Mental health help forges forward at New England Metal and Hardcore Fest
This year, HeartSupport was on the ground for the first time at New England Metal and Hardcore Fest, a growing heavy music experience headlined by acts such as Lorna Shore, Cannibal Corpse, and Khublai Khan.
New England Metal and Hardcore Fest is set apart by its specificity to the heaviest music, pulling in a tight-knit community of listeners with that specific passion. HeartSupport program manager Bryce Maopolski was there to represent the organization at the Support Wall, where he got to see the softest side of attendees’ hearts between the heavy music on the stages.
“I had an incredible time bringing HeartSupport into the heaviest side of the metal scene, and it was amazing to be able to use the music that from the outside looks the scariest to have deep mental health conversations with fans,” Bryce shares. “The juxtaposition of listening to bands titled Full Of Hell and Cannibal Corpse while also spending a day hugging and crying with attendees underlined exactly what HeartSupport is about: music being the great uniter. Even though most people would look at this style and turn away, HeartSupport dives in and uses the music to reach fas where they're at — encouraging them to get support, often for the first time.”
Any many fans did exactly that. Seven attendees of this intimate fest opened up on the Support Wall, and 35 others wrote messages of encouragement in response. Over 100 metalheads applied temporary lyric tattoos with uplifting messages. Countless other conversations and moments filled in the gaps, reminding everyone present that the music community is a safe place to come together, to fall apart, and to lift each other back up.
HeartSupport's Impact at New England Metal and Hardcore Fest 2025
Bryce says, “By the end of the day, our Support Wall was absolutely filled with fans opeing up ad other fans supporting them — acting as a beautiful ray of hope and love in a scene that can look very scary from the outside.”
“Thank you so much for allowing us to activate and for making the whole day so stress-free!” Bryce adds for the HeartSupport community.
HeartSupport’s presence at New England Metal and Hardcore Fest was one of many deployments in a powerful festival season, a run that has included Warped Tour, Welcome to Rockville, and Aftershock. If you’ve ever wanted to be a part of hosting the powerful conversations at festivals like these, you can volunteer to heal the scene — every part of it, including every subgenre.
If you are ready to take your peer support to the next level, reaching far beyond just one day, learn more about Support Calls.
