Xtreme Metal Assault – The Resurrection of Malta’s Most Extreme Gathering

“When some months ago Edward Tagliaferro contacted me and Michael Bugeja about the idea of resurrecting XMA, I must admit I was thrilled but nervous at the same time.” 

That one line encapsulates the mindset of many of us in the Maltese metal community. After COVID, things weren’t the same. Attendance dropped, hesitation became normal, and festivals abroad are collapsing week after week. Small islands like ours felt it even harder—our metal family is passionate but limited in size. And yet, as often happens in extreme music, from struggle emerged strength. A wave of new bands—Morsrot, Halcyon, Luciferi Regnum and others—began injecting new life into the scene. Edward saw this and decided that the resurrection of Xtreme Metal Assault would be built not on nostalgia, but on new fire. The official theme became “New Blood,” and this time, he was not alone in steering the ship. As he openly admitted during an interview on my radio show, “She will eventually take over,” referring to his daughter, whom he positioned as his right hand for the event. If her performance on the day is anything to go by, the festival is not only back—it’s secure for generations to come.

Despite torrential rain hitting early in the afternoon, spirits were undeterred. By the time I arrived at Tigullio, a queue had already formed outside. Inside, however, the storm outside was quickly forgotten, replaced by an atmosphere so dense with anticipation it could be sliced with a power chord. At 6 PM sharp, Sacroment took the stage. One of the bands born directly during the pandemic, they fused old school death metal with speed metal, delivering a fierce opening salvo. Their performance included “Nightmare Abomination,” the first song they ever wrote, inspired by their mascot and future album cover protagonist—a fittingly symbolic beginning for a festival about rebirth.

Luciferi Regnum (photos: Karen Farrell)

They were followed shortly after by one of the most rapidly rising post-pandemic acts: Luciferi Regnum. Fresh from a September appearance at Extreme Nocturneus Fest in Sofia, Bulgaria, they arrived confident and composed, performing a dark and melodic selection of material from their upcoming debut release, currently expected in 2026. Their presence on stage was that of a band already locked into their identity—commanding but not theatrical, forceful yet hypnotic.

Alexia Baldacchino and David Fenech [Niket] (photos: Vica Mifsud)

Niket were next, a rare blend of up-and-coming energy with established talent. Conceived by Nicholas Bonello as an experiment between heavy post-rock textures and blackgaze melancholy, the band—fronted by Loathe’s David Fenech—played their entire self-titled 2021 EP. The emotional apex of their set came when Alexia Baldacchino joined for “The Sights I See.” The crowd’s demand was so intense the band had to play it twice. Between that and their new track “Funeral Dust,” as well as the successful debut of Oliver from Mur.Doc 104 on drums, Niket delivered one of the most unexpectedly heartfelt sets of the night.

Carnivorous Horde followed, stripping away their usual costumes but losing none of their aggression. Their six-song set—drawn from their Slaughtered Uprising EP and new material—finally triggered the evening’s first proper mosh pit, which would remain active for nearly every band afterward. The energy they unleashed prepared the ground perfectly for what came next: longevity meeting legacy.

Rising Sunset, who will celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2026, marched onto the stage not as performers seeking approval, but as veterans reaffirming their reign. With an EP and four full-length albums to their name, their set was a powerful showcase of their lineage. Tracks from Vade Draconem Maledicte released 2024, De Mysterium Tenebris (2020), and Decretum (2016) collided with grandeur and discipline. It was the sound of endurance.

From there, things got progressively more savage as Repugnance stepped into the spotlight. Active since 2011, they dove into material from their 2019 full-length Shrouds Of Deceit and introduced three punishing new tracks: “Abhorrent Resurrection,” “Embers Of My Demise,” and “Substance.” Their set was a reminder that brutality, when delivered with precision, is a form of catharsis.

Sonic Storm (photo Danny Mifsud Cassar)

Then came Sonic Storm—the night’s only thrash offering. With their debut album Keys To Your Ruin released in December2023, they were sharp, disciplined, and ruthless. Their set didn’t just energize the crowd—it recharged it.

Haine (photo: Vincenzo Ammostr Coppola)

Haine maintained that intensity effortlessly. Since 2017 they had been carving their name into the local deathcore hierarchy, and with their debut full-length Fertile Void released in January to extremely positive reception, they came to XMA with full confidence. Opening with two tracks from their debut EP (2021) before shifting into album material, they were unrelenting and crystal tight.

The only foreign act of the night, VxPxOxAxAxWxAxMxCx * from Austria, brought glorious absurdity with them. Grindcore veterans since 2008, they performed the kind of set only grind bands can pull off—disgusting and hilarious, savage yet celebratory. It was like being beaten up while laughing.

SaHHaR (photo: Kristina Saliba)

And then, at last, Sahhar. A cornerstone of Maltese black metal since 2006, they delivered a nine-song conclusion: seven originals and two covers, one of which stunned the room—a tribute to Maltese punk band R.A.S with “Xi Z-Zobb Trid?” It was unexpected, unorthodox, and absolutely perfect. Frontman Marton later commented, “This being the only show for this year, I wanted it to be special and memorable; I wanted people not to just look and listen, but to ‘feel’ something: elation, disgust, confusion, doesn't matter… nearly 50 minutes of threading the line between our realm and the beyond.” The line was indeed crossed.

SaHHaR (photo: Kristina Saliba)

We left exhausted, slightly inebriated, and exhilarated. But the night did not end there. A few hours later, Edward himself posted an extended public reflection. He revealed that there were 164 attendees, plus 58 band members and crew—a far cry from pre-COVID XMA numbers, but still, in his words, “place was packed, mosh pits entire, a general good atmosphere.” What made his message especially powerful was the sincerity of his gratitude. He didn’t merely thank the bands and crew; he named them. Sound engineers, stage techs, door staff, merch workers, social media helpers, even venue personnel—each was acknowledged. He then extended his thanks to the bands who applied but couldn’t be included due to logistical limits, clarifying that 17 bands had requested to play, and that future editions may expand as a result. However, the most impactful words were directed toward the crowd itself: “Last but not least - the ATTENDEES - it is YOU that make it happen... Tell your fellow 'rockers' this is a cool and safe event... Come join us next time let us continue building this community.”

(photo Edward Tagliaferro)

That is what made this edition of Xtreme Metal Assault more than just a comeback. It was not a nostalgic reunion. It was a declaration. A new foundation. A promise.

The storm has passed. The fire has been relit.

All that remains is to mark next year’s date. I already have.

* (if you’re curious to know the full name click here )