Welcome To Rockville has never exactly been for the faint of heart, however 2025 grew to alter into up the warmth – actually and figuratively. With Daytona Sea inch baking below a relentless solar and thermometers flirting with triple digits, the stage became explain for a weekend that tested stamina as great as it infamous sound. However if rock ‘n’ roll thrives below rigidity, then this year’s model proved or now no longer it’s nearly indestructible. Four days, dozens of bands, and limitless gallons of sunscreen later, Rockville emerged now no longer ultimate unscathed however triumphant.

Few genres captured the spirit of the competition higher than metalcore, and within the course of the four days, there like been a complete lot of opportunities to revel in performances from a myriad of bands in that realm. Match For A King ignited early chaos on the Vortex Stage, tearing via a excessive-octane eight-music explain that balanced precision and fury. “No The following day” and “Backbreaker” kicked off the sweat-soaked frenzy, while “God Of Fire” introduced it to a climax, with Ryan Kirby rallying your complete crowd into a unified jump. Bassist Ryan “Tuck” O’Leary nearly levitated from the stage — actually — spending the slay of their explain crowd-surfing on his reduction without missing a single unusual.

Asking Alexandria delivered an advanced but visceral performance. Their mix of gritty guitarwork and electronic polish hit hardest on “Apartment On Fire” and “Produce now no longer Pray For Me”, with Danny Worsnop prowling the stage and urging the gang into mosey. A 2d of pause came when the band halted the show for a scientific emergency, exhibiting a human contact ahead of launching into a roaring finale with “The Final Episode (Let’s Change The Channel)”.

Florida’s accept Trivium like been met with a hero’s welcome. Blistering renditions of “Rain” and “A Gunshot To The Head Of Trepidation” had the gang screaming every note reduction at Matt Heafy, who, alongside Corey Beaulieu, fired off razor-intriguing riffage. Their explain pulled heavily from Ascendancy however closed with a thunderous, unified bawl-alongside to “In Waves” that reminded all americans why this band remains metalcore royalty.

I Prevail, down one vocalist however now no longer an oz.. of intensity, leaned into their heavier catalog. Eric Vanlerberghe carried the vocal weight with raw urgency, commanding attention on “Physique Win”, “Choke”, and “Visceral”. With synchronized lights and successfully-timed pyros, the band grew to alter into “Self-Destruction” into a volcanic blast of crowd vitality, in particular when the now-iconic line — “Whereas you happen to don’t know the devil, then you certainly don’t know me” — ripped via the evening air.

Memphis Can also Fire introduced the hooks. The balance of melodic choruses and teeth-gritting breakdowns on “Shapeshifter” and “Blood & Water” had the Inferno Stage rocking. Matty Mullins masterfully alternated between soaring vocals and throaty screams, each line seemingly pulled from non-public ache, each chorus an anthem of redemption.

Clearly, there became a complete lot of room for the breakdown masters. Killswitch Engage equipped catharsis in sonic form. Their dozen-music explain became a blur of fireplace, emotion, and unrelenting vitality. “Hate By Build” and “Rose Of Sharyn” like been lit up by huge pyro bursts, however the spiritual 2d came with their iconic cowl of “Holy Diver”, which seen the gang collectively explode into mosey. Jesse Leach, with a raw, confessional beginning, saved fans each moshing and connecting on a deeper level.

Bullet For My Valentine, unusual from lowering their great hyped tour with Trivium quick, took the Vortex Stage be pleased men possessed. From the opening blast of “Suffocating Below Phrases Of Sorrow” to the crushing finale of “Negate Diagram Fire”, they never let up. Matt Tuck and Michael Paget delivered dual guitar wizardry with easy self belief, igniting the gang with every tempo shift and breakdown.

Beartooth grew to alter into the Apex Stage into a fight zone of emotion and volume. Caleb Shomo, shirtless and sweating, became a whirlwind of mosey, belting out “Riptide”, “I Used to be Alive”, and “In Between” with all the pieces he had. Each and each pyro blast felt be pleased a heartbeat; every chorus, a chant of survival. Few bands wore their hearts so visibly on stage.

Gothic-tinged and theatrical metalcore mainstays Motionless In White struck a unhappy dissimilarity with the sunny Florida open air, clad in midnight dusky and faded white make-up that became extra enlightened by a huge designate of pyrotechnics and CO2 columns. The highly emotive and cell presence of singer Chris “Motionless” Cerulli commanded the lion’s section of the viewers’s attention as he sang and screamed his manner via punchy melodic anthems be pleased “With out slay Yours”, “One other Lifestyles” and the Emo/punk-infused “Ghost In The Think”, flanked by a metallic riff assault at both aspect by guitarists Ryan Sitkowski and Ricky “Dismay” Olson.

Ukrainian innovative metalcore stalwarts Jinjer raised hell by the utilization of the Inferno Stage with a 7 music explain that became mercifully free from the technical disorders that had dogged them on the Sonic Temple. The tattoo-clad and highly charismatic presence of vocalist Tatiana Shmayluk on my own explain the masses ablaze under the atmosphere solar with a flexible assortment of barks, growls, and still vocalizations that like been nestled comfortably within a tableau of blended meter beats and nuanced guitar and bass work.

Knocked Unfastened introduced the most violent pit of the weekend. Their performance became so visceral, so overpowering, it compelled the band to pause mid-music (“Blinding Faith”) for a crowd wound. That didn’t pause them. Joined by Matt McDougal and Juan Pardo, their explain grew to alter into into a chaotic, communal outburst of anger and catharsis. With weird and wonderful Ent-be pleased bushes on stage and backlit shadows, your complete explain felt be pleased a fever dream with breakdowns.

Equally, as it came about within the course of Sonic Temple ultimate one week ahead of, thrash and loss of life steel firepower like been successfully represented. Exodus introduced traditional Bay Apartment thrash at paunchy high-tail. With Rob Dukes snarling his manner via “Bonded By Blood” and “Strike Of The Beast”, and Gary Holt shredding without mercy, the Inferno Stage rapid grew to alter into a leisurely-’80s time machine. Circle pits swirled nonstop, unbothered by the warmth.

Municipal Extinguish saved the chaos going with their booze-fueled impress of crossover thrash. “Slime And Punishment” and “Grave Dive” lit up the pit as Tony Foresta barked out orders be pleased a overall. With non-pause riffing from Ryan Extinguish and Prick Poulos, and a rhythm section that hit be pleased a cinderblock, their explain became rapid, enjoyable, and ferocious.

Testament dialed issues up with a technical and brutal barrage. Chuck Billy‘s growls powered via “Time Is Coming” and “Be conscious What You Preach”, while Alex Skolnick‘s leads elevated the song into one thing surgical and soaring. Chris Dovas hammered via every blastbeat with mechanical precision. The pit within the course of “Into The Pit” became exactly as marketed: pure, excellent bedlam.

The Vortex Stage became the positioning the set apart face-melting fury with a hardcore sense of brevity and anger would rival the scorching cases courtesy of California hardcore maniacs Nails. A no frills impress of ugly aggression channeled via the template of grindcore with loss of life steel overtones, because the quartet proceeded to play their asses off be pleased they like been battling their manner to the final frontier.

In intriguing dissimilarity, Obituary slowed issues down with their swampy, sludgy loss of life steel. Kicking off with “Redneck Stomp”, they moved into “The Detrimental Time” and “Physique Win” with a groove-heavy crawl that hit be pleased a sledgehammer. John Tardy‘s vocals like been inhuman within the ultimate manner, and Trevor Peres‘ and Kenny Andrews‘ guitar tones like been thick ample to chew.

Arch Enemy equipped one thing sharper and extra melodic. Michael Amott and Joey Idea delivered laser-precise dueling leads on “War Eternal” and “The Eagle Flies On my own”, while Alissa White-Gluz showcased her dynamic vary — screams that scraped the sky and coffee smooth harmonies that soared. Their explain became a reminder that heavy doesn’t must mean gruesome.

Nu-steel nostalgia and different vitality stumbled on their manner to the airwaves, and acquainted anthems like been sung on the tip of hundreds of lungs. From Ashes To New fused EDM flourishes, hip-hop traipse, and alt-steel angst to gargantuan carry out. “Heartache” and “Dismay” like been Linkin Park – adjoining bangers that got fists pumping and voices raised. A heartwarming 2d came when the band invited a recovered fan onstage after a mid-music scientific alarm, incomes thunderous cheers.

P.O.D. leaned into the throwback vibe onerous. Kicking off with “Boost” and shutting with “Alive”, Sonny Sandoval spun, danced, and whipped his dreads via every unusual. The band’s recent songs off Veritas held their very accept, however it became the ragged-college bangers that introduced the dwelling down. In the period in-between, Hollywood Undead grew to alter into their explain into a celebration, mixing in “Insurrection”, “In all places I Wander”, and “Undead” with bombastic self belief. Equal parts chaotic and crowd-pretty, they balanced serious themes and tongue-in-cheek irreverence. Their utilize of Ozzy Osbourne-inspired samples added extra flair.

Mudvayne‘s return became a gruesome spectacle. With paunchy make-up and ragged-college rage, they ripped via “Cosy?”, “Below My Pores and skin” and “World So Cold”. Ryan Martinie‘s bass acrobatics and Chad Gray‘s manic stage presence like been unforgettable, in particular on the throwback arena fabric from L.D. 50, the set apart their technicality and weirdness merged perfectly.

Marilyn Manson entered with fireplace, smoke, and fury. “These mother**ckers tried to lift me away. They failed,” he rapid the gang, atmosphere the tone for a defiant explain. “Nod If You Sign”, “Sacrilegious”, and the enduring “The Horny Other folks” made obvious all americans remembered why Manson serene holds a explain in rock’s darkish heart. The visual designate of smoke and dancing LED lights within the background became a fixed accent to a explain dominated by onerous and heavy slabs of angst and fury explain to Manson‘s shrill and haunting express.

New rock acts and 90s legacy band also had their time to shine below the cruel Floridian heat. Candlebox infamous their 30-year legacy by sounding as crucial as ever. Kevin Martin belted out “A ways On the help of” and “You” be pleased he became serene in his twenties, with Peter Klett adding bluesy grit to “Change” and “Cover Me”. Their Seattle tribute within the course of “A ways On the help of” — honoring Layne Staley, Chris Cornell, and Kurt Cobain — hit in particular onerous. We would maybe well also as successfully like been transported reduction to 1995.

Bush fused nostalgia with a most modern sheen. Gavin Rossdale scaled barricades, embraced fans, and wandered the runway while powering via “Machinehead” and “Every thing Zen.” Unlike Candlebox, Gavin and firm ended up splitting the dissimilarity between their certified traditional entries off of Sixteen Stone and Razorblade Suitcase and extra recent arena fabric since the band reformed in 2010; and their newer arena fabric traded blows with the classics, turning the gang into a roaring choir.

Incubus introduced soulful dissimilarity with “Nice To Know You”, “Drive”, and “The Warmth”, the latter weaving in items of “In The Air Tonight” and “Glory Box”. The blend of funky grooves and incidental heavier nu-steel parts made for a undeniable dissimilarity with great of what had transpired earlier within the course of the stylish rock and steel paradigm, and became naturally helped alongside by the onset of dusk, moderating the temperature a diminutive bit. Brandon Boyd‘s hypnotic stage presence and the band’s experimental interludes added texture to an already successfully to acquire explain.

Building upon the momentum of a sizable performance at Sonic Temple 2025, Canadian put up-grunge veterans Three Days Grace won over the complete like and devotion of the Welcome To Rockville masses in transient converse from the Apex Stage. The emotional affect of “Away From The Sun”, devoted to Brad Arnold, couldn’t be overstated. Adam Gontier and Matt Walst shared vocals without complications, switching between “Animal I Win Change into” and “I Hate Every thing About You” with seamless energy.

Stepping as a lot as possess in for 3 Doors Down, New York onerous rockers The Slightly Reckless braved the warmth and arguably saved the day. As each a power to be reckoned with on the microphone and a commanding presence in all other senses, Taylor Momsen led the proverbial charge in her signature dusky attire via rousing performances of 8 traditional songs, buoyed by the traditional grade riff work of Ben Phillips and the rock stable rhythm section equipped by bassist Ticket Damon and drummer Jamie Perkins.

Chris Daughtry ditched any lingering grownup-contemporary recognition and went paunchy rock. “The Reckoning”, “World On Fire”, and “Objects” hit extra difficult than expected, while his transformed model of “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” introduced Journey‘s spirit into a heavier realm. There became an added sense of grit and vitality to every unusual Chris sang that became mirrored within the crunch of guitarist Brian Craddock‘s taking part in alongside the the rest of Daughtry‘s instrumental lineup.

And now no longer attainable now no longer to commentary the swarms that reunited to accept the put up-hardcore extravaganza set apart on by San Diego’s accept Pierce The Veil. Having seen a surge in recognition within the competition circuit and serene using excessive off the success of their 2023 album The Jaws Of Lifestyles, the glass-shattering express and emo persona of Vic Fuentes and the the rest of the band became rivaled honest from the origin of their explain by the deafening explain of the gang that they had drawn. Riveting pop/punk drenched anthems be pleased the opening foray “Dying Of The Executioner”, the mid-paced and quirky “Pass The Nirvana” and the innovative-tinged high-tail rocker “Hell Above” performed perfectly to Fuentes‘ excessive vitality designate, moreover to the technical chops of lead guitarist Tony Perry and bassist Jamie Preciado, to focus on nothing for the jazzy groove blended with using rock beats emulating by touring drummer Loniel Robinson.

Each and each evening closed with one thing enormous — and bigger than existence in each sound and scope.

Inexperienced Day introduced punk perspective and pure spectacle to their headlining explain, proving that their enchantment serene spans generations. Bursting out of the gates with “American Idiot”, they saved the vitality soaring with “Holiday”, “Know Your Enemy”, and the emotionally charged “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams”. Moments of levity came via traditional hits be pleased “Basket Case” and “She”, while “Wake Me Up When September Ends” and “Real Riddance (Time Of Your Lifestyles)” introduced the extra or less reflective dispute-alongs that handiest they’ll converse. Pyro, fan interactions, and a few naughty covers — alongside with snippets of “Free Fallin'” and “Jack And Diane” — rounded out a explain that became each huge and deeply non-public.

Shinedown transformed the Apex Stage into an completely immersive spectacle. With pyrotechnics erupting in all instructions and Brent Smith guiding the emotional drag, the band rolled out a explain that included fan favorites be pleased “A Symptom Of Being Human”, “If You Completely Knew”, and an emotional nearer in “2d Probability”. A shock partial cowl of 3 Doors Down‘s “Kryptonite” paid tribute to their sidelined peers, while the band’s most attention-grabbing showstopper came within the form of “Easy Man” — joined by Johnny Van Zandt and Rickey Medlocke, bringing Jacksonville delight to the forefront in a without a doubt unforgettable 2d.

Linkin Park‘s return to the competition circuit has been nothing quick of a reinvention. With Emily Armstrong now sharing vocal responsibilities with Mike Shinoda, the band’s three-act explain, plus a four-music encore, felt be pleased theater, wrapped in nu-steel urgency. “Crawling”, “Numb”, and “New Divide” landed with weight and recent emotional layers, while remixed moments (be pleased snippets of “Revel in The Silence” or “There They Wander”) introduced shock vitality. Joe Hahn‘s ambient interludes smoothed transitions, crafting a trot alongside with the circulation that became a extra immersive abilities than a mere concert. Their finale, “Bleed It Out”, became a euphoric exhale from an viewers that had given every final ounce of vitality.

Korn like been tasked with closing out your complete four-day marathon, and they also did so with a unhappy festival of fireplace, strobe, and sonic muscle. From the primal opening thuds of “Blind” via the deep grooves of “Clown” and “Shoots And Ladders”, their explain leaned heavily into early classics however serene left room for curveballs. “Coming Undone” mashed with “We Will Rock You”, and the shock inclusion of “4 U” became a present for longtime fans. Jonathan Davis‘ crowd set a watch on became surgical, his every mosey commanding paunchy attention. By the point the final chords of “Freak On A Leash” rang out, it wasn’t ultimate the slay of a explain however the slay of an legend.

Blistering heat be damned, Welcome To Rockville 2025 delivered a searing lineup that bigger than matched the Florida scorching solar’s intensity. From sweat-drenched circle pits to euphoric dispute-alongs echoing within the course of the Speedway, this year’s model became a masterclass in managed chaos – equal parts grit, glory, and staunch times. If here’s what the inferno feels be pleased, count us in for subsequent year’s burn.

Special thanks to Jonathan Smith for his writing contributions to this article.