Bands-2024

EVERGREY (SE)

progressive metal

They may be the biggest progressive metal band in Europe, but for sure a fact is that Evergrey is coming to Brainstorm Festival 2024. This means we have confirmed a great headliner, who also brings a new album along. More than enough reason for all Evergrey-fans to travel to Apeldoorn!

Evergrey started in the mid-90s and the band quickly made a name. The band continue building their fanbase, and in 2006 the album ‘Monday Morning Apocalypse’ entered the Swedish charts. From that moment on, Evergrey was unstoppable. Yet the band continued to develop, and the last four albums in particular clearly demonstrate what Evergrey stands for: a wall of heavy guitars, lots of melody, dark lyrics and the emotional vocals of Tom S. Englund.

Evergrey is also a great live-band. In fact, the band has extremely much live-experience and knows how to live up to all expectations time and time again. As said, Evergrey is coming to Brainstorm Festival with a new album. In advance, this promises to be a memorable show. More than enough reason to attend this edition! See you in November!

THEOCRACY (USA)

progressive power-metal

They are coming back to Brainstorm Festival! The American progressive power-metal band Theocracy has performed twice before in Apeldoorn, but the last time dates back to a long, long time ago. So it’s about time to do this all over again! And that’s a good thing, because Theocracy has delivered a great new album called ‘Mosaic’ late 2023.

After years of working under the wings of Ulterium Records, Theocracy can now be found in the stable of the larger Atomic Fire Records. The band proves with ‘Mosaic’ that this collaboration is a major step forward. An album that will undoubtedly appeal to fans of Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica and Symphony-X.

Since their last visit to Brainstorm Festival, the band has also undergone a transformation. The talented guitarist Taylor Washington has been recruited and drummer Ernie Topran is now a permanent member of the band. The result is a line-up that more than ever is able to deliver a high quality performance. So you can count on Theocracy to put on an unforgettable live show!

SAOR (UK)

folk/black-metal

With Saor, Brainstorm Festival has secured a strong headliner for the Friday-evening, which can appeal to a wide audience. Melodic and aggressive, folk and black, atmospheric and raw, grunts and female vocals. It can all be found in Saor’s music, and especially on the album “Aura” that the band will play in its entirety. That album - with which Saor broke through - is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Brainstorm Festival features the only 'Aura show' on Dutch soil. Moreover, this is Saor’s only remaining show in the Netherlands this year.

Saor - which means ‘free’ in Gaelic - was founded in 2013. Visionary and multi-instrumentalist Andy Marshall immediately attracted attention with the debut album “Roots”, but it was with the 2014-album “Aura” that the one-man-band made a definitive breakthrough. Since then he has delivered fantastic albums again and again, with the Scottish highlands serving as inspiration in beautifully drawn-out songs. Andy Marshall manages to merge Scottish folklore and hard metal over and over again.

At the beginning of this year, Saor headlined March Into Walhalla in Podium Gigant. There the band gave a general show and left an overwhelming impression. There was much to see on stage, partly due to the use of flutes, bagpipes and beautiful singing by Ella Zlotos (who is also present at Brainstorm Festival with Ephemeral). Enough reason to bring the band back to Apeldoorn, where the “Aura”-show offers a unique opportunity to enjoy one of the many highlights of Saor’s rich career.

SUNBURST (GR)

progressive metal

Sunburst has really tested our patience. After the excellent debut album 'Fragments Of Creation' was released in 2016, things quickly became quiet. Eight years later, the Greeks are finally back, and how! 'Manifesto' is without a doubt one of the best progressive metal albums to be released this year. Everything feels right on this masterpiece, and fans of Dream Theater, Evergrey and Symphony X should check them out.

We did the same with Brainstorm Festival, because Sunburst deserves a larger, international audience. The heavy, technical guitar parts, the warm, catchy vocal lines, the strong structure of the songs: with 'Manifesto' Sunburst shows how you should play progressive metal. And we are convinced that the band can also achieve that live. So this will be a show to remember.

In the 'nice to know facts' category: we also know guitarist Gus Drax from Suicidal Angels and Black Fate. In the latter band we also find singer Vasilis Georgiou. So they are busy bees, these Greeks. And always quality. It is not without reason that 'Manifesto' received the 10x Medal of Honor in Aardschok, plus third place in the soundcheck. Zware Metalen rewarded the album with 92/100 points. More than enough reason to come and see Sunburst during Brainstorm Festival!

IMMORTAL SOULS (FIN)

melodic death-metal

At the end of the nineties and at the beginning of this century, Immortal Souls caused a sensation throughout Europe. Who still remembers great albums like ‘Under The Northern Sky’ and their bestseller ‘Ice Upon The Night’, which was even released in the United States? The Finns regularly toured Europe at the time and were also a welcome guest in the Netherlands.

We want to experience that success once more, and 2024 is an ideal moment for this. Immortal Souls presents a new album this year. But of course Immortal Souls not only brings new work to Brainstorm Festival, because we also want to hear the classics!

Anyone who loves the venom of Children Of Bodom, the atmosphere of Insomnium or the melodies of the older In Flames-songs should not miss this show by Immortal Souls. And as a visitor you have influence on their set list, because in the run-up to the festival the Finns will ask which songs you want to hear. In short: a show by you, for you!

ASHTON NYTE (SA)

acoustic gothic-rock

With Myrath we already had a band from Africa performing at Brainstorm Festival. From now on they have to share that honor with Ashton Nyte, the frontman of the South African gothic rock band The Awakening. In the slipstream of a band like Savior Machine, The Awakening made impression and also gained a foothold in Europe. We've been keeping an eye on the band ever since, and now we’ve confirmed Ashton Nyte.

The singer – who currently lives in the United States – leaves his band at home, but does bring his guitar. In the theater hall of the Brainstorm Festival he will surprise us with an atmospheric show, in which his dark gothic-rock roots will be unmistakable. But alternative rock, post-punk and electronic music are also part of his baggage.

In South Africa, Ashton Nyte grew into a star, partly thanks to his beautiful voice that sounds like a mix between David Bowie and Johnny Cash. In short, this promises to be a show you should definitely not want to miss!

ALTERIUM (ITA)

power-metal

Anyone who takes a quick look at the bandphoto of Alterium can almost be mistaken in the haste. Because isn’t this the Kalidia line-up? The answer is very simple: no. Singer Nicoletta Rosellini was indeed the frontwoman of the disbanded band Kalidia. Together with some former bandmembers of Kalidia and few newcomers, she started Alterium. Expectations are high.

For the debut ‘Of War And Flames’ the band managed to get a deal with AFM Records, as a result of which Alterium suddenly became labelmates with Firewind, Orden Ogan and Leaves’ Eyes, to name just a few names. So high expectations! And Alterium fully delivers on their debut. Their catchy power metal will undoubtedly open many doors. In any case, it opened the door for us.

Alterium presents itself to the Dutch public at Brainstorm Festival. The Italians promise to make it a party with ‘thunderous guitar riffs, soaring vocals and adrenaline-pumping beats’. So there is no point in sitting still. Give Alterium a warm welcome!

VIRTUAL SYMMETRY (CH)

progressive metal

Marco Pastorino himself announced his return to Brainstorm Festival months ago. At that time it was still in the form of a visitor, but it is now clear that he will enter the stage again. This time with Virtual Symmetry, a Swiss progressive metal band that tours Europe as support of Evergrey. Then the fans will know enough what to expect!

Although Pastorino is a gifted guitarist, which he already showed at Brainstorm Festival with Temperance, Serenity and Fallen Sanctuary, the Italian provides lead vocals for Virtual Symmetry. And that goes well for him too. The fans of the bands mentioned will also undoubtedly embrace Virtual Symmetry.

The band's latest achievement is their 2022 selftitled album, but it could be that Virtual Symmetry during Brainstorm Festival will give an insight into what wonderful things the band still has in store for us!

UNDAWN (NL)

metalcore

Undawn will not be an unknown name for the regular audience of Brainstorm Festival. The band has played our event before and made an impression. So it’s time to get the band back. Moreover, Undawn has not been sitting still, so we are going to be treated with a show by a very experienced band.

Undawn had a breakthrough in 2011 with the album ‘Jumpers’. Their melodic metalcore could soon be heard everywhere. The following albums ‘Justice is...’ and ‘Solidarity’ also received great acclaim. It made Undawn one of the most important metalcore bands within The Netherlands.

This year Undawn can be seen at the Liberation Festival in Zwolle, The Netherlands. Consider that a nice warm-up for their show at Brainstorm Festival in November. The band opens the mainstage on Saturday, and we dare to put on a good bottle of wine that this will immediately create a nice moshpit. Be there!

EPHEMERAL (DE)

dark folk

Another surprising act: Ephemeral from Germany. This dark folk project was founded in 2019 by Ella Zlotos, Nik Jira and Patrick Maiwald. It resulted in an EP one year later, followed by the debut album ‘Into Being’ in 2023. The trio showcases an unique atmosphere consisting of folk, prog, post-rock and improvisations.

The Germans drew on centuries-old English literature for the lyrics, which fits well with the atmospheric music that Ephemeral produces. Recently the band has regularly been seen in old church buildings, and they will be performing on our theaterstage to keep the atmosphere. Ephemeral will perform two shows at the Brainstorm Festival: one on Friday and one on Saturday.

This is the Dutch debut for Ephemeral, but Ella Zlotos has previously been seen in the Netherlands. Moreover, in Apeldoorn. Even in Podium Gigant. Last January she played here with Saor during March Into Valhalla. Anyone who saw her performing knows that Ephemeral will be very special!

ANGELIC FORCES (NL)

80’s hardrock

Many international artists may be on stage at Brainstorm Festival, but we also haven't forgotten the Dutch metal scene. With Angelic Forces we bring in a strong emerging band from the north of our country. These gentlemen play 80’s hardrock and – as their latest album ‘Arise’ shows – do this very well.

Angelic Forces is also playing more and more on international stages. The band takes all that experience to Apeldoorn, for a great hardrock show that contains everything you would expect from such a concert. Screaming guitars, catchy choruses and great headbanging. Angelic Forces will represent our country well. Douze points!