Barroselas already celebrates April 25th of the “steel warriors”

The event was born in 1998 on the initiative of two sons of the land, the brothers Ricardo and Tiago Veiga, and is now in its 24th edition. Stage for metal musical projects and all its subgenres, the festival continues in its usual format, with 40 bands on display and a loyal audience that celebrates these days as unique in the year.

“The festival for us is our 25th of April. It is our sign of freedom. Our way of looking at this world in a more diverse way”, said Ricardo Veiga, from the Musical Arts Support Center (NAAM). Speaking to “Jornal de Notícias”, he said that despite being on top of the 50th anniversary of the 25th of April, this edition “has nothing prepared” in terms of celebration. “The festival always falls on April 25th. In other words, for us the festival is April 25th. It’s a bit of our revolution. Our rebellion,” he stressed.

Last night, the “Steel Warrior’s Rebellion” that gives the name SWR to the Barroselas festival, already started with Cobrafuma, Voidwomb, Alpha Warhead and Verme “celebrating” day zero on stage.

Starting today, the metal party will last for another three days. “There are 40 bands divided into two stages (Abyss stage and Arena stage). The secondary nowadays is almost also the main one. Bands from all over the world playing. From New Zealand to Canada, Sweden to Spain”, says Ricardo Veiga, highlighting how on the poster I am Morbid, Terrorizer and Blasphemy, a Canadian band that debuts in Portugal with a performance in Barroselas on the last day of the festival.

The Germans Tankard, Bell Witch, Cancer, are other attractions at this year’s edition. On this first day, Terrorizer, Cancer, Bell Witch, Lik and Toxikull perform at the Abyss stage. And on the Arena stage: Schizophrenia, Diocletian, Fredag ​​Den13:E, Vircolac, Sonneillon, Disgrace and Terror and Redemptus.

“There are a lot of different things, some thrash metal bands, others death metal and others black metal. Our tradition here is to mix styles”, says Ricardo, noting that the festival maintains “the Barroselas style”. “We haven’t changed much,” he stressed.

SWR BARROSELAS METALFEST was born 26 years ago, but had a two-year break due to the pandemic. In 2020 and 2021 it did not take place. “In 2022 we did a different edition because the pandemic had not yet ended and in April we still had some limitations. Last year we managed to put everything in place and do a normal Barroselas edition and this year it will be a follow-up edition to last year’s”, recalls the organizer, remembering that, this year, the third stage, which was free, was removed. As for the public, he indicates that there are “people from all over the world”.

The festival grounds are complemented by food and drink space, a cafe and a wild camping area in the forest, located about two minutes away.