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“If you decide to go to only one fest this year, this should be it,” says renowned metal publication Revolver Magazine. Metaljudgement.com calls it “hands down, the best metal fest in the world.” I repeat, in the world. And it’s in Maine’s backyard.
The eighth annual New England Metal and Hardcore Festival will be held from Friday, April 28 to Sunday, April 30 in Worcester, Mass. The festival features an impressive lineup of over 80 bands, ranging from metal and hardcore legends, current leaders in the genres, and talented up-and-comers.
As in years past, the three-day festival will be spread across the two stages of The Palladium; the smaller, more intimate upstairs stage and the downstairs main stage, reminiscent of a larger version of Maine’s State Theatre.
Friday’s lineup will include one of metal’s undoubtedly most talented groups, Necrophagist, on their first U.S. tour,, as well as Arsis, Between The Buried and Me, The Black Dahlia Murder, Cephalic Carnage, Dead to Fall, Lacuna Coil, Ed Gein, and Through The Eyes of The Dead, among many others. Lacuna Coil has been announced as one headliner, while Necrophagist or The Black Dahlia Murder would be safe guesses for the other slots. Exact band times are set to be announced early next week.
Saturday’s lineup will include Swedish shredders Arch Enemy, Caliban, Cryptopsy, Chimaira, Exodus, God Forbid, Hate Eternal, Immolation, Ion Dissonance, Suffocation, Full Blown Chaos, Remembering Never and dozens more. Arch Enemy and Chimaira will headline the main stage.
Sunday’s lineup includes Dragonforce in their first ever U.S. gig, Cannae, Daughters, Gamma Ray, Light This City, Mercury Switch, On Broken Wings, Torn Asunder, Twelve Tribes, xdeathstarx, and plenty more. Dragonforce and Gamma Ray are the two announced headliners at this point.
The Palladium will be filled with metal vendors selling rare albums, t-shirts, and a variety of music merchandise. Checking out the vending setup is an integral part of the Metal and Hardcore Festival experience, as nearly any music fan will find something they are looking for.
ESP guitars will be giving away guitars and basses, including one signed by every performer at the show. Krank Amplification will give away one of their acclaimed half-stack model amps, as well.
Friday tickets run for $35, Saturday and Sunday tickets run for $40, and a three-day pass costs $109.50. Additional information, including complete band lists, directions, and pictures of past festivals, can be found at www.metalandhardcorefestival.com.
Tickets are available at Strawberries Record Stores and The Palladium. Don’t miss your chance to be part of one of the nation’s most acclaimed metal and hardcore festivals, right here in New England.
Bangor Daily News