Throw another scoop
Nummirock Metal Festival 2025
Nummijärvi near Kauhajoki, Finland 20250618-21
Trees are bright green, colourful flowers everywhere and clouds hang heavily above the scenery. Clear lakes turn up every now and then next to the road from Tampere via Parkano, leading to the festival grounds of Nummirock. On the English website, Rock busses from Pori and Seinäjoki are mentioned as other options, as well as some rules.
Basically, there are two big camps: the forest and the beach camp. In the first one, people build their own camps inside the camp with gates telling ‚Fuck The Sun‘. But everywhere, each guest needs to put metal and other waste to separate bags. It is possible to park the car right next to the tent and even to set up own sauna stoves and go swimming in the lake after.
In front of the stages, it is not allowed to smoke and drink alcohol. But there are clarified 18+ areas right next, providing a good view as well, and so everyone can enjoy the gigs the way they like. Anyway, it is also easily possible to go to the first row, as it never gets too packed, even though 17 000 fans gather here to celebrate music.
Wednesday 18th
Many of them like to wear the most beautiful corpse paint and to join typical Finnish activities like frisbee golf or Mölkky. On the warm-up day, the Main stage remains closed, but Assemble The Chariots open Inferno Stage right next to the beach. Their singer tells, that he heard the band himself in highschool and then he knew, that he wants to do Extreme Metal.
That is the genre, actually most of the festival is about, and so the circle pit gets a going. Changing from Inferno to Kaaos Klubi, the smaller tent stage next to the main entrance, Rioghan welcome with compelling Progressive, which made them tour with Wheel already. Equally captivating is Arion, who speed across the lake backside before the final Heilung with Noiduin and Black Metal by Havukruunu hallowed by some tears of heaven.
Thursday 19th
Everywhere further are the clouds on Thursday, as The Man-Eating Tree is humming next to his relatives on Main Stage. Hailing from Oulu, it brings the „Night Verses“ and let one „Breathe Emptiness“. Then Cumbeast from Turku spill their Deathcore fun with lots of inflatable penises and hits like „Cocktopus“ upon the masses.
They enjoy the Old School Death orientation with Torture Killer and the energetic show and jumping with Paleface Swiss from Zurich. It is their first time in Finland, still someone has seen them six times already and they learn the Finnish words ‚moi‘ and ‚perkele‘. More international bands continue, with Anal Vomit from Peru as another highlight.
Watching the raw power trio until the end, Bloodred Hourglass is just right there stepping out of Kaaos Klubi and looking to the Main Stage. Many will talk about the action of Kanonenfieber after and also about Modern (Nu) Metal heroes Luna Kills, who soon will tour with already mentioned BRHG.
As Cattle Decapitation cancelled, the local Power Metal legend Stratovarius jumped in and take it to the core with classic melodies like „Will the Sun Rise?“ and fire. Going back to extremes, Moonlight Sorcery from Tampere continue before the final surprise act: Bat & Ryyd are legends in Finland as well. And so the Kaaos Klubi turns to a party tent in the late night.
Friday 20th
Because the night is still bright, Rockjooga and Krabelibingo (Hangover-Bingo) are way too early. As well are Sara, Before the Dawn and the start of the Wacken Metal Battle (WMB). In the afternoon, Endstand replace Signs Of The Swarm and assert that there are so many wars, but right here at Nummirock is peace.
Decapitated are welcome guests at festivals like SBOA and are strong ever since. The heavy Doom of WMB band God Disease is giving chills, like the Orthodox stage decoration and performance by Patriarkh from Poland. Of the four paricipants of the WMB, Numento will take it home right after.
On Main stage, Fit For An Autopsy paints a „Red Horizon“ with „Warfare“ „Far From Heaven“. And with Marduk, the line-up features a Swedish Black Metal icon as headliner, which sweetens the sunset. But the songs most fans can sing with are „Valapatto“ or „Kuu saa valtansa auringolta“ by Mokoma, who even take the chance to celebrate the 50th birthday of a band-member.
And the night still has more up the sleeve, with Oranssi Pazuzu almost cracking the speakers and delivering the awaited beautiful midsummer atmosphere right at the shore. To end the day, Business City is ready to party at the Kaaos Klubi this night.
Saturday 21st
No wonder the last day starts bit later as well, but after Rehupiikles, Hevisaurus arrives for Kids Nummirock with hits like „Viimeinen mammutti“. Meanwhile a wedding is going on and the floor at Inferno stage is freshly leveled. But only so the pit at Lähiöbotox can destroy it again in the rain to songs like „Soittakaa Kytat“, nailing it like Body Count.
Mikael Stanne of Dark Tranquillity of Cemetery Skyline then notices, that Gothic Rock is perfect in the rain. They cover Roy Orbison and present the track that started it all: „Violent Storm“. The storm at the front one guy takes on a rubber duck, as Alestorm inflate the big one.
They have just released their „Thunderfist Chronicles“ the day before, but also feature his like „Mexico“ or cover „Hangover“. With King Satan, Kaaos Klubi goes Industrial, and as Korpiklaani from Lahti gets to „Saunaan“, the inner voice longs for exactly that and the lake.
Fin(n)ish
So while Tyrantti, Turmion Kätilöt and Stereo Terror thunder from the stages, the steam goes up the chimney, within the corny nature of Finnish forest and Nummijärvi. The bands of Nummirock would make one want to see every single one, as there are no bad ones. But the festival has too much else to offer to watch all of them.
And even though it can get very cold and rainy, and the beer costs 9 euro upwards (but T-shirts 25 and hoodies 65 euro), the time with friendly people and amazing music and atmosphere is all worth it. Leaving the grounds on Sunday, police does field sobriety tests with every driver. Yet there it is, the concert hangover and the major desire to go back, as the road leads to the train station.