Sketchycon

Metal Threat is a festival taking place since 2016 in Illininois, USA. It is run by Paul Dunski. In 2024, the venue Brauer House in Chicago refused to host announced bands Deströyer 666 and Horna and asked Dunski to remove them from the lineup. Dunski then moved the festival to October and a different venue, the Distro Music Hall in Berwyn. It then took place with a reduced Lineup.

In 2025, the Metal Threat Fest moved again to Elgin and added lots of NSBM bands to the lineup, which made the 2025 edition basically an NSBM event. Eventually, the festival did take place with a reduced / changed lineup though, due to increasingly strict visa regulations in the US at that time, prohibiting many bands from outside the US to enter the country.

Lurking Terror was removed from the 2025 lineup due to a bend member making a „Fuck NSBM“ statement on social media, which apparently offended Dunski.

Paul Dunski stated on social media afterwards to not organize the Metal Threat any more in the future.

2016

Peucharist, Nuke, Ares Kingdom, Barbatos, Angelcorpse, Deströyer 666, Angelust, Wastelander, Shitfucker, Midnight, Abigail, Bulldozer, Moros Nyx, Bat, Destructor, At War, Razor, Exciter, Atrium Inritus, Uada, Slutvomit, Pseudogod, Absu, Inquisition

2019

Ectovoid, Dispirit, Ares Kingdom, Embrace of Thorns, The Ruins of Beverast, Dead Congregation, Infernal Conjuration, Cruciamentum, Necrovation, Mortuary, Convulse, The Chasm, Impure, Pig’s Blood, Fetid, Pissgrave, Cardiac Arrest, Ossuary, Witch Vomit, Druid Lord, Deceased

2023

Ved Buens Ende, Mörk Gryning, Slagmaur, Northern, Ossilegium, Rübezahl, Witches Hammer, Power From Hell, Kill, Spirit Possession, Goecia, Berator, Monstrosity, Dead Congregation, Cianide, Sorcery, Obliteration, Cerebral Rot, Cardiac Arrest, Dungeon Serpent, Sadistic Intent, Imprecation, Insurrexion, Perversion, Trenchant, Impaled Nazarene, Sacramentum, Sabathan, Hell Militia, Possession, Deus Mortem, Morgal, Slutvomit, Nunslaughter, Sijjin, Perdition Temple, Nexul, Hellfire Deathcult, Aura Noir, Messiah, Nasty Savage, Détente, Nekromantheon, Slaughtbbath, Ares Kingdom, Cemetery Lust, Whiplash, Witchmaster, Lethal Shöck, Hammr, Deadnight

2024 („Not quite Metal Threat Fest“)

Berator, Lurking Terror, Ares Kingdom, Insanity, Cenotaph, Azarath, Incantation, Deadnight, Lethal Shöck, Wastelander, Witchtrap, Power From Hell, Sabbat, Whiplash, Pig’s Blood, Cardiac Arrest, Deteriorot, Mortician

2025

Laws and guidelines upon entering the USA grew increasingly strict under the Trump administration. A big part of the lineup could not play the festival due to visa issues.

Actually playing

Grand Belial’s Key, Diocletian, Zemial, Fin, Brazen Horde, Volahn, Eggs of Gomorrh, Hellfire Deathcult, Engorge, Beastlurker, Graveland, Inquisition, Infernal War, Necrowretch, Weregoat, Imperial Crystalline, Entombment, Arghoslent, Demoncy, Crucifier, Crypts of Despair, Invocation Spells, Absu, Sadistic Intent, Adorior, Voidhanger, Old Coven, Communion, Usurper, Ares Kingdom, Perversion, Dekapited, Unleashed, Master, Dead Congregation, Soulburn, Death Strike, Omegavortex, Mortem, Cruciamentum, Disma, Magnus, Father Befouled, House of Atreus, Akhlys

Announced but did not play

Acheron, Acherontas, Adversarial, Agressor, Ancient Rites, …and Oceans, At War, Bulldozer, Cadaveric Incubator, Call to Battle, Chamber of Unlight, Corpsessed, Desaster, Deströyer 666, Eurynomos, Gehennah, Grave Desecrator, Hecate Enthroned, Hellish Crossfire, Horna, Inferno, Kawir, Lantern, Lie in Ruins, Luctus, Nocturnal, Pigs Blood, Ritual Combat, Sacrilega, Schizo, Sextrash, Sinister, Skyforger, Slaughter Messiah, Venefixion, White Death, Whoredom Rife, Sargeist, Satanic Warmaster, Vincent Crowley, Deathly Scythe

Lurking Terror was removed from the festival because one of the members posted a ‚Fuck NSBM‘ post on his personal Facebook profile. He was then removed from the band.