Perhaps the heaviest band on the bill, Fit For An Autopsy have had a stellar last five years of existence. Breaking out from the shackles of deathcore and making crushing, monolithic tunes that come close to rivalling Gojira in some instances, this is their second time in the UK in less than a year but judging by their reception, they’re adored over here. Opening with ‘Hostage’, the first track on their newest record The Nothing That Is, they have the crowd in the palm of their hand from the off, with a sea of raised fists and banging heads greeting them. Joe Badolato has one of the best voices in the game at the moment, nailing both his growls and soaring cleans like few others at the moment, particularly on tracks like ‘Sea of Tragic Beasts’ and the modern metal classic of ‘Far From Heaven’ which send the crowd into a gloriously loud singalong and leaves Joe Badolato and the rest of the band grinning like Cheshire cats.
Having gone down a treat with their debut on the New Blood stage last year, Hertfordshire death metal quintet Dead Flesh have the honour of being welcomed back to open this year’s Thursday festivities. The tent is heaving with excited punters as the band’s abrasive style of deathcore kicks the weekend off with an explosive euuurrrgggh and plenty of bludgeoning riffs. They’re reminiscent of glitchy grindcore act Full Of Hell with their chaotic and noisy nature, giving the thirsty metalheads plenty of riffs to consume, opportunities to crowd-surf and batter each other to get the party started.
Early shows: a nightmare for most bands. Not only do they entail the infamous disco load out, but it also comes with the quiet worry that most punters won’t be aware that doors will be earlier than the 7pm standard. Unfortunately, it appears Cardiff hasn’t got the memo regarding everything kicking off at 6.30pm sharp tonight; as God Alone walk on stage, they begin their set to an audience of five punters. Still, that doesn’t stop the Cork noise rabble-rousers being the utter maniacs they are live.
Performing material from their upcoming album The Beep Test and choice cuts their 2022 debut ETC, God Alone are utterly feral, prowling lurching and flailing around the stage to their danceable if not bizarre mathy noise rock. Even ‘Kung Fu Treachery’ see’s the band forgo their instruments to perform high kicks and the likes mid set, something that totally bemuses those walking into the room mid proceedings. Still, it’s impossible not to love God Alone. In an age where music is a commodity and tailored for profits and algorithms, the Cork lads completely refuse to comply with both convention and what should be expected from an opening set for an early doors show.
It’s 11am on a pleasant summertime Saturday morning and the start of the final day of a festival – perfect timing for Sugar Horse. Opening the main stage, the Bristolian doomgazers sound wonderfully desolate this beautiful morning, especially with the likes of ‘Office Job Simulator’ and ‘Shouting Judas at Bob Dylan’ sounding positively bleak as sin. But after all, who can blame them. Yes, ArcTanGent this year be host to nothing but smiles and positivity, but beyond the farm, there’s nowt but pure horror to be had. Be in it in the form of sociopolitical unrest or the fact there’s an actual genocide taking place that we can more or less livestream in thanks to the bastard wonders of social media, there’s no shortage of evidence proving that we as a species are failing. Horrific thinking for a Saturday morning yes, but there’s no denying that such horrors have infused Sugar Horse’s output here, something that becomes evident with the set finale that is a mammoth new song dedicated to Palestine. This set is a lot, pretty much in every sense of the word, but one that feels authentic, urgent and crucial. – DH
As Church Road Records continues its dominance as one of the most exciting underground labels in the UK, they have recently added the bananas post hardcore band Indifferent Engine to their roster. Today, the Cambridge post-hardcore outfit prove why they are turning heads. Opening the PX3 and coming up against the aforementioned Sugar Horse in which is becoming to be known as ‘Who Can Make The Loudest Noise Whilst I Eat My Breakfast Burrito’ slot before midday, they still pull a crowd. Playing an array of tracks off their first full length, Speculative Fiction they throw their bodies across the stage, vocalist Adam Paul reminiscent of At the Drive-In in his delivery and chaos. They certainly shake a few hungover husks of humans into gear for the last day. – AV
Now, if Sugar Horse or Indifferent Engine don’t kick assess into gear this morning, some atmospheric sludge metal via the depths of hell via Wren certainly does. Their noise is discordant, spacious yet immediate. Seb Tull’s hard hitting drums feel like a threat as Robert Lett’s bass rumbles through the soil beneath the battered trainers and boots of those in the packed tent. As the sun shines just outside, inside the Bixler tent Wren make most in attendance question their own reality with the darkness they deliver. – AV
It’s not even noon and the first band on today already has everyone in tears. From releasing their breakthrough sophomore album I Leave You This less than a year ago to becoming one of the genres most talked about acts and making their debut on ArcTanGent’s main stage, it’s rare to see a post-rock band break through with as much force as Dublin’s Overhead, The Albatross. On a scorching Friday morning in front of a packed crowd it’s easy to see how this band have captured the scene’s imagination, standing out from the droves of bands all drawing from the same influences with groovy synths and vocals that range from impassioned soliloquies to distorted, heavily autotuned chants over striking visuals. The end result is a set that’s emotional as it is inspired. However, one of the pivotal moments of this set comes with a touching tribute those we have lost, including Bri Fitzpatrick, something that makes half the crowd shed a tear or two. Not only could Overhead, The Albatross be destined to take a prominent spot in the niche post-rock world but, with their varied yet accessible sound, it’s possible that the quintet could bring the genre to mainstream audiences. – TB
Next is a set that shows how Giant Walker’s meteoric rise cannot be stopped. With a tight retro prog groove layered with rich psychedelic textures and the slick sheen of modern progressive metal, the Newcastle four piece have been going from strength to strength over the last year, releasing their critically acclaimed sophomore album Silhouettes and touring non-stop ready to cap off 2025 with a run of live shows supporting progressive supergroup Vower. Led by frontwoman Steff Fish and her commanding vocal performance, the quartet thunder their way through their 30 minute set, jumping effortlessly from the ethereal lilting of tracks like ‘Silhouettes’ to the confident stomp of ‘Make Me’. With a spectacular live show and the recorded material to back it up, expect to see Giant Walker climb the ranks of the progressive underground very quickly. – TB
Back on the main stage, a band making their farewell – there’s no doubt in anyone’s minds that this was going to be an emotional set by one of the most beloved bands in the UK underground scene. Ithaca have built an indestructible reputation through their music and messages Djamila and co deliver. To warm the cockles and vocal cords of the crowd, Robbie Williams’ ‘Angels’ rang out from the PA system and the sing along was heard across the site and deterred any tears that would surely be shed. “For the last fucking time, we are Ithaca!’ Djamila declares, and even though she was struggling due to illness those in attendance stepped up belt out lyrics from favourites like ‘Camera Eats First’ and ‘They fear Us’. Guest spots from Pupil Slicer’s Kate Davies & Ed Gibbs of Devil Sold His Soul bolstered an emotional half an hour in which the band left every ounce of energy on stage. Guitarist Sam Chetan-Welsh left everyone with some beautiful words to close out their legacy: “First of all a profound thank you to everyone…secondly choose positivity over nihilism…thirdly you will get over your trauma and not be defined by it.” Ithaca forever. – AV
It’s the second day of ArcTanGent, and despite the early time, the festival is picking up the madness from where it left off last night. Pushing the rich, immersive sounds of shoegaze to their extreme with a snarling punk rock edge, Cambridge quartet Lemondaze make their ArcTanGent debut with a confident and mesmerising live show to the PX3 stage. Fronted by dual guitarists and vocalists Isis De Chastelain and Rosie Heard-Edwards, Lemondaze shake shoegaze stereotypes with an energy rarely seen in the genre, effortlessly bouncing from subtle, ethereal moments of quiet to leaping across the stage in a feedback fuelled haze. The band’s latest single ‘o(type)’ cements them as an audience favourite, launching driving percussion and rumbling bass into a wall of shimmering guitar based noise. – TB
Immediately after next door in the Bixler, it’s a familiar face. Despite performing at the festival with her band Healthyliving less than 24 hours before making their debut on this stage, Maud The Moth’s Amaya Lopez-Carromero crafts a powerful and totally unique experience. While her work in Healthyliving leans on grungy post-metal and doom tropes, Maud The Moth gives Lopez-Carromero licence to experiment with distorted piano textures, thunderous guitars and clashing synths which battle for dominance against her lilting, wailing vocals. With a hypnotic live show drawing from their breakout hit The Distaff, released back in February, expect Maud The Moth to become a fixture in the experimental underground. – TB
Speaking of familiar faces, it’s wonderful to see As Living Arrows back at the festival again. It has been forward step after forward step for the post-hardcore troupe since the release of last year’s record Hope & Ruin so gracing a slot at ATG once again only seems apt. The gradual ebbs and flows of their set really grab the attention of the crowd, as they’ve really taken their performance to a new level and are tighter than ever before. Thomas Wagstaff (vocals) leading the energy of the band charging round the stage. Their blend from post-hardcore to black metal sections with sprinklings of beauty intertwined are everything this sunburned crowd could want and more. – AV
