Filipino rock, metal, and punk band LTK (License to Kill) is about to carve its name into Saudi Arabia’s music history. The Riyadh-based group has been officially included in the MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2025 lineup, becoming the first Filipino band to have launched an album in the Kingdom and now the second to perform at the region’s biggest music festival.
Set to take place from December 11 to 13, 2025, in Banban, Riyadh, Soundstorm is one of the Middle East’s largest and most ambitious music festivals, organized under Riyadh Season by MDLBEAST. The three-day spectacle will feature four massive districts and fourteen stages, uniting world-class artists, local talents, and now — Filipino rockers who have made the Kingdom their home.
“We’re creating history in the Kingdom,” shared Hancel, LTK’s guitarist and second vocalist with TGFM. “We are the first Filipino band to launch an album in Saudi Arabia and now the second to perform at MDLBEAST Soundstorm. Right now, we’re preparing for this huge event happening this December 11. It’s a big support if our kababayans all over the world know about this.”
Breaking barriers for Filipino music
LTK’s inclusion in the Soundstorm lineup is a breakthrough moment not just for the band, but for the broader Filipino community in Saudi Arabia. The group — Paul (vocals/guitar), Hancel (guitar/second vocals), Hulio (lead guitar), Shan (bass), and Jan (drums) — has built a loyal following through their heavy riffs, tight rhythms, and raw energy.
Their upcoming performance will also coincide with the official release of their debut album “Sharp Sounds from the Archipelago,” a DIY-produced record made in Riyadh that celebrates their Filipino roots. “We wanted the album to represent the best island in the world — the Philippines,” Hancel said. “It’s pure passion, experience, and love for heavy music.”
A global stage under Vision 2030
This year’s MDLBEAST Soundstorm will once again feature global icons such as Post Malone, Calvin Harris, and Cardi B, with more international and regional acts expected to join. Tickets are available via the NOFOMO app, offering STORM (general) and STORM+ (premium) access tiers.
