RANKED: The ten bands you need to see at Damnation Festival
Time to dust off your battle jacket because DAMNATION FESTIVAL is upon us once again. Taking place at the B.E.C Arena in Manchester on the 7th and 8th of November, DAMNATION FESTIVAL is known for putting on amazingly heavy line-ups backed back-to-back with bands you need to know. And this year is no different. Headlined by CULT OF LUNA and SATYRICON, you're destined to beat any record of bands you’ve seen in a day with this festival. Here are ten of my favourite undercard bands that we think you should check out at DAMNATION FESTIVAL, so be sure to check them out before you go and add them to your line-up.
10: FINAL DOSE
If you like a bit of hardcore punk with a splash of black metal thrown in there, then FINAL DOSE is your answer. With their E.P ENDLESS WOE that came out just in January, and the festival fitting right in the last half of their Europe/UK tour FINAL DOSE blend genres wo well with their own experimental downbeat way, giving blackened hardcore the way it should be delivered.
9: BLACK SHEEP WALL
After some time away, BLACK SHEEP WALL have returned, and if you love sludge/doom metal, which I assume you do if you’re at DAMNATION, then these are the guys for you. The band hit their popularity after uploading a song to Myspace which led them to being signed. Heavy guitars and guttural vocals, be sure to check them out so they don’t disappear on us again.
8: MEDULLA NOCTE
8. Another band that disappeared for a while but have made a remarkable return are MEDULLA NOCTE. A thrash/ hardcore band from right here in the UK, upon the bands dissolution in 2001, most of the members went on to form the death/hardcore/sludge band MURDER ONE, but now they are back to their hardcore roots and bringing their iconic guitar sounds along with them.
7: COLTAINE
7. From first listen of COLTAINE, you will be hooked. With the most captivating, atmospheric vocals and a mix of soothing acoustic guitars that blend perfectly into their polished electric sounds this is a band that needs to be seen. The most sorrowful trance like experience you will get taking you on a trip of cinematic menoncholia.
6: EYEHATEGOD
6. Want more sludge metal? Of course you do. Enter EYEHATEGOD. Dirty riff that blend their doomy sound with more metal sounds that really pack a punch. A legendary band in the sludge scene, they blend their invasion of fast-paced onslaught with slower, down-tuned doom metal and a hint of southern blues.
5: WALLS OF JERICHO
5. This list wouldn’t be complete without including metalcore legends WALLS OF JERICHO. With their last album being released in 2016, and a much-anticipated release of their next in November, the band has been on the road, reminding everyone why they deserve a place on this list. WALLS OF JERICHO built themselves a legacy as staple names within the metalcore genre, and it’s easy to see why. High energy, high impact WALLS OF JERICHO never sounded so good.
4: CROWBAR
4. After being around for 3 decades and a string of albums CROWBAR are still high up there as need-to-see sludge bands that will be playing at this festival. Deep riff and mournful vocals, it’s easy to see why even Beavis and Butthead were privy to a bit of CROWBAR.
3: CARCASS
3. After their last release being in 2021, after a very long break, CARCASS are still uncompromising to their pure death metal sound. Inexplicable, gruesome lyrics, and being able to experiment with new sounds as a band with such a long-standing legacy, CARCASS know how to do it right.
2: HEALTH
2. If you don’t know HEALTH from Max Payne 3, Grand Theft Auto and Cyberpunk radio, then I don’t know what to tell you. You’re not using your time right, and it’s time to get to know them. Ethereal vocals and an industrial stained sound, HEALTH make you feel like you’re trapped in a videogame cutscene and you know everything is about to be so, so good.
1: EYES
1. And top of the list is EYES, rebellious hardcore band from Copenhagen, EYES manage to blend their heavy, anime-Esque-inspired songs with their intense hard-hitting sound, and it works perfectly. The band are currently touring the UK and their shows are nothing more than full energy and commanding, and everything that makes hardcore such a great genre to enjoy.
There are so many great bands to cover at DAMNATION FESTIVAL this year, and they hold their status of being a must -see festival really high, never disappointing with a great line-up. So even if you’re new to some of these bands or genres, and never dipped your toe into something heavy, you won’t leave disappointed with this line -up.
Words: Shana White
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