Helloween

Mercyful Fate is a Danish heavy metal band from Copenhagen, formed in 1981 by vocalist King Diamond and guitarist Hank Shermann. Influenced by progressive rock and hard rock, with lyrics dealing with Satan and the occult, Mercyful Fate were part of the first wave of black metal in the early to mid-1980s. Many of the bands from this movement went on to influence later black metal musicians in the 1990s, particularly in Norway. Since the band's inception in 1981, Mercyful Fate have released seven studio albums, two extended plays and four compilations.

Formed in Hamburg, Germany in 1984, Helloween are widely regarded as the founders of European power metal, defined by their landmark Keeper of the Seven Keys albums. Their melodic, fast, and uplifting sound shaped a whole genre. The band now tours as the 'Pumpkins United' septet reuniting classic-era members.

Scorpions formed in Hannover, Germany in 1965 and became one of the most successful rock bands to emerge from continental Europe. They are renowned for anthems of the 1980s and the era-defining 1990 power ballad 'Wind of Change,' which became an anthem of the fall of the Berlin Wall. In 2025-2026 the band is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a world tour.

Witchery is a Swedish thrash/speed metal band, formed by former members of Satanic Slaughter in 1997. The current lineup consists of vocalist Emperor Magus Caligula (Dark Funeral), ex-Devian), guitarists Patrik Jensen and Rickard "Richard Corpse" Rimfält, bassist Sharlee D'Angelo, and drummer Martin Axenrot. To date, the band has released five full-length studio albums and an EP.

Steven Siro Vai (born June 6, 1960) is an American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. After starting his career as a music transcriptionist for Frank Zappa, Vai recorded and toured in Zappa's band for two years, from 1980 to 1982. He began a solo career in 1983, has released eight solo albums and won three Grammy Awards. He has also recorded and toured with Public Image Ltd., Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth and Whitesnake. Vai has been a regular touring member of the G3 Concert Tour which began in 1996.

Kreator is a thrash metal band from Essen, Germany, formed in 1982 with no name, but decided on Tormentor in 1984. They originally performed a speed metal style with Venom influences. Their style of music is similar to their compatriots Destruction and Sodom, the other two big German thrash metal bands. All three of these bands are often credited with helping pioneer death metal, by containing several elements of what was to become the genre.

Whitesnake are an English hard rock band formed in London in 1978. The group was originally put together as the backing band for singer David Coverdale, who had recently left Deep Purple. Though the band quickly developed into their own entity, Coverdale is the only constant member throughout their history. Whitesnake enjoyed much success in the UK, Europe and Japan through their early years. Their albums Ready an' Willing, Come an' Get It and Saints & Sinners all reached the top ten on the UK Albums Chart.

Moonsorrow are a Finnish pagan/folk black metal band formed in Helsinki in 1995 by cousins Ville and Henri Sorvali. Their songs run long - ten to thirty minutes is normal - so a festival set is four or five pieces and no more.

Conviction are a French doom metal band from Nantes, playing slow, traditional doom in the Candlemass line. Their Hellfest 2022 set - on home ground, an hour from Nantes - was released by the band as the live album "Bootlegged in Clisson - Live at Hellfest MMXXII".

Formed in Los Angeles in 1985, Guns N' Roses became the defining hard rock band of the late 1980s with their debut Appetite for Destruction, one of the best-selling debut albums ever. Their raw sound and Axl Rose–Slash dynamic made them global superstars. The classic core reunited in 2016 and continues to tour worldwide.

Kadavar are a German heavy psych trio formed in Berlin in 2010 - Christoph "Lupus" Lindemann on guitar and vocals, Simon "Dragon" Bouteloup on bass and Christoph "Tiger" Bartelt on drums. They play a fuzzed, seventies-facing hard rock, and they closed the Valley tent on the Saturday night of Hellfest 2022.

Carcass are an English extreme metal band from Liverpool that was formed in 1986. The band have gone through several line-up changes, leaving guitarist Bill Steer and bassist and vocalist Jeff Walker as the only constant members. They broke up in 1996, but reformed in 2007 without one of its original members, drummer Ken Owen, due to health reasons. To date, the band have released six studio albums, two compilation albums, four EPs, two demo albums, one video album, and six music videos. Carcass are regarded as pioneers of the goregrind genre.