There’s one festival that serves as the highlight of the calendar for sonic adventurers. Hosted at Leeds University, Damnation has seen some truly remarkable line-ups over the years, drawing fans from across the UK (and even farther afield) to revel in a festival experience quite unlike any other. With a perfect location offering a variety of comforts within easy walk of Leeds city centre, a number of bands who rarely make it onto the regular gigging circuit and only limited tickets available (Damnation is one of the rare festivals that listens to its fans and keeps numbers relatively low to avoid crushes), Damnation is pretty much an essential event and 2018 looks to be no exception.
Following on from last year’s sell-out event, the organisers have put the effort in to, once again, craft a line up that is quite unlike any other festival. Extreme, but never ones to shy away from melody when delivered in a manner that can be considered unique, Damnation plays host to black metal, death metal, post metal and art rock making for a truly eclectic event that never grows stale. With so much to choose from, it can be a daunting task to plan your day so here, we pick out five bands that you’ll want… no, need to see over the course of the day.
Arabrot
Rarer than hen’s teeth on the live circuit, that Arabrot exists at all is something of a minor miracle given that frontman Kjetil Nemes had to undergo hellish treatment for throat cancer back in 2014 (for more details, check out our exclusive interview here). The band’s 2016 album, the gospel was a masterpiece of sludgy guitars, disjointed melodies and atypical song-structures and their live performances rank as one of the most intense experiences that can be found outside of a Swans show. With new album who do you love terrifying the huddled masses, Arabrot are a stunning, if left-field addition to this year’s Damnation line-up and their live shows need to be seen to be believed.
OHHMS
Fresh from a truly stunning display at HRH Doom Vs Stoner (check our review here) and with a brand new album, Exist, OHHMS are, without doubt, one of the best bands currently treading the boards in the UK. Progressive in an organic way, the band have evolved beautifully over the course of two coruscating Eps and 2017’s remarkable album the fool and it is OHHMS’ rare ability to mix pulverising weight and almost ethereal fragility that makes them the perfect fit for Damnation’s open-minded audiences. With a frontman who exists in a plane that is all his own, and epic, mind-melting songs, OHHMS are a live highlight wherever they play and Damnation attendees are in for a treat.
The Ocean
Although Aeolian and Fluxion are fine albums, the Ocean truly came into their own with the gargantuan double set, Precambrian. As with all of their releases, Precambrian featured innovative packaging and a compelling, conceptual element that saw the band invoke numerous influences to transcend any specific genre label and simply produce music that sounds like themselves. Subsequently, the band impressed with the ambitious double set – Heliocentric and anthropocentric and the standalone release, Pelagial – but even so, the news that The Ocean were set to return to the Precambrian concept with new release Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic was greeted with much excitement. Always astonishing live, The Ocean are essential listening and a powerful draw for Damnation.
Vola
A moment of calm in an otherwise brutal line up, Vola first came to attention with the beautiful Inmazes, a diverse, prog-infused set released via the mighty Mascot Records. Described on these pages as “a thing of wonder and beauty” (see full review here), Vola nonetheless achieved the seemingly impossible feat of topping that work with the recently released Applause of a distant crowd (reviewed here). Heavy when it needs to be, haunting and gorgeous at times, Applause… is an album to be experienced and the live show should be no less impressive. A typically atypical addition to Damnation’s line up this year, Vola have been busily (and deservedly) gaining legions of fans and you should make your way to the stage early to guarantee a view.
Napalm Death
When it comes to combining absolute brutality with punk spirit and intelligent social commentary, there is no one to touch Napalm Death. The band have rarely put a foot wrong over a lengthy career that was recently celebrated with a double CD best of (coded smears and more uncommon slurs). The fact that the band played a devastating set to a packed-out tent at this year’s download festival (reviewed here) is testament to the band’s enduring legacy and the reverence with which they are held by the metal community at large. One band who should never be missed if the opportunity to catch them presents itself, Napalm Death are as essential as extremity gets.
Of course, it doesn’t stop with these five acts. Damnation features so many great bands that your head will spin just looking at the line up. You can see the full list of ear-destroying treats below. Tickets are on-sale now (be warned, there are few left) here.
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