August 17-18, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Line-up Highlights: Flotsam and Jetsam, Forbidden, Carnation, Eternal Champion, Bay Area Interthrashional, Saxon, and more.

Day 1

On August 17 and 18, Eindhoven once again hosted the ninth edition of Dynamo Metalfest, complete with two stages—the main stage and the Kink Distortion Stage—offering ample space for an explosive lineup.

Skipping the black metal pre-party on August 16, the Heavy Headbangers team arrived at the festival grounds Saturday afternoon, just in time to witness the American thrash legends Flotsam & Jetsam. This veteran band, blending heavy and power metal, delivered a tight set, with vocalist A.K. in prime form. Their performance had the crowd headbanging from the start.

With no time to rest, the Dutch band Distant soon took the stage, delivering a half-hour of brutal, bone-crushing metal. After Distant’s set, Whitechapel hit the stage with a powerful deathcore performance that, while solid, couldn’t quite surpass Distant’s intensity. Meanwhile, the festival market offered an array of merchandise, from flags to vinyl.

At the main stage, Blackbriar’s symphonic rock clashed somewhat with the brass band Heavy Hoempa, who brought their own celebratory vibe. Despite the mix, Blackbriar’s set shone, with an engaging singer and an animated bassist channeling young Jonathan Hultén.

After a break, we returned to catch Forbidden, whose old-school thrash sound injected youthful energy into their set. With crowd surfers aplenty, the crowd fervently sang along to classics like Chalice of Blood and Step by Step.

Festival experiences mean missing some acts, but we managed to catch Mental Cruelty’s filthy, intense sound as it rolled over the field. After a brief listen to Dimmu Borgir, we wrapped up the day with a favorite track, The Insight & the Catharsis. All in all, an epic first day. Onward to Day 2!

Day 2

Arriving back on August 18, we caught the last song of Green Lung, who made waves since Woodland Rites debuted in 2019. Next, Carnation took the stage with a unique blend of death and thrash metal, moving the crowd with visual flair and corpse-painted intensity.

One of the day’s highlights, Eternal Champion, took the stage next. The singer, adorned in chainmail and imposing presence, closed their European tour with a tight, high-energy set. Though short, their set left a memorable impact.

Following Eternal Champion, Bay Area Interthrashional brought the party to the main stage. Featuring members from bands like Flotsam & Jetsam, Death Angel, and Forbidden, the supergroup rocked tracks from Kill ‘Em All and Bonded by Blood, and even included fire-breathing stunts by Harald Oimoen. The crowd was treated to a surprise appearance by Zack Garcia, who channeled Paul Baloff’s spirit. An unforgettable show!

Unto Others’ goth sounds brought a darker vibe, but Skindred quickly revived the festive energy with infectious rhythms and a charismatic frontman. As the crowd moved to Skindred’s beat, we headed to the smaller stage for Bodysnatcher, who ended their tour with a massive beatdown set. Igorrr’s eclectic mix followed, fusing breakbeat, opera, and death metal in an intense, polarizing performance.

For the grand finale, the legendary Saxon closed out the festival with an energy that belied their years. Classics like Denim & Leather and Wheels of Steel had the crowd roaring.

Dynamo 2024 presented a wide range of acts, almost too varied for some. As we look to the festival’s tenth anniversary in 2025, including a third full day, we can’t wait to see what’s in store. Already confirmed? Within Temptation, Obituary, and Gojira.

– Tim X and Marco van Empel

Live footage courtesy of Metal Memories; interview footage provided by For the Passion, Not the Fashion.

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