Our chief editor listened to dozens of acts ready to step on stage at Tuska Festival this year. The idea, if possible, was to narrow a must-hear list down to ten. Here are the ten acts you cannot miss.
The Danish hard rock band D-A-D may have started with cowpunk, but today they turn languid melodies into explosive main stage rock. Friday, 20:15 @ Karhu Main Stage
Megadeth is moving masses around the world on their farewell tour. This is not only your chance to experience an epic grand finale, but also your delight to check out the skills of Finnish guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari, who joined the band three years ago. Read our interview with Mäntysaari here. Friday, 22:25 @ Karhu Main Stage
Straight out of Mikkeli, Bloodred Hourglass crafts melodic death metal with echoes of their Swedish cousin In Flames. Make no mistake, though—the BRHG stands solely on its own sturdy hind legs. Friday, 19:15 @ Radio City Stage
Slope from Germany is where vintage Chili Peppers meet Skrillex. Funky rhythms and gritty lyrics wrapped in metal and hardcore. Worth checking out! Friday, 19:30 @ KVLT Stage
Trivium is a powerhouse of classic metalcore and thrash metal from Florida, crafting melodies that are as catchy as they are heavy. They always rock Finland hard—read our review here. Saturday, 20:15 @ Karhu Main Stage
Balance Breach opens the Nordic Energy Stage on Saturday with powerful metalcore. This is another banging group from Finland’s Mikkeli! Saturday, 13:30 @ Nordic Energy Stage
Paleface Swiss and Vended have a common bridge: the former finds Slipknot to be their biggest inspiration, while the latter comprises the iconic fright-mask-wearing Iowa band’s literal sons. Sound-wise, Switzerland’s Paleface Swiss shares a fierce modern kinship with Vended, but they push that Slipknot DNA into much darker territory. In a good way. P.S. Vended performed at Tuska in 2023. Our story and gallery here. Saturday, 19:15 @ Nordic Energy Stage
Watch out for the ten-ton hammer of Kublai Khan TX as the Texas hardcore juggernauts are about to lay it down upon the Tuska crowd as the final act on the energy stage on Saturday! Think Hatebreed, think Pantera, think Kublai Khan TX! Not to be missed. Saturday, 21:25 @ Nordic Energy Stage
Nitrik may have seven fans on the streaming service Deezer, but these Mikkeli boys—is Mikkeli the new metal capital of Finland?—channel Pantera-sized aggression through a fierce Finnish mindset. These boys are beasts. The fan count just increased to eight. Sunday, 16:40 @ KVLT Stage
Malevolence is where groove metal meets hardcore. Southern-fried heavy riffs in the spirit of Pantera and Lamb of God. One of Britain’s finest! Sunday, 20:15 @ Radio City Stage
