Belgian death metallers Carnation unleashed the atmospheric and crushing new single ‘Labyrinth of Silence’, another track unveiled of their upcoming album ‘Symphony In Flesh’, out next month!
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News Posts
Belgian modern death metal band NOORD returned with their latest crushing single ‘Empress Of The Hollow Crown’, a taste of what is to come with their upcoming album ‘GODFALL’, out in 2027!
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Belgian black metal misfits Bokkerijders are set to release their new album ‘Crush Kill Destroy’ on Personal Records in October and shared the title track as a first taste!
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Belgian metalcore veterans X-Pozed announced their second studio album ‘A Cure For Worse’ to be out on September 12th, their first full-length in about fourteen years!
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Belgian progressive post-metal outfit Hippotraktor announced their new album ‘Annihilist’ to be out in October via Pelagic Records and unleashed their latest single ‘Oblivion Walker’!
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Belgium’s Wrong Man (featuring members of Oathbreaker, Partisan and Rise And Fall) shared their new single ‘Petty Thief’, a track from their upcoming album ‘Here’s That Feeling’, set for release digitally next month and on vinyl in October with Deathwish Inc.!
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We’re still buzzing about last weekend’s festivities at Alcatraz Festival, but no rest for the wicked with already a first 30 names confirmed for next year’s edition and early bird sales on the way since yesterday! Who are you looking for or hoping for still for the 2027 edition? Let us know in the comments!
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Belgian metal entity Echoes Of A Dying World shared third and last single ‘Mathematical Design’ before the release of their conceptual EP ‘Revelations’ in about a month!
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Belgian heavy metal icons Killer are releasing one more album with ‘The Grand Finale’ in September, via High Roller Records and shared the title track as a first taste! Catch them later this year on tour through Europe as very special guests of Anvil!
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Belgian progressive post-metal outfit Traels shared their new single ‘Centered’ from their upcoming album ‘A Study of Absence’, set to be released in November through their new label Polderrecords!
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Interviews
We caught up with Aeveris’ Jeffrey and Louis after their Alcatraz Festival show to talk about the story behind the band’s name, the personal themes running through ‘Imminence’, and how the band’s evolving lineup has changed their creative process.
From genuine emotions and mental well-being to pre-show nerves, dream stages and the rather hilarious coincidence of sharing a festival day with Swedish band Imminence, there was plenty to talk about.
Thanks to Hardlife Promotion for setting this up!
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Two decades deep in the Belgian hardcore scene, Whatever It Takes still keep it raw, honest, and for the people. We caught up with Hans and Tim after their festival set at Alcatraz 2025 to talk about twenty years of unity, humility, and a new, more outspoken album on the horizon.
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We had a call with Ruben (guitars) and Frederik (bass) of the Belgian modern thrash band Primal Creation to talk about their latest single, the move of Frederik from roadie to active member of the band as the bassist and especially about playing at this year’s Alcatraz Festival opening La Morgue this Saturday!
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We caught up with Signs of Algorithm’s frontman Frederick to talk about their latest album ‘Sunchaser’, the band’s musical and his vocal evolution, and why their Alcatraz Festival show is a dream come true.
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At Alcatraz last year, we met up with Timo, drummer of Temptations for the Weak after their show opening up the Swamp stage that day and talked about the festival and their music!
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Last night, we got to enjoy a killer set by Millhaven, but earlier this year when they were playing at Alcatraz 2024, we caught up with them to have a chat about the festival, the band and their music!
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One year after making an impression at La Morgue, Mantah returned to Alcatraz on one of the festival’s bigger stages—and showed exactly why they deserved the promotion. After their set, we sat down with almost the entire band for a relaxed conversation about their love for ’90s metal, giving songs room to evolve, the next album, and why they believe the Belgian metal scene has never felt more united.
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A chat with the guys of the Belgian heavy metal band Hunter about their show at Alcatraz 2023, their new album ‘Rebel Angels Rise’ and their release show at our own Asgaard venue this Saturday!
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Opening a festival day is never easy, but Aeveris turned it into one of the highlights of their Alcatraz 2023 experience. We sat down with Louis and Jeffrey after their set to talk about Belgian metal, the band’s rapid rise and the challenge of following up a successful debut album.
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Earlier this year, we talked with vocalist Lina from Predatory Void about how things came together both as a band and for the debut album, and what she hoped to accomplish with the album.
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Lists
One final day. One last chance to discover a new favourite band before another unforgettable edition of Alcatraz comes to an end. Our final Editorial Picks put the spotlight on Gutalax, Animals as Leaders, Paleface Swiss, Warkings, Rise of the Northstar, Blackbraid and Luna Kills. Whether you’re looking for technical mastery, crushing breakdowns, power metal anthems or the most ridiculous grindcore party of the weekend, Sunday’s got you covered.
Who are you ending your Alcatraz weekend with?
Still figuring out your Saturday at Alcatraz? We’ve done some of the hard work for you.
Our latest Editorial Picks shine the spotlight on Orbit Culture, Firewind, Kittie, Miracle of Sound, Mushroomhead, Castle Rat, Ratos de Porão and Graphic Nature. From melodic death metal and power metal to theatrical doom, crossover legends and the next generation of heavy music, there’s something here for every metalhead.
Have a read and let us know who you absolutely refuse to miss!
Forty bands. Four stages. Countless difficult choices. To help you plan your Friday at Alcatraz, we’ve picked six acts that we think are absolutely worth checking out: Igorrr, Combichrist, HEALTH, Vended, Witch Club Satan and Insanity Alert.
Agree with our picks, or did we miss one of your favourites? Let us know!
The first day of Alcatraz is no longer just about pitching your tent and grabbing your first beer.
With all four stages running from Thursday onwards, there’s plenty to discover right from the start. We’ve selected six bands we think you shouldn’t miss: Death Fury, Alestorm, Channel Zero, Imminence, Der Weg Einer Freiheit and Cyclone.
Which one is highest on your must-see list?
The final day of Alcatraz still has plenty of Belgian talent waiting to be discovered. Hemelbestormer, Turpentine Valley, Steengruis and Encounters each bring something completely different to the festival, proving once again just how diverse our local heavy music scene really is.
Here’s why we think you should check them out.
Saturday at Alcatraz has no shortage of Belgian talent. 🇧🇪🤘From the progressive soundscapes of Psychonaut and the unstoppable rise of Mantah to the chaos of Brutal Sphincter, the crushing grooves of Your Highness, the intensity of Divided, Ronker and Poseydon, there’s plenty of homegrown metal waiting to be discovered. Find out why each of these Belgian bands deserves a spot on your Saturday schedule. Who are you looking forward to seeing at the festival?
Our Support Your Locals series continues! Friday at Alcatraz is packed with Belgian talent, from hometown heroes Amenra to exciting newcomers making their debut at the event, cult comebacks, anniversary celebrations and everything in between with A Thousand Sufferings, Cowboys & Aliens, Dead Serious, Hope As A Weapon, Hope Erodes, Modder, Sons Of Lioth and Temptations For The Weak. Here’s why these nine Belgian bands deserve a place on your Friday schedule! Who are you looking forward to seeing live?
In the first part of our annual Support Your Locals at Alcatraz series, we take a closer look at Thursday’s Belgian bands, from legends like Channel Zero, Cyclone and Enthroned to exciting names such as Aeveris and Death Fury. Which Belgian act are you looking forward to seeing most?
Sure, the lineup is stacked. But if you ask us, Alcatraz is about so much more than the bands on the poster. From the atmosphere and the people to the food, the party spots and all those little moments between the shows, here are our 8 reasons why we think Alcatraz 2026 is a festival you shouldn’t miss.
Belgium may be small, but when it comes to summer festivals, it punches well above its weight. From heavy and alt fests Graspop and Alcatraz to the more commercial Pukkelpop and Rock Werchter, the concert series of Lokerse Feesten and Live Is Live to the small and cosy Rock Zottegem and Parkpop Oostkamp, we’ve selected eight Belgian summer events that are reason enough to visit our home country in 2026. Which one is already on your calendar?
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