HYPOCRISY are among the absolute pioneers of melodic death metal—and will be playing at Reload for the first time in 2027. The Swedish band combines the intensity of death metal with melodic guitars, heavy riffs, and a dark atmosphere. From the very first note, intensity and melody collide: brutal, striking, and with a sound that sticks with you. Melody doesn’t tame this music—it gives its power direction.

In 1991, Peter Tägtgren founded HYPOCRISY in Sweden. As a musician and producer, he is an exceptional talent and has played a decisive role in shaping the sound of melodic death metal through his production of numerous groundbreaking albums. His flair for powerful intensity, distinctive guitar lines, and a dense atmosphere also defines HYPOCRISY’s musical style.

The band is among the pioneers of a sound in which heaviness and melody don’t work against each other, but instead combine to create intensity. Heavy riffs drive the music forward, melodic guitars give the songs their shape, and the dark underlying mood lingers. Thematically, too, HYPOCRISY follows its own unique path: alongside socially critical and dark themes, their lyrics repeatedly feature aliens, UFOs, and a fascination with the unknown.

At Reload 2027, scene history and a festival debut come together. HYPOCRISY are bringing a sound to Sulingen that has served as a inspiration for an entire generation of melodic death metal fans.