Soon, Louder Than Life will take over Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, turning into a packed destination for rock and metalheads. Going down from Sept. 17-20, more than 200 artists will hit the festival’s seven stages, meaning there’s a lot to miss no matter what.
On Thursday, Alkaline Trio, Hot Mulligan, Rise Against, Vianova, Lit, and GWAR lay the groundwork. Friday quickly ups the energy, encompassing L.S. Dunes, Loathe, Coheed and Cambria, Koyo, Twitching Tongues, Angel Du$t, Haywire, the Used, Knocked Loose, Pierce the Veil, and My Chemical Romance. Saturday presents sets from Many Eyes, Thursday, H2O, Tom Morello, Madball, Agnostic Front, a newly reunited Circa Survive, and Limp Bizkit. Finally, Sunday ends it all on a strong note with Ministry, Thrice, Alexisonfire, Jutes, End It, Sunami, Sleep Theory, and Underoath.
Read more: 10 most criminally underrated Circa Survive songs
Partnering with the festival, we’re looking at only a handful of must-see bands at this year’s Louder Than Life, though it wasn’t easy to narrow down.
Haywire
When I saw Haywire open for Drain earlier this year, they set the tone, offering up an explosive set that paid homage to classic hardcore, Boston, and getting clean. It was only a piece of their breakneck tour schedule — they played 96 shows in 100 days in 2024 — leading up to their new album, I Don’t Wanna Say Goodbye, out next month. That makes them extremely primed to bring mayhem on Friday evening, preceded by their peers in Angel Du$t. Expect the same full-throttle set that they brought to Sound and Fury, except $5K short. —Neville Hardman
Alexisonfire
Last month, Alexisonfire celebrated 20 years of Crisis, their third studio album and one that many artists have described as a post-hardcore milestone. Seeing them live during this era has meant watching a band fully embrace the weight of their history, revisiting the songs that built their cult following while continuing to make new music together. Their Louder Than Life appearance is a chance to experience that legacy firsthand, whether they’re tearing through “This Could Be Anywhere in the World” or “Boiled Frogs.” —Kelsey Barnes
Circa Survive
Last night, Circa Survive kicked off the first of three hometown shows at The Fillmore in Philly. Striking a balance between post-hardcore, prog rock, and artier impulses, the six-piece have perfected a live show that prioritizes release. Anthony Green said it best during our LSD cover story: “This shit is ancient. People have been gathering to sing, dance, celebrate music, and get cathartic for fucking as long as we’ve been on this planet. And it’s cool when you can find people that just make it about how powerful and transformative music can be if it’s really done in an honest, true way.” If you’re looking for high energy, atmosphere, and showmanship from one of post-hardcore’s finest vocalists, this set comes highly recommended. —Neville Hardman
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance have spent the last few years proving that their story is far from finished. Getting the chance to see the monolith that is The Black Parade tour — celebrating its 20th anniversary — has meant watching them bring one of the most defining records of the 2000s to stadiums around the world. Following Gerard Way’s subtle tease of LP5, their Louder Than Life set is another chance to witness their storied catalog come to life and see them hit the classics, like “I’m Not Okay (I Promise),” or surprise the crowd with a deep cut. —Kelsey Barnes
Vianova
Vianova don’t have the decades-long history of some of the names on the lineup, but they’re already making a case for why they belong on a festival this big. Last year, they released their debut full-length, HIT IT!, introducing a sound that pulls from metalcore, hip-hop, R&B, and ’80s synths without settling neatly into any one lane. If you’re looking for a band to discover before they make the jump to bigger stages, their Louder Than Life set is a good place to start. —Kelsey Barnes
