Four days of metal and alt music have seen Hellfest retain it's crown as the greatest heavy music event in the world. Taking place in the idyllic Clisson, France, from 27th - 30th June, 2024, this year's event featured Metallica, Foo Fighters and Machine Head, and was overseen by a mechanical installation like no other, in The Guardian of Darkness.
Kicking off on Thursday (27th June), the Clisson site was virtually identical to 2023's Hellfest event, with one exception; a gigantic, four storey high scorpion woman, who, as the festival would go on, would come alive nightly to breathe smoke and fire, and dazzle the Hellfest crowd.
Musically, 2024's bill proved once again, incomparable, with heavy hitters Avenged Sevenfold, Machine Head and Metallica taking three of the four headline slots. With arguably the biggest guitar band in the world, Foo Fighters heading up the final day, Sunday (30th June) also proved something of an alt rock spectacle, with Queens of the Stone Age, The Offspring and Royal Blood all featuring.
It all kicked off however in traditionally heavy style, with old school death metal revivalists Asinhell - who feature Volbeat's Michael Poulsen - and Slayer legend Kerry King taking up residence on Mainstage 01.
Taking in the early Hellfest atmosphere, Kerry King singer Mark Osegueda declared; "Hellfest, it's absolutely brilliant to be here", before branding the event; "the best fucking metal fest there is." And while the band's own music went down well, the pairing of Slayer's 'Raining Blood' and 'Black Magic' meanwhile, proved an obvious winning combo.
Musically, 2024's bill proved once again, incomparable, with heavy hitters Avenged Sevenfold, Machine Head and Metallica taking three of the four headline slots. With arguably the biggest guitar band in the world, Foo Fighters heading up the final day, Sunday (30th June) also proved something of an alt rock spectacle, with Queens of the Stone Age, The Offspring and Royal Blood all featuring.
It all kicked off however in traditionally heavy style, with old school death metal revivalists Asinhell - who feature Volbeat's Michael Poulsen - and Slayer legend Kerry King taking up residence on Mainstage 01.
Taking in the early Hellfest atmosphere, Kerry King singer Mark Osegueda declared; "Hellfest, it's absolutely brilliant to be here", before branding the event; "the best fucking metal fest there is." And while the band's own music went down well, the pairing of Slayer's 'Raining Blood' and 'Black Magic' meanwhile, proved an obvious winning combo.
Photo: Adrian Hextall.
With faux Mexican drug barons Brujeria tearing up the Alter stage, Megadeth made a welcome return to the main stage, following 2022's double-weekend stint.
Playing a succinct one-hour show, the foursome's change from the usual provided a welcome surprise, with mainstays 'Hangar 18', 'Wake Up Dead' and 'Sweating Bullets' replaced with deeper cuts such as 'Rattlehead', 'Kick the Chair' - performed for only the third time since 2009 - and 'Skin o' My Teeth'. A classy and bold move for the masters of speed metal.
Those seeking more old school pummelling headed for the Alter stage, where German big four thrashers Sodom hammered their way through their deceptively melodic tunes, including 'The Saw is the Law' and 'Remember the Fallen'.
With Irish American punks Dropkick Murphys and summer headliners Avenged Sevenfold closing out the night, day one proved the perfect appetiser for what was to come.
Friday (28th June) saw '90s techno metal, '80s throwbacks, a one-man revolution, hard-core crossover and more as day two got underway.
While Fear Factory's tech-noir sound was belied by the at odds blinding heat and sunshine, their songs went down like cool ice-cream, with 'Linchpin', 'Shock', and 'Demanufacture' proving absolute barnstormers on Mainstage 01.
Never understated, Steel Panther on Mainstage 02 tried to outdo the previous day's 'biggest wall of death ever' world record attempted by Slaughter to Prevail by inviting the ladies of Hellfest to join them for their own impromptu "most nichon ever on stage" faux world record. Easily assembling a staggering amount of willing individuals - estimated at 80 - 100 - it was clear that the glam rock revivalists off-kilter shtick is clearly still adored in France.
Playing a succinct one-hour show, the foursome's change from the usual provided a welcome surprise, with mainstays 'Hangar 18', 'Wake Up Dead' and 'Sweating Bullets' replaced with deeper cuts such as 'Rattlehead', 'Kick the Chair' - performed for only the third time since 2009 - and 'Skin o' My Teeth'. A classy and bold move for the masters of speed metal.
Those seeking more old school pummelling headed for the Alter stage, where German big four thrashers Sodom hammered their way through their deceptively melodic tunes, including 'The Saw is the Law' and 'Remember the Fallen'.
With Irish American punks Dropkick Murphys and summer headliners Avenged Sevenfold closing out the night, day one proved the perfect appetiser for what was to come.
Friday (28th June) saw '90s techno metal, '80s throwbacks, a one-man revolution, hard-core crossover and more as day two got underway.
While Fear Factory's tech-noir sound was belied by the at odds blinding heat and sunshine, their songs went down like cool ice-cream, with 'Linchpin', 'Shock', and 'Demanufacture' proving absolute barnstormers on Mainstage 01.
Never understated, Steel Panther on Mainstage 02 tried to outdo the previous day's 'biggest wall of death ever' world record attempted by Slaughter to Prevail by inviting the ladies of Hellfest to join them for their own impromptu "most nichon ever on stage" faux world record. Easily assembling a staggering amount of willing individuals - estimated at 80 - 100 - it was clear that the glam rock revivalists off-kilter shtick is clearly still adored in France.
Photo: Adrian Hextall.
At polar opposites, musical revolutionary Tom Morello put in a truly inspired performance that was streets ahead of his Download Festival slot just a few weeks earlier. Praising the French for being among the first to really embrace Rage Against the Machine, the guitarist also created a song on the spot for Hellfest, which culminated in an uproarious chant which kicked off with the command; "when I say 'hell', you say 'fest".
Despite an out of tune guitar in the mix, Morello's galvanising take on Bruce Springsteen's 'The Ghost of Tom Joad' provided one of the most mesmerising moments of the festival. Signing off, the over-awed Audioslave founder declared; "Hellfest you're the best crowd ever, man!"
With Finnish progressive / folk metal act Amorphis bringing in a fiercely dedicated crowd in the Alter tent, Brooklyn bruisers Biohazard took to the War Zone for an evening of New York hard-core. Promising that; "it's going to go off tonight", the original four-piece tore up Hellfest's most extreme stage with their '90s hits including 'Tales From the Hard Side' and 'Urban Discipline'.
With Machine Head rousing Mainstage 01 with a hugely impressive production that made the most out of the three flanking screens and ten tonnes of pyro, it was left to Ice-T and Body Count to close out day two with a punishing War Zone set that left little in doubt as two who the boss really is.
Kicking off with the first track from their first album in 'Body Count's in the House', before going into a blistering take on Slayer's 'Raining Blood', Body Count's set was one of the most explosive of the weekend. "This is one of my favourite festivals" commented Ice, raising his already god-like status even higher within the Hellfest ranks.
Despite an out of tune guitar in the mix, Morello's galvanising take on Bruce Springsteen's 'The Ghost of Tom Joad' provided one of the most mesmerising moments of the festival. Signing off, the over-awed Audioslave founder declared; "Hellfest you're the best crowd ever, man!"
With Finnish progressive / folk metal act Amorphis bringing in a fiercely dedicated crowd in the Alter tent, Brooklyn bruisers Biohazard took to the War Zone for an evening of New York hard-core. Promising that; "it's going to go off tonight", the original four-piece tore up Hellfest's most extreme stage with their '90s hits including 'Tales From the Hard Side' and 'Urban Discipline'.
With Machine Head rousing Mainstage 01 with a hugely impressive production that made the most out of the three flanking screens and ten tonnes of pyro, it was left to Ice-T and Body Count to close out day two with a punishing War Zone set that left little in doubt as two who the boss really is.
Kicking off with the first track from their first album in 'Body Count's in the House', before going into a blistering take on Slayer's 'Raining Blood', Body Count's set was one of the most explosive of the weekend. "This is one of my favourite festivals" commented Ice, raising his already god-like status even higher within the Hellfest ranks.
Photo: Adrian Hextall.
Saturday (29th June) saw virtuoso shredding, collaborations, and a change in the weather from scorching sun to torrential rain which saw Hell drowning as rivers of water cascaded across its grounds.
With Mammoth WVH taking to Mainstage 01 in the early afternoon in overcast skies, main man Wolfgang Van Halen and crew ripped through tracks from their brace of albums, with the multi-instrumentalist showing off his soaring vocals and out of this world shredding skills.
Though Wolfie's style, technique and vibrato are unquestionable, for sheer speed, Mainstage 02 was the place to be as the incomparable Yngwie Malmsteen kicked off his explosive set. Far from understated, the Swede posed, preened, kicked, and shredded like no other performer on the bill. With more notes in a single one of his songs than the entirety of the rest of the bands' sets combined, this was one for the guitar nerds only.
Spoiling the six-string devotees even further, Extreme with incomparable guitarist Nuno Bettencourt took to Mainstage 01 with a spirited set that not only included their own 'Get the Funk Out' and comeback single 'Rise', but snippets of classics from Queen, Metallica, and Van Halen.
Commenting on being a fanboy himself meanwhile, Bettencourt enthused; "Bruce Dickinson is going to blow your fucking mind, and so is Metallica. I can't wait to watch with you all!"
And with that, the rain came, and boy did it come down with a vengeance, prompting Mike Patton to comment during Mr.Bungle's set that; "it wouldn't be Hellfest if Jesus wasn't pissing on it!"
Wrapping up their current world tour in support of 'The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny', the five-piece brought out Wolfgang Van Halen for an electric take on Van Halen's 'Loss of Control', as well as Sepultura's Andreas Kisser for a ferocious 'Territory'.
With Mammoth WVH taking to Mainstage 01 in the early afternoon in overcast skies, main man Wolfgang Van Halen and crew ripped through tracks from their brace of albums, with the multi-instrumentalist showing off his soaring vocals and out of this world shredding skills.
Though Wolfie's style, technique and vibrato are unquestionable, for sheer speed, Mainstage 02 was the place to be as the incomparable Yngwie Malmsteen kicked off his explosive set. Far from understated, the Swede posed, preened, kicked, and shredded like no other performer on the bill. With more notes in a single one of his songs than the entirety of the rest of the bands' sets combined, this was one for the guitar nerds only.
Spoiling the six-string devotees even further, Extreme with incomparable guitarist Nuno Bettencourt took to Mainstage 01 with a spirited set that not only included their own 'Get the Funk Out' and comeback single 'Rise', but snippets of classics from Queen, Metallica, and Van Halen.
Commenting on being a fanboy himself meanwhile, Bettencourt enthused; "Bruce Dickinson is going to blow your fucking mind, and so is Metallica. I can't wait to watch with you all!"
And with that, the rain came, and boy did it come down with a vengeance, prompting Mike Patton to comment during Mr.Bungle's set that; "it wouldn't be Hellfest if Jesus wasn't pissing on it!"
Wrapping up their current world tour in support of 'The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny', the five-piece brought out Wolfgang Van Halen for an electric take on Van Halen's 'Loss of Control', as well as Sepultura's Andreas Kisser for a ferocious 'Territory'.
Wrapping up with a return for Metallica, who last headlined the event in 2022, their succinct fifteen song set focused heavily on 2023 release ‘72 Seasons’. Playing four tracks from the album including speed metal workout lead single ‘Lux Æterna’ may have been a bit much for some fans who wanted the classics, but with ‘Enter Sandman’, ‘Sad But True’ and ‘One’ in the set, few could moan. For old school fans the opening pairing of ‘Creeping Death’ and ‘Whiplash’, and later, a rare outing for the instrumental ‘Orion’ were more than enough to satiate even the most ardent gatekeeper.
For the final day (Sunday 30th June), Hellfest went alt rock, with Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, and Royal Blood among the acts to dominate the day.
With the sunshine restored, Clisson was cooking once more with maximum sunscreen required, and in the Valley, Therapy? provided the perfect soundtrack to the resurrected summer setting.
Making only their second ever Hellfest appearance, the Irish-Anglo three-piece belted out their alt punk metal anthems to an enraptured audience. Mixing tracks of a more recent vintage like the scathing ‘Poundland of Hope and Glory’ - “fuck brexit, and fuck the British government" [Andy Cairns] - with classics like ‘Potato Junkie’ and the ultimate one-two of ‘Nowhere’ and ‘Screamager’, Therapy? went down an absolute storm. Taking to socials after the event, the band enthused; “That was off the scale, what an amazing crowd. Honoured to have shared this moment with you all today!”
With Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes ripping up Mainstage 02, and the main man getting in amongst the action and joining the crowd, Royal Blood were whipping up their own mosh pits on their following Mainstage 01 appearance.
Meanwhile, with eonmusic influencing their song choices by mentioning the track 'Regular John' during the earlier press conference, Queens of the Stone Age launched straight into their debut album gem before ripping through a set that touched on all corners of their career. Band leader Josh Homme meanwhile scored points by uttering the best greeting of the weekend, asking; "how the Hellfest are ya?!"
Bringing the fun, and their own infectious sense of humour, The Offspring delivered the hits including opener 'Come Out and Play' and worldwide No.1 single 'Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)', as well as some dad-joke banter.
For the final day (Sunday 30th June), Hellfest went alt rock, with Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, and Royal Blood among the acts to dominate the day.
With the sunshine restored, Clisson was cooking once more with maximum sunscreen required, and in the Valley, Therapy? provided the perfect soundtrack to the resurrected summer setting.
Making only their second ever Hellfest appearance, the Irish-Anglo three-piece belted out their alt punk metal anthems to an enraptured audience. Mixing tracks of a more recent vintage like the scathing ‘Poundland of Hope and Glory’ - “fuck brexit, and fuck the British government" [Andy Cairns] - with classics like ‘Potato Junkie’ and the ultimate one-two of ‘Nowhere’ and ‘Screamager’, Therapy? went down an absolute storm. Taking to socials after the event, the band enthused; “That was off the scale, what an amazing crowd. Honoured to have shared this moment with you all today!”
With Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes ripping up Mainstage 02, and the main man getting in amongst the action and joining the crowd, Royal Blood were whipping up their own mosh pits on their following Mainstage 01 appearance.
Meanwhile, with eonmusic influencing their song choices by mentioning the track 'Regular John' during the earlier press conference, Queens of the Stone Age launched straight into their debut album gem before ripping through a set that touched on all corners of their career. Band leader Josh Homme meanwhile scored points by uttering the best greeting of the weekend, asking; "how the Hellfest are ya?!"
Bringing the fun, and their own infectious sense of humour, The Offspring delivered the hits including opener 'Come Out and Play' and worldwide No.1 single 'Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)', as well as some dad-joke banter.
Photo: Adrian Hextall.
And so it fell to the nicest guy in rock, Dave Grohl and his Foo Fighters to crown what had been four incredible days of music. Bounding onto the stage like an excited puppy, Grohl declared; "are you ready!" before launching into a combustible 'All My Life',
With Chris Shifflett, Pat Smear, and Nate Mendel by his side, the one time Nirvana man proved an incredible frontman utterly deserving of his standing. Playing all the big songs including a heavy-as-hell 'The Pretender' and beautifully tender 'My Hero', there were also deep cuts, with 'Stacked Actors' dedicated to drummer Josh Freese.
Praising the town of Clisson for its stunning beauty, Grohl gushed; "I love that Hellfest is in the most beautiful place I've ever seen in my life. I don't think this is hell; I think this is fucking amazing!"
The Foos may have proved an unconventional closer, but were none the less a great one. The absence of the traditional end-of-festival fireworks show however, remains a mystery.
Hellfest returns to Clisson from 19th - 22nd June 2025. For the latest updates, visit Hellfest.fr.
With Chris Shifflett, Pat Smear, and Nate Mendel by his side, the one time Nirvana man proved an incredible frontman utterly deserving of his standing. Playing all the big songs including a heavy-as-hell 'The Pretender' and beautifully tender 'My Hero', there were also deep cuts, with 'Stacked Actors' dedicated to drummer Josh Freese.
Praising the town of Clisson for its stunning beauty, Grohl gushed; "I love that Hellfest is in the most beautiful place I've ever seen in my life. I don't think this is hell; I think this is fucking amazing!"
The Foos may have proved an unconventional closer, but were none the less a great one. The absence of the traditional end-of-festival fireworks show however, remains a mystery.
Hellfest returns to Clisson from 19th - 22nd June 2025. For the latest updates, visit Hellfest.fr.