Hellfest 2026. Clisson, France. Megadeth. Can This Retirement Last Forever? Dave Mustaine and company hit the Hellfest stage, and Tipping Point gets the until-then lethargic Hellfest crowd jumping.
This is what happens when you are in the presence of Thrash Metal and, curse me for saying it, the band that always led the Big Four when it comes to technical prowess.
The moshpit is carnage, and it deserves to be. It might be the last time they play France. And even if it is not, that time is not far off. This is pissed off, perfect, impeccable, and going through all the important moments of a fantastic career.
Sweating Bullets is sheer riffage perfection, with the whole band sounding like the best-oiled machine ever.
It is impossible not to sit (well, stand) grinning like an idiot. New track I Don’t Care slots perfectly into the set, and pretty much the whole duration of their recital is a massive pit. It is as if people feel that you must give as much of a tribute to these Metal gods as their retirement date draws close. It is fitting and very deserved.
And it is a very well-chosen set. À Tout Le Monde is glorious, new album track Let There Be Shred kicks way more ass than allowed, and it is all showing off what a band Mustaine has around him.
The rhythm section is phenomenal, and Teemu Mäntysaari on guitar is the perfect foil for MegaDave. Not that Mustaine is any slouch. That picking is simply hard to fathom at times.
From where I am, this is one of the most incredible crowd reactions of the whole festival, with Mustaine never once going “open the pit”. People just feel it. And Tornado Of Souls is… no words. Symphony Of Destruction is pure perfection.
At this point, I must make a confession. I have not been in a moshpit since much younger days (two years ago, then). During Peace Sells, I went in with all I had. I finished the show in the first couple of rows.
I cannot imagine a better concert to do that for.
The conclusion? This was pure Thrash Metal perfection. I hope they retire like Mötley Crüe. No. Like Kiss.
HELLFEST 2026
Prepare to be consumed by the relentless energy of the most influential bands in Heavy Metal as they ignite the Hellfest stages with blistering performances. The immersive atmosphere of Clisson will immerse you in a dark, captivating experience like no other.
With its unparalleled lineup and unwavering commitment to the spirit of metal, Hellfest 2026 promises an unforgettable journey into the depths of sonic mayhem. Read all the Heavy Metal News at MetalTalk.
MetalTalk Hellfest 2026 coverage can be found at https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2026.
This year’s MetalTalk team is:
Photography:
For Hellfest 2025, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2025.
For Hellfest 2024, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2024.
For Hellfest 2023, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2023.
For Hellfest 2022, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2022.
