LIVE FROM THE PIT: Ghostfest 2025

Ghost Fest made its long-awaited return to Leeds for its 20th anniversary. The place was packed, the air was thick, and the energy never let up. Heat, noise, sweat, and total mayhem, exactly what you’d hope for.

After ten years off the radar, the UK’s heaviest music festival has finally made its long-awaited comeback. Returning to its original home at Leeds University Union, where it all kicked off 20 years ago. Between 2005 and 2015, the festival gained recognition for spotlighting some of the best in heavy music, ranging from emerging underground talent to established icons. Now, in 2025, it’s back with the same energy and did not disappoint. 

The Scottish slam metal crew Party Cannon opened the festival on the main stage and unleashed chaos from the first minute, inflating and launching beach balls, an orca, and a giant ice lolly into the crowd. “We Prefer the Term Living Impaired” and “Weird, But Not Illegal” came swinging like a punch to the jaw, no build-up, no warning, just straight violence. Party Cannon didn’t ease in; they hit hard, like getting slammed in the chest with a concrete block. When the first note dropped, confetti was fired, the floor erupted, the pit exploded, and from that moment on, there was no turning back. It wasn’t just an opening, it was a detonation, and it was the perfect start to Ghost Fest. As soon as they wrapped up their set, they packed up and shot straight down to London to support Dethklok that same night. No rest, no downtime, just chaos, riffs, and the kind of grind that proves exactly why they belong on both stages.

Party Cannon

Kicking off the second stage, Veiled. The lights were low, and the smoke started to fill the stage before a single note even hit. It didn’t feel like a festival anymore; it felt like a dark basement show you stumbled into by accident. Total deathcore energy; gritty, tense, and exactly the right mood. Veiled demonstrated they are more than just newcomers. Focused performance and powerful sound, including a standout rendition of their track ‘Hellbound’, captured the audience’s attention and made their opening set truly memorable. If they continue this path, they are certainly a band to watch in the deathcore scene.

The heat was brutal, pints were flying, and every band brought serious energy. No weak links, just one heavy set after another. Keeping the pace high and the crowd locked in... TRC didn’t mess around. They came out swinging with that hard, stripped-back sound they’re known for. About halfway through, they launched into “#TEAMUK” and “H.A.T.E.R.S.,” both tracks hit hard and sent the crowd straight into chaos.

False Reality delivered a powerful set that left a mark. Rachel Rigby stood out not just for her intensity but also as the only female artist on the bill, owning the stage with a strong presence. The music was tight and brutal, mixing heavy riffs with sharp, aggressive vocals that hit hard.

TRC

Coming off an insanely busy festival season. Graphic Nature stepped up to the main stage, I was fortunate enough to see them at both Slam Dunk & Download Festival, and every time it's high energy. Issues with the soundcheck didn’t stop Lead singer Harvey Freeman from igniting the atmosphere. Although the set had to be cut short, the crowd loved every second of it.

 ‘Geezercore’ grifters Pintglass made their mark with two vocalists holding the front line. Instead of switching styles, they doubled down on the aggression, trading lines, pushing each other, and keeping the momentum high from start to finish. It wasn’t about contrast; it was about impact. Between songs, the band’s personality came through loud and clear. Sticking to their construction-site theme, they bounced off each other with rough, job-site banter, shouting like they were on shift, not on stage. It gave the whole set a loose, fun edge without taking away from the heaviness.

Fog hung in the air, and the lights dropped low. The crowd went quiet, and for a second, everything stood still. Then Humanity’s Last Breath hit. No build-up, just thick, crushing sound pouring over the room. Every note felt like concrete falling, slow and brutal. The crowd wasn’t throwing down; they were locked in, like they were bracing for something heavy. Heads nodded in time, eyes fixed forward, and the atmosphere was heavy across the room. This wasn’t fast or chaotic; it was slow, crushing pressure. Humanity’s Last Breath didn’t just play heavy; they made it feel like the ceiling was closing in.

Humanity's Last Breath

Ghost Fest 2025 was already going down as a huge success, and there were still some big crushing bands to come. FILTH hit the second stage hard as the second-to-last band, setting the stage perfectly before Martyr Defiled. They came through like they had something to prove and made it clear they weren’t here to mess around. Their set was pure punishment. Every riff slammed like a crowbar, every scream dripping with raw anger. It was filthy, and the crowd ate it up. Right from the first song, the pit erupted. No matter how many bands had come before, FILTH turned the intensity way up. Their sound was built for destruction, deep, crushing breakdowns, guttural growls, and riffs. It was one of my favourite shows of the day.

Signs of the Swarm tore up the main stage! From the first riff, the crowd was relentless, constant pits, heavy breakdowns, fierce vocals, and even an inflatable orca bouncing through the chaos. David commanded the stage with raw energy, driving the crowd wild. Honestly, they could’ve headlined no question. If you missed this set, you missed something serious.

Martyr Defiled

Martyr Defiled hit the second stage like they’d never been gone. After nearly eight years out of the game, their return to Ghost Fest was nothing short of explosive. The second the intro dropped, the pit detonated, no warm-up, just chaos. Floors shook, bodies flew, and the energy surged like a band with something to prove. There was no sign of rust. Tight, aggressive, and locked in, they tore through some of their heaviest material without missing a beat. Tracks like Demons in the Mist, 616, and Infidels landed hard every riff a gut punch, every breakdown grinding the room into dust. The band fed off the crowd, and the crowd gave it right back. It felt less like a comeback and more like a warning shot. After so long away, Martyr Defiled didn’t just show up; they dominated.

Now it was Manchester’s heaviest to tear the place apart. Ingested hit like a wrecking ball. No buildup, no filler, just straight into a full-force assault that felt like a headline set. Every blast beat cracked like a nail gun, every riff dragged with weight, and there was zero room to breathe. The pit blew open from the first note and didn’t slow down once. The crowd knew what was coming, but it still flattened them. From Ashes Lie Still to Rebirth, every track hit like a hammer to the ribs. Frontman Jason Evans sounded feral with deep, guttural vocals delivered with full force. He had total control of the stage and didn’t let up for a second.

Ingested

Ghost Fest 2025 didn’t just live up to the hype; it tore straight through it. From the first breakdown to the last encore, the weekend was full of sweat, chaos, and unrelenting heaviness. After a ten-year pause, Ghost Fest came back stronger than ever. If this was the restart, the scene better be ready for what’s coming.

Words and photos: Kieran Atkinson