After two years of preparation, the second edition of Knotfest Brazil 2024 finally opened its doors for two days of memorable shows – after having been postponed.
The first day of the event was dedicated to more veteran bands and catered to all tastes of heavy metal, in addition to the crowd eagerly awaiting the festival's creators, Slipknot. The second day of the festival brought a younger and more modern audience to Allianz Parque last Sunday, the 20th, eager to see the bands that are rising stars in current metal. But of course, nostalgia was also present among those who went to see Slipknot's second performance, which featured their debut album in its entirety.
New generations and veterans on the first day of Knotfest Brazil 2024
Just like Saturday, Sunday had a touch of nostalgia, but it was also marked by shows from up-and-coming bands. The Brazilian The Mönic opened the MaggotStage, with their empowering sound full of social commentary, being one of the most anticipated acts of Knotfest Wikimetal readers , alongside Eskröta, who performed on Saturday.
Another Brazilian band that played on this stage was Papangu , one of the festival's highlights, with their progressive rock tinged with MPB (Brazilian Popular Music) and an attraction rarely seen at a festival of this size. The veterans of Korzus also performed on the national bands stage, with their well-known and acclaimed thrash metal.
Poppy and Babymetal's debut performances were a highlight at Knotfest Brazil 2024.
Unlike Saturday, Sunday brought the audience to the festival earlier due to the timing of the featured performances, some of which were making their Brazilian debut. One of them was Poppy , who showcased the power of her modern metal, full of breakdowns and a curious mix of sweet, angelic vocals with guttural growls. The American singer delivered a metal buffet, blending industrial, death, pop, metalcore, and various other influences, and thanks to her kawaii look, she attracts a large young audience, boosting her popularity. The early performance was enthusiastic, bringing together many people who moshd and long-time fans who sang along to every song.
POD brought back the veteran nu-metal crowd, who waited almost 10 years to see the band again. With an energetic show, the band delivered the expected nostalgia, closing with their biggest hits: “Youth of The Nation” and “Alive”, both from the 2001 album Satellite . POD still has two shows scheduled in Brazil, taking place in Curitiba (Tork N' Roll) and Rio de Janeiro (Sacadura 154), respectively on October 22nd and 23rd.
Babymetal was also responsible for drawing the crowd to the stadium early. The Japanese trio, formed by SU-METAL, MOAMETAL , and MOMOMETAL, made their Brazilian debut and are recognized as one of the most unique and invigorating metal bands of the 21st century. With four albums in their career and a series of impressive live performances, the band delivered a curious and flawless show. Right after Korzus's performance, the audience chanted Babymetal's name, proving that their show was one of the most anticipated of the festival. The band lived up to all expectations, proving that Kawaii Metal (or the already well-known J-Rock) remains popular and continues to win over younger audiences.
The trio will perform this Monday, the 21st, at Audio, in a solo show that promises to be as exciting as their performance at Knotfest Brasil 2024. The opening band will be Seven Hours After Violet , who also performed at Knotfest on Sunday. Another band making their Brazilian debut is known for being the member of System Of a Down , guitarist Shavo Odadjian.
The energy and extravagance of Rammstein lives on with Till Lindemann's show.
Till Lindemann , vocalist of Rammstein , chose Knotfest to come to Brazil for the first time in his solo career. As expected, the performance was a show of bizarre and industrial metal, marking the artist's bold and provocative style. Accompanied by his five-member band, all sporting red leather and vinyl outfits, Til leads a spectacle with performances that include rolling around the stage, sensualizing, making obscene gestures, and dropping equipment, all while the word "Censored" flashed on the screen – was it marketing or was he actually censored by the festival for showing certain images?
Rammstein's energy and extravagance remain alive, which pleased the band's fans who turned out in droves to honor the iconic (and daring) Till Lindemann, who seems unaffected by the recent sexual assault allegations – which were dropped due to lack of evidence.
The MaggotStage also hosted the last two national acts of the night. The two bands, which have been gaining prominence in Brazil and worldwide, proved they deserve that title. Ego Kill Talent delivered an energetic show full of Emily Barreto , which thrilled the audience from beginning to end. Black Pantera took to the Knotfest stage for the second time, and as usual, delivered a powerful show worthy of closing the MaggotStage, complete with flares and many mosh pits among the crowd.
Bad Omens delivers a headliner-worthy show.
The audience was eagerly awaiting Slipknot, and rightfully so, but were surprised by Bad Omens , which took place beforehand. Considered the most visually stunning show of Knotfest, the band had a simple stage, with only a few strategically positioned totems mixed with light and smoke effects, which, together with the heavy and powerful instrumental, created a perfect atmosphere. With this, the band managed to create textures, with images designed for each song, including urban settings with buildings, images of trees, and a perfect play of light.
Right from the start, the audience was surprised by Poppy's appearance, who took the stage to sing the song "VAN," released in partnership with Bad Omens. Another striking aspect is the band's dark visual style, with all-black outfits and detailed accessories, as well as the incredible chemistry between the entire band, which truly shines through in the show. The setlist of 15 songs was very well chosen, including an acoustic version of the classic "Just Pretend," where the stadium was illuminated by cell phone lights. Bad Omens proved to be one of the biggest bands of today, delivering a perfect combination of music, visuals, and performance. The band has a presence about them and a mysterious image that is never truly revealed, even live, which left the audience curious about the band.
READ ALSO: Knotfest Brazil 2024: Check out what happened on the first day of the festival
