Local heavy metal enthusiasts will congregate at the Corradino Old Military Prison in Paola for the Xtreme Metal Assault. Mark Debono tells the uninitiated all about it.

Every genre of music and its fan base becomes associated with its own set of conventions and rituals, and for local heavy metal enthusiasts the Xtreme Metal Assault has long since become a yearly congregation.

The metal festival is back this year, but that is not a surprise to the hundreds of Maltese head bangers who eagerly await it as an annual tradition. After all, the festival has been running almost every year for close to a decade, with only one year of absence in 2009.

With a history that dates as far back as 2007, the festival is currently in its ninth edition and has hosted over 135 sets of live music in total. On Saturday, the Xtreme Metal Assault – known more casually as XMA – will be adding 15 more sets to its narrative, thanks to an eclectic selection of bands spanning all subgenres within metal.

After nearly a decade of experimenting with the festival format, organiser Edward Tagliaferro seems to have found a formula that works for him, the bands, and the attendees. Once more, the event will be taking place at the Corradino Old Military Prison in Paola, a venue that couldn’t possibly be more apt, and once again it will be an outdoor, two-stage festival, with bands alternating between the Alcatraz and Devil’s Island stages.

The uninitiated may think that a non-stop roster of 15 metal bands starting at 5.05pm (with doors opening at 4.30pm) would get tiring, but the uninitiated are unaware of how diverse an all-metal line-up can actually be. As always, the festival’s versatile choice of acts is bound to satisfy everybody’s individual tastes.

Because of this, attendees will be able to feast their ears on bands that represent most of the different facets of the genre, including no-frills classic heavy metal, progressive and technical music that takes delight in odd time signatures, fast-paced extreme metal with ridiculously low guitar tunings, and all else in between.

Just like in previous years, the 2016 edition of XMA combines a healthy mix of seasoned bands that have played internationally on various occasions, including Abysmal Torment and Martyrium, as well as more recently established bands. Some of these bands are newcomers to the scene and will, in fact, be making their respective debuts on the night, so attendees might be particularly excited to find out what acts like Animamortua, Bound to Prevail and Kill em All have to offer.

Aside from what will presumably be crushing sets from all the local bands, this year’s edition will also be hosting Swedish black metal band Khaospath. This will be the second time that the Xtreme Metal Assault has recruited a foreign band to complete its line-up. This time, though, the band should feel right at home. Khaospath is sure to find a special place in the hearts of the Maltese, as the band was founded by none other than Mark Azzopardi (ex-Martyrium, ex-X-Vandals).

For the merchandise collectors out there, or for those who simply want to be really immersed in the festival atmosphere, a custom XMA t-shirt will be sold for the price of €10, while the first 30 early birds can get their hands on it for half the price.

The Xtreme Metal Assault festival is taking place on Saturday at the Corradino Old Military Prison in Paola from 4.30pm onwards. The entrance fee is €20. The bands taking part are 12th Ode, 26 Other Worlds, A Broken Design, Abysmal Torment, Animamortua, Ascendor, Blind Saviour, Bound to Prevail, Fallen Icon, Khaospath (swe), Kill em All, Ktinodia, Loathe, Martyrium, and Thy legion.

For more information, find the Xtreme Metal Assault 2016 event on Facebook.