REVIEW: MAYHEM FEST brings together the best of metalcore and heavy music.
MAYHEM FESTIVAL RETURNS AFTER 9 YEARS with a bang in San Bernardino solidifying itself as one of the most highly anticipated metal events of the year. Held at the Glen Helen Amphitheater on October 12, the festival offered a jam-packed day of face-melting performances from 23 incredible bands, bringing together the best of metalcore and heavy music.
Headlining Acts
The festival was headlined by Bad Omens, one of the most exciting metalcore acts of the year, delivering an epic set for the band’s biggest headline performance to date. Their performance was warmed up by the iconic Aussie boys Parkway Drive, known for their explosive (they love their pyro) live shows, and Architects, who brought their polished yet ferocious sound to the stage, making the trio of headliners an unforgettable experience for fans.
Supporting Acts
The lineup also featured a variety of supporting acts from across the metal spectrum, ensuring there was something for every kind of metalhead. Jinjer captivated the crowd with their progressive and technical metal, while Poppy surprised many with her eclectic mix of genres that straddled the line between pop and metal. Classic metal veterans Kittie made their long-awaited return, and August Burns Red performed their iconic album Constellations in full, much to the delight of longtime fans.
Other notable performances included We Came As Romans, Suicide Silence, and After the Burial, all of whom brought relentless energy to the stage. Throwdown made a triumphant return with their first California show in over a decade, and the rising star Peyton Parrish performed his first-ever West Coast show, wowing the crowd with his Viking-inspired metal.
Extra Highlights
The inclusion of Seven Hours After Violet, a new project featuring Shavo Odadjian from System of a Down, which was the band’s first live performance as a whole so it was definitely nice to witness that history. Additionally, It Dies Today marked their first West Coast show in over 10 years, adding to the festival's legacy of reviving beloved bands.
With acts like Born of Osiris, Unearth, Darkest Hour, Brutus, and Escuela Grind, the day was a whirlwind of heavy breakdowns, technical prowess, and non-stop mosh pits. The 2024 Mayhem Fest proved that metal is thriving, and it set the stage for what’s to come in future iterations, with fans eagerly anticipating the full touring festival in 2025 which has been confirmed for next year.
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