Brutal Assault is like the grim altar of metal festivals. Every year, it brings the heaviest, darkest, and most chaotic bands together in the heart of an ancient fortress in Josefov, Czech Republic. If you’ve ever been there, you already know what I’m talking about. Brutal Assault isn’t just a festival. It’s a ritual—one that thousands of metalheads from across the globe return to each year to pay homage to the gods of extreme music. But Brutal Assault 2024? It took things to another level. This was a year that embodied everything metal stands for: unity, chaos, and raw power.
The Lineup: A Hellish Gathering of Metal’s Finest
Brutal Assault has always boasted a lineup that makes you wonder if the curators had some deal with Satan himself, but 2024 managed to surpass even the festival’s legendary standards. This year, Brutal Assault saw the convergence of both old-school legends and the most brutal up-and-coming acts.
Imagine standing in front of Emperor’s blackened fortress of sound, feeling the tremors of those iconic riffs. They haven’t graced Brutal Assault since their reunion days, and 2024 reminded everyone why Emperor is still the coldest force in black metal. Ihsahn’s vocals echoed through the fortress, chilling every soul within the walls. “Inno a Satana” hit harder than ever, a reminder that some legacies never fade.
Then there was the chaotic storm of Napalm Death. When Barney Greenway hit the stage, it felt like the earth might split open. Grindcore at its finest, delivering a sound so aggressive it could break bones. There’s nothing like witnessing “Scum” live—an aural assault that leaves you feeling wrecked but wanting more.
And how could we forget the mighty Gojira? Their groove-infused death metal was practically tailor-made for the festival’s vibe. Joe Duplantier roared across the sea of fans, and tracks like “Stranded” shook the fortress walls as if they were being torn apart by sheer willpower. Gojira isn’t just playing songs; they’re summoning a force of nature. Brutal Assault 2024 became their battlefield, and they left nothing but devastation behind.
But while the big names headlined the festival, let’s not overlook the raw, underground bands that helped craft Brutal Assault’s diverse soundscape. Acts like Bölzer and Mgła brought their ritualistic, unholy black metal to the festival, drawing in legions of fans who crave the darkness more than the light. Their atmospheric, relentless performances set the perfect tone as the sun dipped below the fortress walls and the true essence of Brutal Assault came to life.
The Lesser-Known Gems of Brutal Assault 2024
Sure, everyone’s there for the headliners, but the real magic of Brutal Assault happens in the shadows. This festival has an uncanny ability to highlight bands that are still grinding their way to the top. Brutal Assault 2024 gave these acts the kind of platform that can make a career—or utterly destroy it. Fortunately, we saw some absolute killers rise to the occasion.
Take Ulcerate, for example. Their dissonant death metal resonated throughout the Fortress Josefov like a war cry from some forgotten dystopia. While their music is often overlooked by more mainstream festivalgoers, those in the know were treated to one of the most intense performances of the entire event. Ulcerate’s ability to create layers of chaos and despair through their complex structures makes them one of the most unique bands in the genre, and in 2024, they proved why Brutal Assault is the perfect home for bands of their caliber.
The other standout? Blood Incantation. Fresh off their psychedelic death metal journey through the cosmos, they brought their spaced-out brutality to the Josefov Fortress and reminded everyone why they’ve been one of the most talked-about bands in extreme metal. Their set felt like a transcendent experience, one that could only be enhanced by Brutal Assault’s eerie, ancient backdrop.
The Atmosphere: Fortress Josefov’s Cold Embrace
Brutal Assault’s location isn’t just a venue—it’s a character in itself. The Fortress Josefov, a former military stronghold, is a sprawling maze of catacombs, courtyards, and crumbling battlements that perfectly complement the festival’s atmosphere. In 2024, the fortress seemed even more alive (or undead?) than ever.
Walking through the fortress during the day feels like you’re on a pilgrimage to some dark shrine. You hear echoes of rehearsing bands, the clinking of beer bottles, and the distant rumble of amps being tested. But at night, the fortress transforms. The air grows colder, the shadows longer, and the very walls seem to pulse with the festival’s energy. This isn’t just a gig in a field somewhere; Brutal Assault immerses you in the dark history of the fortress, as if the ghosts of the past are moshing right alongside you.
If you ventured into the catacombs, you’d know exactly what I mean. Descending into those dark, labyrinthine tunnels while bands like Portal or Cult of Fire played was nothing short of a surreal experience. The cold air, the dripping moisture, and the echoing sounds of metal reverberating through those stone walls created an atmosphere like no other.
The festival organizers went all out with lighting and visuals for 2024 as well. There’s nothing quite like watching Mayhem’s necro show while blood-red lights bathe the fortress walls in a glow that makes the place look like hell on earth. Those who were there during Mgła’s set might have noticed how the mist seemed to roll in at just the right moment, creating a thick, ethereal fog that swallowed the crowd whole. It felt like the spirits of Josefov were crawling up from the earth to witness the chaos.
The Fans: United by Metal
Brutal Assault isn’t just about the bands or the venue—it’s about the people. The metalheads who travel from all over the globe to partake in this ritual of noise and fury. 2024 felt like a reunion of the underground’s most loyal acolytes. It’s one of the few places on earth where it doesn’t matter where you come from, what language you speak, or how different your life back home might be. In the pit, we are all the same—bound together by our love for the music, the brutality, and the brotherhood that metal creates.
The crowd at Brutal Assault 2024 was, as always, an eclectic mix of battle vests, spikes, leather, and tattoos. You had the veteran metalheads who’ve seen Slayer more times than they can count, standing side-by-side with wide-eyed newcomers experiencing their first taste of live brutality. You had crust punks, black metal elitists, death metal addicts, and grindcore freaks all united in a glorious cacophony of headbanging, moshing, and beer-chugging.
But what really stood out in 2024 was the sense of camaraderie. Maybe it’s because we’ve all been through hell these past few years, but there was a sense of unity at Brutal Assault that went beyond the usual festival brotherhood. In the pit, you saw people helping each other up, sharing drinks, and trading stories from their journeys across the globe to get to Josefov. This is what makes Brutal Assault so special—it’s not just about the music, it’s about the people you experience it with.
Final Thoughts
Brutal Assault 2024 wasn’t just another festival—it was a reminder of why metal is so much more than just music. It’s a community, a ritual, and a force that brings people together in ways that no other genre can. The fortress walls of Josefov echoed with the sounds of brutality, but also with the laughter and camaraderie of thousands of metalheads who came together to celebrate something darker, heavier, and infinitely more powerful than anything mainstream society can understand.
This year’s edition of Brutal Assault was everything we hoped it would be, and more. The performances, the atmosphere, and the people made it one of the most unforgettable editions yet. If you were lucky enough to be there, you know exactly what I’m talking about. And if you weren’t… well, there’s always next year. The ritual continues.
For more info on Brutal Assault, check out their official website.
Want to dive deeper into the festival’s history? Visit the festival history page.
And, of course, follow me across all social media to stay connected: Xavi’s Links.
