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.
The final day of Brutal Assault always carries a bittersweet weight: excitement for the last batch of incredible performances, but also the creeping sadness that it’s nearly over. Day four leaned heavily on extremes—brutal death metal madness on one hand, cosmic or jazzy dreamscapes on the other. The balance was fitting: Brutal Assault closing in both fire and smoke.
French brutal death grinders BENIGHTED remain one of the festival’s most unhinged live acts. Their technical complexity collides with vocalist Julien’s freakish range of shrieks, squeals, and guttural growls to form an absolutely filthy live cocktail. Add their constant encouragement of circle pits and crowdsurfing, and you’ve got both chaos and cardio.
Their 2024 release “Ekbom” powered much of their set, and the audience devoured it with enthusiasm.
Often overshadowed by PANTERA but still groove metal pioneers in their own right, EXHORDER brought deep, chugging riffs that reminded everyone why they’ve held cult status since the mid-80s. Louisiana doesn’t always mean sludge—sometimes it means pure groove.
After years of hiatuses, the band’s return has been steady since 2017. They stormed through material from “Mourn the Southern Skies” (2019) and their latest comeback album, “Defectum Omnium” (2024).
The hot pink banner of HANABIE. might have scared off some skeptics, but inside the pit, it made perfect sense. Imagine Harajuku fashion colliding with metalcore fury, and you’re halfway there. Vocalist Yukina proved to be a feral force, while the rest of the all-female crew shredded confidently despite a few technical hiccups.
Their 2023 release “Reborn Superstar!” gave them plenty of high-energy ammo.
Austrian post-black duo HARAKIRI FOR THE SKY specialize in emotional devastation, and their Brutal Assault set was no exception. Lyrics steeped in existential struggles translated into a heavy, immersive performance that demanded attention and rewarded every listener with cathartic intensity.
Their latest record “Scorched Earth” (2025) was delivered with precision and passion.
Canadian death metal veterans KATAKLYSM returned to Brutal Assault to perform “In the Arms of Devastation” in full. With three decades of experience behind them, Maurizio Iacono and company radiated joy as they tore through the album. The set was crushing, but it was also fun—the kind of balance that makes them perennial festival favorites.
Their most recent studio album remains “Goliath” from 2023.
Due to health issues, ARTHUR BROWN sadly had to cancel, but the replacement of ATOMIC ROOSTER was surprisingly fitting. Originally formed by ex-members of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, their progressive hard rock brought a welcome shift from the day’s brutality.
They also win the unofficial festival medal for “longest gap between albums”: 42 years between 1983’s “Headline News” and their upcoming “Circle the Sun” (due October 2025). Talk about patience paying off.
If you tried to summarize ALUK TODOLO, you might say “three guys, smoke, and a lightbulb.” But that sells short their hypnotic blend of instrumental noise rock and psychedelia. Their set unraveled like a fever dream—droning, unsettling, and utterly captivating. Achieving that level of atmosphere at a festival is no small feat.
They are still riding high on their 2024 release “Lux.”
The German brutal death outfit DEFEATED SANITY delivered a masterclass in technical extremity. Raw, obscure, and unrelenting, their set was both meat-grinding and intricate, proving once again why they’re revered by musicians and fans alike.
Their latest album, “Chronicles of Lunacy” (2024), formed the backbone of the carnage.
Having been cut short at Mystic Festival earlier this year, OPETH’s Brutal Assault performance felt like redemption. The Swedes struck their trademark balance of progressive ambition and metallic heft, weaving labyrinthine songs that never slipped into pretension.
Their latest LP, “The Last Will and Testament” (2024), already feels like another high point in a career full of them—and live, it soared.
For a touch of electronica on the final day, PRIEST brought dreamy, dark synthpop. Their stage setup was minimalist, but frontman Mercury’s charisma filled the space with ease. Catchy, atmospheric, and refreshing, their set was a welcome palette cleanser in a lineup dominated by heaviness.
They released “Dark Pulse” in 2024 and followed it up with the 2025 EP “Chaos,” both of which electrified the fortress.
Closing the festival, BOHREN & DER CLUB OF GORE cast a dark, ambient spell. Their slow, jazz noir blend was eerie, atmospheric, and deeply soothing after four days of intensity. Saxophonist Christoph Clöser even lightened the mood with his deadpan humor, joking about “burning the house down” in the most monotone delivery imaginable.
Their last album remains “Patchouli Blue” (2020), but live, their presence felt timeless.
Day four encapsulated the diversity of Brutal Assault: the sheer chaos of BENIGHTED, the groove authority of EXHORDER, the dreamlike strangeness of ALUK TODOLO, the prog majesty of OPETH, and finally, the slow-burn farewell from BOHREN & DER CLUB OF GORE.
As the final notes faded, the fortress returned to silence—but the memories, bruises, and ringing ears will linger long after.
