The second day of Metalfest 2026, Saturday, June 6, also promised a very packed lineup full of big, well-known names as well as smaller acts that aren’t as well-known here. I arrived at the grounds very early, along with the first fans, even before the first band of the day. At first, the turnout didn’t seem that big, but soon after the gates opened, the front row by the barriers and the best spots on the benches began to fill up. The weather was sunny, and we were looking forward to the bands that were set to perform one after another. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
The Czech band Solar System and the delicate vocalists of Moonlight Haze and Sliding Doörs
The only Czech band performing, Solar System, kicked off the second day. It’s always nice to start with something familiar and in the Czech language, and this band proved that they absolutely belong there. Despite the poor sound quality, the support from the crowd was huge, and I personally enjoyed the performance as well.
Next up were the Italians Moonlight Haze, who don’t tour here very often yet, and for most of the audience, this was surely their first time seeing them live. I’m not a huge fan of female vocalists, and unfortunately, this was no exception. I have to admit, though, that they know how to put on a good show, and I think they also drew in a lot of new people at Metalfest.
The band Sliding Doörs was a complete novelty to me, perhaps mainly because I don’t follow this genre that much. Once again, the singer didn’t really impress me with her voice, but on the other hand, their guitar melodies didn’t sound bad at all. Compared to what was to come after them, it wasn’t, unfortunately, all that memorable for me overall.
German Metal Energy: Emil Bulls and Freedom Call
After the delicate female vocals, it was time for some serious masculine power, first delivered by the German band Emil Bulls. This band has a very long history, but in recent years, not much has been heard about them. That’s why it was a very pleasant surprise for me to see the energy with which they showcased their talent on stage and the positive impression they left on everyone in attendance.
Let’s stay with German bands for a moment and turn to Freedom Call and their “happy metal.” This band, on the other hand, is very popular in our country and returns to us almost every year. I’m not surprised at all, because their positive attitude—not only toward music but also toward life—is very contagious and easily transfers to the audience. Chris Bay is a natural-born showman, and at his age, he no longer needs to prove anything to anyone. He’s simply himself, and that’s what people enjoy the most.
The progressive Swedish band Soen and the metal zombies Dominum
The Swedish band Soen added a touch of seriousness with their sophisticated progressive-style compositions. I actually like their music quite a bit, but you need to be in the right mood for long, complex songs full of serious intent. On this particular day, and after the previous performance, I just wasn’t in that mood. I can’t say anything bad about it, though, because you could see how much energy and passion they put into their show, but unfortunately, I started to get pretty bored after a few minutes.
Fortunately, the next band, Dominum, a metal zombie band led by Dr. Dead, managed to completely wake me up. It still surprises me how much this band has grown in less than three years and how they keep getting better. Exactly two years ago, they performed at Metalfest for the first time, and since then they’ve gained a huge number of fans. The atmosphere was exceptional, especially for me, and we also got to hear a few new songs, including an unreleased cover of “Thriller,” which fits their style perfectly.
A symphonic finale to the evening with Kamelot and Avantasia
The last two bands of the day dominated with their pure symphonic sound. First up were Kamelot, who were joined on vocals by guest singer Morgana Le Fay from Warkings. As always, they displayed impeccable precision both on their instruments and on vocals. They played several of their biggest hits, and thanks to Morgana, they were able to perform songs like “Sacrimony” and “Liar, Liar” to close out the set.
Tobias Sammet’s metal opera Avantasia was the icing on the cake of the entire day. As always, several star vocalists took turns on stage. In addition to Tobias himself, we once again heard Tommy Karevik, Kenny Leckremo, Bob Catley, Ronnie Atkins, and long-time project supporters Chiara Tricarico and Herbie Langhams. The performance was an excellent cross-section of almost their entire discography. The set included a single from the latest album, "Creepshow", as well as older hits like "Farewell" and "The Scarecrow."
It was a very demanding day from start to finish. But the weather was on our side, and we were finally able to get a little tan and warm up in the sun. It was time to head to bed and get ready for the last day of Metalfest 2026.
To wrap things up, here’s a gallery of you, the fans, without whom none of this would have been possible.
You can find videos not only from the second day of Metalfest but also from other events on our Instagram.
Photos by Lenka Machuldová
Report by Kerry Lynx