It is fair to say that the 40,000 Metalheads who gathered last Monday had luck on their side when it came to the weather. Under a pleasant summer sun, they enjoyed performances from their favourite bands, all of whom seemed determined to live up to the festival’s name: Live Is Live.
Live Is Live Festival, Antwerp – 29 June 2026
Words And Photography: Dennis De Loor
Due to last-minute adjustments to the stage construction, Fleddy Melculy’s opening set had to be cancelled. The catwalk that had been part of the stage setup the previous day was dismantled to accommodate Iron Maiden’s production.
The cancellation came as a heavy blow to the band, especially considering they only resumed touring earlier this year and had been looking forward to celebrating their tenth anniversary with their fans at Middenvijver Park.
As a small consolation, fans can look forward to a new studio album, the follow-up to Antichlist, scheduled for release in the autumn of 2026.
Doro
It is truly remarkable to witness Doro Pesch still performing with the same youthful enthusiasm after more than forty years on stage. The former Warlock singer made history as the very first woman to perform at the legendary Monsters Of Rock festival in Donington back in 1986.
Unknowingly, she became a pioneer who paved the way for countless women to follow in her footsteps.
The Queen Of Metal treated the audience to highlights from her extensive catalogue, with a particular focus on the Warlock years. Burning the Witches, Raise Your Fist and Warriors Of The Sea were just a few of the songs she delivered with her trademark charisma and genuine affection for her fans.
The crowd watched as she confidently wielded a flamethrower to “bless” the audience, while her iconic flag, of course, made its traditional appearance.
Following the inevitable crowd favourite All We Are, Doro closed her set with Thunderspell.
Testament
If one word perfectly describes Bay Area thrash legends Testament, it is hungry. Only a few months ago, they presented their latest album, Para Bellum, at Trix. Now they are already back, kicking off their new European tour. For those who missed them on Monday, there will be another opportunity to catch them at Alcatraz Festival this August.
But back to the performance.
Chuck Billy is charisma personified. As he has often mentioned himself, there is a clear “before” and “after” period in his life following his cancer diagnosis. In 2026, that translates into an incredible stage presence overflowing with passion. He no longer storms wildly across the stage as he once did, but instead focuses even more on connecting with the audience.
Highlights included new tracks such as Infanticide A.I., alongside Shadow People and Nature Of The Beast. Testament wrapped up their blistering set with the lightning-fast Over the Wall from 1987, prompting the day’s very first circle pit.
Epica
I simply cannot shake the comparison. Every time I see, and especially hear, frontwoman Simone Simons perform, I am inevitably reminded of the Sirens from Greek mythology. In those ancient tales, Sirens lured sailors to their doom with irresistible songs.
Simone was certainly not deadly yesterday. But she was absolutely irresistible.
A wave of melodic drama and crushing guitar riffs washed over the audience like the sea itself. Standout moments included Sensorium from the band’s debut album, the epic nine-minute Cry For The Moon, and Consign To Oblivion.
Nick Cave’s performance the previous evening must have been something truly special, as Simone mentioned it during the set and expressed her wish to one day attend one of his concerts herself.
By now, the festival grounds had filled considerably, yet Epica still had enough energy left to unleash Apparition and Arkana from their latest album.
Standing still was hardly an option during Beyond The Matrix, when the audience was encouraged to jump along. However, the request to create two simultaneous circle pits during the final song largely fell on deaf ears.
All that was left was year two of the Run For Your Lives World Tour with Iron Maiden marking their 31st performance in Belgium. You can read the review here.
