This year’s Louder Than Life festival is taking place from September 18–21 at the Highland Festival Grounds in Louisville, KY, and is set to be the largest Louder Than Life to date. With over 175 bands spanning seven stages, the lineup includes headliners like Slayer, Rob Zombie, Deftones, Avenged Sevenfold, Bring Me The Horizon, Sleep Token, and $uicideboy$.
Louder Than Life 2025 is officially sold out, with 98% of 4-Day General Admission (GA) passes already claimed. Only a limited number of single-day passes remain, and VIP options are nearly gone. If you haven’t secured your spot yet, time is running out.
With so many artists, we’ve done the heavy lifting of finding the artists you can’t miss at Louder Than Life 2025.
#1 Dayseeker
When they’re playing: Friday, September 19 — 5:05 PM on Main Stage 2
Similar artists: Sleeping With Sirens, Bad Omens, Movements
Listen: “Sleeptalk,” “Without Me,” “Pale Moonlight”
Fronted by Rory Rodriguez, Dayseeker are on the verge of their sixth studio album, Creature in the Black Night, out October 24, 2025 via Spinefarm. Ahead of the release, the band has released two tracks “Pale Moonlight” (April 2025) and title track, “Creature in the Black Night” (July 2025). The band is set to spend the rest of 2025 touring as a headlining act and in support for Ice Nine Kills and In This Moment. Their 2025 Louder Then Life performance is filled with anticipation for some unreleased tracks.
#2 Sleep Theory
When they’re playing: Sunday, September 21 — 11:45 AM on Main Stage 2
Similar artists: Nevertel, Dayseeker, Rain City Drive
Listen: “Another Way,” “Gone or Staying,” “Static”
With a blend of R&B vocals and alt-rock instrumentations, Sleep Theory has quickly been earning a fast growing monthly listenership. Trending heavily in becoming the ‘next big thing’, Sleep Theory has quickly become one of the most talked-about rising acts in rock. Their debut EP Paper Hearts (2023) included the singles “Another Way” and “Numb,” and within months they passed 33 million streams. On May 16, 2025, they released their first full-length album Afterglow via Epitaph Records. Currently they draw over 2.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, an impressive feat after only one full-length album.
#3 The Funeral Portrait
When they’re playing: Saturday, September 20 — 1:05 PM on Main Stage 2
Similar artists: Ice Nine Kills, Motionless In White, (Gothic-era) Escape the Fate
Listen: “Holy Water,” “Suffocate City,” “Hearse for Two”
Formed in Atlanta in 2014, The Funeral Portrait is an emotional rock outfit signed to Better Noise Music, led by frontman Lee Jennings. Their sound blends post-hardcore, emo-drenched pop-punk, theatrical rock, and alternative influences—drawing comparisons to bands like My Chemical Romance, GHOST, and Motionless In White. Their sophomore full-length album Greetings From Suffocate City came out September 13, 2024 and includes notable collaborations with Bert McCracken (The Used), Spencer Charnas (Ice Nine Kills), Danny Worsnop (Asking Alexandria), and others. On stage, they offer theatrical, visually driven performances and have built a devoted fanbase known as the “Coffin Crew,” centered on inclusivity and shared catharsis.
#4 If Not For Me
When they’re playing: Thursday, September 18 — 12:05 PM on the Loudmouth Stage
Similar artists: Archers, Of Virtue, Knocked Loose
Listen: “Feel Me Now,” “Say It To My Face,” “Blameless”
If Not For Me is a four-piece metalcore outfit out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, known for their explosive live energy, driving riffs, and emotionally charged vocals. After forming and releasing early work (including Eulogy in 2022), they made a big leap with their 2024 album Everything You Wanted and their move to Thriller Records. Their standout single “Feel Me Now” has gone viral among metalcore fans, gathering millions of streams and playlist placements, which has helped them grow rapidly. Drawing inspiration from bands like August Burns Red, Killswitch Engage, and Bring Me The Horizon, they inject pop and melodic rock elements into their sound.
#5 Picturesque
When they’re playing: Sunday, September 21 — 1:25 PM at Big Bourbon Bar
Similar artists: Too Close Too Touch, Awaken I Am, Jonny Craig
Listen: “Holding Me Down,” “Pray,” “Fake Fiction”
Though the Equal Vision band has been quiet most of 2025, Picturesque are a post-hardcore / alt-rock band from Lexington, Kentucky, formed in 2014. The lineup currently includes Kyle Hollis (vocals), guitarists Dylan Forrester and Zach Williamson, and bassist Jordan Greenway. They broke through with their debut LP Back to Beautiful (2017), featuring tracks like “Fake Fiction,” “New Face,” and “Honestly,” which showcased both their heavier rock side and pop sensibility. Their sophomore album Do You Feel O.K? (2020) marked a bold expansion of their sound, embracing more genre mixing and emotional honesty and in 2023, they returned with the EP IYKYK, which includes tracks like “Hopeless” and “Strange Habits.” Lead vocalist Kyle Hollis’s wide range and willingness to blur lines between heavy and accessible.
#6 Silly Goose
When they’re playing: Thursday, September 18 — 2:45 PM on Kingdom Stage
Similar artists: Fox Lake, Not Enough Space, WARGASM
Listen: “Keys To The City,” “King Of The Hill,” “Rap Rock Jesus”
Known most for their underground-DIY status shows, Silly Goose has been building a name for themselves via raw energy and a tongue-in-cheek attitude. Founded by Jackson Foster (vocals) and Alan Benikhis (drums), with Ian Binion (guitar/backing vocals) and Yalli Alvarez (bass/backing vocals), the band blends aggressive riffs, rap delivery, and moments of crowd-infectious bounce. Silly Goose first caught attention in festivals and parking lots, often performing pop-ups in places like gas stations or outside venues. After signing to Blue Grape Music in mid-2024, they released “Tsunami” as their first single under the label, and followed with their Bad Behavior EP in September 2024, which includes standout tracks like “Bad Behavior,” “Live It Up,” “King of the Hill,” and “Tsunami.” Their live shows are loud, chaotic, and unpredictable (but always memorable).
#7 Catch Your Breath
When they’re playing: Thursday, September 18 — 3:20 PM on the Loudmouth Stage
Similar artists: Caskets, Bad Omens, Nerv
Listen: “Dial Tone,” “Shame On Me,” “Y.S.K.W.”
Rising Austin-based hard-rock band Catch Your Breath released the deluxe edition of their debut album Shame On Me on September 27, 2024 which included their breakthrough single “Dial Tone” (#7 Billboard Hot Hard Rock). Performing at major festivals like Sonic Temple and Welcome to Rockville, their set is guaranteed to be filled with rich energy. Formed in 2017, the band — Josh (vocals), Teddy (guitar), Cianan (bass), and Onell (drums) — has quickly carved out a lane in the metalcore scene.
#8 Nonpoint
When they’re playing: Friday, September 19 — 12:45 PM on Main Stage 1
Similar artists: Sevendust, Mudvayne, Taproot
Listen: “Bullet With a Name,” “Breaking Skin,” “Ruthless”
American nu-metal/alternative metal mainstays Nonpoint, formed in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1997 by vocalist Elias Soriano and drummer Robb Rivera, have spent nearly three decades pushing the boundaries of modern hard rock. In recent years, Nonpoint have embraced greater creative control, launching their own label, 361 Degrees Records, and releasing EPs like Ruthless (2021) and Heartless (2023), including the single “Underdog” (2024). Drummer Robb Rivera has confirmed that the band is writing a new full-length album, with about 10 tracks slated for release in 2026.
#9 Gideon
When they’re playing: Thursday, September 18 — 1:40 PM on the Reverb Stage
Similar artists: Upon A Burning Body, Emmure, Spite
Listen: “Cursed,” “Money Where Your Mouth Is,” “TAKE ME”
Gideon is a Tuscaloosa, Alabama metalcore force that’s been grinding since 2008, currently fronted by Daniel McWhorter (vocals), Tyler Riley (guitar/vocals), Jake Smelley (drums), and Caleb DeRusha (bass). After earlier chapters on Facedown and Equal Vision, they’ve recently signed with Sumerian Records. Their 2023 album More Power. More Pain. saw them double down on heavier riffs, nu-metal and thrash inflections pushing their sound into more aggressive territory while retaining emotional punch. The band’s newest single, “‘Til the Wheels Fall Off,” is their first under Sumerian, which embodies the relentless momentum they’ve been building: an anthem of endurance and drive.
#10 From First to Last
When they’re playing: Saturday, September 20 — 2:50 PM on Loudmouth Stage
Similar artists: Chiodos, Armor For Sleep, Hawthorne Heights
Listen: “Emily,” “Note to Self,” “Make War”
Emo legends fronted by Sonny Moore (pre-Skrillex) and though not highly active in 2025, the emo legacy keeps their name highly relevant. Since forming in 2002 in Florida (later moving operations to Los Angeles), they have gone through several lineup shifts, albums, and a hiatus (2010) before reuniting in 2013. Their 2015 album Dead Trees saw them exploring both their hard-edged roots and more modern metalcore elements. Most recently (2024), From First to Last returned with new material. “Genesis” (July) and “Rev” (September) mark their first releases in years. Their current lineup is vocalist/guitarist Matt Good, Travis Richter (guitar/vocals), and Derek Bloom (drums), operating without Sonny Moore.
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