Assuming your heads haven’t exploded on Day 1, then Day 2 might just put that right! Here’s the deets on the Sunday bands . . . .
Amenra: Amenra are a Belgian post-metal band formed in 1999 in Kortrijk. Known for their emotionally intense music and performances, they blend elements of doom, sludge, and hardcore to create a sound that is both heavy and spiritually resonant. Their discography includes the Mass series and the album De Doorn (2021), which debuted at No. 3 in Belgium. Amenra’s live shows are renowned for their immersive experience, often incorporating visual art and rituals that reflect themes of pain, healing, and human struggle. They are also the founders of the Church of Ra collective, fostering collaboration among like-minded artists.
Genres: Post-Metal, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, Hardcore
Anaal Naathrakh: Anaal Nathrakh are a Birmingham-based extreme metal band renowned for their uncompromising fusion of black metal, grindcore, industrial, and noise elements. Formed in 1999 by multi-instrumentalist Mick Kenney and vocalist Dave Hunt (aka V.I.T.R.I.O.L), the band have cultivated a reputation for sheer sonic aggression and apocalyptic atmosphere. Their music is marked by intense blast beats, piercing shrieks, harsh electronics, and layered vocal styles that alternate between operatic cleans and guttural screams. Lyrically, they delve into themes of nihilism, misanthropy, and cultural collapse, offering a bleak critique of humanity. Despite their abrasive sound, Anaal Nathrakh’s compositions often exhibit a surprising sense of melody and grandeur, creating a chaotic yet captivating listening experience. They have remained fiercely independent, continually pushing the limits of extremity while maintaining a cult following within the underground scene.
Genres: Black Metal, Grindcore, Industrial, Extreme Metal
Author & Punisher: Author & Punisher is the innovative project of Tristan Shone, a mechanical engineer and artist based in San Diego. Established in 2004, Shone crafts a unique blend of industrial and doom metal using custom-designed instruments he fabricates himself, known as “Drone Machines” and “Dub Machines.” This approach allows him to produce a distinctive sound that merges heavy, mechanical rhythms with atmospheric textures. Over the years, Author & Punisher has released several albums, including Melk en Honing (2015) and Krüller (2022), each showcasing Shone’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of metal through technological innovation and artistic expression.
Genres: Industrial Metal, Drone Metal, Doom Metal
Code: Code are an English black metal band formed in 2002. The band originated from guitarist Aort’s solo project, Seasonal Code, and solidified its lineup with vocalist Kvohst (Mat McNerney) and bassist Vicotnik. Their debut album, Nouveau Gloaming (2005), showcased a blend of traditional black metal with avant-garde elements. Over time, Code’s sound evolved, incorporating progressive and experimental influences, as evident in albums like Resplendent Grotesque (2009) and Augur Nox (2013). The band’s lineup has seen changes, with Aort remaining the consistent member, guiding Code through its stylistic evolution. Their discography reflects a journey from raw black metal roots to a more avant-garde and progressive metal approach.
Genres: Black Metal, Avant-Garde Metal, Progressive Metal
Coilguns: Coilguns are a Swiss post-hardcore band known for their unrelenting energy, raw live sound, and experimental approach to heavy music. E merging from the remnants of The Ocean Collective in 2011, Coilguns quickly forged an identity rooted in chaotic song structures, angular riffing, and politically charged lyrics. Their sound draws heavily from hardcore punk, sludge, and mathcore, frequently delivered with an improvisational spirit that borders on the anarchic. Often recorded live in single takes, their music captures a sense of urgency and confrontation, bolstered by visceral performances and a disdain for overproduction. Their DIY ethos and relentless touring schedule have earned them a dedicated fanbase across Europe’s underground circuits, where their shows are as volatile and unpredictable as their records.
Genres: Post-Hardcore, Mathcore, Sludge, Noise Rock
Conjurer: Conjurer are a British metal band formed in 2014 in Rugby, Warwickshire. Their music blends elements of sludge, doom, and post-metal, creating a sound that is both heavy and atmospheric. Their debut album, Mire (2018), received critical acclaim for its dynamic compositions and emotional depth. In 2022, they released their second album, Páthos, further establishing their reputation in the metal community. Conjurer’s live performances are known for their intensity and the band’s ability to convey profound emotion through their music.
Genres: Sludge Metal, Doom Metal, Post-Metal
Devil Sold his Soul: Devil Sold His Soul are a British post-metal band formed in London in 2004, known for their emotionally charged sound that blends crushing heaviness with soaring ambience. Their music is defined by expansive post-rock textures, atmospheric layering, and cathartic crescendos that sit alongside moments of delicate introspection. Vocally, the band employ a balance of anguished screams and melodic cleans, creating a dynamic interplay that heightens their sense of drama. Lyrically, their work often grapples with grief, resilience, and the struggle for meaning in adversity, delivered with a sincerity that has become a hallmark of their identity. Albums such as A Fragile Hope and Blessed & Cursed established them as one of the UK’s most compelling heavy bands, and later releases like Loss have reaffirmed their relevance, showcasing both power and vulnerability in equal measure.
Genres: Post-Metal, Post-Hardcore, Ambient Metal, Metalcore
Din of Celestial Birds: Din Of Celestial Birds are a UK-based post-rock band known for expansive, cinematic compositions that weave together soaring guitar melodies, atmospheric textures, and dynamic crescendos. Formed in the late 2010s, they draw inspiration from the emotional intensity of bands like Explosions In The Sky and This Will Destroy You while carving out their own distinctive voice within the post-rock genre. Their debut album The Night Is For Dreamers introduced a sweeping, evocative sound that balances fragility with overwhelming catharsis. Through live performances, they immerse audiences in soundscapes that feel both intimate and vast, cementing their reputation as one of the UK’s most promising new post-rock acts.
Genres: Post-Rock, Atmospheric Rock, Instrumental Rock
Hellripper: Hellripper are a Scottish black/speed metal band founded in 2014 by multi-instrumentalist James McBain. Originally conceived as a solo project, Hellripper channels the spirit of classic blackened thrash, drawing inspiration from early acts like Venom, Bathory, and Motörhead. Their sound is marked by rapid riffs, infectious solos, and themes steeped in the occult, witchcraft, and folklore. Albums such as Coagulating Darkness (2017), The Affair of the Poisons (2020), and Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags (2023) showcase McBain’s ability to fuse melody and ferocity with relentless energy. Though studio work remains a solo effort, Hellripper’s live performances feature a full band lineup, delivering blistering sets across the global extreme metal scene.
Genres: Black Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal
Hidden Mothers: Hidden Mothers are a UK-based band who straddle the boundaries between post-black metal, shoegaze, and post-hardcore, forging a cathartic and atmospheric sound that is both melancholic and ferocious. Emerging from Sheffield’s alternative scene, the band blend reverb-drenched guitars, screamed vocals, and ambient textures with bursts of visceral aggression. Drawing inspiration from bands like Deafheaven and Oathbreaker, they explore themes of loss, identity, and existential struggle. Their music often builds from delicate introspection into overwhelming crescendos, balancing chaos and beauty with a cinematic sense of scope. Hidden Mothers have quickly gained attention for their emotionally intense live performances and are part of a growing wave of UK acts redefining the boundaries of blackened heavy music.
Genres: Post-Black Metal, Blackgaze, Post-Hardcore, Screamo
Mantar: Mantar are a German sludge metal duo formed in 2012, known for producing a massive, raw sound despite consisting of just two members. Their music draws from black metal, punk, and doom, creating a style that is heavy, gritty, and unrelenting. With albums like Death by Burning, Ode to the Flame, and Pain is Forever and This is the End, Mantar blend abrasive energy with memorable songwriting. Their live performances are renowned for intensity and volume, with the band maintaining a minimalist but thunderous presence on stage.
Genres: Sludge Metal, Blackened Doom, Punk
Napalm Death: Napalm Death are a pioneering English extreme metal band formed in 1981, credited with creating and defining the grindcore genre. Their groundbreaking debut album Scum (1987) introduced a blend of hardcore punk, death metal, and politically charged lyrics — along with the record-breaking track “You Suffer,” clocking in at just over one second. Over decades and numerous lineup changes, the band — anchored by bassist Shane Embury and vocalist Mark “Barney” Greenway — have continued to evolve, integrating death metal, crust, and even avant-garde elements. Their commitment to aggressive musical innovation and social critique has made them one of the most enduring and influential names in extreme music.
Genres: Grindcore, Death Metal, Crust Punk
Nordic Giants: Nordic Giants are an English post-rock duo formed in 2010, renowned for their immersive and cinematic soundscapes. Performing in anonymity under the monikers Loki and Rôka, they combine atmospheric music with visual storytelling, often using short films and elaborate stage design in their performances. With albums such as A Séance of Dark Delusions, Amplify Human Vibration, and Symbiosis, the band crafts instrumental pieces that blend piano, bowed guitar, and thunderous percussion to evoke themes of nature, humanity, and transformation. Their work invites reflection, emotion, and awe — both aurally and visually.
Genres: Post-Rock, Ambient, Instrumental Rock
Onslaught: Onslaught are an English thrash metal band formed in the early 1980s, emerging from the UK hardcore punk scene before pivoting into thrash metal. Their early albums like Power from Hell and The Force captured a raw, aggressive style that helped define the UK’s contribution to the global thrash movement. Known for politically charged lyrics and relentless energy, the band made a powerful return in the 2000s with albums like Killing Peace and Generation Antichrist. Onslaught continue to be recognised for their uncompromising speed, heaviness, and loyalty to the genre’s core.
Genres: Thrash Metal, Speed Metal
Pig Destroyer: Pig Destroyer are a legendary grindcore band from Virginia, USA, formed in 1997. Known for their blistering speed, poetic lyrics, and genre-defying experimentation, they’ve become one of the most respected names in extreme metal. Albums such as Prowler in the Yard, Terrifyer, and Phantom Limb have pushed grindcore into new realms of intensity and thematic depth. While rooted in the abrasive speed and brevity of grindcore, Pig Destroyer incorporate doom, noise, and even groove elements, constantly evolving while maintaining a confrontational core. Their lyrics often explore isolation, violence, and personal trauma through vivid, narrative imagery.
Genres: Grindcore, Extreme Metal, Noise
Primordial: Primordial are an Irish metal band formed in 1991, whose sound is an evocative fusion of black metal, Celtic folk influences, and epic heavy metal grandeur. Emerging from Dublin, they initially embraced the raw aesthetics of black metal before evolving into a band defined by sweeping, atmospheric compositions that channel themes of history, nationalism, and cultural identity. Their frontman Alan Averill (Nemtheanga) is known for his commanding, bardic vocal delivery that moves between anguished howls and impassioned clean singing, giving their music a uniquely narrative quality. Albums such as The Gathering Wilderness and To the Nameless Dead are acclaimed for their blend of ferocity and melancholy, placing the band among Europe’s most distinctive voices in extreme metal. Primordial’s music resonates with a sense of ancient tragedy and defiance, making them both historically rooted and timelessly powerful.
Genres: Black Metal, Pagan Metal, Folk Metal, Extreme Metal
Psychonaut: Psychonaut are a Belgian progressive post-metal band formed in Mechelen in 2013. Known for their expansive and atmospheric approach, they merge crushing riffs with psychedelic textures, drawing comparisons to bands like Mastodon, Tool, and Cult of Luna. Their music explores themes of consciousness, spirituality, and human existence, often delivered through lengthy compositions that build from meditative passages into towering climaxes. The 2020 album Unfold The God Man established them as a rising force in European heavy music, praised for its ambitious scope and philosophical depth. With dynamic live performances that balance ferocity and transcendence, Psychonaut have earned a reputation as one of the most compelling new acts in modern post-metal.
Genres: Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, Psychedelic Metal
Raging Speedhorn: Raging Speedhorn are a British sludge and hardcore band from Corby, Northamptonshire, formed in 1998. They are renowned for their feral intensity, dual-vocal attack, and a sound that merges the grimy aggression of sludge metal with the raw urgency of hardcore punk. Their self-titled debut and follow-up We Will Be Dead Tomorrow captured the chaotic energy of late 1990s and early 2000s UK heavy music, with songs steeped in themes of violence, excess, and disillusionment. A staple of the UK festival circuit, the band gained a reputation for unrelenting live shows that embodied both menace and catharsis. Despite lineup changes and a period of inactivity, they reunited in the 2010s, releasing Hard to Kill and returning to stages with their trademark venom intact. Raging Speedhorn remain cult favourites for their uncompromising sound and unfiltered approach.
Genres: Sludge Metal, Hardcore Punk, Metalcore, Groove Metal
Spectral Wound: Spectral Wound are a black metal band from Montréal, Canada, known for their ferocious sound steeped in traditional second‑wave black metal aesthetics while embracing a visceral, contemporary energy. Formed in 2014, they channel raw aggression through icy tremolo‑picked riffs, relentless drumming, and scathing vocals, all wrapped in a cold yet melodic atmosphere. Rejecting the ambient or symphonic tendencies found in some modern black metal, Spectral Wound favour a lean, stripped‑down approach that emphasises physicality and intensity. Their work explores themes of decay, violence, and transcendence, with a lyrical bent that is more poetic than overtly ideological. Albums such as Infernal Decadence and A Diabolic Thirst have received critical praise for their unflinching delivery and fierce sense of identity, positioning the band at the forefront of the current wave of underground black metal.
Genres: Black Metal, Atmospheric Black Metal
Stampin’ Ground: Stampin’ Ground are a British hardcore/metalcore band known for fusing the aggression of hardcore punk with the heaviness and structure of thrash and metal. Active primarily in the late ’90s and early ’00s, albums such as Carved from Empty Words and A New Darkness Upon Us captured their ability to combine pit-worthy breakdowns with razor-sharp musicianship. Their lyrics often address political unrest, societal failure, and inner struggle, delivered with ferocity and conviction. Though their output has been limited in recent years, Stampin’ Ground remain influential in the UK’s heavy music underground.
Genres: Hardcore, Metalcore
Ted Maul: Ted Maul were a genre-bending extreme metal band from London, active primarily between 2002 and 2007. Their music combined elements of death metal, hardcore, industrial, and drum & bass to create a chaotic and innovative sound. Their only album, White Label (2007), showcased an experimental approach that pushed the boundaries of genre, using unconventional song structures and digital textures alongside crushing riffs and aggressive vocals. Despite their brief run, Ted Maul left a lasting impression on the UK metal scene and are remembered for their fearless, boundary-breaking attitude.
Genres: Deathcore, Industrial Metal, Hardcore, Drum & Bass
The Haunted: The Haunted are a Swedish metal band formed in 1996, known for their aggressive blend of thrash and melodic death metal. Emerging from the ashes of At The Gates, The Haunted quickly established themselves with their self-titled debut album in 1998. Over the years, they’ve released acclaimed albums such as Made Me Do It (2000) and rEVOLVEr (2004), showcasing their ability to evolve while maintaining a ferocious sound. Their lineup has shifted over time, but their commitment to delivering intense, high‑energy music remains constant.
Genres: Thrash Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Groove Metal
Warning: Warning are a British doom metal band formed in the late 1990s, known for their emotional weight and minimalist compositions. Their cult classic album Watching from a Distance (2006) is widely regarded as one of the most emotionally devastating doom releases of all time, with its slow tempos, mournful melodies, and introspective lyrics. Led by Patrick Walker, Warning eschewed theatrics in favour of sincerity, focusing on themes of loss, longing, and sorrow. Their influence can be felt across modern doom and post-metal, where emotional resonance is as crucial as sonic weight.
Genres: Doom Metal, Traditional Doom
Wiegedood: Wiegedood are a Belgian black metal trio formed in 2014, best known for their De Doden Hebben Het Goed trilogy and their emotionally intense compositions. They fuse atmospheric black metal with raw aggression, creating a bleak yet immersive sound. In 2022, they released There’s Always Blood at the End of the Road, a conceptually darker and more experimental record exploring the filth of human nature. Connected to the Church of Ra collective (alongside Amenra and Oathbreaker), Wiegedood stand out for their relentless intensity and refusal to dilute the power of black metal.
Genres: Black Metal, Atmospheric Black Metal
So that wraps up the bands for the 2-day festival which should bring something from every metal and post-rock genre to beat your ears to death. Enjoy the pain!
