Photos and Review by Jim LaValley
Galleries: Killswitch Engage, Parkway Drive, I Prevail, Beartooth, The Devil Wears Prada
The debut Summer of Loud Festival at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts, held on July 22, 2025, was set on a perfect New England summer day—an ideal atmosphere for heavy metal to let loose.
The Xfinity Center has become one of New England’s favorite venues for live outdoor shows. The modern amphitheater offers great views of the stage, comfortable seating, and a spacious yet intimate environment. A refreshing breeze flows through the seats, adding to the relaxed atmosphere.
Coincidentally, this festival coincided with the tragic passing of the “Prince of Darkness” Ozzy Osbourne. Each band took a moment to pay tribute to the man widely regarded as the godfather of heavy metal. Jesse Leach spoke passionately about Ozzy’s role in shaping the genre, Caleb Shomo noted how Ozzy’s fearless spirit paved the way for bands like theirs, and Parkway Drive’s Winston McCall echoed the sentiment, stating that without Ozzy, there would be no Summer of Loud. It was a powerful moment, where metal’s roots and future seemed to converge.
The festival kicked off early with a 3 p.m. start, with Dark Divine taking the stage first. Their dark makeup and heavy tunes set the perfect tone, earning instant approval from the crowd. Alpha Wolf and Amity Affliction followed, further ramping up the energy and priming the audience for the metal to come.
The Devil Wears Prada came out strong with heavy, loud tunes. Their latest track, “For You,” has been getting significant play on Sirius XM’s Octane, where I’ve discovered many killer new bands.
Beartooth followed, with Caleb Shomo commanding the stage with an incredible presence and intense crowd interaction. Their stage setup featured a snake, coiled and ready to strike. Caleb’s touring band—Oshie Bichar, Zach Huston, Will Deely, and Connor Denis—sounded phenomenal live. Caleb’s raw emotional intensity and explosive energy brought every song to life, especially with “The Past is Dead,” which blended shout-along hooks with hardcore heaviness. Beartooth’s performance truly lived up to their co-headlining spot. The crowd fed off every moment of their set, making it a high-energy highlight of the festival.
I Prevail took the stage next with a renewed fire and a reconfigured lineup. Following the departure of vocalist Brian Burkheiser, guitarist Dylan Bowman stepped up to share vocal duties alongside Eric Vanlerberghe, who brought a heightened intensity to his own performance. The result was a grittier, more aggressive vocal balance that fit perfectly with the darker tone of their new album Violent Nature (2025).
Tracks like “Violent Nature” and “Into Hell” rocked the Xfinity Center. During “Body Bag,” I was in the pit shooting photos, and the energy was palpable—the crowd was completely locked in. Eric’s guttural screams and Dylan’s melodic grit created a visceral sound that resonated deeply. Bowman’s dual role as a guitarist and vocalist didn’t hinder their tight instrumentation; if anything, it made the band’s live performance leaner and more energetic. Guitarist Steve Menoian, bassist Tony Camposeo, and drummer Gabe Helguera kept the sound thunderous and emotionally raw.
Next up was Parkway Drive, the Aussie powerhouse that took the stage with their critically acclaimed album Darker Still (2022) in tow. Frontman Winston McCall, along with guitarists Jeff Ling and Luke Kilpatrick, bassist Jia O’Connor, and drummer Ben Gordon, delivered a polished, monstrous set.
They opened with “Glitch,” followed by “Prey,” both of which have anthemic brutality that immediately grabbed the crowd. The band’s performance featured the largest production of the night, with pyrotechnics and a driving heavy sound that enhanced the intensity of their music. This was my first time seeing Parkway Drive, and I was blown away by their thunderous, energetic performance. Their set was tight, powerful, and emotionally stirring, ending with “Crushed” and some of the most impressive pyrotechnics I’ve ever witnessed at a concert.
Killswitch Engage headlined the Summer of Loud Festival at the Xfinity Center, and they delivered a set that was, in a word, LOUD. Touring behind their new ninth studio album, This Consequence, the band took the stage last and delivered a set packed with excitement and intensity, thrilling the crowd. With classic tracks like “My Curse,” “End of Heartache,” and “Hate By Design,” they proved why Jesse Leach (vocals), Adam Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel (guitars), Mike D’Antonio (bass), and Justin Foley (drums) remain the backbone of modern metalcore. The entire band was tight, bringing fresh aggression and lyrical depth to the stage. The added energy of headlining their home state of Massachusetts was palpable, with every chord reverberating through the crowd.
The Summer of Loud Festival at the Xfinity Center was exactly what it promised—LOUD, celebratory, metal-focused, and just a little emotional in its homage to Ozzy Osbourne. The venue, with its comfortable layout, breeze-blessed seating, and proximity to Boston, proved to be the ideal spot for an energetic summer metal festival. Watching heavy metal’s new generation pay tribute to its legendary originator while shredding through blistering riffs was both moving and joyous.
This debut performance in Mansfield wasn’t just a tour stop; it was a snapshot of where modern heavy metal stands today: passionate, powerful, and still honoring the past while charging hard into the future.