Brutal Assault 2024 took place this year from August 7th to August 10th in Jaroměř, Czech Republic. This year’s festival lineup featured a diverse array of bands spanning various subgenres of metal. Some of the most notable acts included BEHEMOTH, CARCASS, MESHUGGAH, NAPALM DEATH, and GORGUTS. The festival is well-regarded for its strong lineup and vibrant atmosphere, attracting metal fans from around the world.
Experimenting with audiences has become an ongoing theme for major European festivals, aiming to attract larger crowds. Brutal Assault is no exception. At its core, the festival has always been heavily oriented toward black and death metal genres, but the promoters are not shy about spicing things up with bands that might not be a perfect fit for the bill. This includes inviting fashionable acts to stay competitive—a sign of the times!
The second day of Brutal Assault 2024 kicked off with OBSCURA, the German progressive technical death metallers who are on their final festival run for their 2021 release, “A Valediction.” As they prepare to hit the studio this fall, their show unfortunately faced technical difficulties, leading them to play only three songs for a sympathetic and encouraging crowd.
Next on stage was ESCUELA GRIND, a band known for their mixed hardcore style, enriched by the vibrant vocals of Katerina Economou and a plethora of blast beats. This American quartet, while perhaps familiar in style, captivated the audience with their intense performance. ESCUELA GRIND is currently promoting their latest release, “Memory Theater,” from 2022.
Following them were the Polish progressive rockers RIVERSIDE. Despite their warning to audiences that they don’t play metal and don’t cuss during performances, the crowd welcomed their soothing music as a pleasant break between the harsher acts. The members of RIVERSIDE gave their all, providing a mellow yet engaging performance. They are currently touring with their newest release, “ID.Entity,” from 2023.
The American death metal institution INCANTATION then took the stage. Now fronted by John McEntee, the only original member, they delivered a punishing set to all who dared to attend. They are promoting their 2023 release, “Unholy Deification.”
DOPETHRONE followed with their unique blend of doom, sludge, and stoner metal. Despite being a trio, they rocked the crowd hard, with Vincent Houde’s magnetic stage presence being a highlight. The Canadians recently released their new album, “Broke Sabbath,” in May 2024.
The energy continued to surge with MADBALL, who took the crowd by storm with their dynamic New York hardcore style. What began as a side project for AGNOSTIC FRONT has evolved into a full-fledged band. Their performance was electrifying, and we can thank Roger Miret for lending his younger brother Freddy Cricien the mic. Their most recent release is “For the Cause,” from 2018.
American thrashers FORBIDDEN also made a strong return, their rejuvenated lineup proving to be a formidable force. Their performance was a welcome addition to the thrash scene, and it was a pleasure to watch them. Their most recent album is “Omega Wave,” from 2010, and fans hope to hear about a new LP soon.
The American metalcore wizards BORN OF OSIRIS faced technical issues similar to OBSCURA but managed to recover and deliver a solid set. Their latest LP, “Angel Or Alien,” was released in 2021.
As one of the most influential bands to emerge from Liverpool after THE BEATLES, CARCASS needs no introduction. They continue to inspire with their evolution from grindcore to death ‘n’ roll. Their latest release is “Torn Arteries,” from 2021, following the highly successful “Surgical Steel” from 2013.
Another day, another thrash headliner—TESTAMENT provided a powerful performance, with Chuck Billy and co. effectively captivating the crowd. Their most recent release is “Titans of Creation,” from 2020.
Finally, the highly anticipated headliner for day one, SATYRICON, did not disappoint. Their live performance was a well-oiled machine, and their return to the stage after a long break was warmly welcomed. Their latest release is technically the Edvard Munch exhibition soundtrack, “Satyricon & Munch,” from 2022. However, they also released “Deep Calleth upon Deep” in 2017.
Photos by Maria Sawicka
Notes by Maria Sawicka, text by Laureline Tilkin
