LIVE FROM THE PIT: Mangata Festival 2025

Mangata has a miraculous talent for always landing on absolutely boiling days, and this year was no different. Set across five stages in Nottingham, Mangata brought a diverse, packed lineup to each one. Between the bands, the beer garden pints, and the small market, it was definitely a lovely day for everyone.

Shadowvale

Shadowvale were the first band on the BSB TV stage, Nottingham's own sludge-core icons. Opening with a slow, brooding intro, they gradually ramped things up into heavier, riff-centric territory. The dual vocal approach, gruff, low-end growls paired with more resonant, almost chant-like shouts complemented the heavy instrumental mix.

Alunah

Alunah took the stage and didn’t let go. A vibrant stoner-doom and psych mix of a set was exactly what the Liquid Light stage needed to kick off the day. Built on solid rhythms, engaging interplay, a megaphone, and strong crowd connection, their set felt both grounded and electric. A superb early highlight.

Paradise Sins

Paradise Sins took the small yet busy Tap ‘n’ Tumblr stage by storm with a performance packed with retro rock flair, featuring massive riffs, catchy hooks, and no pretension whatsoever. The band found their groove right from the start, but it was the lead guitarist who truly captivated the audience—striking poses as if every chord was a chance for a photo, completely in the moment and clearly enjoying every minute. Their cover of “Ain’t No Grave (Can Hold My Body Down)” came across like a bold declaration, filled with passion and confidence. Loud, assertive, and played with genuine enthusiasm, their set served as a powerful reminder that classic rock energy still resonates deeply when delivered with this much joy.

Red Rum

Nottingham’s own Red Rum hit the packed Rescue Rooms main stage with full sails and no subtlety, showcasing the same commanding presence they had on the Sophie Stage at Bloodstock last year. Mixing furious folk metal with a playful theatrical flair, they powered through a set of high-energy new tracks that resonated just as well as the crowd favorites. The audience was completely engaged from the start, but things really took off during their wild cover of “They’re Taking the Hobbits to Isengard” a mix of absurdity, brilliance, and loud enough to shake the pint glasses behind the bar. It was big, fun, and unmistakably Red Rum doing what they do best: transforming any stage into a seafaring, beer-slinging, fantasy-fueled riot.

Death Warmed Up

Nottingham’s own Death Warmed Up stormed the Tap and Tumblr stage with all the energy you’d expect from M2M finalists who clearly know how to work a crowd. Their set was packed with pun-filled banter about their band name, non-stop jumping off the speakers, and a drummer who kept the energy going by twirling his guitar sticks mid-beat. This wasn’t just a warm-up, it was a full-throttle, high-energy show from a local band that’s hungry to make some noise.

Defences

Defences delivered a standout set on the Heavy Metal Hairdresser stage, blending metalcore precision with an emotional intensity that made every moment feel sincere and hard-earned. Their performance balanced heaviness with atmosphere, locking in a packed crowd who responded with constant movement, hand hearts, and full engagement from start to finish. From hand hearts flying between the crowd and stage, to the guitarist aiming a fan into the pit mid-set because it was that hot, it felt like a real connection, not just a performance. With a Bodega headline already on the horizon for December, Defences looked and sounded like a band on the edge of something bigger: confident, connected, and ready for larger stages.

Frog Lord

Frog Lord packed out the Red Room at Rescue Rooms with a crushing dose of doom metal, their masked presence adding an eerie theatricality to the already suffocating atmosphere. Opening with “The Mystic Toad” and moving through a set thick with slow, tectonic riffs, they created a wall of sound that held the crowd in a steady, hypnotic grip. Midway through the set, a plastic toad, perched on the drum kit like a silent overseer was ceremoniously lifted by the vocalist and held aloft, briefly worshipped by the crowd like a doom metal messiah. It was strange, brilliant, and completely on brand. Frog Lord don’t just play doom, they summon it.

Abduction

Abduction unleashed a raw, uncompromising set that cut through the festival noise with sheer intensity. The frontman, face painted like a ritualist, growled into the mic, “Show us some violence,” summoning a confrontational, visual spectacle that felt almost ceremonial. Their performance was a concentrated blast of noise and power, highly visual, provocative, and absolutely immersive, leaving the crowd rattled and fully engaged. 

Coilguns

Coilguns stepped up from packing the Red Room supporting Pupil Slicer to commanding the main stage at Mangata with pure chaos. Hailing from La Chaux-de-Fonds, their noise-rock set was a frantic blur of intensity, with raw songs about imposter syndrome and plenty of lying on the floor moments. The frontman’s wild energy saw him running right up to the crowd, and even practically into my camera, creating a frenzied, unfiltered connection that perfectly matched the band’s chaotic sound.

The Five Hundred

The Five Hundred delivered an impressive performance on the main stage, highlighting their distinctive fusion of djent and progressive metal. Originating from Nottingham, the band enthralled the audience with their complex rhythms and powerful melodies. Their setlist comprised tracks from their recent album, GHOSTWRITER, including "Rainmaker," "In The Dark," and "New World." With their precise musicianship and captivating stage presence, The Five Hundred demonstrated that they are a significant force in the UK metal scene.

The Raven Age

The Raven Age closed out Mangata’s main stage in style, packing the crowd with their seasoned modern metal blend. They first made waves on the Rescue Rooms’ Red Room supporting Pupil Slicer and have since leveled up to commanding main-stage presence. Their set was tight yet explosive, feeding off their massive arena experience, having supported Iron Maiden on “The Book of Souls” world tour—bringing precision riffs, soaring vocals, and polished stagecraft. With a busy main stage and eager crowd, they demonstrated a clear evolution: no longer a support act, but true headliners who earned every cheer and then some.

Mangata Festival proved itself once again as a vital celebration of the heavy and the weird, where rising local acts shared stages with international chaos merchants and every room felt alive with something loud, strange, or completely unexpected. From the sweaty intensity of the Tap & Tumblr to the scale of the main stage, the day was a showcase of just how rich and varied the underground continues to be. Whether it was toads on drums, metalcore hand hearts, or doom-laden rituals, Mangata didn’t just bring bands to Nottingham, it  gave them a space to go feral, and the crowd loved every second.

Words and Photos: Lizzie Jones