The Prisongrounds at Alcatraz Open Air in Kortrijk guarantee four days of music spread across four stages every year. 2026 was a sold-out year. Thousands of metal fans once again made their way to this lively festival this year. This year, we had to limit ourselves to just one day at the Prisongrounds, but from the reactions of other visitors, we gathered that the entertainment was top-notch every day.
So Friday was the day we’d chosen, and even though we’d gotten up early and were already on our way early to Kortrijk, traffic jams around Antwerp on the way there threw a wrench in our plans to see Masterplan. They were scheduled to open the main stage—aka the Prison Stage—at 11:20 a.m. We just caught a glimpse of the band’s backdrop disappearing from the stage as we finally set foot on the holy grounds. Too bad, but no worries—there were more than enough other entertaining bands on the lineup.
Excellent
Crimson Glory was first on my list; this band has been a fixture in the prog/metal genre since the mid-’80s and has an excellent frontman in singer Travis Wills. Yes, the never-ending debate that he’s no Midnight will likely always continue, but believe me, Travis comes unnervingly close to the vocal style of Midnight—who, sadly, passed away far too soon—and that’s close enough. After all, there’s no need for a clone of that man to be on stage. In any case, it’s a pleasure to hear songs like “Dragon Lady,” “Azrael,” or “Lady Of Winter” performed by this lineup. Unfortunately, drummer Dana Burnell wasn’t on tour due to personal circumstances, but stand-in Stian Kristoffersen [Pagans Mind] did a great job. There’s nothing wrong with Crimson Glory’s current lineup; they can keep going for years to come and will win over both old and new fans.
Metal Hearts
The next veteran on my list for the day was Dirkschneider. The band led by Udo always guarantees a fantastic heavy metal show. Bassist Peter Baltes, however, had fallen off a stage a few days before the show and will need some time to recover from this nasty fall. Stand-in Alex Jansen had therefore flown in at the last minute to ensure that the Dirkschneider shows could go on as sheduled. It was a great opportunity for me to see my old bandmate perform live once again. And as for the show, let’s be brief and to the point: Dirkschneider came, saw, and delivered a beastly, killer set of fantastic Accept classics—because that’s what Dirkschneider was made for. Accept’s original vocalist still has it, and he’s backed by a tight band that knows how to deliver the necessary fireworks. Large crowds have gathered in front of the Prison Stage, singing along loudly, and even some crowd surfers have been spotted. AND if you open with “Fast As A Shark,” you’ve got to have some serious guts, because that’s a song many bands save for the show’s finale. We also get to enjoy timeless songs like “Princess of the Dawn,” “Metal Heart,” and “Breaker,” among others. Awesome show, awesome sound—an absolute top-notch performance in the afternoon sun at the Prison Grounds.
wall of sound
Armed with their recently released album ‘Emotion Factory Reset,’ the guys from Armored Saint were also on the festival lineup. These Los Angeles natives formed the band in 1982 and, despite a few hiatuses, have always managed to keep the band alive. The formidable singer John Bush is still at the top of his game and takes the stage with tremendous energy to showcase his vocal acrobatics. Bassist Joey Vera and the rest of the band provide a thick wall of sound that would strike fear into the hearts of many a band. Armored Saint may never have reached the very pinnacle of the heavy metal genre, but this is a band that has always delivered and has earned immense respect from fans and musicians within the genre. And quality is what Armored Saint stands for, once again on this sun-drenched Friday. The band’s setlist offers a nice cross-section of their career, from “March Of The Saint” to “Last Train Home” to their latest release, “Close To The Bone.” A fantastic band, delivering a beautifully energetic performance of exceptionally high quality.
precision-engineered
Then I’ll take a quick detour to the Swamp Stage to see the prog-metal band Soen. These Swedes have been making quite a name for themselves in recent years, and it doesn’t look like that’s going to end anytime soon, judging by how packed the tent is for these guys’ performance. Singer Joel Elklöf and his bandmates put on a precision-engineered show. Meticulously calculated down to the last detail. The sound is crystal clear, and the light show is choreographed down to the last detail. The light show also makes it pretty much impossible to take decent photos of the band. But that probably doesn’t bother them much, because for Soen, it’s all about the experience and the atmosphere—and they nail it with songs like “Discordia,” “Primal,” and “Unbreakable.” Mission accomplished.
mini experience
Savatage got to close out the day at Alcatraz for me, and they did so with a good set. It was a set that would have been right up the average music fan’s alley, but it left me with the feeling that, well, I don’t think this was one of Savatage’s best shows. Here and there, it all seemed a bit sloppier than at other shows of the band’s that I’ve had the chance to see. But you know, we’re all human—and so is Savatage—and this just goes to prove it. Was it bad, then? No, far from it. Certainly not—when you have songs like “Dead Winter Dead,” “Sirens,” “Edge Of Thorns,” or “Hall Of The Mountain King” on your setlist, it’s almost impossible to go wrong. What was a bit of a letdown, though, was that the band only played for 60 minutes. I’m sure that was coordinated with the organizers, but it did feel like a mini-experience. Anyway, I still got to go to see them in Bonn—that review is coming soon—and I can already reveal that the band’s show there completely overshadowed the one at Alcatraz.
In any case, the end of the Savatage show also marked the end of my Alcatraz 2026 experience—an annual reunion with friends and old and new acquaintances.
The grounds had been updated with some new features, and the warm, dry conditions had been taken into account for the visitors [or “Inmates,” as we call them at Alcatraz]. I’m already looking forward to the 2027 edition, with acts like Europe, Mercyful Fate, and Halestorm already announced on the festival lineup. Nothing but praise for this wonderful festival. See you next year….
Report & Images by Raymond Helebrand
