Brutal Assault 2025 returned to Jaromer from August 6th to August 9th, 2025, once again cementing its reputation as one of Europe’s most important extreme music gatherings. After last year’s sold-out edition set the bar sky-high, this year’s lineup delivered another remarkable experience. The fortress was capital P packed from the start, but with such a strong program, nobody seemed to mind.
By the third day, the fortress atmosphere had fully transformed into a buzzing hive of music, sweat, and chaos. The crowd density was at its peak, but the diversity of performances made every crushing step worth it. Day three showcased a wide spectrum, from shoegaze serenity to black metal savagery, and everything in between.
We began our day gently with SYLVAINE, the project of American multi-instrumentalist Kathrine Shepard. Seamlessly moving between black metal’s harshness and shoegaze’s dreamlike textures, she wove poetic, ethereal compositions that left the audience spellbound.
And let’s just state the obvious: Kathrine is possibly the sweetest musician to have ever graced Brutal Assault. All in favor? Good.
Her most recent LP is “Nova” from 2022, followed by the 2024 EP “Eg Er Framand.” Both releases contributed to a set that blended softness and ferocity into something otherworldly.
The contrast could not have been sharper when PIG DESTROYER hit the stage. Fierce and uncompromising, the Americans brought grindcore back to its raw roots, a mission they’ve often declared and one they more than accomplished here.
Their last full-length was “Head Cage” in 2018, followed by the EP “The Octagonal Stairway” in 2020. Both provided fuel for a performance that was a blast of adrenaline from start to finish.
German duo MANTAR are difficult to classify—sludge, punk, and black metal all collide in their sound. For a two-piece, they produced a surprising amount of variety and sheer noise. The crowd responded with enthusiasm to every crushing riff.
Their latest album, “Post Apocalyptic Depression,” was released in February 2025 and set the tone for a raw, aggressive set.
A thrash essential, OVERKILL need little introduction. With a career spanning four and a half decades, they remain one of the pillars of the American thrash scene. Age has done little to dull their edge—onstage they still radiate the energy and fury that made them legendary.
Their most recent release, “Scorched,” came out in 2023 and ensured the setlist felt both classic and current.
On the Obscure Stage, HÄLLAS offered a cosmic detour. With a ’70s-inspired progressive rock sound rich in psychedelia, the Swedes transported listeners into a dreamy, starry journey. Their music feels like boarding a ship bound for distant galaxies—so bring your snacks and beer, because we’re not stopping anytime soon.
Their 2022 release “Isle of Wisdom” was well represented, deepening the sense of musical time travel.
Swedish death metal institution GRAVE arrived with one mission: reap. And reap they did. The band treated fans to their first three albums in full—“Into the Grave,” “You Will Never See,” and “Soulless.” For longtime followers, it was nothing short of a dream.
Although their most recent LP is “Out of Respect for the Dead” from 2015, GRAVE showed they don’t need new material to deliver an unforgettable set.
Portuguese outfit GAEREA might have initially drawn comparisons to their masked Polish predecessors MGŁA, but they’ve carved out their own identity. Their 2024 album “Coma” leaned into post-black metal territory, expanding their sound while keeping the aggression intact.
Vocalist Guilherme Henriques elevated the performance with his contortionist-like movements, creating a visual spectacle to match the sonic assault.
Norway’s most notorious black metal band, MAYHEM, hardly need an introduction. Celebrating their 40th anniversary, they proved once more why their harsh, jarring legacy still casts such a long shadow over the genre.
Their latest release remains “Daemon” from 2019, but anniversary tours are about legacy—and MAYHEM’s is unmatched.
Polish quartet OBSCURE SPHINX re-emerged after years of dormancy, much to fans’ delight. Rooted in post-metal but seamlessly incorporating doom and prog influences, they delivered one of the grooviest and heaviest sets of the festival.
Frontwoman Wielebna (Polish for “Reverendess”) stole the show, shifting effortlessly from ghostly moans to piercing shrieks. Their LP “Epitaphs” from 2016 remains their last full-length, but they returned this year with the EP “Emovere” (2025), giving fans fresh material to savor.
Often labeled a “guilty pleasure” or dismissed as inauthentic, DIMMU BORGIR have nonetheless carved their place as symphonic black metal stalwarts. Cheesy or not, their performance at Brutal Assault was top-tier—tight musicianship, powerful orchestrations, and undeniable presence.
Their most recent LP, “Eonian,” was released in 2018, but the material still held strong live.
Closing the night, CULT OF LUNA provided a cathartic follow-up to OBSCURE SPHINX for those hungry for more post-metal. After a six-year absence from Brutal Assault, their return was long overdue and highly rewarding. Crushingly heavy yet deeply emotional, their set was one of the festival’s most intense experiences.
Their 2022 masterpiece “The Long Road North” was at the heart of the performance, and live it felt every bit as monumental as on record.
Day three at Brutal Assault was an emotional rollercoaster, moving from the delicate dreamscapes of SYLVAINE to the primal punishment of PIG DESTROYER, the nostalgia of GRAVE, and the grandeur of CULT OF LUNA. If day two tested the limits of endurance, day three proved that the fortress still had depths left to explore.
