Metal, mayhem & midsummer - Nummirock Friday recap

Nummirock Friday showcased a wide spectrum of heavy music, from atmospheric metal to hardcore chaos and death metal brutality. They also had the Wacken Metal Battle on the Kaaos stage along with announcing the winner. Despite variable weather and an intense schedule, the day delivered memorable moments and powerful performances.

For us the day kicked off with the last couple of songs from SARA, whose performance stood out thanks to their stunning backlight visuals. They brought emotional depth and a well-produced show that created an great start for the Friday.

Then after a couple of minutes, Before The Dawn delivered a powerful and polished set to open the main stage. It was a solid way to kick off the bigger performances of the day.

Emperage brought a more underground, aggressive energy being the first Wacken Metal Band of the day. Their approach focused on old-school heaviness with a raw and unapologetic set.

A blast from the past, Endstand tore through their set with a hardcore energy. Their sound was punchy, fast, and furious — a very nice stylistic shift in the lineup. It was a really welcomed shift in the lineup considering most of being heavy and aggressive.

After being off the radar for some time, Misaligned’s return was a pleasant surprise. Haven't seen them after their name and line up change so it's been a while. Their performance was sharp and well-rehearsed. Definitely the first favorite from the Wacken Metal Battle.

One of the most anticipated acts of the day was next, Decapitated absolutely crushed it. Their precision and brutal technical death metal sound drew a massive crowd, and the pit reflected the sheer intensity of their set. Changing the vocalist for a fellow Finn was definitely a good choice as Eemeli Bodde really stood out. He did a great job with his presence and skills. The band’s tight musicianship and crushing riffs proved why they’re still one of the genre’s leading names.

Bringing atmosphere and theatrical flair, Batushka (or their variant, Patriarkh) impressed with dramatic stage design that enhanced the ritualistic and orthodox aesthetic of their performance after Decapitated. It was really pleasing to watch their show, or should it be more of a performance?, with all that cool ritualistic stage designs and act. Musically, the band delivered their signature blend of black metal and Eastern liturgical chants, creating a haunting and unique moment in the lineup.

One of the clear highlights of the day, Fit For An Autopsy came in hot after a performance at Hellfest the previous day — and you could feel the momentum. Their crushing mix of deathcore and progressive elements hit hard, and the crowd responded with one of the most aggressive pits of the festival. Their set was realy tight and executed with total confidence. This was their third visit to Finland and it seems like that they will be keep coming back to Finland as their fans seems to love them. Next time to catch them in Finland is in December when Fit For An Autopsy will be supporting the amazing Killswitch Engage.

Just before Marduk it was also the time where Nummirock announced their Wacken Metal Battle 2025 -winner. Numento won that and as we unfortunately missed their set, they must have done something right. Congratulations for them!

Closing out Nummirock Friday for us were Marduk. They delivered a special set to celebrate their 35th anniversary as a band. The performance was steeped in their signature black metal fury, but with a sense of occasion and polish. As they played, the sun began to set behind the stage, creating an eerily beautiful backdrop that added an extra layer of drama to the experience. A fitting and memorable finale to the night.