About Decibel Metal & Beer Fest
Decibel is one of the world's most respected authorities on heavy metal. Or, as they put it, they've been "extremely extreme since 2004." Either way, when they curate a metal festival, the forecast is for a 100 percent chance of excellence and annihilation.
It all started with the Decibel Magazine tours in the 2000s — six punishing jaunts across North America that featured bands like Behemoth, Cannibal Corpse, Carcass, and At the Gates. In 2009, the publication started their first monthly craft beer column, because what pairs better with metal than a good brew?
The natural marriage of these two projects became the Decibel Metal & Beer Fest, inaugurated in 2017 and showcasing some of North America's greatest craft breweries, including Unibroue and Three Floyds. The first iteration of the fest, which took place in Philadelphia in April 2017, saw some of metal's heaviest acts, including Sleep, Pig Destroyer, Municipal Waste, and Agoraphobic Nosebleed, in addition to a number of excellent local groups.
In 2018 and ‘19, the madness gets turned up to 11 as the festival continues in Philadelphia and adds a weekend in L.A. In December 2018, the L.A. leg of the fest sees some truly insane acts — presented by Metal Blade Records, because why not? — including Testament, Godflesh, Power Trip, and Pig Destroyer. Taking place at L.A.'s esteemed Wiltern Theatre, the event features brews from local brewery Three Weavers, as well Three Floyds, Unibroue, Burial, Left Hand, and more.
The Philadelphia leg of the festival in April 2019 sees bands like Baroness, Deafheaven, Obituary, and Enslaved and features beer from Three Floyds, Atlas, Burnt Hickory, and others. The second year of the Decibel Metal & Beer Fest is sure to be full of all the fire and grit you'd expect from an event curated by the world's greatest metal magazine. Tickets for both events are on sale now.
