This year marked the 20th anniversary of Maryland Deathfest (MDF), and for our crew, it was our third pilgrimage to Baltimore’s premier extreme metal festival. As always, it was a whirlwind of heavy music, camaraderie, and, admittedly, a fair share of drinks.
The Experience
Our editors group embraced the festival with open arms and raised glasses. From the moment we landed at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, the hospitality was evident—complete with traditional bread and salt, and, of course, vodka.
Over the four days (five if you count the pre-fest), we immersed ourselves in the festival atmosphere. The streets of Baltimore transformed into a haven for metalheads from around the world, and we were right in the thick of it.
Festival Highlights
While we attended numerous performances, a few stood out:
- Gutalax: Their performance was as entertaining as ever, blending humor with grindcore in a way only they can.
- Hirax: Frontman Katon W. De Pena, at 61, delivered a high-energy set that rivaled performers half his age.
- Unleashed: Their classic death metal sound had the crowd headbanging in unison.
- Gorgasm: Technical and brutal, their set was a masterclass in death metal precision.
- Negative Plane: Despite technical difficulties cutting their set short, their unique approach to black metal left a lasting impression.
- Tribulation: These Swedes showcased their evolution, blending gothic elements seamlessly into their metal roots.
Not Every Set Hit the Mark
While the festival was largely a success, a few acts didn’t resonate with us:
- Sigh: Once pioneers of avant-garde black metal, their current direction felt more like a theatrical performance than a metal show.
- 324: Their grindcore set lacked the dynamism we expected, feeling repetitive at times.
- Nile: While technically proficient, their performance lacked the energy we’ve come to associate with them.
- Benediction: The British death metal veterans seemed disengaged, as if their minds were elsewhere.
Until Next Year
Despite a few hiccups, Maryland Deathfest 2025 was an unforgettable experience. The sense of community, the sheer talent on display, and the shared love for metal made it all worthwhile. We’re already counting down the days until MDF 2026.
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
