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.
September 4, 2026 - Double Album Release
Lineup:
Hellionight (Bahrain)
Zvindiyar (Bahrain)
Rock United (venue house band - Phillippines)
Venue: Diggers
"This was our first Metal Fest of 2026, and it came after by far the most difficult start to a year we’ve experienced in Bahrain.
Unfortunately, Bahrain was caught up in the war between the United States and Iran. It had been a stressful few months for everyone, and the situation still wasn’t completely over.
By early September, I felt it was time to bring Metal Fest back. Hellionight had released their new album Witches’ Sabbat in July, while Zvindiyar were preparing to release Six Rites on September 3. With both albums arriving so close together, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for a Metal Fest double album launch party.
I decided to make the show completely free. After everything people had been through this year, we just wanted to put on a great metal show, bring everyone together and give something back to the scene.
Then, just three days before the event, we had another scare when Iran retaliated against targets in Bahrain following a US attack. For a moment, the timing couldn’t have seemed worse.
But we decided the show must go on.
I honestly wasn’t expecting a huge turnout. I thought the situation would understandably make a lot of people hesitant to come out.
I was completely wrong.
Diggers was packed to capacity, and the atmosphere was incredible. The crowd was loud, energetic and clearly ready for a night of metal.
Rock United opened the show and immediately got things moving with metal and hard rock classics from bands including Ozzy Osbourne and AC/DC. The pit was already going during their set. It was obvious that people had been hungry for a metal show.
Zvindiyar were up next, performing material from their newly released album Six Rites. The band delivered a crushing set full of heavy riffs and atmosphere, despite having to overcome a major problem just days before the show. Their lead guitarist Prasad suffered a serious arm injury around ten days before Metal Fest and was forced to pull out. Thankfully, veteran guitarist Sunny stepped in at the last minute. With very little preparation time, he did a great job, and the entire band sounded incredibly tight.
Hellionight closed the night with a brutal thrash assault. They performed Witches’ Sabbat in its entirety along with a few covers, bringing the energy from beginning to end and giving everything they had onstage.
There were also a lot of new faces in the crowd, which is something we always want to see. However, we did have a few incidents involving people who seemed to misunderstand what a mosh pit is supposed to be about. A metal pit can look violent from the outside, but there’s a huge difference between moshing and actually trying to hurt someone. The pit should always be controlled chaos with respect for the people around you. Thankfully, the incidents were quickly broken up.
For future Metal Fest shows, we’ll be increasing security to make sure everyone can enjoy themselves safely. Go crazy in the pit, pick someone up when they fall, and look after each other.
Apart from those few incidents, it was an awesome night.
After such a terrible start to the year, seeing Diggers packed with people supporting live metal in Bahrain meant a lot. For a few hours, everyone could forget about everything happening around us and just enjoy the music.
Hopefully, peace returns to the region soon and we can get back to what we want to be doing: bringing bigger and better metal shows to Bahrain.
Thank you to everyone who came out, supported the bands and made the first Metal Fest of 2026 one to remember."
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
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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
