FRANCE

France’s heavy metal history began taking shape in the late 1970s and early 1980s during the European boom of hard rock and heavy metal. Early bands such as Trust — famous for their politically charged lyrics and for touring with Iron Maiden — helped pave the way for a national scene. The 1980s also saw the rise of cult acts like Sortilège, Blasphème, and ADX, blending traditional heavy metal with melodic and speed metal elements.

In the 1990s and 2000s, France became known for its diverse underground, producing influential black metal acts such as Deathspell Omega and Blut Aus Nord, death metal pioneers Loudblast and Massacra, and the theatrical symphonic metal of Penumbra. The 2000s also brought international attention to modern, genre-defying bands like Gojira, whose technical and environmental-themed metal has earned worldwide acclaim.

Today, France’s scene is thriving with a mix of traditional, extreme, and experimental acts, supported by major festivals such as Hellfest, Motocultor, and Fall of Summer, which attract fans from all over the world.

Aix-en-Provence

Bordeaux

Clisson

Lyon

Marseille

Montségur

Paris

Rennes

Strasbourg

FAMOUS METAL BANDS FROM FRANCE

ADX | Alcest | Anorexia Nervosa | Benighted | Blasphème | Blut aus Nord | Dagoba | Deathspell Omega | Gojira | Loudblast | Massacra | Nightmare | No Return | Penumbra | Sortilège | Trust

Upcoming gigs in France

1 Sep 2026 Soulfly The Black Lab Wasquehal
4 Sep 2026 Mennecy Metal Fest 2026 Festival Mennecy Metal Fest 2026 Mennecy Show artists

Artists

  • Saxon
11 Sep 2026 Bridge To Hell 2026 Festival Bridge To Hell 2026 Crest Show artists

Artists

  • Rotting Christ
12 Sep 2026 Judas Priest Zénith Strasbourg Europe Eckbolsheim
12 Sep 2026 Nevermore Zénith Strasbourg Europe Eckbolsheim
14 Sep 2026 Judas Priest LDLC Arena Décines-Charpieu
14 Sep 2026 Nevermore LDLC Arena Décines-Charpieu
15 Sep 2026 Judas Priest Arkea Arena Floirac
15 Sep 2026 Nevermore Arkea Arena Floirac
15 Sep 2026 Funebrarum GLAZART Paris
17 Sep 2026 Judas Priest Le Zénith Paris
17 Sep 2026 Nevermore Le Zénith Paris
21 Sep 2026 Blood Red Throne Petit Bain Paris
21 Sep 2026 Havok Petit Bain Paris
22 Sep 2026 Blood Red Throne Le Ferrailleur Nantes
22 Sep 2026 Havok Le Ferrailleur Nantes
23 Sep 2026 Angra L'Olympia Bruno Coquatrix Paris
25 Sep 2026 Blood Red Throne MJC Ô Totem Rillieux-la-Pape
25 Sep 2026 Havok MJC Ô Totem Rillieux-la-Pape
29 Sep 2026 Fear Factory Le Trabendo Paris
29 Sep 2026 Hate Le Trabendo Paris
1 Oct 2026 Kingdom of Giants Élysée Montmartre Paris
1 Oct 2026 The Sisters of Mercy Le Silo Marseille
2 Oct 2026 The Sisters of Mercy L'Autre Canal Nancy
3 Oct 2026 British Steel Saturday Night XIII – The Worlwide Edition II Festival British Steel Saturday Night XIII - The Worlwide Edition II Fismes Show artists

Artists

  • Anvil
6 Oct 2026 Europe L'Olympia Bruno Coquatrix Paris
9 Oct 2026 Anvil L'Empreinte Savigny-le-Temple
9 Oct 2026 Jinjer La Seine Musicale Boulogne-Billancourt
10 Oct 2026 Anvil La Loco Quimperlé
11 Oct 2026 Anvil AK Shelter Saint-Herblain
12 Oct 2026 Anvil Crossroad Café Angoulins
13 Oct 2026 Orbit Culture Le Zénith Paris
16 Oct 2026 Behemoth Le Zénith Paris
16 Oct 2026 Dimmu Borgir Le Zénith Paris
16 Oct 2026 Gloryhammer Interférence Balma
16 Oct 2026 Majestica Interférence Balma
16 Oct 2026 Arion Interférence Balma
18 Oct 2026 Suffocation Le Moloco Audincourt
19 Oct 2026 Suffocation Le Ferrailleur Nantes
19 Oct 2026 Eleine Backstage by the Mill Paris
20 Oct 2026 Suffocation Atabal Biarritz
21 Oct 2026 Gloryhammer La Rayonne Villeurbanne
21 Oct 2026 Majestica La Rayonne Villeurbanne
21 Oct 2026 Arion La Rayonne Villeurbanne
23 Oct 2026 Eleine Le Molotov Marseille
24 Oct 2026 Mork Rock n'Eat Live Lyon
24 Oct 2026 Soulburn Rock n' Eat Live Lyon
26 Oct 2026 Oranssi Pazuzu La Machine du Moulin Rouge Paris
26 Oct 2026 Suffocation Le Rex Toulouse
27 Oct 2026 Oranssi Pazuzu La Poudrière Belfort
28 Oct 2026 Oranssi Pazuzu L'Ampérage Grenoble
29 Oct 2026 Oranssi Pazuzu Maison des Choeurs Montpellier
31 Oct 2026 Festival de Vouziers 2026 Festival Festival de Vouziers 2026 Vouziers Show artists

Artists

  • Tyketto
1 Nov 2026 Eyehategod Le Molotov Marseille
2 Nov 2026 Eyehategod La Poudrière Belfort
3 Nov 2026 Archspire La Machine du Moulin Rouge Paris
3 Nov 2026 Crown Magnetar La Machine du Moulin Rouge Paris
3 Nov 2026 The Zenith Passage La Machine du Moulin Rouge Paris
3 Nov 2026 Analepsy La Machine du Moulin Rouge Paris
4 Nov 2026 Eyehategod GLAZART Paris
4 Nov 2026 The Hardkiss Backstage by the Mill Paris
5 Nov 2026 Fulci MJC Ô Totem Rillieux-la-Pape
6 Nov 2026 Fulci Le Dodu Marseille
7 Nov 2026 Archspire Le Bascala Bruguières
7 Nov 2026 Crown Magnetar Le Bascala Bruguières
7 Nov 2026 The Zenith Passage Le Bascala Bruguières
7 Nov 2026 Analepsy Le Bascala Bruguières
8 Nov 2026 Fulci Le Rex Toulouse
9 Nov 2026 Suffocation La Machine du Moulin Rouge Paris
9 Nov 2026 Carnifex La Machine du Moulin Rouge Paris
9 Nov 2026 Beast in Black L'Olympia Bruno Coquatrix Paris
9 Nov 2026 Luna Kills Backstage by the Mill Paris
9 Nov 2026 Sonata Arctica L'Olympia Bruno Coquatrix Paris
10 Nov 2026 Fulci La Machine du Moulin Rouge Paris
10 Nov 2026 Suffocation La Rayonne Villeurbanne
10 Nov 2026 Carnifex La Rayonne Villeurbanne
10 Nov 2026 Luna Kills Le Marché Gare Lyon
13 Nov 2026 Imperial Triumphant La Poudrière Belfort
14 Nov 2026 Beast in Black Le Bikini Ramonville-Saint-Agne
14 Nov 2026 Sonata Arctica Le Bikini Ramonville-Saint-Agne
15 Nov 2026 Beast in Black Le Transbordeur Villeurbanne
15 Nov 2026 Sonata Arctica Le Transbordeur Villeurbanne
17 Nov 2026 Gloryhammer La Machine du Moulin Rouge Paris
17 Nov 2026 Majestica La Machine du Moulin Rouge Paris
17 Nov 2026 Arion La Machine du Moulin Rouge Paris
21 Nov 2026 Apocalypse LH METAL FEST 2026 Festival Apocalypse LH METAL FEST 2026 Le Havre Show artists

Artists

  • Avulsed
  • Fleshcrawl
22 Nov 2026 Accept L'Olympia Bruno Coquatrix Paris
22 Nov 2026 Tailgunner L'Olympia Bruno Coquatrix Paris
24 Nov 2026 Soen Alhambra Paris
24 Nov 2026 The Pretty Reckless Le Zénith Paris
25 Nov 2026 Accept Le Transbordeur Villeurbanne
25 Nov 2026 Tailgunner Le Transbordeur Villeurbanne
25 Nov 2026 Imperial Triumphant Petit Bain Paris
26 Nov 2026 Soen L'Usine Istres
26 Nov 2026 Imperial Triumphant MJC Ô Totem Rillieux-la-Pape
27 Nov 2026 Imperial Triumphant Le Rex Toulouse
28 Nov 2026 Wednesday 13 Bal Chavaux Montreuil
29 Nov 2026 Accept Le Bikini Ramonville-Saint-Agne
29 Nov 2026 Tailgunner Le Bikini Ramonville-Saint-Agne
30 Nov 2026 Pain Interférence Balma

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