METAL FEST BAHRAIN
Over 15 YEARS OF HEAVY METAL IN BAHRAIN!
Since 2010, the team behind Metal Fest Bahrain has worked to keep the Kingdom's metal scene alive by bringing together Bahrain's best bands with artists from around the region and the world. It all started with Resurrection, an event created by Hani Taqi that later grew into Metal Fest Bahrain.
This archive looks back on more than 15 years of live shows, unforgettable performances, and the community that has supported heavy metal in Bahrain every step of the way. Take a look through the posters, photos, videos, and memories below. If you'd like to hear about future events first, join our mailing list.
🏆 Historic Firsts & Milestones
As you explore the archive, you'll come across some of the defining moments in Bahrain's heavy metal history. These include the first international metal bands to perform in the Kingdom, major milestones for Bahraini artists, and many other moments that helped shape the local scene.
All commentary beneath the event posters was written by Hani Taqi.
December 3, 2025 - Opening for Metallica!
Lineup:
Bloodshel (Bahrain)
Motör Militia (Bahrain)
Necrosin (Bahrain)
Venue: Beyon Al Dana Amphitheatre
“In April 2025, Beyon Al Dana Amphitheatre announced that Metallica was booked to play Bahrain in December. Of course, we were all super excited, but I also had one thought: if we could send a Bahrain band to Wacken, why couldn't a Bahrain band open for Metallica? I made the following post on Instagram and it got a lot of attention.
Ultimately, we got the attention of Lance at Al Dana, who was awesome enough to push the idea to local management and to Metallica themselves! Metallica's management were on board, and they chose Bloodshel to open for them on the main stage. Motör Militia and Necrosin played before that, on a smaller stage in the Plaza area of the venue. How cool is that, from Metallica's side, that they allowed all this to happen. Plus, they treated Bloodshel unbelievably well. That is why they are the legends that they are. Unreal!
This wasn't a typical Metal Fest. The goal was to work alongside Al Dana Amphitheatre and introduce the bands that make Metal Fest possible to a much bigger audience. Huge thanks to everyone at Al Dana for believing in the local scene and giving Bahrain's metal bands the opportunity to perform on the biggest stage they could ask for. We'd love to do it again.
Unfortunately, there's one part of that night I'll never get over. A few days earlier, after the November 27 Metal Fest, I came down with a brutal virus that swept through much of the island. Quite a few people who attended that show got sick as well. I was in no condition to attend the Metallica concert, so I had to miss one of the biggest moments in Bahrain's metal history. It still hurts to think about.
Even so, I'm incredibly grateful it happened. It made 2025 the greatest year the Bahrain metal scene has ever had."
🏆 Historic First: Bloodshel became the first Bahrain metal band to open for Metallica.
November 27, 2025 - The record-breaking fourth Metal Fest event of 2025.
Lineup:Â
Blood Red Throne (Norway)
Angelus Apatrida (Spain)
Amorphia (India)
Gridlok (Oman)
Venue: Diggers
"This event almost went sideways. The original headliner was a well-known veteran death metal band, but the agent running their Asian tour turned out to be, let's just say, nowhere near professional. Cost me time, money, and a lot of stress I didn't need.
Cancelling was never on the table, though. And looking back, I think the lineup we ended up with was actually stronger.
Our brothers from Oman, Gridlok, opened the show and made history doing it, the first Omani metal band to ever play Bahrain. Amorphia came back for their second Metal Fest run and were just as incredible as the first time. I could watch those guys every night and it'd hit just as hard every time.
Angelus Apatrida were tight as hell. Every song, dead on. Total pros from the first note to the last. Then Blood Red Throne came out and wrecked the place. What a set.
Plenty of partying after, especially with the Blood Red Throne guys. Hell of a way to cap off a record year for Metal Fest Bahrain!"
🏆 Historic Milestones:
- Angelus Apatrida became the first Spanish metal band to perform at Metal Fest Bahrain.
- Gridlok became the first Omani metal band to perform in Bahrain.
- Blood Red Throne became the first Norwegian metal band to perform in Bahrain.
Videos:
Angelus Apatrida
YouTube - “Indoctrinate” (Live)
Blood Red Throne
Amorphia
Gridlok
Â
June 12, 2025 - Death Metal Rules
Lineup:Â
Krisiun (Brazil)
Carnation (Belgium)
Necrosin (Bahrain)
Venue: Diggers
"This was an unapologetically brutal death metal lineup from start to finish.
Krisiun headlined the night, and I'd argue they're the fastest band ever to play Bahrain. Seriously, who plays faster than those guys? It also happened to be Max's birthday, so we celebrated with a cake and a bottle of premium whisky, courtesy of Ebrahim J. That whisky was gone in no time.
Carnation were outstanding. Huge sound on stage, killer show, and genuinely some of the nicest guys we've hosted. They left their mark on Bahrain, no question. Necrosin opened the night and, as always, got the pit moving from song one.
The morning after the show, Israel launched airstrikes on Iran. Krisiun got stranded at Bahrain airport for eight hours while the airspace was closed. They still made their European tour in time, thankfully. Carnation dodged the whole mess since they were on evening flights.
Looking back, it was an early sign of what was still to come."
🏆 Historic First: Krisiun became the first Brazilian metal band to perform in Bahrain.
Videos:
Krisiun
YouTube - “Necronomical” (Live)
YouTube - “Blood Of Lions” (Live)
Carnation
May 9, 2025 - The Clash Of Legends
Lineup:Â
Vio-Lence (USA)
Pestilence (Netherlands)
Hellionight (Bahrain)
Blacklist (venue house band - Davao, Philippines)
Venue: Diggers
"What a show. What a lineup. Two absolute legends representing different corners of metal.
The guys from Vio-Lence ended up staying in Bahrain for almost a week, and they couldn't have been cooler. Honestly, some of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet. Nothing but respect for those guys.
The Pestilence guys were also great. Easy to work with, down to earth, and they absolutely crushed it on stage.
Every band gave it everything that night. The energy never let up. Hellionight opened the show with another blistering set and had the crowd fired up from the first note.
If you missed it, the full sets from both Pestilence and Vio-Lence are up on YouTube. No doubt about it, this was one of the best Metal Fest Bahrain shows we've ever put on."
🏆 Historic First: Pestilence became the first Dutch metal band to perform in Bahrain.
Videos:
Vio-Lence
Pestilence
