Metal fans across India and beyond made their annual pilgrimage to Bangalore Open Air 2025, held this Saturday, February 8. The 12th edition of the festival was held at the Royal Orchid Resort & Convention Centre at Yelahanka, Bengaluru. It was a magical bouquet of stunning and versatile acts which enchanted audiences.
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The Buffet
Hyderabad progressive metal act Peekay inaugurated the events for the day. Theirs was a fiery set led by vocalist Pranati Khanna, whose vocals moved from sopranos to intense screams and growls. The band was joined onstage by metal vocalist Shashank Bhatnagar. The sonic spectrum of the band included elements of tight and brilliant alternative rock to some powerful prog metal music. A rising act for all fans of rock and metal!
The symphonic death metal doyens from Mumbai, Demonic Resurrection inaugurated their 25th Anniversary series of performances this year with a fresh new lineup. “Demonstealer” Sahil Makhija with his characteristic witty stage banter pointed to the irony of the band having 3 albums about darkness playing in the bright sunlight. Fans were treated with classics like Apocalyptic Dawn, Narasimha, and Unrelenting Surge of Vengeance, covering the range of their discography. A power set where none could help themselves from headbanging especially when the intro riff to Krishna The Cowherd ushered in.
Pune’s thrash metal mavericks Kasck ignited the Kadence Stage with a blistering performance. Despite battling muddy sound in the indoor venue, the band’s riffs showcased their dedication to old-school thrash revivalism. Greek thrash titans Suicidal Angels dominated the field with a ferocious set. Their performance transformed the pit into a whirlwind of chaos. The band’s energy, paired with frontman Nick Melissourgos’s commanding performance injected a modern ferocity that left the crowd breathless
Swedish death metal band Necrophobic showcased their signature blend of blackened death metal, with guitarist Sebastian Ramstedt’s icy tremolo-picked riffs and vocalist Anders Strokirk’s hellish growls casting a spell over the audience. Their set was a masterclass in Scandinavian extremity, bridging the gap between melodic grandeur and primal brutality.
Bengaluru’s hometown heroes Inner Sanctum brought their signature blend of groove-laden death metal to the Halford’s Altar stage at Bangalore Open Air. With Shashank Bhatnagar on vocals, Ujwal KS on drums, Narayan Shrouthy on bass, and Chintan and Tejas on guitars, the band delivered a relentless set that included fan favorites like Divided by Hate. No wonder they’re stalwarts in Indian extreme metal.
In this sea of walls of overdriven guitars, Stockholm horror synth-wave duo Midnight Danger was a fresh palette cleanser for audiences. Their set featured (no prizes for guessing) groovy synths and otherwordly neon lights. With electric guitar rhythms and pentagrams etched drums cutting through the synth haze, even seasoned metal lords like Nolan Lewis were caught grooving to the compelling emotive music. A great highlight of the festival!
Pioneers of technical progressive metal combined with jazz fusion, American veterans Cynic had an eclectic and ethereal set. Helmed by guitarist and vocalist Paul Masvidal, they played some of their famous tracks like Traced in Air, Veil of Maya, Evolutionary Sleeper, and Integral Birth among others. The late drummer virtuoso Sean Reinert while being sorely missed, fans were delighted to witness the band. A great concoction of expertly crafted extreme music.
Djent deities Jinjer were the stars of the night. Audiences were lost in the magic of the heavy groovy goodness. Vocalist Tatiana Shmayluk with her volcanic performance, guitarist Roman Ibramkhalilov, bassist Eugene Abdukhanov, and drummer Vladislav Ulasevich were a perfectly functioning musical organism. Mosh rituals were laid open for audiences, with madness ensuing. Covering tracks like Perennial, and Rogue, they concluded their set with their biggest hit ‘Pisces‘. Undoubtedly, one of the best performances to be witnessed in recent times.
The Rest
The primary performance stage area was the Ronnie James Dio Stage where most artists performed. The indoor Halford’s Altar or Kadence Stage featured Kasck, Inner Sanctum, and Midnight Danger. While Kasck faced some mushy sound despite their impeccable performance due to what seemed like limitations of the internal venue. Luckily, Inner Sanctum and Midnight Danger were luckier in that regard. We also spotted attendees such as artist Prasad Bhat, the OG among Indian metal vocalists Vehrnon Ibrahim of ex-Millennium fame, and youtuber Karl Rock
The event also featured merchandise stalls including a corpse paint stall. There were also, of course, food and beverage options, and opportunities to meet and greet the acts. The green lawn venue saved the trouble of soily pants for festival goers.
From the symphonic grandeur of Demonic Resurrection to Jinjer’s djent-driven catharsis, the festival celebrated metal’s boundless diversity. As the echoes of Pisces faded into the Bengaluru night, one truth remained undeniable: the heart of Indian metal beats loudest at Bangalore Open Air.
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