Goblin-fueled chaos from Nekrogoblikon and powerhouse sets from Halestorm, Motionless In White, and Flyleaf anchored the opening weekend of Sonic Temple 2026 in Columbus, Ohio, with reports from Louder Sound highlighting both the spectacle and the surge of energy heading into summer festival season. At the same time, Behemoth announced a new full-length, I, Scvlptor, due September 4, and Killswitch Engage confirmed their first Australian and New Zealand headline run in eight years.
According to Louder Sound, Nekrogoblikon turned the festival’s first day into a surreal goblin party, with an oversized inflatable goblin and a costumed goblin vocalist trading lines with a hoodie-clad singer in what the outlet described as a “hyperactive snarl” melded with power-metal melodies. The report framed the set as both a visual gag and a genuinely tight performance, underscoring why the band has become a festival favorite.
Festival Highlights and New Music
Louder Sound also singled out several of Sonic Temple’s mainstage acts. Motionless In White drew a sprawling stadium crowd that erupted into multiple circle pits and crowd surfers, including one man in a cowboy hat spinning another on his shoulders like a wrestling move. The set leaned heavily on barbed hooks and industrial-tinged metalcore, with gouts of flame and streamers punctuating songs like “Meltdown.”
Halestorm’s set was described as having “stadium-sized ambitions,” with Lzzy Hale’s voice pushed to full blast and the band stretching vocal lines and guitar solos into raw, live-only moments. Louder Sound compared the energy to the classic live albums of Motörhead and Thin Lizzy, suggesting the band is entering a more expansive, headliner-ready phase.
On the news front, Consequence confirmed that Behemoth will release I, Scvlptor, a new eight-song album, on September 4 via Massacre Records. The announcement follows a steady run of tour activity from the band, including a recent Los Angeles show at Hollywood Palladium. Meanwhile, Billboard reported that Killswitch Engage will head to Australia and New Zealand for their first headline run there since 2018, with Sylosis as support on all dates.
The SoCal Connection
Southern California fans won’t have to travel to Ohio to catch many of these acts. The calendar is already filling with metal and hard rock stops that echo the Sonic Temple lineup. Motionless In White returns to the Kia Forum on July 31, bringing their gothic-industrial metalcore to Inglewood.
Flyleaf will play three nights at House of Blues Anaheim July 30–August 1, while Halestorm heads to The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort in Rancho Mirage on October 2. Breaking Benjamin, who shared the stage with Flyleaf at Sonic Temple, will headline Honda Center on October 3.
Other big names with confirmed SoCal dates include Iron Maiden at BMO Stadium on September 25 and 27, Avenged Sevenfold at BMO Stadium on August 30, and My Chemical Romance at Hollywood Bowl October 21–23.
What Happens Next
With Sonic Temple setting the tone for the summer festival circuit and multiple Sonic Temple alumni routing through Southern California later this year, local fans can expect a steady run of heavy shows from July through October. Behemoth’s I, Scvlptor release on September 4 will likely trigger new tour dates, and Killswitch Engage’s Australia/New Zealand run hints at more international activity that could be followed by additional North American legs.
For Nekrogoblikon, whose Sonic Temple set underscored their growing profile, the next steps are likely more headlining dates and festival appearances. While no specific Los Angeles-area shows are confirmed yet, their festival momentum and the region’s strong appetite for theatrical metal suggest that a goblin invasion of SoCal stages later this year is far from impossible.
Last updated May 19, 2026.
Sources: Louder Sound, Billboard, Consequence
ref: 6872