It’s that special time of year once more. With yet another amazing lineup of quality bands both big and small, the UK’s Damnation Festival returns this weekend for another sold out weekend of extremity. So yes, on Saturday 4th November at Leeds University, something colossal will be happening.
It’s an absolutely great lineup, and you can see the full list of bands, including stage times, below –
As you can see – so much good!
For many years this has been a festival not to be missed, and every year the organisers seem to outdo themselves with the quality of bands that they entice to Leeds.
Below are my top five must-see bands for this year. This was a genuinely hard list to put together, as there are simply so many good bands playing.
1 – Agoraphobic Nosebleed
Here’s a band I’ve been listening to for about two decades, and one that I never ever thought I’d see live. Whether they play digital grindcore, crossover thrash, or hateful sludge, this is a unique band who have carved their own niche in the world of extreme music. To say I’m excited for this is an understatement.
2 – Myrkur
I’ve fallen in love with Mareridt; head over heels. To get the chance to see some of these superlative songs performed live will hopefully be an experience not to miss. Seductive, alluring, and full of otherworldly depth, Myrkur’s music takes the core of black metal and propels it high into the atmosphere. The progression from Myrkur to M, and then the evolutionary leap to Mareridt, has been an impressive and highly rewarding journey. Damnation promises a very enjoyable show from this highly-regarded artist.
3 – Wren
Although one of the lesser-known bands on the bill, they’re definitely one that I’m looking forward to seeing the most. The’re also the only band to not be playing at the same time as someone else, so hopefully they’ll get a good turnout. Whether it’s Auburn Rule, Host, or their split with Irk, their material is an absorbing and textured take on post-metal.
4 – Dying Fetus
If you’re a fan of death metal, how can you not get excited about the prospect of catching the legendary Dying Fetus live? Wrong One to Fuck With may have been the band’s first release in five years, but the band have clearly lost none of their talent for catchy, song-based death metal. I cannot wait.
5 – Pallbearer
Traditional doom metal has rarely sounded as good as it has when you hear the mighty Pallbearer. Riding on a high from their latest album Heartless, seeing the band grace the main stage at this year’s Damnation Festival, (and opening it too), is an opportunity that should not be missed.
This year’s Damnation Festival promises to be a stormer.
