SWR Barroselas Metalfest announces 2027 line-up

SWR Barroselas Metalfest announces 2027 line-up

SWR Barroselas Metalfest will return to northern Portugal from April 29 to May 2, 2027, for its 27th edition, with the first announcement confirming 20 bands across two stages.

The festival, one of Portugal’s longest-running events dedicated to extreme music, will once again bring together established names and underground acts from different corners of the international metal scene. The 2027 line-up covers a broad spectrum of extreme metal, from traditional and first-wave black metal to death metal, doom, grindcore and more experimental approaches.

Among the most prominent names announced are Sabbat, the Japanese heavy metal band whose work has been closely associated with the development of the country’s underground metal scene. Their appearance adds a strong traditional and blackened heavy metal component to the programme.

Sarcófago are another major name in the announcement. The Brazilian band’s early recordings, particularly I.N.R.I., have had a lasting influence on extreme metal, particularly within the development of the raw black and death metal aesthetics that emerged from South America during the 1980s.

Swiss trio Bölzer will also return to Barroselas. Known for their distinctive approach to extreme metal, combining dense guitar work with unconventional structures and a strong emphasis on atmosphere, the band had originally been announced for the 2026 edition before withdrawing due to health issues.

The line-up also includes Metalucifer, Hexvessel, Cruel Force, Possession and Phrenelith, representing several different strands of the European and international underground. Brazilian black metal act Power From Hell, American hardcore/grindcore band Iron Lung and Italian project Nubivagant further expand the stylistic range of the programme.

Other confirmed names are Vacuous, Abduction, Gutslit, Scorpion Milk, Hedonist, Crucivore, Sardonic Witchery, Válvera and Ashes Reborn, bringing the announced total to 20 bands.

The structure of the festival will once again be based around two stages, allowing performances to alternate while maintaining a continuous programme. This format has become one of the defining characteristics of SWR Barroselas Metalfest, alongside its emphasis on underground music and international exchange.

The 2027 edition will take place in Barroselas from April 29 to May 2. A three-day X-Mas Pack, including a festival ticket, special T-shirt, cup and bag, is available through the festival’s online store, with orders scheduled to begin shipping on December 10 according to the purchase order.

With 20 artists already announced, SWR Barroselas Metalfest 2027 establishes its first chapter around a combination of historically influential acts and contemporary underground names, continuing the festival’s long-standing commitment to extreme music.