Hellfest Open Air 2025 “Full Coverage”

July 15, 2025 Sunray Magazine

Hellfest takes place in Clisson, a small village “close to” Nantes, each year it is the place to be for metalheads from all over the world.

184 groups, over 4 days, on 6 different stages and this all for around 350€. If you look at the price tag you might think “that is a lot” but when you look at the other numbers, it is really a great deal for so many bands! Each stage has somewhat their own “theme”.
Mainstages are the popular more common (famous) bands. Altar & Temple are most black & death metal and whatever genre can be linked to it. While Valley is more stoner and Warzone (hence the name) is more hardcore (I honestly never visit this stage as it is far from what I like or am interested in, sorry), and not to mention it is impossible to cover them all on your own.

Not only does this festival provide good music, it also provides a camping for the most adventurous people among us, pre-paid tents for those who can’t take everything with them or who don’t like to struggle putting up / down tents. You also have special night trains who bring you from Clisson to Nantes the whole night after the gigs!
They also provide a shuttle bus to and from the fest for people like me who don’t like to walk that far in the heat (especially since you walk the whole day already).
This year Hellfest was an actual HELL with the temperatures we had! Except for Sunday, it didn’t go under 30 degrees. Guess we already got a little preview from what may come in the afterlife wink

But yes, this festival is like coming home each year, you start with a lot of joy and the last day it hits you it is already almost done again and you have to wait yet another year…
This is a festival you need to experience at least once in your life (I did it 14 times already).
No festival can be compared with this one, it is like some people said “Disney for metalheads”. The scenery is so beautiful and each year you wonder “what did they change or add now”. So always more excitement.

This festival also doesn’t provide your typical festival food, there is something wild for everyone, may you be vegan or a carnivore, you will find something for your taste.
I could write so much more about the whole experience, but this is my advice to you, just don’t read this, come and experience it yourself and if you really like festivals, you won’t regret!

DAY 1