Heretic Steel Fest 2025
On Saturday the 22nd, we gathered at the Teatrito for the Heretic Steel Fest after Atrophy and Artillery had to drop out of the tour during the week due to issues with some producers. The Swedish band Ambush then took over as the closing act for a festival that was a true celebration of heavy metal.
The afternoon kicked off early with Mercurio laying down the first riffs and melodies reminiscent of the eighties, which would be a constant throughout the evening. With tracks like “Instinto Callejero” (Street Instinct), which also lends its title to their excellent album, Mercurio showed they are one of the new bands with a very promising future.
The thrashers Frantic brought their ferocity to the table with songs like “Convoca al Calavera” (Summon the Skull) and “Velocidad Infernal” (Infernal Speed), even playing with the intro of Artillery’s “Khomaniav” so the crowd could get at least a little of what the Danes couldn’t deliver. With virtuosity and aggression, the guys put on a great show with their razor-sharp and powerful thrash metal. Speed remained a constant with Metaluria’s speed metal, featuring Gabriel from Frantic on drums, in a crushing set that included a cover of Twisted Sister’s “You Can’t Stop Rock and Roll” and their own anthems like “Panza Metalera” and “Heavy Metal.” The first spicy mosh pits of the night were already starting to appear.
By the time Velocidad 22 took over, the Teatrito was a party! The leather, studs, and chains of Paul Divano on stage, along with the mosh pit, intensified with killer tracks like “Bandalos de Cuero,” “Alas Metalizadas,” and “Mal Pero Fuerte,” which closed out the Argentine bands’ performances at the festival.
On their first visit to our country, and also their first performance outside of Chile, the Chilean band Hëiligen delivered an excellent power metal show, playing songs from their album “Shadows in the Church.” They gave a super powerful, high-energy performance that included everything from their much-celebrated cover of Randy’s “Beast in the Night” to gifts for the Argentinian audience, who welcomed them with total enthusiasm.
For the huge finale, Ambush ignited the crowd right from the soundcheck, playing a few seconds of “Natural Born Killers” behind closed curtains, giving a taste of what their show would be like. And finally, the Swedes took the stage and dazzled! As they played songs like “Heading East,” “Desacretor,” “Hellbitter,” “Closet My Eyes,” and “Natural Born Killers” itself, the crowd was completely fired up, the beer flowed, Oskar Jacobsson’s high notes were dazzling, and the party just kept getting better and better. Ambush’s set was pure party! With a mix of Spanish and English, the musicians managed to joke and engage the audience, making them feel completely part of the epic show. “This was probably our best performance,” Oskar said, and after, amid laughter, the obviously blistering “Didn’t Shoot (Let ‘Em Burn)” brought down the curtain on a spectacular edition of Heretic Steel, where the steel of heavy metal shook and shone in its full glory.
Photos by Eliana Fernandez
Review by Josué Ortiz
Produced by Heresy Metal Media