Sonic Blast Festival, Vila praia da Ancora, Portugal Aug 5-9th, 2025

Due to the high fire risks around where I live, I stayed home and missed the warn up party so that would not be away for so long and leaving my wife and dogs alone.  I really wanted to see Daily Thompson and Castle Rat (heard they were amazing!). Overcrooks and Nerve Agent (UK Punk) also played. I heard it was fun

Aug 7th

It was strange foggy weather for most of the entire drive as when I left home at 9. It was already sunny and hot!!  Takes about 3.5 hrs with a short stop.  At the festival it was cloudy and cool. Just what I needed after weeks of over 30C…

I arrived in time to catch the 2nd act of the day, Bøw but missed Capela Mortúaria (Braga Thrash metal). Bøw, played punk-metal-doom stuff but with shouty punk vocals. They were intense for sure but did they do anything very original??? Hum…..

Hoover III (from LA) I could not find them on bandcamp or you tube so was not sure what to expect. They played some sort of melodic vocal style (everyone in the band sang at least backing), with some heavy psych guitar at times and other times just sort of strange arrangements. It was hard music to get into somehow.. Unusual…  Their last song of the set was the best though, a really intense psych space rock type thing. Crowd liked them. They have a few records out over at the merch.

Spoon Benders (Portland OR), were also a band I had never heard of.  They had a female singer, guitarist, 2nd lead guitar player, bass and drums. It was an eclectic mix of stuff. I am not sure how to describe them well. I kind of liked them.  Sound was not that good for them. Way too much bass and drums.  

It was actually getting quite cold now and I had to get my hoodie. Never happened before at this hour.. Bizzare.. 

Slomosa (Norway), have been touring relentlessly around the world and their brand of straight up simple stoner riff rock with no solos, just heavy grooves, really resonates with the audiences. I am not a big fan. They need to add a lead guitar player to take the band to another level.  Anyway, they blew everyone away and were really powerful and rocked… I can not deny that.. Wow.. Great show, even if the bass play more or less plays the same bass line on most of the songs. She has a nice 5 string bass but mostly plays E.. Maybe all the songs are in E….  They rocked!!!

I had a little chat with Isaiah (Earthless). He is such a nice human. Gave him a flyer for the studio.  Earthless is up after the next band, 

Ditz (UK punk)… I did not really see much of these guys as I needed to eat but I heard the show. They were for sure eclectic. They had a male lead vocalist in a dress who pretty much got totally wasted during the show and was climbing the scaffold (as nervous staff looked on!), did a sort of mix of power punk vocal and spoken word.  Not really my thing but unique. They said Portugal was the first country outside the UK they ever played back in 2018..

Earthless…. what can I say. Wow.. They ripped out heads clean off. I hung out with Vasco (It was the Elf) and his girlfriend. It was a guitar solo orgasm for everyone as Isaiah just gave 200% and blew minds. This band is so awesome. The rhythm section are tight and he just blasts on with endless cool solos. Wow. The stamina… Sonic Prayer, Ululu Rock??, and Behind the Walls of Sleep by Black Sabbath. I think that was the 65min set.. Phew..

King Woman (NYC), were bathed in red most of the show and were sort of doomy, post rock, something…. They had a very charismatic female singer. I did not think she sang well but she made up for it in attitude!!!  Band were a strange set of folks. Female drummer and bass player and two male guitar players, one very peculiar one…. Not sure what to think of these folks..

Amenra…. this was a very intense experience for those who choose to go on the ride with them.  Very HEAVY, emnotional, intense, dark, depressive.,. not happy music. They had a film running which 40% of the time you could not really see as the white lights and strobes were just too much in your face. Pity as it was a lot of effort to set up for them.  They blew everyone away..   

Fu Manchu… I love this band and I had not seen them in a very long time. Not sure why..  Anyway, they are playing at the top of their game now.,  Never sounded tighter, heavier.. Just incredible sound as well. LOUD… They did a mix of older stuff (Super Bird, Mongoose, King of the Road, hell on Wheels, California Crossing, Saturn 3 (last song), Evil Eye as well as three new songs (Lochness, Liquify, ??) all which were great and had a new sound as well, not just rehashing their old grooves and sounds. Bob, just killed it on the lead guitar as well  This was my fave act of the day along with Earthless… 

Maquina, who played last year was up next and it was after 01 in the morning. I really wanted to see Heavy Trip but they were not to 0230.  Too late for me. I would have bought their record but they wanted 40 euro for their single vinyl lps. Not even a double. so no way guys…  Great day of music and meeting with old friends, etc..

Aug 8th

Slept ok, Got up at 10, had breakfast, wrote up my thoughts of the last day,  Foggy start…  Had a jump in the sea to wake me up and a bit of wave hopping and then out. Really cold but refreshing.  Came back and had some lunch and a layed down until about 1430 and then ate a snack and headed down to the festival. I heard that Heavy Trip were awesome but I was just too tired. 

To Yo (Japan) were the first band to play. They had apparently played in Porto once before.  They started at 1530 to a small crowd that grew very big. They played nearly all instrumental music. Drums, bass and two guitars. The guitar parts were really nice and while most of the music was pretty laid back, they broke out into some great guitar jams and solos and got heavier towards the end. It was a really nice spacey, way to start the day. Great band. Nice people. Sadly, they had no shirts or music for sale.  I shot a video of the entire show.

Culturally speaking, it was a bad and offensive decision to put this band on right after a band from Japan but no one was probably thinking that. If I was from Japan, I would have felt a little offended. 

Nagasaki Sunrise (PT), were a Lisboa based speed-thrash metal band.  They were super intense.  Everything faster than everything else attitude. They smashed it. They had two songs basically. One with the Iron Maiden influences and harmony guitar parts and one with out.. Then just full on speed metal. The singer would every now and then use some intense effect on this vocal..  Crowd was digging it… not for me though… 

Sunflowers (PT) were first on the main stage and played to a decent sized crowd (pretty big by the end).  They had a great energy driven by the intense drums and bass. The Bass player plays these killer bass lines tha set up everything for their songs. The guitar player, singer (and occasional synth-samples), had a lots of room to space out, go crazy, etc.. He used a lot of vocal effects at times. It was a great garage rock, high energy set that had people dancing and grooving for sure but lots of psych in their as well.  Great set… Cool message projected on the screen behind them;

Gnome (BE), a sort or metal, hard rock stoner band who I saw at Down the Hill, gave a solid show,. Crowd was really into it at times and I admit they can be fun but musically they do not do a lot for me.  They give a good fun show that is for sure.. 

Emma Ruth Rundle (US), played solo on the main stage. This was a very emotional, deep and dark but also some lighter shades. I liked her acoustic songs best where she played a bit more guitar than the real naked ones. What a voice, presence and personality.  She held quite a big crowd and had a nice response. Lovely concert. I loved it. She spoke about wanting to get out of the USA and was looking for a boyfriend in Europe!!  I can only imagine what is like over there now. Fuck..

Chalk (Ireland), had to be one of the worst choices ever for this festival. They played some very intense eletro with guitar and screaming vocals (a bit like early NIN) but then half the set was this really awful 80s new wave synth techno shit. Just awful. Most of the people around me were confused and frustrating. Sure there were 1000 people watching and into it but there were 4000 people wondering what the fuck are these people doing here???? LIke me. 

My Sleeping Karma were back after 3 years. Certainly, becoming a standard here. Last time was the last tour with their original drummer, Steffan, who died of cancer the next year.  The new drummer was great and the band sounded fantastic. They played their standard set of hypnotic stoner groove music. Melodic noodling over the amazing bass grooves and then heavy build up and distorted guitar. Nearly every song had this theme with slight changes. IT was nice to hear the synth guy more than you usually do. He is always to buried,.  Great sound man They had fanastic movies and lights.What a great 75min set.. They got an extra song. 

Witchcraft… I could hardly believe it.. Not seen them in years and had no idea what to expect.  The band was now a three piece with a great female bass player. Drummer was solid.  Magnus was happy and sang and played fantastic.  They played 4 songs from the new album (I think) and then all older stuff from what I can tell. No Angel No Demon and Witchcraft (long drawn out version) were great to hear again.  He played a lot of cool solo guitar. I really though I would miss the 2nd guitar player but it really did work well. I loved the show and great song choice. Kudo Magnus. Your back in the scene!!  

It was one in the morning now . Still had the Spanish electro duo, Dame Area, Daevar (German stoner doom) and Witchthroat Serpent, the later who I would have loved to see but 2:55 in the morning. Just too late…   It was a good day except Chalk. What the fuck???

Day 3

Up about 945, listening to Atomic Bitchwax with tea and breakfast. Wrote up my thoughts for yesterday.  I headed to beach for a dip in the ocean and along the way, the headline act, some sort of Dark synth wave 80s band from Belarus, were soundchecking loud and playing for at least 30mins. It was not at all my kind of music, yuck.. Supposed to be a bit more sun today.  

Last day but some great bands to look foward to. 

I met Paulo about 1430 or so and then we walked down towards the site. He went for a coffee and I kept going. Ate an apple along the way.. Met a few friends when I got there, checked the merch area see if the Atomic Bitchwax guys were around but they were on the stage so I went and said hello. 

Messa (Italy), were the first band on today at 1530. I had not heard of them but they are a four piece band with a female singer. They play melodic dark, light doom rock. She has a lovely voice. They had some backing synths every now and then.  IF it was not for the guitar player though, they would just be another generic band but he was fantastic and really made this band. He was bluesy, jazzy, could rip it up, played interesting riffs around the main themes.. Wow.. A good opener for the day..

Atomic Bitchwax, third time for me to see them at Sonic Blast and it is usually the same songs every year and it was mostly the same this year but they had at least 3-4 that they did not play last time so that was good but I do not think they had any new ones even though they had no album for 5 years now. Anyway, they kick totally ass..  Just awesome. So tight and Gavin just rips on the guitar. Great band and cool guys.. They had 10 more mins but quite early. Pity.

?, Kiss the Sun, The Giant, 45, Coming ON, War Claw, ? I hope you Die, Jam?, Burn to the Earth, Instrumental (Fuck Face??), Shitkicker. 

King Buffalo, a band I was really looking forward to see again. They have been to Porto a few times since last playing here.  They were much heavier today than the last time. They still focus on a core sound of sorts and he loves this one guitar line and way of singing that makes some of the songs sound a bit too much a like but what a great band and the drummer and bass player are awesome, leaving the singer-guitar player lots of space. They do not really jam and space out though. What a powerful set.. Crowd loved them.. Me too.

IT seems that the bands are just getting louder and louder today…

Dead Ghosts was next. I thought it was the experimental doom band from San Diego but it turned out to be a 6 piece 60s inspired garage rock band from Vancouver Canada!!  This was something totally different but it went down really well and they were fun.. People were dancing and smiling. Their songs were all really short and too the point though, not real jamming going on. They did a Neil Young cover as well. Fun band. 

Monolord, heavy doom from Sweden, were back and the stage was packed.  The sound man had cranked it up to 110 db or something stupid. It was so LOUD..   Monolord is one of those bands that just do not really do it for me. they were great live and so powerful but it is like doom like. Two guitar players playing the mostly the same exact riffs, hardly any guitar solos, melodic laid back singing like in the Mars Red Sky style… makes it almost like commercial some how..  They rely too heavily on this same exact doom riff and groove on too many of the songs. The crowd loves it.. They mix it up a bit though and the bass player he does some solos…  I liked it best when they got a bit spacey.  Awesome live band. 

Patriarchy (US), were an intense performance art band from Los Angeles. The woman, did the lead vocals and some guitar while the man, he played a stripped down drum set and controlled all the prerecorded stuff. It was like Ministry at times and just far out experimental electronica. She used a lot of effects on her voice so it was quite psychedelic and trippy.  Very intense band. Wow..   Great to watch but I can not see listening to them at home.. 

Circle Jerks, hardcore punk from the LA scene. I never saw them in the 80s and now they are these old men around 70. Far out.. The singer was here 2 years ago with a band called OFF!.  They played 29 songs, mostly about 1 min, max 2mins long. The singer spoke nearly half their time. He was not happy about the state of the US and told stories about the old punk days and what bands they were all from. Very proud. Crowd loved it.  Crazy stuff..

That was it for me. Next was Molchat Doma (Belarus), Castle Rat, Dopethrone, and Vinnum Sabbathi (Mexico).. I would have loved to see the last 3 but Castle Rat did not start until 120 and that is too late and I hated the band next and could not stand to hear that for 90mins..  Pity.. I am sure the end of the festival was awesome..   By the way, all my videos are usually the 2nd song of the set.. 

Congrats Ricardo to another great and successful festival. A lot of variety so you have metal, punk, stoner, electronica, dark wave, industrial, doom, psychedelic rock, 60s inspired (Dead Ghosts)….