Festival season is still in full swing and if you’re a metalhead like myself, you’re definitely looking forward to Louder than Life 2025. Going from Sept. 18-21 in Louisville, Ky., we get a nice blend of genres and headliners that will blow your socks off.
Let’s take a look at the festival and how to prepare, including the bands and stages I’m personally looking forward to the most!
2025 Louder Than Life Festival Preview + Stage Guide
Thursday, Sept. 18
Stage 1: Winds of Plague is the third band of the day to perform, going off just after Fulci and If Not For Me. Starting the show off on the mainstage, these deathcore veterans will set the tone for the rest of the day. Known for their symphonic elements, Winds of Plague has not released a new album since 2017’s “Blood of My Enemy,” and in fact, this is just one stop of their reunion this year.
Stage 2: Rob Zombie is the last performer of the night on Stage 2 and would personally be my favorite to see here. While many might know him as the director of movies such as “House of 1000 Corpses” or “The Devil’s Rejects,” Rob got his start as the frontman of 80s heavy metal band White Zombie. The highlight of this will be an exclusive performance of his “Astro-Creep: 2000” greatest hits album, which means we’re going to get the best of the best from him.
Decibel Stage: Lorna Shore is the last band on this stage as well, but they’re the band I’d be most excited for on the entire day. This deathcore outfit has blown up over the last few years with the addition of vocalist Will Ramos and the release of “To the Hellfire.” Known for their lyricism, symphonic elements and brutal breakdowns thanks to guitarist Adam De Micco and drummer Austin Archey, this band is currently releasing singles from their upcoming album “I Feel the Everblack Festering Within Me,” and I fully expect them to put on an amazing show.
Reverb Stage: Given that this stage is clearly the pop-punk/easycore stage for this festival, I have to go with one of my favorite pop-punk bands of all time, State Champs. Often considered some of the kings of the genre, they’ve been dropping hit after hit since 2010. Their fifth album and self-titled album came out in late 2024, but these guys never fail to drop all of their hits in their sets. This is one I wouldn’t miss.
Loudmouth Stage: Metalcore legends Atreyu will be performing at 5:40 PM on this stage and I’m glad they are. Even with original vocalist Alex Varkatzas departing and forcing their original drummer and vocalist, Brandon Saller, from behind the kit to exclusively on the mic, these guys have a long catalog of bangers. These guys are must-watch and one of my favorite live bands.
Friday, Sept. 19
I’m going to cover Friday a bit differently, since if it were me, I’d spend almost my entire day at Stage 2. Northlane, one of my personal favorite djent-focused metalcore bands, is the second band on the stage and the first band that truly catches my interest on this day. From there, I’d jump over to see The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus on the Decibel Stage, then would stay there for pop punk up-and-comers Magnolia Park and metalcore OG’s Of Mice and Men, before heading back to Stage 2 for the rest of the day for Dayseeker, Spiritbox and Sleep Token.
While I’d be sad to skip Miss May I, Suicide Silence or Story of the Year, in my mind, I get to see the best bands on the same stage. Most notably, Sleep Token has taken the world by storm since their debut and I wouldn’t be surprised if this happens to be the most packed show of the entire day.
Saturday, Sept. 20
Much like Friday, I wouldn’t be moving around as much on Saturday, as I’d spend most of my day at the Loudmouth Stage. The day starts with newly reformed Woe, Is Me, who will likely be heavily playing the hits, as well as new songs from their recently released album “Daybreak.” Attack Attack follows them up, another recently reformed metalcore band, who have said, “We’re doing what we want and you’re gonna like it.”
After that comes legends From First to Last and Hawthorne Heights, though I would leave them a bit early to head over and see one of my personal favorite bands of all time, August Burns Red, on the Decibel Stage. I would then get to bounce back to yet another one of my all-time favorites in Blessthefall (also newly reformed), before heading over to Stage 2 for I Prevail and Bad Omens. I’d end my day back at Loudmouth with true post-hardcore OG’s Chiodos. This is the day of the elder emos and I’d be right amongst my people.
Sunday, Sept. 21
Stage 1: Escape the Fate is the first band of the day on the stage and you can say what you want about them, but I love them. From their post-hardcore roots to their hair metal and pop rock sounds, I love all of their music and would absolutely be here for it. This stage is one I certainly COULD stay at the entire day, with bands like The Plot In You, Slaughter to Prevail and Knocked Loose, plus legends Tech N9ne and Bring Me The Horizon, but there are so many good bands today, it’s going to be hard not to hop around.
Stage 2: Yet another stage I could be at all day, but I’d personally be most excited for $UICIDEBOY$. The duo from Louisiana was my introduction into the underground rap scene back in the early 2010s and they remain a staple for me since. From 50-cap rooms to headlining festivals like Lollapalooza and Ultra, these guys put on one hell of a show. Though this stage is loaded throughout the day, too, with Sleep Theory, Memphis May Fire, We Came as Romans, Wage War and Three Days Grace.
Decibel Stage: Hinder is a band that you absolutely have to see live at least once. More of your dad-rock/butt-rock type band than the metal genres you get through the rest of the weekend, this would be a nice mid-day reprieve and you’d almost definitely get to hear Lips of an Angel live. How could you not!?
Reverb Stage: This is your dad’s stage of the day, with 80’s legends Yngwie Malmsteen, Sebastian Bach and Testament. I would probably skip the Reverb Stage this day, but if that’s your vibe, then it’s the place for you on Sunday!
Loudmouth Stage: The Sunday lineup on the Loudmouth Stage is also a bit underwhelming for me, but it’s saved by the female-fronted metalcore band Dying Wish. They slot in a nice little gap between Tech N9ne and We Came As Romans, so it will be a fun one to jump over to.
Louder Than Life Festival Bottom Line
This festival is a modern metalhead’s dream. As I’ll always remind people, make sure to bring your sunscreen, drink your water and electrolytes, eat a snack and be respectful to everyone there. We’re all there to have a damn good time, so let’s keep it that way and let each other have our fun! Of course, don’t forget to check out the merch tent and support your favorite bands!
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Thanks for reading my preview of the 2025 Louder Than Life Festival! Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter/X @Parry_FF for more sports & entertainment content, and check out our entertainment betting show, “Popcorn & Root Beer,” on our YouTube channel!
