Mystic is in contrast to nearly every other summer time pageant in Europe. Hosted within the metropolis of Gdansk since 2022 – earlier than that it traditionally bounced round cities together with Krakow, Katowice and Wroclaw – it is one of many first main steel occasions in the summertime calendar and has hosted headline units by everybody from Mercyful Destiny and Judas Priest to Ghost and Machine Head.
However what’s it truly like? By this level, everyone knows there’s extra steel festivals within the yr than precise weekends to host them, so between your Downloads and Bloodstocks, Wacken and Hellfests, it is easy to lose sight of what the pageant expertise is definitely like on the bottom.
With Hammer returning to Gdansk for Mystic’s fourth version within the historic shipyard, we figured we might share a couple of insights into what made Mystic Pageant 2025 so good (erm, spoiler).
Getting out and in is a breeze
Relating to festivals, you typically anticipate to show as much as some out-the-way area and arrange camp. Not so with Mystic. Though the pageant did used to supply tenting on-site, this yr it was discontinued.
However with the pageant going down within the Gdansk Shipyard, town itself is actually a fast stroll up the street, that means discovering the pageant (and getting out of it) seems to be ridiculously straightforward – helpful for when you’ve had a couple of over the course of the day.
Lodge beds are a godsend
Yeah, yeah, we all know we ought to be extra hardcore and relish standing knee deep in mud listening to Slayer riffs as thunder rolls overhead, however we’re additionally previous and have bones made from powder and ache.
Mystic being mainly proper within the metropolis of Gdansk (or simply out of it) means there is a tonne of lodging choices from the cheap-and-cheerful to the “that is mainly a luxurious vacation”. That additionally means a heat mattress to return to each evening, sizzling showers and a basic sense that doing the pageant is not going to shuffle you off your mortal coil by the top of the weekend. Huzzah.
Gdansk Shipyard seems badass
Going proper again to Black Sabbath, steel’s at all times had an inclination in direction of post-industrial landscapes. So the place higher for an enormous steel pageant than an precise post-industrial panorama? The sight of big transport cranes behind Primary Stage is one which caught with us instantly, however there’s additionally the matter of previous buildings, transport containers and previous rail traces lending the entire thing a Fallout-like vibe. Put up-apocalyptic thrash? Fuck yeah.
You may truly discover town
Yeah alright, that is the final time we’ll bleat on about how properly positioned the pageant is. However with bands not beginning until after 3pm, there’s loads of time within the days to discover town and close by locales. Gdansk itself has an interesting historical past mixing completely different cultures (Baltic, German and Polish chief amongst them) and performed an enormous half within the Second World Struggle, with the primary battle truly going down simply half hour out of city at Westerplatte (which now homes a museum, ruins and a monument to the forces who fought the Nazi invasion in 1939).
Throughout the week of Mystic, it is common to identify metalheads not solely filling out the various bars and eating places within the metropolis, but in addition popping up at touristy spots just like the metal-as-fuck cranium chamber beneath the Basilica of St. Bridget. Our private favorite was operating right into a lad in a Deicide shirt leaving St. Mary’s Church (which has an enormous tower providing views of town – however can be a killer hike that is finest accomplished earlier than you have spent a couple of days moshing and headbanging until the wee hours).
You do not have to remortgage for food and drinks
A biggie, this. European festivals on the entire appear to have a significantly better grasp of the “let’s not cost £15 for the worst beer you have ever tasted” idea that has infilitrated a few of the extra mainstream festivals and Mystic is not any exception. Even factoring in change charges, beers come out to round £6 or £7 a pint (so, not too dissimilar to costs at your larger native venue) whereas choices like Kraken and Jagermeister cocktails nonetheless drop in just under the £10 mark. Tasty.
As for meals, Mystic had all the standard suspects: Burgers, noodles, burritos, pizza… All once more below £10 a meal. We have been notably impressed by the Kielbasa stand, which proved low cost and extremely filling (particularly with the goulash).
Lastly, onto the bands. Contemplating Emperor headlined the primary version of the pageant manner again in 99, it in all probability should not be a shock that Mystic nonetheless has a powerful connection to the world of maximum steel. Even with extra mainstream bands like Slipknot getting booked in recent times, the 2025 version had loads of visceral nastiness to sink your fangs into, whether or not that was loss of life metallers like Nile or Vader (who truly supplied this yr’s “pageant anthem”) to a number of black steel acts like Witch Membership Devil, Beherit and the almighty Bathory tribute Blood Hearth Loss of life.
…However is not above a little bit of RAWK
For all of the thrash, loss of life and black steel on its levels, Mystic 2025 additionally had a transparent love for old style rock. A well-populated Jerry Cantrell set noticed the singer/guitarist elicit massive sing-alongs for Alice In Chains tunes Them Bones, Rooster and Would?, whereas W.A.S.P.’s triumphant run-through of their self-titled debut pulled one of many largest crowds we noticed on the Park Stage all weekend.
And that is to say nothing of the sing-alongs to Van Halen, KISS, Ugly Child Joe et al. that will usually serenade us into the evening as bands completed every day and DJ units took over the PA.
There’s some ways to social gathering
Whereas the bands are an enormous a part of what Mystic provides, they don’t seem to be the be-all, end-all. A basement full of retro consoles provided a helpful spot to duck out for a fast match-up on Mario Kart or Mortal Kombat 3 between bands, whereas the official pageant “relax zone” had its personal wrestling ring with match-ups every day.
Be careful for drones
Alright, so you are not truly in danger, however we’ll admit to being a bit shocked at how low a few of the official pageant drones fly overhead at Mystic. Mounted with cameras to seize the motion each within the crowd and on-stage, they add a dynamic sense of motion to the large display protection that makes it further thrilling (although actually perturbed a few artists, Dani Filth warning he would “chunk off it is fucking head” if it acquired too shut throughout Cradle’s set).
It seems, you have not correctly seen a circle pit on the large display ‘until you have seen a drone flying in circles overhead. Mad.
The levels are a mixture of indoors and outside…
Though Mystic is an outside pageant, it has a few indoor levels. The membership Drizzly Grizzly is used for the super-intimate Sabbath Stage, whereas the Shrine stage is an even bigger hangar-like room which even has a balcony space with a bar and settees. Fancy.
Which is helpful when the climate takes a flip
Look, it is June. In Europe. You do not have to be a hardened pageant vet to know meaning the climate can instantly go tits up proper as you are watching a band and positive sufficient gray skies over Gdansk throughout the weekend at Mystic 2025 did sometimes dip into downpours.
Whereas that was hardly going to cease us having fun with the likes of Jinjer or Hatebreed (who performed as much as a very heavy bathe by taking part in Raining Blood. LADS) it may well dampen the spirits when the solar goes down and also you’re instantly stood in soaked shorts and a t-shirt. So, you bugger off to one of many smaller levels, cram your self in like a sardine to see the likes of Loss of life Angel or Witch Membership Devil and let the heat dry you off. Artistic options!
It is not an endurance check
Image the scene: it is day 4 of a pageant, you have seen a dozen bands a day and likewise spent most mornings criss-crossing town to see the sights, one way or the other dragging your carcass up the largest tower on the town. However now, your legs really feel like breadsticks with offended nerve endings and you’ve got nonetheless acquired one other day’s pageant to go. Time to go residence proper?
Daft (and apparent) because it sounds, Mystic having an entire bunch of respite areas is probably the most effective amenities on the pageant. Benches close to bars and eating places imply you are not spilling half your food and drinks whereas making an attempt to nourish your self within the small window between bands, whereas the pageant’s official “relax space” (extra benches, bars and meals stands) is an effective way to only take a breather and collect your energy.
And that is to say nothing of the absurd however good seating choices obtainable on a few of the levels. We noticed (and sure, lounged in) hammocks (Metallic Hammercks?) by the principle stage, discovered cozy sofas up on the balcony of the Shrine and even pulled up a deckchair whereas ready for Pentagram’s set on the Desert Stage. There’s additionally ample seating within the pageant’s indoor meals court docket, that means we nonetheless had loads of power to social gathering it out with post-headliner units like Inhuman Nature, Perturbator or I Am Morbid. It is a small contact, however one thing that makes an enormous distinction.
What makes a headliner?
Massive debate subject, this. Some will certainly let you know that any headliner value their salt ought to have the ability to pack out arenas, and even stadiums. However we put it to you: headliners aren’t dictated by the venues they play, however the form of present they placed on.
Though Mystic’s had tried-and-true prime liners like Iron Maiden and Slipknot up to now, the pageant additionally feels particular for its skill to supply smaller veteran bands a chanc to get top-billing. In 2025, we acquired In Flames, King Diamond and Sepultura – and allow us to let you know, all three completely smashed it – and for various causes.
From In Flames’ dazzling multi-screen shows which made their Thursday evening headline a revelation (christ, that band has been lengthy overdue prime billing) to King Diamond’s characteristically theatrical outing on Friday evening and Sepultura bringing the hits to shut out Saturday, Mystic feels further particular for affording bands who may in any other case languish decrease on a invoice an opportunity to shine in an enormous setting.
There was loads of theatricality to go about
With a headliner like King Diamond, Mystic was by no means going to lack for aptitude. However even decrease on the invoice, there have been loads of bands placing on eye-popping shows.
Stoner rock stars Fortress Rat introduced 70s type prog ideas to old style steel with their glorious set on the Desert Stage on Wednesday (all hail our new Rat Queen), whereas Witch Membership Devil had a crowd spilling out into the road for his or her Sabbath Stage set straight after, incorporating poetic readings like Mom Sea amidst their extra incendiary black steel choices.
It is a really worldwide affair
We’d’ve seen the likes of Employed To Serve or Inexperienced Lung a dozen occasions earlier than, however there’s one thing particularly particular about seeing them pull passionate crowds at a world pageant. Each smashed it (naturally), however Britain wasn’t the one nation represented at Mystic Pageant 2025.
One of many first bands to kick off the pageant was Intrepid, the Estonian band pulling out some surprisingly Voivod/latter-day Napalm Loss of life cosmic notes amidst their bludgeoning loss of life steel. The pageant additionally hosted a “Danish invasion” from its neighbours throughout the Baltic Sea, internet hosting the likes of Møl and Plaguemace.
We have no concept how King Diamond’s set goes to suit into UK venues
With headliner standing, it is not stunning that King Diamond had a mammoth set-up on the principle stage. Extra akin to a giant theatre manufacturing than your common steel gig, the set – full with a chamber, rocking chair and staircase – underpinned the grandiose, Hammer horror vibe the King curates.
All day, tributes to Diamond poured in – from Inexperienced Lung, Opeth, Cradle Of Filth… even Hatebreed (“It is almost time for tea!”), underscoring how influential the demonic Dane is. However it nonetheless falls wanting capturing the sheer insanity of his stay present, full with an on-stage actress and legions of followers howling alongside to the likes of Abigail, Voodoo and Welcome Residence. “GRANDMAAA WHAT WAS IT LIIIIKE?”
However one band stole the pageant
Even the King could not examine to one of the crucial distinctive – and uncommon – performances of the weekend, Blood Hearth Loss of life – A Tribute to Quorthon and the Music of Bathory.
Over 20 years since Quorthon handed, the reverence for Bathory‘s ground-breaking model of black steel has solely elevated, and the all-star tribute (comprised of former and present members of bands together with Watain, Mayhem and Enslaved) proved a critical draw earlier than Sepultura closed out the Primary Stage.
Kicking off with a choir-enhanced A Advantageous Day To Die and pulling out a pyro-filled set that actually lived as much as the “Hearth” portion of Blood Hearth Loss of life, the set was an astounding runthrough of the legendary band’s most beloved hits, even drafting in a couple of shock visitors so as to add an additional corpse-painted cherry on prime, as when Mayhem’s Attila Cshair popped as much as gargle Born For Burning just like the world’s most infernal goblin.
So what’s Mystic Pageant truly like?
In a phrase? Sensible. There’s an entire bunch of steel festivals world wide now with their very own distinctive parts and experiences, however Mystic holds its personal as one of the crucial distinctive of all, a superb mix of extremity and enormity making certain its line-up feels contemporary and thrilling every year.
Even with the climate not taking part in ball, the 2025 occasion was nothing wanting a triumph, an enormous celebration of all issues heavy with one thing to cowl nearly each nook of the steel world. Confirmed to return to Gdansk subsequent yr from June 3 to June 6, it is an expertise each metalhead ought to attempt not less than as soon as.
