From the primary riff that rang out over Historic Crew Stadium to the final blast of pyro, the four-day celebration of Sonic Temple was rather more than the providing of a behemoth-sized lineup: it summoned a multigenerational convergence of bands, followers, and moments that reminded everybody why this style refuses to do something however thrive.
There was greater than a little bit one thing for lovers of virtually each subgenre within the steel spectrum occurring throughout the 4 days. Caskets opened their set with glassy synth layers and punchy post-hardcore melodies, instantly drawing a decent early crowd. Orgy, taking part in the identical stage not lengthy after, leaned into their industrial roots with gritty confidence, anchoring their quick set with “Stitches” and sharply executed covers like “Blue Monday” and “Smack My Bitch Up.” Alien Ant Farm might need been booked for nostalgia, however they turned out to be a raucous crowd pleaser. Their closing efficiency of “Clean Prison” (nonetheless each bit the crowd-killer it was 20 years in the past) had everybody from the rail to the beer tents singing alongside.
Sevendust introduced emotional weight and sonic precision in equal components. Launching with “Items, ” the temper rapidly turned reflective when Lajon Witherspoon, visibly emotional, addressed the gang about 3 Doorways Down’s Brad Arnold’s most cancers prognosis. What might’ve stopped momentum as a substitute elevated the efficiency, turning songs like “Enemy, ” “Denial, ” and “Black” into declarations of defiance and solidarity. Tapping into melody and chaos in equal measures, Memphis Might Hearth carved their house with polish and objective, stacking bangers like “Any individual” and “Bleed Me Dry” between deeper cuts like “The American Dream. ” Their use of smoke columns and spot-synced lighting labored in tandem with Matty Mullins’ shifting screams and melodies, protecting the gang absolutely engaged.
There was a particular electrical energy when Three Days Grace hit the Temple Stage – Adam Gontier and Matt Walst sharing vocal duties in a uncommon second of synchronicity. They leaned into each eras of the band’s catalog, and the chemistry on “Mayday” signaled one thing greater than a one-off; it felt like a brand new chapter within the making. Elsewhere, Shadows Fall turned again time with out lacking a beat. “Within the Gray” and “King Nothing” rumbled with depth, whereas Brian Honest whipped his hair – and the gang – right into a frenzy. His stage presence continues to be all chaos and appeal, and the band behind him sounded sharper than many more moderen acts on the invoice, fueled by Jason Bittner’s practically inhuman and explosive drumming.
Killswitch Have interaction delivered a pyrotechnic-free set that someway felt hotter than any flame present. From the second they launched into “Energy of the Thoughts, ” via classics like “My Curse” and “In Due Time, ” and into the closing trifecta of “The Finish of Heartache, ” “My Final Serenade, ” and their iconic tackle “Holy Diver, ” it was a blur of sweat, gentle, and managed anarchy. Jesse Leach sang with objective, whereas Adam Dutkiewicz bounded throughout the stage like a person at battle with stillness. Jinjer performed as a three-piece after their bassist was sidelined with a hand damage, however that did not cease them. After a quick technical delay post-“Inexperienced Serpent, ” Tatiana Shmayluk reclaimed momentum with brutal vocal swings between “Vortex” and “Instructor, Instructor. ” Her command of the gang was so full that the lacking basslines nearly turned irrelevant.
I Prevail had some extent to show after being off the highway for seven months and lacking Brian Burkheiser on vocals. Eric Vanlerberghe took on each harsh and clear components with shocking smoothness, main a risky set that ranged from the ferocity of “Bow Down” to the anthemic “Hurricane. ” A stretch of sudden covers – System of a Down, Alice in Chains, even a tongue-in-cheek stab at Taylor Swift – stored the gang continually guessing and engaged. Beartooth, stepping in for Alice In Chains, performed like a band with one thing to show. Caleb Shomo commanded one of many weekend’s greatest crowds, because the stage lit up with bursts of fireside behind pop-tinged breakdowns like “I Was Alive” and “Riptide. ” They have been a last-minute substitution that felt like future.
On the extra over-the-top finish of the spectrum, Ice 9 Kills pushed horror-core to the max, full with chainsaws, faux blood, and horror-movie camp. Lead vocalist Spencer Charnas was a ball of fireside that combusted into numerous strains of unpolluted and soiled that got here off as outright schizophrenic, but amid the cacophony of riffs, beats, and sampled horror film themes, all of it ended up making sense on the different finish. Alice Cooper proved as soon as once more that age isn’t any barrier to insurrection, turning the Temple Stage right into a twisted cabaret of nostalgia, defiance, and grandiose rock, beginning with the mock headline “Alice Cooper Banned in Ohio” flashed onscreen earlier than “Lock Me Up” blasted into movement, and ending with a confetti-filled explosion of “Faculty’s Out” that introduced the largest grin throughout hundreds of faces.
The Funeral Portrait additionally leaned exhausting into theatricality with frock coats, gothic touches, and unfiltered stage power. “Blood Mom” hit like a hymn, and “Holy Water” (with Ivan Moody’s pre-recorded characteristic) gave the band their clear standout second, sending arms skyward throughout the pit. And we’d be remiss to not point out Rob Zombie’s full horror-show manufacturing and impenetrable wall of sound. “Demon Dashing”, “Residing Lifeless Woman”, and “Dragula” have been monstrous reside, however it was “Thunder Kiss ’65” that precipitated probably the most our bodies to go away the bottom. Zombie nonetheless stalks the stage like a villainous ringmaster, and the viewers is totally underneath his spell.
Acid Bathtub, again on a significant stage for the primary time in a long time, turned in one of the crucial intense units of the weekend. “Tranquilized” and “Dr. Seuss Is Lifeless” felt like transmissions from a misplaced period – distorted, poetic, and delivered with venom. The gang’s response was as a lot catharsis as celebration, the throngs that had traveled from throughout the nation to satisfy them responded with the eagerness of a household after recovering a long-lost relative, culminating in a crowd of tearful faces and flailing our bodies going berserk all through their 7 track set. Silverstein turned introspection into movement with a charged 10-song set. With “Smile in Your Sleep” and “Massachusetts, ” they wove between emotion and influence, whereas a mid-set video montage traced their journey from Ontario hopefuls to scene fixtures. Shane Advised delivered vocals with precision, strolling the road between post-hardcore scream and pop-punk croon with ease.
Bullet For My Valentine hit tougher than anybody anticipated, contemporary off an extended co-headline run with Trivium. “Your Betrayal” and “Hand of Blood” pulled howls from an enormous crowd, whereas “Waking the Demon” closed issues out with a surge of crowd surfers that overwhelmed safety. Matthew Tuck’s vocals lower clear over the storm, and Michael Paget’s shredding reminded everybody of the band’s roots in pace and precision. Trivium got here out swinging – backed by an inflatable dragon, no much less. With Matt Heafy shirtless and smiling via a high-energy run of “The Sin and the Sentence, ” “A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation” (that includes Scott Kennedy from Bleed From Inside), and the thunderous nearer “In Waves, ” they proved as soon as once more how comfy they’re threading steel custom with trendy punch.
Mastodon, contemporary off a lineup change after the exit of Brent Hinds, proved they weren’t slowed one bit. Nick Johnston, filling in, executed each intricate half with grace. “Tread Evenly, ” “Crystal Cranium, ” and “Ember Metropolis” showcased the band’s mix of grit and grandeur. Their set peaked with “Blood and Thunder, ” as pyrotechnics framed a band in full flight. Within the reverse, but no much less progressive finish, Deafheaven provided a cerebral detour – blackened and stylish, their set was much less about moshing and extra about immersion. Wearing all black and favoring minimal crowd interplay, they let the music converse. “Dream Home” lifted off like a rocket of sound and unhappiness, whereas newer items from “Lonely Folks With Energy” added ambiance and rigidity that set them aside.
The dying steel devoted have been removed from uncared for. Match For An Post-mortem unleashed one of many weekend’s most punishing performances, with the gang swelling for a pit-ready sequence of “The Sea of Tragic Beasts, ” “Savages, ” and “Hostage, ” all delivered with tight, nearly surgical brutality. Sanguisugabogg reminded everybody that dying steel’s future would possibly nicely be cast in Ohio basements, with frontman Devin Swank roaming the stage like a person possessed, his roar bouncing between partitions of static guitar tones and devastating drums. And naturally, straight from the Floridian swamps, Obituary have been all about brute pressure in a sludgier, venomous vogue. John Tardy barked and howled via “Don’t Care” and “Turned Inside Out, ” as Trevor Perez and Kenny Andrews anchored the set with sluggish, chugging violence. They made no effort to decorate up the brutality – simply pure, basic dying steel, loud and unrelenting.
Hollywood Undead, ever the wildcards, introduced dance beats, rap verses, and crowd interaction into sharp focus. “Comin’ In Scorching” noticed them pull a 12-year-old lady named Michaela onstage, who joined the band in singing, whether or not she meant to or not. Covers of “Candy Caroline” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” added weird, charming chaos to the combo. 2000s nu-metal/post-grunge darlings Hoobastank stored the power going with a powerful 9-song displaying on the fundamental stage. Novelty performed closely into their presentation, with lead vocalist Doug Robb sporting a pair of these new glasses that document video of regardless of the particular person sporting them sees throughout their efficiency of “Born To Lead”, and joking that he wanted to show to his youngsters that their dad was no less than semi-cool.
Armored Saint reminded everybody how timeless pure heavy steel may be. “March of the Saint” kicked off a 7-song tribute to their Eighties heyday, with John Bush sounding like he hadn’t aged a day and Phil Sandoval and Jeff Duncan buying and selling solos like they have been on a mission from 1984, channeling the same magic to what one might need anticipated from Tipton and Downing or Murray and Smith through the peak of heavy steel’s authentic standard ascent.
Suicidal Tendencies hit like an power bomb, with one of the crucial unhinged units Ohio has ever witnessed, with “You Can’t Carry Me Down” stretched right into a 10-minute opener of riff-driven madness. Mike Muir darted backwards and forwards in crab-walk stances, whereas Jay Weinberg (taking part in with possibly extra visible power as he might be seen throughout his years with Slipknot) blasted via each beat prefer it owed him cash. Crowd surfers got here quick, and Ben Weinman browsing whereas taking part in guitar sealed the entire thing as one of many wildest scenes of the weekend, whereas Robert Trujillo might be seen watching his son Tye play from the aspect of the stage with a glance of warranted satisfaction on his face.
Thrash steel – usually not nicely represented in these occasions – additionally has its moments to shine underneath the Columbus solar. Exodus wasted no time proving that Rob Dukes was the appropriate man for the mic. His venomous bark over “Bonded By Blood” and “Blacklist” introduced again that Atrocity Exhibition chew. Gary Holt, as ever, shredded just like the gear was product of glass, whereas “The Poisonous Waltz” introduced our bodies into the air, one pit opening after one other. Testomony adopted with a lean however punishing set that honored their legacy with precision. “Observe What You Preach, ” “Sins of Omission, ” and “Time Is Coming” landed like warhammers. New drummer Chris Dovas was note-perfect, and Chuck Billy blended operatic howl with a growl that also will get underneath your pores and skin. “Return to Serenity” introduced a second of calm earlier than “Into the Pit” lit the fuse once more.
Cavalera Conspiracy bulldozed via 4 full tracks and a partial, taking advantage of restricted time with most influence. “Refuse/Resist” and “Territory” felt volcanic, and once they tore into “Beneath the Stays, ” the complete set reached escape velocity, shaking the bottom under everybody’s toes. The mix of household – Max, Iggor, and Igor Amadeus Cavalera – fired on a generational stage. Although they have been boxed into a brief, 6 track set within the earlier a part of the afternoon, it was inconceivable to go fallacious with Pepper Keenan and Woody Weatherman’s sludgy and angst-driven presentation. Their track choice closely favored the Corrosion Of Conformity period of the politically charged run within the 90s, with a pair entries like the short rocking “Paranoid Opioid” and the groovy banger out of a visit with Black Sabbath blaring via the audio system “Diablo Blvd. ” reaching into the 2000s when musical landscapes have been a-changing
And naturally, there have been the headliners: Korn closed a chilly Thursday evening with a full-scale sensory assault. Vertical gentle poles, layered screens, and an elevated drum throne remodeled the stage right into a sci-fi cathedral. They opened with “Blind” for the primary time in 6 years, and adopted with a 19-song masterclass that pulled deep into the vault: “Clown, ” “Shoots and Ladders, ” “Twisted Transistor. ” They even sneaked a couple of surprises in – “4 U, ” performed reside for the primary time since 2020, and a mashup of “Coming Undone” with a bit of Queen’s “We Will Rock You. ” Jonathan Davis paced the entrance with menace and poise, sealing their place as one of the crucial persistently ingenious reside acts within the style, one that also is aware of how one can unnerve and thrill in equal measures.
Then got here Linkin Park. Now not a tribute, and never attempting to be one thing they’re not, they’ve developed into one thing new. Emily Armstrong introduced her personal presence to Chester Bennington’s legacy, buying and selling verses with Mike Shinoda in a efficiency that felt like a residing memorial and a step ahead. Staged as a three-act story with a climactic encore, their 22-song set included deeply emotional renditions of “Numb, ” “Crawling, ” and “Bleed It Out. ” Between the lighting design, stagecraft, and emotional pacing, their set felt full-blown inventive assertion.
And nonetheless, nothing touched the size of Metallica. Headlining each Friday and Sunday, they pulled off the seemingly inconceivable — two distinctive headlining units that every informed a distinct story. Friday’s set charged straight into “Creeping Demise, ” “Harvester of Sorrow, ” and a uncommon airing of “The Shortest Straw. ” Halfway, Kirk Hammett and Rob Trujillo took their ordinary jam interlude, whereas a highlight second on “Orion” served as a heartfelt tribute to Cliff Burton.
Sunday’s nearer opened with “Whiplash, ” adopted by a thunderous trio from Trip the Lightning – “For Whom the Bell Tolls, ” “Trip the Lightning, ” and “Fade to Black. ” New cuts like “Lux Æterna”, and “72 Seasons” didn’t simply maintain their very own – they hit tougher reside than on document. “The Reminiscence Stays” had the gang singing each line, and “No Leaf Clover” was a welcome curveball for longtime followers. With 16 songs and 0 filler, it was an indication of stamina, precision, and continued relevance. By the point “Enter Sandman” crashed down to complete all of it, the gang regarded equally exhausted and exultant. James Hetfield could also be in his 60s, however he sounded and moved like a person with one thing nonetheless to show. And show it he did.
Sonic Temple 2025 didn’t really feel like simply one other installment in its historical past, however extra as a thunderous, sprawling affirmation of rock’s vitality in all its types, standing tall as one of many beating hearts of North America’s steel festivals. It’s clear that DWP Presents has no real interest in subtlety; they proceed to construct empire-size occasions, and this yr, they lit Ohio on hearth.
Particular because of Jonathan Smith for his writing contributions to this article.
