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If you want to crowd surf at Louder Than Life, the Loudmouths will make it happen! Photo credit: Austin Cooper

Louder Than Life returned for its 11th year to a new, greatly expanded Highlands Festival Grounds layout inside the KY Expo Center parking lot, which this year incorporated Kentucky Kingdom for the first time, and the Loudmouths came out in droves! Festival producers Danny Wimmer Presents has officially announced that Louder Than Life and Bourbon & Beyond combined brought in more than 450,000 fans! According to Louisville Tourism, it is estimated that Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life together generated nearly $43 million in local economic impact in 2025.

Louder Than Life not only continued its reputation as America’s Loudest Rock & Metal Festival with the 2025 edition, but this year also marked the biggest festival in the history of DWP, and breaking rock festival records in North America.

But don’t take my word for it, have a look at what we saw!

All photos courtesy of Danny Wimmer Presents unless otherwise stated.

Thursday, September 18, 2025:

The crowd on Thursday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Logan Rouse
Kerry King of Slayer. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Slayer performing at Louder Than Life 2025.
Slayer performing at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Rob Zombie. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Rob Zombie performing at Louder Than Life 2025.
Rob Zombie performing at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Lorna Shore. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
Louder Than Life 2025 art. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
The crowd on Thursday at Louder Than Life 2025 outside of Kentucky Kingdom. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
A couple gets engaged at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
Thursday attendees to Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
Dave Baugher of XweaponX. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
The Story So Far. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Lamb of God's Randy Blythe takes to the air at Louder Than Life 2025
Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe takes to the air at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Lance Dowdle of From Ashes To New. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
The crowd on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025 at Louder Than Life
The crowd on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025 at Louder Than Life. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
A Thursday attendee to Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
A Thursday attendee to Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
Battle vests on Thursday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
Marilyn Manson. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Kublai Khan TX. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
Atreyu’s Dan Jacobs was a guest bartender at Headbangers Hall on Thursday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo Credit: Nathan Zucker
Phil Anselmo of Down at Louder Than Life 2025
Phil Anselmo of Down at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Neck Deep. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Cannibal Corpse’s George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Haywire 617. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
The most metal ASL interpreter ever! Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Thursday attendees to Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Crowd surfing on a Thursday afternoon at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
A Thursday attendee to Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
A crowd surfing banana. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
Making it easy to find the pit at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
Ozzy flag in the crowd on Thursday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
Max Cavalera performing at Louder Than Life 2025.
Max Cavalera performing at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Silly Goose. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
The crowd for Silly Goose at the Kingdom Stage during Louder Than Life 2025.
The crowd for Silly Goose at the Kingdom Stage during Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
Devin Swank of Sanguisugabogg. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Rob Dukes of Exodus. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Sammy Ciaramitaro of Drain. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Big Ass Truck I.E. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
A Thursday attendee of Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
A Thursday attendee of Louder Than Life 2025 enjoying the shaded turf area. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
A Thursday attendee of Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
The Black Dahlia Murder. Photo credit: Alex Ochoa
Have you ever crowd surfed a gorilla before? If you were at The Black Dahlia Murder’s set, you just may have. Photo credit: Alex Ochoa
Ryan Waste of Municipal Waste. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
An attendee on Thursday to Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
Thursday attendees to Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
A Thursday attendee to Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
Fear Factory. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Gideon’s Daniel McWhorter and Jake Smelley (background). Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Catching some air in the pit. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
Homer Simpson stalks the pit. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
Backflip in front of the Ozzy sign. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
Thursday attendees to Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
A ski masked Thursday attendee at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jake Mulka

Friday, September 19, 2025:

Avenged Sevenfold performing at Louder Than Life 2025.
Avenged Sevenfold performing at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Vessel of Sleep Token stalks the stage at Louder Than Life 2025.
Vessel of Sleep Token stalks the stage at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
The crowd Friday during Sleep Token's set at Louder Than Life 2025.
The crowd Friday during Sleep Token’s set at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Logan Rouse
All Time Low’s Jack Barakat catches some air. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Breaking Benjamin. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Dream Theater. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
Attendees on Friday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
Attendees on Friday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
Louder Than Life sign outside of Kentucky Kingdom.
Louder Than Life sign outside of Kentucky Kingdom. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Hollywood Undead. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Hatebreed. (Not a DWP-licensed photo). Photo credit: Jeff Polk
Hatebreed’s Ball of Death. (Not a DWP-licensed photo). Photo credit: Jeff Polk
Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Powerwolf. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Whitechapel. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
The crowd on Friday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
Attendees on Friday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
Inside the Kroger Big Bourbon Bar. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
Chad Gray of Mudvayne. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Unearth. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
Dayseeker. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Dragonforce. I have no idea what is going on here with the chicken. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Suicide Silence. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
University of Louisville marching band played Friday at the announcement of My Chemical Romance as one of Louder Than Life’s 2026 headliners. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
DED before their set on the Kroger Big Bourbon Bar stage. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
A couple gets married at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
Attendees on Friday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
An attendee at Friday’s Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Violent J of Insane Clown Posse launches a 2-liter into the crowd. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
The crowd on Friday during Insane Clown Posse’s set at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
A crowd surfer during ICP’s set at Friday’s Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
Magnolia Park. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Xer0 of Static-X. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
The crowd on Friday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Bananas on Friday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Louder Than Life 2025 attendees at the Jim Beam Black Tiki Barrel Bar. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
Inside the Jim Beam Black Tiki Barrel Bar. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
Louder Than Life merch area inside KY Expo Center’s West Wing. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
Merch at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Harald Barrett of Imminence. Photo credit: Alex Ochoa
Dope. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Attendees on Friday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
Angel’s Envy Top Shelf VIP bar. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Angel’s Envy Top Shelf VIP. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Skull displayed on the fountain in front of Freedom Hall during Louder Than Life 2025.
Skull displayed on the fountain in front of Freedom Hall during Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit:
Northlane. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
Nonpoint. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
XCOMM. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
Seven Hours After Violet’s Shavo Odadjian, (also of System of a Down). Photo credit: Austin Cooper

Saturday, September 20, 2025:

Deftones’ Chino Moreno. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Chino Moreno of Detones performing at Louder Than Life 2025.
Chino Moreno of Detones performing at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
The crowd on Saturday during Deftones’ set at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
The crowd during Deftones set at Louder Than Life on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025
The crowd during Deftones set at Louder Than Life on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Bad Omens performing at Louder Than Life 2025.
Bad Omens performing at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Bad Omens’ Noah Sebastian. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Bad Omens rain confetti on the crowd Saturday night at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Bad Omens rains confetti on the crowd during their set at Louder Than Life on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025.
Bad Omens rains confetti on the crowd during their set at Louder Than Life on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Craig Owens of Chiodos. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
Trivium. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
The crowd during Trivium’s set on Saturday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
B-Real of Cypress Hill. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Cypress Hill's B-Real and DJ Muggs performing at Louder Than Life 2025.
Cypress Hill’s B-Real and DJ Muggs performing at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Upon a Burning Body. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
The crowd on Saturday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Maynard James Keenan of A Perfect Circle (also of Tool). Photo credit:
Letlive. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
Machine Head. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
I Prevail. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Fight From Within. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
The pit during Fight From Within’s set on Saturday. Yes, that’s Buc-ee the Beaver in there. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
Loudmouth legend Mohawk Mikey. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
Attendees on Saturday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
An attendee on Saturday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
Attendees on Saturday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
An attendee on Saturday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
Stone Temple Pilots performing at Louder Than Life 2025.
Stone Temple Pilots performing at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Alex Ochoa
Blessthefall. Photo credit:
Mark Hunter of Chimaira. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Motionless in White. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Motionless in White vocalist Chris Motionless signed autographs and slung drinks in the Headbanger’s Hall on Saturday at Louder Than Life. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
The crowd on Saturday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Attendees on Saturday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
Jake Luhrs of August Burns Red. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Smile Empty Soul. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
Attendees on Saturday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
Acid Bath at Louder Than Life 2025.
Acid Bath at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Attendee Saturday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
Hawthorne Heights. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
Jinxx of Black Veil Brides. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Spineshank prior to their set on the Reverb Stage. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
Snot performing at Louder Than Life 2025
Snot performing at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
The Union Underground. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Inside the Jack Daniel’s Sports Bar at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Members of Louisville band The Sharp Stars grab a place on the rail Saturday at Louder Than Life. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
Members of Louisville band The Sharp Stars grab a place on the rail Saturday at Louder Than Life. Photo credit: Jake Mulka

Sunday, September 21, 2025:

Louder Than Life crowd on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025
Louder Than Life crowd on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. Photo credit: Logan Rouse
Bring Me The Horizon performing at Louder Than Life 2025.
Bring Me The Horizon performing at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Bring Me The Horizon. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
$uicideboy$. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Cullen Moore of Sleep Theory. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
Sleep Theory’s Cullen Moore crowd surfs. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
The crowd on Sunday during Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
The crowd on Sunday during Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
In This Moment brought the pageantry to Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Amy Lee of Evanescence performing at Louder Than Life 2025.
Amy Lee of Evanescence performing at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
The Dillinger Escape Plan. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
Bruce Dickinson performing at Louder Than Life 2025.
Bruce Dickinson performing at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Bruce Dickinson. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Three Days Grace. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
Knocked Loose at Louder Than Life 2025
Knocked Loose at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Bryan Garris of Knocked Loose. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Flyleaf with Lacey Sturm. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
The crowd on Sunday during Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Crowd shot from Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025 at Louder Than Life
Crowd shot from Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025 at Louder Than Life. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Return To Dust. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Wage War. Photo credit: Alex Ochoa
Chuck Billy (background) and Eric Peterson of Testament. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Steve Di Giorgio and Alex Skolnick of Testament performing at Louder Than Life 2025
Steve Di Giorgio and Alex Skolnick of Testament performing at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Attendees on Sunday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
Attendees on Sunday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
The Haunt’s Anastasia Grace Haunt. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
Slaughter To Prevail performing at Louder Than Life 2025
Slaughter To Prevail performing at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Dave Stephens of We Came As Romans. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Todd La Torre of Queensryche. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
The crowd on Sunday during Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Louder Than Life 2025 attendees at Kentucky Kingdom. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Louder Than Life attendees at Kentucky Kingdom. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
Louder Than Life attendees at Kentucky Kingdom. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
Louder Than Life attendees at Kentucky Kingdom. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
Louder Than Life attendees at Kentucky Kingdom. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
Louder Than Life attendees at Kentucky Kingdom. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
Louder Than Life 2025 attendees at Kentucky Kingdom. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
Tech N9ne. Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Crossfade’s Ed Sloan. Photo credit: Lexie Alley
Dying Wish. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
Memphis May Fire. Photo credit: Alex Ochoa
Attendees on Sunday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jordan Pantoja
Crowd surfer on Sunday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
The crowd on Sunday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
Norma Jean. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
The pit during Norma Jean’s set on Sunday. Photo credit: Jake Mulka
Crown the Empire’s Andy Leo and Brandon Hoover (background). Photo credit: Steve Thrasher
Escape the Fate. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
The wall of death during Escape the Fate’s set at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Austin Cooper
Crowd surfer on Sunday at Louder Than Life 2025. Photo credit: Nathan Zucker
The horns! Photo credit: Nathan Zucker

Louder Than Life returns to the KY Expo Center on September 17-20, 2025. For more information, visit: louderthanlifefestival.com

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Jeff Polk is a contributing music writer for LEO Weekly. A Louisville native and grizzled old veteran of the local music scene since the early ‘90s, he has played drums in several bands that you’ve...