the middle of a heatwave, can feel like a somewhat puzzling experience. Nevertheless, Poland’s DOM ZŁY delivered a crushing and passionate set of their compositions, just as one would expect. Their stylistic choices are relatively minimalistic, yet they manage to create an oppressive and poignant atmosphere that draws the listener in. Much of the lyrical core comes from charismatic vocalist Ania Tru, whose songs are painfully beautiful. Despite Polish being a challenging language to translate, her lyrics needed no translation during the performance to convey their emotional weight. DOM ZŁY released their latest album, “Ku pogrzebaniu serc” (roughly translated as “For the Burial of the Hearts”), in 2024.
Savannah’s KYLESA brought their signature blend of sludge metal and psychedelic elements, backed by a crushing sound that remains as compelling as ever. After a hiatus lasting close to a decade, the band is apparently back, and what better way to celebrate than to grab a beer and enjoy their performance at Brutal Assault? The occasion was even more special as KYLESA were celebrating their 25th anniversary. Their live show proved to be a powerful reminder of what makes this band so compelling, and we certainly hope to catch them at another European show in the future. Although they have not released a full-length album since 2015’s “Exhausting Fire,” their back catalogue offers more than enough material to keep things interesting.
One of the day’s more difficult scheduling decisions came down to COVEN or NEVERMORE. Should we witness the occult legends or give in to our teenage admiration for Jeff Loomis? Teenage nostalgia won in the end, and we headed to NEVERMORE. Taking on vocal duties, Berzan Önen had some rather large shoes to fill, but fortunately, he proved to be a true stage animal with a phenomenal voice. Anyone considering attending a show with the band’s new lineup should feel more than welcome, as a massive wave of childhood nostalgia is practically guaranteed. With their most recent album, “The Obsidian Conspiracy,” dating back to 2010, we are also excited to hear what the future holds for NEVERMORE and their new lineup.
For anyone looking for something a little more demanding, PERIPHERY offered a masterclass in modern progressive metal. Their music is as technically precise as a Swiss clock, infinitely heavy, yet somehow fresh and approachable, even for first-time listeners such as ourselves. The musicianship on display was among the finest of the entire festival, hands down. Balancing intricate compositions with sheer heaviness is no easy feat, but PERIPHERY made it look effortless. Their latest album, “A Pale White Dot,” was released in 2026.
The gang from Richmond, Virginia, MUNICIPAL WASTE, are a reliable recipe for good times fuelled by beer, mosh pits, and plenty of chaos. This time was no different. Their entertaining combination of thrash metal and hardcore manages to avoid the repetitiveness that can plague the genre, keeping things fresh from start to finish. Meanwhile, the crowd’s enthusiasm remains as predictable as it is spectacular, with the pit going absolutely bonkers throughout the set. Had the band and audience been connected to a power generator, we might have witnessed one of the cleanest energy sources imaginable. The guitarists worked overtime, showing off their skills and squeezing in some proper solo workouts, while vocalist Tony Foresta proved to be a true firecracker, practically having the crowd eating out of his hand. MUNICIPAL WASTE released their latest full-length album, “Electrified Brain,” in 2022, followed by the compilation “Tango & Thrash” in 2024.
We traded TRIPTYKON for the cheerful crew of VIOLENT MAGIC ORCHESTRA, and while it was certainly a choice, we reckon it was a good one. The Japanese outfit is described by their label as “black metal meets KRAFTWERK or APHEX TWIN with corpse painting”. Honestly, that might be the most accurate description imaginable. What followed was one of the day’s most entertaining and unexpected raves, combining extreme metal aesthetics with electronic madness in a way that was impossible to resist. Special recognition goes to the male vocalist, who unceremoniously decided to go crowdsurfing in the middle of the set. VIOLENT MAGIC ORCHESTRA released their latest album, “Death Rave,” in 2024 and followed it up with a collaboration with artist Talpah in 2026, titled “EXO SWAG KILLA.”
The evening’s treat, or rather, headliner, was AMENRA. The Belgian band’s performances are thick with emotion, slow-burning and almost syrupy in their intensity. This time was no different. AMENRA may be a band best appreciated by those willing to surrender themselves entirely to the experience, but when their music hits, it does so with the impact of a freight train. Eerie projections behind the band created an atmosphere of unreal melancholy, further intensified by Colin van Eeckhout‘s vocals. There was little else to do but close one’s eyes and allow the music to pierce the body, leaving the outside world behind for a while. AMENRA released their latest full-length album, “De doorn,” in 2022, followed by two EPs, “De Toorn” and “With Fang and Claw,” in 2025.
Photos by Maria Sawicka
