This past weekend (May 16th-19th), Sonic Temple 2024 went down at the Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, giving music fans a chance to bow down at an alter adorned with hard riffs, towering stacks of amplifiers, and corpse paint. Like any good church service, the prayers were screamed, the communion was that of beer and fried food, and the sense of community was palpable. For four days, attendees walked alongside the spirit of rock.
The weekend offered crowd-pleasing set after crowd-pleasing set, from the headliners (Slipknot, Pantera, The Original Misfits, and Disturbed) to late-afternoon favorites (Limp Bizkit, Cypress Hill, Mr. Bungle, 311) to hype-building newcomers (Nova Twins, The Chats, Militarie Gun, Scowl). With representation from a wide variety of hard rock subgeneres, walking around from stage to stage offered a varied, exciting experience, ultimately keeping the programming feeling fresh throughout the extended weekend.
Despite a brief bout of rain and some punishing stints of harsh sun, the vibes of locals and campers alike seemed to remain high, an energy that translated to many of the sets. “Fuck yeah, Sonic Temple!” was an oft-used rallying cry as bands hyped up the crowds and called for circle pits or walls of death. Such energy continued to grow with each passing day, culminating in a closing Slipknot set that had maggots leaving absolutely nothing on the table.
For those who weren’t able to hear the cries of “Fuck yeah!” in person, here’s a rundown of what went down at Sonic Temple 2024:
