Behind Bars

Country: Belgium
Genre: Groovy Hardcore/Metal
Founded: 2015

Straight outta the northern regions of Belgium a Hardcore Metal band rises to the occasion to bring you energetic live performances, smoldering guitar riffs and hard hitting breakdowns. Still going strong since 2015, our story is one of hard work, friendship, hitting back harder when others said we couldn’t. Go with us on a journey down memory lane and find out who we really are…
From humble beginnings we slowly started to make to make a name for ourselves in the local scene, playing festivals and clubs all around Belgium. Collaborating with the most noticeable of our peers back in those days. For 3 years we took over every stage we could get our hands on and people were starting to notice us. In 2018 things took a turn for the better and one of the biggest stages was calling out to us from across the border. Scouts from the German behemoth that is Wacken Open Air gave us a call! They didn’t have to tell us twice. Our passage on those grounds was as memorable as ever, we were unstoppable back then!

After our passage on WOA and already releasing a demo and an EP we took the opportunity to go into the studio and record our first full length album, later dubbed “FREE AT LAST”. We perfected and battle tested our gear and songs so we could make this a banger of a record and it absolutely was. We couldn’t be more proud of the result and some of those songs we still play today.
But there isn’t fame without hardship and sadly we weren’t the only ones who felt it. By the time the album released, COVID hit… And we all know how that went. Many of our peers struggled and never overcame this massive speed bump. But we eventually did! Inside quarantines and separations we took our time to already write new material and perfect every aspect about what the band was about to become. And when clubs and stages starting opening again, we were the first to jump back on the wagon and show the world that we were still here and stronger then ever.

Progress was slow and stages were getting scarce, as was for all bands during that time. But it didn’t stop us. The material we wrote during COVID was about to be put to the test. In 2023 we went back into the studio… with a new vocalist (Ian “Husky” Huyskens). Since the release of that record which we dubbed “ ALL IN DUE TIME” everything changed. Our sound became heavier, more in your face. Our shows became more aggressive and at the same time playful. Our chemistry was at an all time high.
Eventually the hard work began to pay off. Bigger shows began to present itself. The doors across borders began to open for us and we are still spreading our message across the whole of Europe. On this day we have toured with bands like Flotsam & Jetsam, played foreign festivals like Tolminator and shared the bill with numerous noticeable bands like Stillbirth and Pro-Pain.
But it didn’t stop there. On this year of 2025 we come to you with a new record with a new sound, THE sound! Our newest EP “AS I WAIT FOR DEATH” has been let loose upon the masses, showing that we are here to take over. We are going 10 years strong now. And we are not thinking of giving up yet. Who are we? We are BEHIND BARS.

Members of the band:
Ian Huyskens — Vocals
Bjorn Van Olmen — Drums
Steven Vandermosten — Guitar
Andy Philips — Bass

Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/behindbars.be/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindbarsofficial/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@behindbarsofficial6796
Bandcamp: https://behindbarsofficial.bandcamp.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Lt0WebUsXasLeV84vZDEV
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/behindbarsofficial