Bangers Open Air 2025 is a celebration of heavy metal history

Summer Breeze took place between May 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, 2025, and the event deserves high praise and an account of what those three days were like at the Memorial da América Latina in São Paulo.

Check out the coverage from our contributors Caio Botrel and Luhana Botinelly , and the exclusive photos by Jéssica Marinho .

The festival not only attracted a huge number of Brazilian fans, but also a considerable audience from other countries, eager to experience the unique atmosphere that Bangers offers. Metalheads from all over the world converged on São Paulo, making the festival a true global meeting point for lovers of the genre.

The event was born in 2023, inspired by the German festival, Summer Breeze , which even had the support of the organization and, since its first edition, has surprised with the names brought to Brazil.

In this almost inaugural edition, the structure set up to receive thousands of headbangers was clearly carefully thought out in every detail, from the easily accessible location to the layout of the stages and food areas.

Another point worth highlighting is the extremely well-organized press accreditation process. Access was facilitated, with a quick and uncomplicated process, allowing journalists and professionals in the field to focus on covering the event in the best possible way.

The organization was so excellent that even one of the most demanding names in the heavy metal scene, both nationally and internationally, Aquiles Priester , did not hesitate to offer praise during the show of one of the greatest bands in rock history, WASP .

Priester's praise is already a prelude to the opinion of the person writing this.

Sense of community

One particularly commendable initiative of Bangers Open Air was opening up space for less well-known and popular bands, allowing the audience to vote on their inclusion in the lineup. This demonstration of appreciation for musical diversity and fan participation in building the event enriched the experience in a unique way.

I repeat: the organization demonstrated attention to the smallest details, but special mention should be made of the festival's promotion. The atmosphere created at the pre-festival promotional events, the interactive posts on social media, and the measured announcement of the bands that would make up the line-up generated great anticipation, fueling the public's excitement for the announcement of their favorite bands and creating a sense of community even before the gates opened.

The Wikimetal team covered approximately 35 bands during the three-day event, and one of the undeniable highlights was their punctuality. Each band's entrance onto the stage was rigorously timed, and even occasional delays were minimal, rarely exceeding 5 or 10 minutes.

The cancellation of three bands

However, the cancellation of three bands, especially those representing a niche within modern metal, ended up being the Achilles' heel of this edition. This absence generated some dissatisfaction among fans who don't identify as much with the thrash-power metal axis that ultimately predominated in the final lineup.

It's worth remembering that the focus of Bangers Open Air, since its previous editions, has been to bring renowned rock and heavy metal bands to Brazil, but bands that may not have the mass appeal to perform at more "commercial" festivals like Rock in Rio .

The greatness of bands like Kreator , Testament , Kamelot, Ensiferum , and others is undeniable, especially because of the loyalty of their audience, and it is to Bangers Open Air's credit that it welcomes these icons to a stage dedicated to true headbangers.

This was the first "flying-solo" edition of Bangers Open Air, and learning for the organization is an ongoing process, identifying what works and what needs improvement, and here lies the certainty that the public's dissatisfaction should be taken into consideration in future editions.

Given its openness to the diverse tastes of the metal audience, the expectation is that the next edition, in April 2026, will compensate for the absences felt this year. Despite this sensitive point, the festival, in general, did not disappoint the fans in attendance.

Decibels at the Limit, surpassing the sound barrier.

Another aspect that deserves a brief comment concerns the sound volume. We know that headbangers like loud music, but in some performances, the volume exceeded the comfortable limit, sometimes making it uncomfortable to remain close to the speakers.

A notable example was the performance by the band Paradise Lost , as well as the bands that performed on the Waves Stage, where, due to the enclosed space, the sound reverberation echoed throughout the auditorium, sometimes making it difficult to even distinguish the instruments.

However, these are minor adjustments that will certainly serve as learning experiences for the next edition, which is already eagerly awaited in April 2026.

Bangers Open Air confirms edition for 2026

Currently, in the humble opinion of this writer, Bangers Open Air ascends to the throne of the best festival of its kind in the country, proudly displaying a trophy for exemplary organization in several crucial aspects for the audience experience: accessibility for people with disabilities, medical clinic, dedicated children's area, stage for emerging bands, area for autographs and photos with artists, stage for the main attractions, a varied and accessible gastronomic offer, and a commercial and interaction space enriched by parallel activities, such as the mini Horror Expo.

It's worth repeating the message from the editorial staff at the festival's closing. The silence of the music and the dimming of the lights left a taste of nostalgia, in a curious synesthesia.

We eagerly await the 2026 edition, bidding farewell to an edition that, for this press team and countless fans who traveled across the country, represented one of the most anticipated and enjoyable moments of the year.

Tags: Bangers Open Air

Categories: News

Editorial Staff

With a team of over 20 reporters and photographers, the Wikimetal newsroom brings you daily news, coverage, interviews, and other relevant content from the world of rock and metal.