A soaked yet unforgettable finale
Crossfade: first show for me *_*
Sunday, September 21st, and the weather has just delivered a shower that shifted schedules and moods at Louder Than Life 2025. Amid the scramble, Crossfade takes the stage — after years away, on their reunion run, and the anticipation in the air is unmistakable.
They open with “Starless,” setting the tone with sharp riffs and a clean vocal that cuts through the afternoon haze. The mood deepens with “So Far Away,” the familiar hooks drawing hands into the air and nostalgic smiles across the crowd.
On “Dead Memories” and “The Deep End,” the live versions differ slightly from the studio cuts: the drums hit harder, bass lines stand out — you feel the vibrations. But despite that, one issue resurfaces: at times the mix lacks the full punch it deserves. The festival, already battling rain delays, hadn’t quite locked the audio nuances. The vocals lead; the instruments are clear but could’ve used more body.
Then “Colors” and “Already Gone” lift the energy. The frontman addresses the audience, speaks about the reunion, the years gone by, and it’s clear this is more than a set — it’s a moment. Fans sing back, some with eyes shut, reliving the early 2000s guitarist era.
The closer arrives with “Death Trend Setta” and then “Cold” — the anthem arrives like a wave. The pit wakes up, slams form, the moment spreads. For many, seeing Crossfade back together in this festival context, with a concise but impactful setlist, becomes a highlight of the afternoon.
In short: Crossfade delivered a powerful, emotionally charged performance, backed by loyal fans and a splitting setlist. The sound may not have been perfect, but the moment certainly was. This slot will linger among the personal highlights of the day.
Setlist:
- Starless
- So Far Away
- Dead Memories
- The Deep End
- Colors
- Already Gone
- Death Trend Setta
- Cold
10 Years at Louder Than Life 2025 – Clarity, Control, and a Crowd Won Over
Sunday, September 21, 2025, under the Kentucky sun — the fourth and final day of Louder Than Life.
At 1:50 PM, 10 Years took the Reverb Stage, a side slot that could easily have gone unnoticed. Instead, it turned into one of the most balanced and well-delivered sets of the day.
From the very first notes of “Novacaine”, it was clear: the sound was exceptional — crisp, powerful, and unusually clean for a side stage at that hour. Guitars were sharp without overpowering, the bass sat perfectly in the mix, and Jesse Hasek’s vocals carried with clarity and intent. It’s the kind of mix engineers dream of achieving in full sun with a rotating stage schedule.
The momentum carried through “Fix Me” and “Gravity”, both of which balanced tight rhythmic control with emotional reach. The band maintained an effortless flow, hitting every transition with precision.
Midway through, 10 Years surprised the crowd with a cover of Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box” — not an imitation, but a reinterpretation. Slower tempo, heavier atmosphere, and restraint in all the right places. Phones dropped, the crowd collectively leaned in to listen.
The final stretch saw the tension build with “The Optimist” and “Shoot It Out”, both more aggressive in tone, the low-end punch finally pushing the Reverb Stage’s limits.
Then came “Wasteland”, the anthem everyone was waiting for. Voices rose as one — the bridge turned into a communal chant. The lead guitar cut through cleanly for the final climb, before the band chose to hold the ending rather than explode it. A powerful decision that underscored their confidence.
Setlist:
Novacaine
Fix Me
Heart-Shaped Box (Nirvana cover)
Gravity
The Optimist
Shoot It Out
Wasteland
What 10 Years offered wasn’t a spectacle — it was control, precision, and presence. A short but complete set, perfectly mixed and emotionally grounded.
For a Sunday afternoon slot, they managed to remind everyone why subtlety and clarity can hit harder than noise. No gimmicks, no filler — just a band that knows exactly who they are, and a crowd that left convinced.
WE CAME AS ROMANS : good to see you guys
The air had taken on a cooler note, yet the crowd’s energy remained undiminished. On the main stage of Louder Than Life, We Came as Romans arrived like a force of nature. The set’s intensity hit hard from the start, and for an afternoon slot, the show felt already above par. A few pyro bursts erupted in the bright daylight — uncommon for that time of day.
The audio was clean and structured — guitars cutting through with clarity, bass lines that resonated, vocals sitting confidently in the mix without being lost. The difference against lesser setups earlier in the day was unmistakable.
Though a full setlist for this festival isn’t officially published, their 2025 tour frequently includes “Cold Like War,” “Wasted Age,” “Bad Luck,” and “Darkbloom.” The crowd broke into a sung-along “Bad Luck” during the refrain bridge, arms raised, united. The audience was dense, engaged, and gave it everything.
In short: We Came as Romans showed that on a festival stage, they’re not just upgraded—but capable of lifting a crowd under pressure. The festival setting, the fresh air of early evening, the performance itself all combined into one of the standout afternoon sets. A solid victory.
SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL: Violence in its purest form
Mid-afternoon at Louder Than Life. Slaughter to Prevail takes the stage. Alex “Terrible” front and centre, the band full-on. From the opening of “Banditos” it’s clear they mean business: massive riffs, guttural screams, and the crowd responding in kind. The atmosphere is thick, the heat heavy, but the intensity rises.
They push through “Baba Yaga” and “Bratva” without mercy — the pit wakes, slams erupt, the scene is alive. “Viking” follows, visuals blasting, and the band moves into “Russian Grizzly in America,” a moment where spectacle meets raw power. The closing duo of “Kid of Darkness” and “Demolisher” finishes the set like a hammer blow: dust, fury, and shared adrenaline. For a brief appearance, it hit hard.
The sound mix held up well, the performance hit the mark, and the crowd left with their pulse raised. Already looking forward to seeing them again at Motoc to keep the momentum going.
Setlist:
- Banditos
- Baba Yaga
- Bratva
- Viking
- Russian Grizzly in America
- Kid of Darkness
- Demolisher
WAGE WAR back on a massive stage for our greatest pleasure
With dark clouds gathering overhead, Wage War stormed the Main Stage at Louder Than Life 2025. From their first chords, the crowd was locked in — the set morphed into a furnace of focused intensity. Big riffs, thunderous drums, and a vocal delivery that didn’t back down.
What stands out: the clarity of the sound. For a festival of this scale, during an afternoon slot, it’s uncommon. Each instrument had its space, the vocals cut through cleanly, and the mix didn’t collapse under the pressure. It felt like the band was primed for a headliner slot, playing smartly for this moment — large audience, large scale, and looming weather.
Beyond technique, it was the intensity that resonated: slams, circle pits, and collective singing where stage and crowd merged. The use of pyro in daylight elevated the show — bold for that hour. Add the backdrop of impending rain (“hoping no cancellation” echoed in the crowd) and every riff gained added weight.
In short: Wage War delivered one of the most compelling sets of the day — powerful, polished, and driven by urgency. Despite the stormy sky, the energy never wavered: if anything, it spiked.
THREE DAYS GRACE: Adam’s return to the band, finally covered in a report on ALL ROCK!
Here it is — the moment I’d been waiting for: Three Days Grace on stage with Adam back at the mic and Matt right there beside him. They kick off with “Animal I Have Become”, and Matt shouts, “Welcome back Adam to the stage!” — a chill, and then straight into “So Called Life”. From that point on, it’s a weave of voices: Adam takes the lead, then Matt, then the two together, moving seamlessly between new material and the classics.
The newer track “Mayday” hits hard — you can tell the setlist was crafted to signal change. Then they drop “I Hate Everything About You”, the crowd sings every line. “Kill Me Fast” follows, sharp and current. The mix is solid — vocals clear, guitars thick — though I’ll admit it didn’t reach the absolute peak soundstand we heard the previous night.
Switching gears, “The Good Life” revives the crowd, and you feel the mass of people behind it. When “Never Too Late” hits, it gets emotional—Adam sounds better than ever, voice strong and sure. They cap it all with “Riot” — the pit opens, the roar is massive. They delivered.
Bottom line: Three Days Grace provided a strong, thoughtful performance, built around the dual-vocal dynamic. Sound may not have been best of weekend, but the band’s engagement, the crowd’s depth, and the new configuration gave the show a new dimension.
Confirmed Setlist:
It’s All Over (intro) · Animal I Have Become · So Called Life · Break · Painkiller · Home · Mayday · I Hate Everything About You · Kill Me Fast · The Good Life · Never Too Late · Riot.
EVANESCENCE: A first at LOUDER THAN LIFE! A set streamed live online
Evanescence’s performance at Louder Than Life 2025 was nothing short of historic. They opened with After Life, Amy Lee’s voice soaring effortlessly across the main stage, setting an immediate emotional tone. What You Want and Going Under followed, bringing the crowd to life in a surge of nostalgia and raw energy.
The set balanced old and new — Waste On You showcased the band’s modern strength, while the cinematic interlude from Ballerina gave the show a visual depth rare for a festival setting. Amy Lee paused to speak to the audience : “We’re all in the same boat,” before launching into In My Veins, a shared moment of unity that connected tens of thousands on the field.
Then came the inevitable — My Immortal, sung by every voice in the crowd, the night illuminated by a sea of phone lights. And finally, the moment that made global headlines : Paul McCoy from 12 Stones walked onto the stage to perform Bring Me To Life with Amy Lee — the legendary duet reborn two decades later. The audience erupted, Amy and Paul trading lines as if no time had passed. The emotion was overwhelming, the roar uncontainable.
What made it even more remarkable was that the entire set was streamed live, reaching millions of fans worldwide. Across continents, viewers witnessed a reunion that felt both intimate and monumental. The mix tightened toward the end, giving full clarity to Amy Lee’s stunning vocals.
In short : a breathtaking show that transcended nostalgia and became a defining cultural moment. Evanescence didn’t just headline — they made history.
A grand finale with BRING ME THE HORIZON
Bring Me The Horizon’s set at Louder Than Life 2025 wasn’t just another headliner slot — it was a reckoning. The kind of show that reminds you why you fell in love with live music in the first place.
From the opening hit of “DArkSide”, you could feel it. The lights cut through the smoke, bass shaking the ground. The mix was flawless — tight, massive, every scream and whisper in its place. “MANTRA” followed, the pyro hit like artillery fire, and the screens lit up in waves of static and blood-red light. The crowd went berserk.
Oli Sykes looked genuinely moved. “We’ve been through hell… but tonight — this is heaven,” he said, voice cracking slightly. For a moment, everything stopped — then the pit erupted again.
“Happy Song”, “Teardrops”, and a brutal “A Bullet With My Name” (featuring a surprise guest) followed, the stage turning into a furnace of noise and catharsis. Then, completely out of nowhere, Oli dropped into a tongue-in-cheek cover of Oasis’ “Wonderwall”. Tens of thousands of voices sang it back, before the band tore straight into “Kingslayer” — chaos unleashed.
As the set raced toward its finale, “Lost” and “Can You Feel My Heart” drove the crowd into a frenzy, every word screamed skyward. And then, “Throne” — the closing hymn, the ultimate release. Flames rose, lights flared, and Oli stood motionless for a moment, visibly overwhelmed.
I’ve never seen them like this. Not just heavy — human. Bring Me The Horizon didn’t just headline Louder Than Life 2025. They owned it. They turned a Saturday night in Kentucky into a shared act of catharsis — a collective scream for hope.
Conclusion – Louder Than Life 2025
Four days. Hundreds of thousands of fans. Blazing heat, sudden storms, and a tidal wave of sound and emotion. Louder Than Life 2025 will go down as one of the most unforgettable editions in the festival’s history.
From Slayer’s long-awaited return to Three Days Grace’s emotional reunion lineup, from Bring Me The Horizon’s breathtaking performance to Evanescence’s timeless grace and I Prevail’s raw energy — every day carried its own legend. The Kentucky Exposition Center became a temple of rock and metal, a place where every riff, every scream, and every shared moment mattered.
Credit where it’s due: massive thanks to Danny Wimmer Presents for once again proving why they lead the game in U.S. festival production — flawless logistics, safety, passion, and an unmatched respect for both artists and fans. Even through rain and chaos, their team kept everything rolling with professionalism and heart.
And of course, heartfelt thanks to all the bands, crews, and managers who took the time to sit down with All Rock and XTRM Podcast for exclusive interviews — from 10 Years to Tech N9ne, and many others. These conversations captured the soul of this year’s edition: not just about the noise, but about the people, the connection, and the stories behind it all.
It’ll take time to come down from this one. Louder Than Life 2025 wasn’t just heard — it was felt. And for everyone who was there, it will echo for a long, long time.
With Love, From Breizh <3 Peter
