Today, Complexity Fest reveals the first names for the ninth edition of the adventurous heavy music festival, now taking place for the third time in summer. On Saturday August 23rd, the stages of Patronaat in Haarlem will host performances by Car Bomb, Imperial Triumphant, Papangu, meth., and L’orne. Tickets go on sale on Friday, December 20, at 10:00 AM CET via https://patronaat.nl/event/complexity-fest-2025-23-08-25/.
In the coming months, Complexity will announce the rest of the lineup for the festival, which is dedicated to fans of adventurous and groundbreaking music with a heavy edge. As in previous years, the festival will run throughout the afternoon and evening across all the venues of Patronaat in Haarlem.
Line-Up
Car Bomb (USA) – Returning to Patronaat for the second time but debuting at Complexity Fest, Car Bomb epitomizes the festival’s philosophy of pushing musical boundaries. With a highly anticipated new album slated for 2025, the New York band blends crushing syncopated riffs, unconventional sounds, electronic glitches, and rhythmic modulations with unexpected, fusion-like interludes. Amid all this intensity, they craft genuinely captivating songs, making them a must-see for fans of adventurous metal and mathcore.
Imperial Triumphant (USA) – Also releasing a new milestone in 2025, this New York band is known for their theatrical mix of dissonant black metal and cynical commentary on hedonistic society. On stage, their raw sound transforms into a grand, cinematic spectacle, enhanced by masked faces and a near-ceremonial ambiance. Virtuosic and immersive, every track feels like an artistic journey.
Papangu (BR) – Making their Dutch debut at Complexity Fest, Brazilian band Papangu gained global recognition with their first album Holoceno. Their latest work, Lampião Rei, refines their sound into an organic mix of jazz rock and zeuhl without losing intensity. Papangu seamlessly shifts between freakish and melancholic passages within narrative, progressive compositions, earning their spot atop many 2024 year-end lists.
meth. (USA) – Blending experimental metal, noise rock, and hardcore, meth. delivers a swirling, dark mass of music that tackles deeply personal themes like religious trauma, addiction, and mental health. Their album SHAME pulls no punches and hits like a sledgehammer. Expect thunderous, repetitive riffs and hypnotic, heavy mantras that are raw and confrontational. An intense show is guaranteed.
L’orne (NL) – Perhaps the best-kept musical secret in the Netherlands, L’orne crafts immersive, introspective, and minimalist music full of melancholy, defying categorization. Combining elements of slowcore with unexpected outbursts and groovy rhythms reminiscent of legendary acts like SWANS, this young, distinctive band captivates audiences with surprising and emotional compositions.
