Alterium at ProgPower USA 2025 (Written by Nicoletta Rosellini)

Alterium’s singer Nicoletta Rosellini shares her unforgettable experience performing at ProgPower USA 2025 in Atlanta - an exclusive look behind Alterium’s debut on one of metal’s most iconic stages!

A Dream Come True: Performing at ProgPower USA

I’ve always dreamed of performing on the Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia, ever since the very beginning of my musical journey. I’ve always seen it as the mecca of my favorite genre. In fact, back in 2014, when Kalidia released our debut album, I bought a spot on the festival’s compilation CD and a promotional page in the brochure they handed out at the entrance, and to this day, I still think that advertisement did more for us than many others ever did.

ProgPower is a music festival founded in 2001 that, over the years, has hosted practically all of my favorite bands, along with countless “first US appearances” for many international acts.

If you’re picturing something like the European giants Wacken or Hellfest, this isn’t that kind of festival! Here, we’re talking about a completely different experience: a capacity of around 1,000 people and an incredibly tight-knit community that gathers in Atlanta year after year for four unforgettable days.

An Unforgettable Experience and a True Metal Family

For the first time, I had the chance to meet in person so many people I’d only known virtually until then: fans, photographers, professionals, and fellow musicians. The sense of community was what impressed me the most about the whole festival. Everyone knows everyone; it truly feels like a big family.

Almost all the bands hold free and open meet and greets, and there are also VIP tickets that allow some fans to meet the bands right after their performance. For us, that was a wonderful moment where we could chat calmly with many of you. I also want to thank everyone who brought us a little gift, we appreciated it so much!

Luckily, we were able to stay for all four days of the festival, which we spent almost entirely among the audience, chatting with tons of attendees, and it really filled our hearts.

And the on-stage experience? Absolutely amazing. In the months leading up to it, there was detailed planning with the festival crew (who were truly kind and helpful), and everything ran smoothly. We had so much fun, and even though we were the first band on Day 2, it was incredible to see the venue already packed. That’s not something you can take for granted when you’re promoting your debut album! We felt right at home.

It’s such a unique experience compared to other festivals; here, the sense of belonging and community reigns supreme. I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t attended yet and wants to see some of the best bands around in an intimate venue (with seating available for those who prefer to watch comfortably) that also offers exclusive meet and greet moments and special opportunities for its attendees.

Exploring Atlanta and Looking Ahead

I still haven’t fully processed the fact that I actually performed on that stage, but thankfully, there are photos to remind me ;)

During those days, we also explored Atlanta a bit, visiting the famous Aquarium, the World of Coca Cola, and even trying some local culinary experiences, like the iconic breakfast at The Silver Skillet.

I truly hope to go back soon, even just as a spectator. Next year’s lineup already looks amazing!

All live photos featured in this article were taken by Nikolai Sidorov during Alterium’s performance at ProgPower USA 2025 in Atlanta on September 4, 2025. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fist_exe/