The 2024 edition of Hellfest Festival was as impressive as ever. Bogdan Bele shares his takeaways from this year’s headbanging extravaganza in Clisson, France. There was much to stand out.
You Can’t Beat Bruce Dickinson
Bruce Dickinson and his House Band of Hell have played a blistering set of favourites from the Iron Maiden frontman’s solo albums. Most people, including myself, have considered it the best set at this year’s Hellfest.
And this, despite a raging storm battering the festival grounds.
The set mixed older favourites from his solo records with tracks from The Mandrake Project, Dickinson’s most recent record. Accompanied by a fabulous band, including former Whitesnake bass player Tanya O’Callaghan, Bruce has shown everyone why he is one of the genre’s best frontmen.
Not only was he in fine voice, but he also spoke very good French throughout.
Metallica played after Bruce, and while the rain stopped, I saw a few drenched people make their way to the exits. “Too much of the new record,” seemed to be the general consensus on that one.
The ’90s Are Alive And Well
This year’s Hellfest had a fair chunk of acts that had their heyday in the ’90s in its lineup. Bands like Clawfinger, Tiamat or Body Count have proved that they can still attract sizeable crowds.
And they put on great shows while they’re at it, mixing nostalgia (Tiamat playing the most important Wildhoney tracks or Clawfinger doing Two Sides, for example) with energetic performances. 
(Expected) Excellent Performances
While there were, of course, surprises, it was great to see a lot of well-known names living up to their reputations. In this category, I would mention:
Foo Fighters. One thing as sure as the fact that it rains in England, even if you do not listen to their albums [which this author does], a Foo Fighters show kicks ass.
And so it did at Hellfest. Their mix of great riffs, very catchy hooks, and lots of emotion is just irresistible live. Even without the gone-too-soon Taylor Hawkins replaced by the excellent Josh Freese behind the kit, this is a train that doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. Long may it continue. 
Megadeth. An excellent show, with new boy Teemu Mäntysaari showing once again that Dave Mustaine can certainly pick a guitar player. They played most crowd favourites, including Symphony Of Destruction and Holy Wars… The Punishment Due.
Avenged Sevenfold. M. Shadows & Co.’s Hellfest set is living proof that they are one of the few ‘new guard’ bands perfectly capable of headlining a big festival. New songs, like Nobody, from the most recent LP, Life Is But A Dream, found their way alongside to classics like Nightmare and Hail To The King in a great show. 
Steel Panther. Despite the band’s performance being a feminist’s nightmare, if taken seriously, which I would seriously advise against, Steel Panther have done what they do best. Namely, entertained the afternoon crowd with excellent instrumental and vocal chops, complemented by 18+ lyrics.
And in case it wasn’t taken far enough by that point, they got a few dozen of the female crowd to join them on stage and take their tops off for Weenie Ride. 
Regrets… I’ve had a few, I must admit. All related to acts I could not get to because I had to make a choice between them and others. Rival Sons clashing with Foo Fighters, Mr. Bungle clasing with Bruce Dickinson, and the list could go on.
Other than that, I can only look forward to next year. Just like every year.
Take Part
At MetalTalk, your experiences bring the Metal community to life. Share your concert stories, album insights, and passion for the genre to inspire and connect with fellow fans.
Join us in keeping Heavy Metal alive. If you have a story to tell, write to Editor@MetalTalk.net. Your voice matters!
HELLFEST 2024
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 2024 promises an unforgettable journey into the depths of sonic mayhem. Read all the Heavy Metal News at MetalTalk.
MetalTalk Hellfest 2024 coverage can be found at https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2024.
This year’s MetalTalk team is:
Photography:
For Hellfest 2023, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2023.
For Hellfest 2022, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2022.
