The eighth edition will take place on April 19 in São Paulo, featuring an unbeatable lineup. It promises to be an unparalleled experience with over twelve hours of pure hard rock and heavy metal, headlined by Scorpions and Judas Priest, along with Europe, Savatage, Queensrÿche, Opeth, and Stratovarius! Ticket sales will begin on November 1, Friday. More information coming soon.
In total, the artists have released over 100 studio albums, hundreds of classics, and accumulated more than 300 years of experience! Three of the acts will perform at Monsters for the second time: Scorpions, Judas Priest, and Queensrÿche. This edition will mark the highly anticipated return of Savatage after a decade-long hiatus.
Scorpions need no introduction. It has been 60 years since young Klaus Meine (vocalist), Rudolf Schenker (guitarist and songwriter), and Matthias Jabs (guitarist) roamed the streets of Hannover, Germany, post-war, pushing a wheelbarrow filled with instruments and amplifiers. Over these six decades, they have become the most successful rock band in Germany, or rather, in Continental Europe. In May, they were awarded the title of Legendary Band by the German magazine Metal Hammer, granting them legendary status in rock. Scorpions are a cornerstone of heavy metal, capable of uniting generations of fans since the 1960s. Among the hundreds of classics forged since 1965, three have become true anthems: "Wind of Change," "No One Like You," and "Rock You Like a Hurricane," the latter having been covered over 150 times by various musicians worldwide.
The most influential heavy metal band of all time, Judas Priest will also perform at the festival for the second time, their first being in 2015. Rob Halford (vocals), Ian Hill (bass), Andy Sneap (guitar), Scott Travis (drums), and Richie Faulkner (guitar) released their 19th studio album, *Invincible Shield*, in March and are currently on tour in the United States. This work celebrates Judas Priest’s 50 years and 50 million albums sold. The new album has already surpassed 15 million downloads and showcases the band’s power, who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. "Painkiller," "Victim Of Changes," "Breaking The Law," "Electric Eye," and "Exciter" are some of the hits that fans of all ages know by heart and will have the chance to see in São Paulo. Additionally, they will get to witness the legend Rob Halford, one of the greatest metal vocalists of all time, who has been dubbed the Metal God by the specialized press. Rob often makes a triumphant entrance on stage with his Harley-Davidson before performing “Hell Bent For Leather,” a signature move since the 1970s.
With four decades of experience and tens of millions of albums sold, Joey Tempest (vocals), John Norum (guitar), Mic Michaeli (keyboards), John Leven (bass), and Ian Haugland (drums) will debut at Monsters of Rock in grand style. In fact, in 2023, Europe kicked off their world tour "Time Capsule" to celebrate 40 years and the release of 11 studio albums. It all began in a small suburb of Stockholm, Sweden, when Joey and John met and formed the band Force. They recorded their first demos when they were 16 and 17 years old. Record labels rejected them, saying "the guitars were too loud and their hair too long." With their new name Europe, they proved everyone wrong. Since their second album *Wings of Tomorrow* (1984), the Swedish band Europe began to gain attention, exploding worldwide with *The Final Countdown* (1986). This song surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube in 2022, with the video posted in 1986, making Europe the first Swedish band to reach that milestone. With the album *Walk The Earth* (2018), recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, the band won their first Swedish Grammy.
Monsters of Rock 2025 will mark the return of Savatage after a decade-long hiatus from the stage, featuring John Lee Middleton (bass), Zak Stevens (vocals), Chris Caffery (guitar), Jeff Plate (drums), and Al Pitrelli (guitar). Founded by brothers Criss (guitar) and Jon Oliva (keyboardist and vocalist) in 1979 in Tampa, USA, they managed to record their first album in 1983. However, just as they were reaching great heights, Criss tragically died in an accident in 1993. Eleven months later, the band released their seventh album, *Handful of Rain*, a tribute to Criss, who was considered a phenomenal guitarist by all. With over 20 years of experience and musical excellence, eleven innovative albums, and hundreds of world tours, Savatage has become a reference in metal, with their unique blend of thrash, progressive, power metal, and hard rock. Fans will finally get to see the return of this iconic band exactly in this 30th edition of Monsters.
Also a veteran of the festival, Queensrÿche, which has sold over 30 million albums, will perform on the Monsters stage for the second time, their first being in 2013. The metal band emerged in 1982 in the USA with the release of the four-track EP *Queensrÿche*. They quickly gained recognition and began international tours with sold-out shows. Their first album, *The Warning*, was released in 1984. Four years later came *Operation: Mindcrime*, which would become one of the 10 best-selling concept albums of all time. With *Empire* in 1991, the band was nominated for a Grammy and won the MTV "Viewer’s Choice" award for the hit “Silent Lucidity.” Throughout their journey, they have completed dozens of world tours, achieved eleven gold and platinum albums, and several Top 10 hits in Hard Rock. Now, Casey Grillo (drums), Michael Wilton (guitar), Todd La Torre (vocals), Mike Stone (guitar), and Eddie Jackson (bass) claim to be in their best shape, "in the midst of a jaw-dropping creative resurgence."
The Swedish band Opeth has been on the road for three decades. Formed by Mikael Åkerfeldt (composer and vocalist), Fredrik Åkesson (guitarist), Martin Mendez (bassist), Joakim Svalberg (keyboardist), and Waltteri Väyrynen (drummer), they are known for surprising fans with increasingly better work. Their latest album, the 14th studio release, *The Last Will & Testament*, is the darkest and heaviest of all and features some of the wildest and most unpredictable songs Mikael Åkerfeldt has ever written. Joey Tempest, the vocalist of Europe, even makes a guest appearance on this album. At Monsters, they promise to surprise the audience with their unmistakable progressive metal.
Considered the gods of melodic metal, Stratovarius will open the 8th Monsters of Rock. Nearly 40 years after the band was formed in Helsinki, Finland, the masters of melodic metal have released their most sincere and epic album to date, the powerful *Survive* (2022). The title says it all. The band consists of Timo Kotipelto (vocals), Jens Johansson (keyboards), Matias Kupiainen (guitar), Lauri Porra (bass), and Rolf Pilve (drums). In addition to songs from this album, the band will mix in hits like “Black Diamond,” "Hunting High and Low," "Speed of Light," and "Eagleheart."
Event Name: Monsters Of Rock
When does it happens?: 19/04/2025 ~ 19/04/2025
Where does it take place?: Allianz Parque – São Paulo, Brazil