For the past seven years Damnation festival has existed as a one-day event for discerning metal fans seeking a truly eclectic experience. A small festival with a reputation for gathering together acts that truly represent the cutting edge of metal in all its many guises, past years have seen the likes of Ulver, Devin Townsend and Godflesh (2011), Paradise Lost, Alcest and The Ocean (2010) Life of Agony, Jesu and A storm of light (2009), to name but few, rubbing shoulders with each other and a wide variety of other, equally important, acts over three stages and the course of one mental, memorable day.
2012, however, may well be the festival’s strongest incarnation yet. Held at Leeds University Union and now sponsored by the mighty Peaceville record label (celebrating their 25th year in extreme metal) as well as the traditional partners in crime Terrorizer magazine, Jagermeister and Eyesore merch, Damnation have gathered together a line up that represents the very cream of the current underground scene, even managing to secure rare festival slots from Dorset doom-mongers Electric Wizard, whose performance was an easy highlight of last year’s Supersonic festival (read the review here) and a one-off appearance from the immortal My Dying Bride, whose new album ‘a map of all our failures’ is due out on October 15th.
Of course Damnation is not all about doom. For those with a more aggressive bent there will also be rare shows from legendary grind merchants Pig Destroyer (performing their first UK show in 8 years), ecclectic metal pioneers Primordial (with whom you can read our interview from last year here), current black metal scene leaders Winterfylleth (whose latest album is reviewed, somewhat enthusiastically here) and much, much more. With tickets costing just £32 and the event taking place on a work-friendly Saturday, there truly is no excuse not to check out what must surely be the UK’s premiere one day metal event.
The line up for Damnation includes: Electric Wizard, My Dying Bride, Pig Destroyer, Belphegor, Amenra, Primordial, Extreme Noise Terror, Textures, Devil Sold His Soul, Aura Noir, Gama Bomb, 40 Watt Sun, Maybeshewill, Bossk, Vreid, Winterfylleth, Wodensthrone, Witchsorrow, Hang The Bastard and Blacklisters and many more…
Check out this clip from 2009’s Damnation to get a taste of what awaits you:
Join the festival’s facebook page here and keep up-to-date with additions to the line up and more.
Tickets priced £32 are available here and via the official Damnation Festival site and Facebook through Ticketscript: http://www.damnationfestival.co.uk/tickets and at Crash and Jumbo store in Leeds.
Check out the stage times for each act here:
Hi Phil; it’s going to be good, like the article. Come over and meetup with Eyesoremerch. Ask for Ali or Alex. Look forward to seeing you.