Blitz Metal Fest 2026 continues its two‑night onslaught with the second and final night of heavy music across two levels at Ding Dong Lounge.
Following Friday’s opening assault, Saturday 28 March brings another wave of emerging and established acts as Tāmaki Makaurau remains under siege.
Since its first eruption earlier in the decade, Blitz Metal Fest has become a cornerstone of Auckland’s heavy music underground, uniting bands across doom, thrash, progressive metal and hardcore. For 2026, the festival transforms the venue into a two‑level battleground: live bands upstairs at Dead Witch while metal DJs take over the main bar downstairs between sets.
Saturday 28 March Lineup
Earthscraper
Neural Decay
Afterlight
Soul Stroke
Bottom Of The Barrel
Casual Anguish
Earthscraper
A little proggy, a lot heavy, and just flamboyant enough, Earthscraper deliver a shifting mix of progressive metal, metalcore and power metal. Built on chunky riffs, cheesy leads, blood‑curdling screams and soaring choruses, their time‑bending rhythms make headbanging a challenge. Finalists in the Ding Dong Lounge Band Competition, they return with full force.
Neural Decay
Fresh out of the thrash lab — no frills, no filler, just velocity. Neural Decay unleash thrash‑infused power with relentless riffs and pounding rhythms. At Blitz Metal Fest, the band — Brad Ion, Junior Grant, Jake Single and Pablo Retamales Bustamante — tear into full midnight mayhem.
Afterlight
A Tauranga-based instrumental progressive metal trio formed in 2018. Afterlight create expansive, atmospheric compositions shaped by melodic progression, technical precision and weight. Their sound moves through layered dynamics and long-form structure, with releases including Sovereignty and Eternal Path. Their live sets are immersive and deliberate, built on control and detail.
Soul Stroke
A four-piece from West Auckland delivering heavy, groove-driven metal with a melodic edge. Formed in 2022, they have developed a sound that balances aggression with strong hooks and rhythmic weight. They are currently touring their debut album Twisted Fate, bringing a tightened and road-tested live set to the stage.
Bottom Of The Barrel
ALL IMPROV. NO MERCY. A chaotic live experiment from Tāmaki Makaurau, Bottom Of The Barrel deliver unpredictable, fully improvised metal that can veer from crushing sludge to frantic thrash without warning.
Casual Anguish
A newly formed project emerging from the DNA of HATT and On Tick. Featuring experienced players from across the local scene, the band brings a more melodic approach to metal and post-hardcore while maintaining intensity. With an EP of eight tracks ready to perform, their live debut marks the first step of a fully formed new direction.
The Format
Two levels. Two nights. One siege.
Live bands upstairs at Dead Witch.
Metal DJs downstairs at Ding Dong Lounge.
Doors open 6PM.
Happy Hour & Food
Happy Hour runs 7PM–8PM and 12AM–1AM.
The full food menu is available all night.
Tickets
$5 Early Bird Presales (limited)
$15 General Admission
$25 Door Sales
30% off presales for Ding Dong Lounge Super Members
