Tons of Rock 2026: the Breakdown (Part Two)
We continue the Tons of Rock celebrations with its specific mix of newcomers and established legends, as well as its blend of post-hardcore, classic heavy metal and true Norwegian black metal.
Friday
The Friday starts with two American bands making their debut on the Oslo scene. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, The Funeral Portrait bring their energetic mix of post-hardcore and punk to the Moonlight stage, with early 2000s emo influences thrown into the mix. Vocalist Lee Jennings does a great job warming up the crowd, keeping the set lively and interactive, throwing some jabs at an industry that can often be unwelcoming to those who dare to be different, all while showering the crowd in love.
They are quickly followed by Texan Kublai Khan TX, who take a more stripped-down approach. No theatrics, just heavy beatdowns, plenty of moshing and a setlist comprised of fan favourites such as ‘Resentment’, ‘Boomslang’ and 2025’s ‘The Mountain of Corsicana’.
Back in Oslo’s scorching sun, on the Vampire stage, Avatar bring their vaudeville and dark carnival-inspired set to life. From singer Johannes Eckerström’s circus-style entrance through a floor box disguised as a present, holding the famous red balloon from the cover of their latest album ‘Don’t Go In The Forest’ and wearing his signature dark clown makeup, to their elaborate outfits and stage design, the performance is a spectacle from start to finish. The setlist leans heavily on the new record, which sees the band at the height of their career.
From the opening riffs of ‘In The Airwaves’ to the melodic death-metal disco and burlesque of ‘Death and Glitz’, and the incredibly silly ‘Captain Goat’, they prove themselves to be one of heavy metal’s most unique and inspiring bands.
Another cinematic set comes from Polish Behemoth. Having been leaders in extreme metal for over 30 years, their performances have always relied heavily on pyro, dark and heavy aesthetics, combined with their blackened heavy metal sound. Their appearance at Tons of Rock was nothing short of spectacular. From bathing the stage in fire from the opening riffs of ‘Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer’ to the fist-pumping ‘The Shit ov God’, they prove themselves to be a force to be reckoned with. A standout moment comes with their homage to Swedish extreme metal pioneers Bathory, covering their famous ‘The Return of Darkness and Evil’.
We end the day with true Norwegian black metal: an intense and dark performance from legendary Mayhem. Having only a few exclusive festival shows booked this summer, their set was an homage to all things extreme within the black metal genre, a style they have pioneered since their inception in Oslo in 1984. They pull one of the biggest crowds of the festival and run through staples from their 40-year career, from ‘Chimera’ to ‘Freezing Moon’, alongside singles from their newly released and highly acclaimed ‘Liturgy of Death’, celebrating four decades of Mayhem.
Saturday
Day four begins, and just when you think things might start to wind down, Tons of Rock comes out swinging hard, with another day filled with powerful performances.
First up, Brazilian multi-instrumentalists Ego Kill Talent turn the Moonlight stage into an alternative rock dance party. Led by powerhouse vocalist Emmily Barreto and widely known for their wide variety of instrument changes and Latin-rock combinations, they are an incredibly energetic group, and the early set time does not seem to slow them down.
Next up, hailing from Southern California, comes probably the most interesting act of the festival. Self-described as pioneers of the ghetto-metal subgenre, Slay Squad bring their larger-than-life energy and uncompromising authenticity to Tons of Rock. The band blends hip-hop with aggressive downbeats and powerful vocals, while DJ Cheeze adds live electronic elements on stage, making them a fascinating band to experience.
Mosh pits form easily, with vocalist Brahim Gousse crowd-surfing and keeping the momentum going throughout the heavier parts of the set.
A very special performance on the main stage comes from Sepultura, as they perform their final set in Norway as part of their global run celebrating the band’s 42-year career. The ‘Celebrating Life Through Death’ tour sees the band perform songs from across their extensive catalogue, with the Tons of Rock set including fan favourites ‘Inner Self’, ‘Beyond the Dream’, and closing with ‘Roots Bloody Roots’.
The final two bands we covered are two very beloved names in the prog-metal scene. First, Norwegian-born Leprous bring their complex, boundary-pushing progressive metal to the Vampire stage. With their distinctive blend of intricate riffs, operatic elements, and dark pop-rock influences, they deliver one of the standout sets of the day. Classy and elegant, while occasionally bathing the stage in fire, they bring a setlist packed with fan favourites, including their signature cover of a-ha’s ‘Take on Me’, which is an absolute delight to hear live.
To close the festival, we have a highly anticipated set from beloved A Perfect Circle, marking their first tour in seven years. The band runs through an intricate 14-song set, with superb stage design highlighting every musician and creating an atmosphere worthy of the long wait to see them live.
They lean heavily on tracks from fan favourites “Thirteenth Step” (2003), opening with ‘The Package’ and ‘Weak and Powerless’, as well as ‘Mer de noms’ (2000), ending with what is possibly the band’s most beloved song, ‘Judith’.
To wrap things up, the first experience at Tons of Rock has been nothing short of amazing. From the fantastically diverse lineup to the well-organised site and friendly staff, it is definitely a festival worth revisiting. Highly recommended: make the trip to Oslo in late June for four days celebrating music and community.
