Your whole wardrobe comprises of black t-shirts and headbanger is your middle name? Well, we have a treat for you.

If the fast-emerging EDM scene seems overwhelming for all you loyal metal fans out there, Festival Sherpa urges you to look towards the big metal fests that will soon be taking up arms now that summer is rolling in. Break out all that caged rage and black t-shirts if you decide to head over to any of these and remember–the mosh pits here won’t be for the weak-hearted.

 

Wacken Open Air

80,000 festivalgoers annually swarm to the small village of Wacken in northern Germany in order to celebrate the various facets of the metal genre. With modest roots dating back to 1990, Wacken is now considered a rite of passage for metal fans, and has been known to sell out up to eight months before the actual event.

Ozzfest

Ozzfest was founded when the notorious Ozzy Osbourne was refused a gig at Lollapalooza. Certainly a stroke of luck for the metal fans in the United States and the world over, because Ozzfest has attracted the likes of Slipknot, System of a Down, and Marilyn Manson – and has been immensely well received. Ozzfest has also been hosted in the United Kingdom and is slated to be held in Japan in the coming year.

Bloodstock Open Air

It may not have any ties to the more peaceful festivities at the United States’ Woodstock, but Bloodstock is nonetheless England’s pride and joy for heavy metal. Held annually at Catton Hall in Walton-upon-Trent, Bloodstock has seen the likes of Cradle of Filth, Alice Cooper, and Nightwish.

Warped Tour

Sponsored by the shoe manufacturerΒ Vans,Β Warped Tour is a worldwide touring music and extreme sports festival held in venues such as parking lots and fields. The event started as a skate punk and third wave ska gig, but it has slowly evolved to feature post-hardcore, pop punk and metal core acts.

Gods of Metal

The biggest Italian metal festival, this one’s certainly not for the faint of heart. Veteran metal-heads flock here to see the likes of Black Sabbath, Opeth, and Manowar – to name a few.