HELLFEST DAY 2 (20.06.2025)
The second day of Hellfest 2025 delivered a wild, genre-jumping musical ride under a blazing Clisson sun. From early afternoon to late night, Friday’s performances spanned punk, doom, folk-metal, stadium rock, and electronic-core absurdity — a sonic buffet that showcased the festival’s unshakable identity: metal in all its glorious forms.
🎶 Afternoon Energy – New Blood & Global Grit
Day 2 opened with promising young acts:
• Last Train impressed with their emotionally charged alt-rock. Despite the heat, their sound was crisp and their closing number, “The Big Picture,” struck a chord.
• The Warning, the sibling trio from Mexico, proved they’ve moved beyond “buzz band” status with tight, riff-driven modern rock that connected easily with a growing fan base.
• Skindred brought the house down at the Valley Stage with their reggae-metal fusion. Benji Webbe worked the crowd like a preacher at a metal revival, whipping sweaty bodies into a frenzy. Their mix of funk, punk, and growls gave Hellfest a welcome jolt.
⚡ Evening: Big Names, Bigger Expectations
By early evening, the mood shifted as heavyweight acts took the reins.
• The Cult turned the Mainstage into a cathedral of post-punk reverence. Ian Astbury’s voice cut through the heat with conviction, and songs like “Rain” and “She Sells Sanctuary” were delivered with moody intensity.
• The Hu transported the crowd to another world with throat-sung chants and bone-shaking Mongolian rhythms. Their theatrical presentation, complete with massive warrior imagery, blended tradition and metal with rare elegance.
• Pentagram brought doom in its purest form. Bobby Liebling may not move like he once did, but his haunted presence and raw vocal delivery made their Valley Stage performance one of the most authentically “metal” sets of the day.
🎸 Muse’s Long-Awaited Hellfest Debut
Perhaps the most talked-about set was Muse, who made their first appearance at Hellfest to a mix of anticipation and skepticism.
Musically, the set was a rollercoaster:
• They opened strong with Unravelling and leaned heavily into Simulation Theory–era tracks.
• Unfortunately, their guitar tone was practically inaudible for much of the first half. Fans on the ground noted that it wasn’t until We Are Fucking Fucked that the sound mix found its footing.
• Once things clicked, Muse delivered – Hysteria and Knights of Cydonia lit up the crowd – but many left feeling it was a missed opportunity for a truly epic moment.
🤪 Nighttime Madness – Fun Over Fury
Hellfest’s tradition of ending on a high continued with:
• Electric Callboy, who turned the late-night slot into a chaotic metal dance party. Their neon, EDM-metal fusion may not be for purists, but it’s impossible to ignore how much fun they bring. Inflatable props, synchronized moshing, and tongue-in-cheek absurdity made it a fitting closer to a genre-hopping day.
Musically, Day 2 proved that Hellfest isn’t afraid to mix serious heaviness with spectacle and surprise. The sound mix issues with Muse kept the night from reaching true transcendence, but standout sets by Skindred, The Cult, and Electric Callboy ensured the music never fell flat. It was a day where Hellfest’s diversity shone — and every subgenre had its moment in the sun (sometimes literally).
Whether you came for classic doom, thrash-infused reggae, or neon-haired chaos, Friday left no taste unserved.
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