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 last day of Mystic Festival always hits differently—and this year’s finale in Gdańsk felt like both a celebration and a catharsis. From blistering thrash and doom to cello-driven metal and electronic obliteration, Sunday delivered a farewell that was as loud as it was diverse.
SKELETAL REMAINS opened with a set that proved you don’t need to reinvent death metal to keep it exciting. Their modern take on the genre channels the spirit of MORBID ANGEL and PESTILENCE, but with a sharpened edge. Brutal, direct, and refreshingly unpretentious. Their 2024 album “Fragments of the Ageless” anchored much of the set and hit with real force.
DARK TRANQUILLITY, godfathers of Swedish melodic death metal, returned in top form. They brought heart, energy, and loads of interaction. The connection between band and audience was tangible, and their 2024 record “Endtime Signals” sounded fantastic live. A set filled with grit and optimism.
One of the rising stars from the Danish Invasion, CABAL, laid waste to the early crowd with a deathcore assault laced with hardcore, death metal, and even some electronic flourishes. Their 2025 release “Everything Rots” was a centerpiece of the show, and they played it like they meant to flatten the crowd.
No surprises from DEATH ANGEL—and that’s a compliment. The Bay Area thrashers brought raw energy, speed, and attitude. Their style is as infectious as ever, and their performance was a reminder why they’re still a livewire act after all these years.
Then came VADER, Polish death metal royalty. With “Litany” turning 25, the band tore through the entire album with pinpoint precision. No fanfare, no fluff—just relentless, professional devastation. They remain an unshakable pillar of extreme music, both in Poland and beyond.
APOCALYPTICA followed, breaking up the brutality with something more cinematic. Cellos roared and soared as the band revisited their origins on “Plays Metallica, Vol. 2.” Despite their classical setup, the Finnish quartet moved around the stage with real dynamism, making this far more than a novelty act. Fans responded with thunderous approval.
Later, PENTAGRAM took doom back to its roots. Bobby Liebling may be a little slower these days, but his voice remains haunting and true. Performing material from their new 2025 album “Lightning in a Bottle,” the band showed why they still matter. A rare and appreciated appearance.
BLOOD FIRE DEATH, a tribute to BATHORY, became a full-on worship session. Featuring members of WATAIN, MAYHEM, AURA NOIR, EMPEROR, and ENSLAVED, the supergroup honored Quorthon with raw energy and deep reverence. The crowd was huge—and fully locked in. A proper homage to a legend.
PLAGUEMACE carried the Danish flag high again. Their take on death metal is wild, fast, and dirty in all the right ways. The set was elevated by a surprise guest spot from Pachu of Polish grind outfit HOSTIA. Tracks from “Reptilian Warlords” had the pit in shreds.
For many, the emotional high point was SEPULTURA. Closing out their four-decade career with style, the Brazilian icons treated Mystic to a setlist of career-defining tracks. No tears, just fire. Andreas Kisser was a standout, moving and headbanging like someone half his age. Farewell tours often feel bittersweet—this one felt like a victory lap.
And then came JOHN CXNNOR to shut it all down. Equal parts techno, industrial, and metal, their set blurred the lines between a rave and a battlefield. The Danish duo invited guest vocalists from across the heavy spectrum, while the beats shook the ground. It was overwhelming in the best way possible—and a fittingly brutal way to say goodbye.
Mystic Festival 2025 closed with sweat, distortion, and grateful applause. Once again, it proved to be more than just a metal festival—it’s a cultural gathering, a celebration of extremes, and a home for misfits of all stripes. Until next year!
