For its twelfth edition, Steelfest is as robust as ever. Once again, metal enthusiasts from around the globe will converge on the typically serene city of Hyvinkää from May 16th to May 18th for three days of extreme metal revelry. This year, in particular, about half of the attendees hail from outside Finland, underscoring the event’s international acclaim. It has solidified its status as a cornerstone of the early festival season for many, and one of the most revered gatherings of its kind, especially here in the northern reaches of Europe.
Consistently hosted at Villatehdas (conveniently located near the train station) and in close proximity to the Willa shopping center (a popular spot for pre-festival refreshments and meals), the festival boasts an impressive lineup of bands—this year featuring “just” 40 acts—catering to black and death metal enthusiasts of all stripes (the full list is provided at the bottom of this post). The festival grounds have evolved over the years alongside the event itself, adapting to the growing interest and influx of attendees while maintaining a manageable total capacity. This balance ensures smooth logistics and organization, both for the festival organizers and the fans.
While some familiar names grace the festival grounds each year, Steelfest has a knack for sprinkling in surprises and hidden gems, ensuring there’s never a dull moment during this intense three-day music marathon. With two alternating stages—one indoors and one outdoors—there’s no need to worry about scheduling conflicts, allowing attendees to catch all their favorites and explore lesser-known acts.
A highlight of this year’s lineup is undoubtedly the triple appearance by HORNA, with each day featuring a different set and vocalist representing the three decades of the band’s illustrious career.
Keeping in mind that tickets are selling fast (you can purchase yours here if you haven’t already), here are some practical details about the festival:
Situated inside and outside of an old wool factory, the city is conveniently located less than an hour from Helsinki and Helsinki-Vantaa airport, accessible by train or car. Despite not being a large city, Hyvinkää offers all necessary services. As mentioned earlier, there is a large mall a few hundred meters from the festival area, along the route from the railway station, which is approximately 500 meters away.
Get ready for three days of uncompromising extreme bacchanalia!
Here’s the full lineup of the event:
- Gorgoroth (NO)
- Mysticum (NO)
- Inquisition (CO)
- Blasphemy (CA)
- Unleashed (SE)
- Dødheimsgard (NO)
- Horna
- Kroda (UA)
- Misþyrming (IS)
- White Death
- Krzysztof Drabikowski’s Батюшка (PL)
- Diocletian (NZ)
- Aeternus (NO)
- Hellbutcher (SE)
- Denial Of God (DE)
- Ofermod (SE)
- Ved Buens Ende (NO)
- Antimateria
- Deathchain
- Craft (SE)
- Délétère (CA)
- Aegrus
- Ifernach (CA)
- Commander Agares
- Barathrum
- Acherontas (DE)
- Sarkrista (DE)
- Corpsessed
- Strid (NO)
- Inferno (CZ)
- Chamber Of Unlight
- Thornspawn (US)
- Ereshkigal (MX)
- Marras
- Torsofuck
- Cadaveric Incubator
- Black Altar (PL)
- Licht Des Urteils
