Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Polished to shine, even if they’re rotten to the core. Here are the next four bands in next year’s festival line-up – Behemoth, Decapitated, Frontside, and Hostia. Tickets for the festival can be bought here.
Behemoth
Behemoth played Mystic Festival for the first time a quarter of a century ago, back in Kraków. We’ve been on a long journey since – both literally and figuratively. Behemoth moved from the black metal underground onto the biggest stages. Not only have they become the most well-known Polish metal band in the world, but the most recognisable Polish artist across the entire spectrum of popular music. Events such as the live broadcast of an anniversary concert in the Philharmonie de Paris by Arte TV channel or an album after an album entering the Billboard 200 chart are the best evidence of this. Our festival, notwithstanding, for the fifth time now, will take place in Gdańsk, Nergal’s hometown. The beast will return to its motherland – Behemoth will headline one of the festival days.
Decapitated
Their modern and original vision for death metal earned Decapitated a spot among the global best this genre has to offer. All this thanks to the determination, tenacity and talent of Vogg, the band’s guitarist and creative driving force. You may also know him from his work with Vader, Lux Occulta and, of course, Machine Head, but Decapitated has always been his life’s work. The history of Decapitated is not without its dramatic plot twists, but none of the blows ever fully knocked them out – the motto of strength derived from pain that they once put on their t-shirts is not just empty words in their case. In 2026, we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band in the Shipyard, their only concert in Poland during the upcoming season. More won’t come soon, as Decapitated will be engrossed in creating their newest album, the first one to feature their new vocalist, Eemeli Bodde.
Frontside
In 1993, when the Sosnowiec-based Frontside embarked on their mission to destroy everything, there was no word for metalcore as understood today. The bands blending different facets of extreme music were perceived, in doing so, as contrarian and unorthodox. That has always been true of Frontside – the deathly drive of thrash, the sheer brutality of death metal and the naked intensity of hardcore are all equally present here. Ironically, after releasing the album Zmartwychwstanie (Polish for resurrection), they went silent for a couple of years to return to the stage with a new vocalist – Mollie – and new energy. And soon enough, with new material.
Hostia
A Polish death grind band played on BBC by Iggy Pop? It was a crossover no one expected, but everyone deserved. Hostia is paving their own way through the landscape of extreme sounds, and they’ve got quite far so far, never, even for a second, compromising on anything. After releasing as excellent an album as this year’s Razorblade Psalm, how could we not have Hostia come back to the Shipyard?
