Damnation Festival announce six new bands

May 13, 2021 James Weaver

Damnation Festival have announced six new bands!

Despite there being a huge amount of hope towards this year’s festival going ahead, unfortunately, due to the uncertainty surrounding international travel, six bands have pulled out of this year’s Damnation Festival.

All hailing from the US, the bands that have withdrawn from this year’s festival are PALLBEARER, ELDER, IRIST, BEHOLD THE ARCTOPUS, DYSRHYTHMIA and HIGH COMMAND. Fortunately though, the festival has been reinforced by six bands hailing from the UK! GODFLESH, CONJURER, ABDUCTION, GREEN LUNG, VIDEO NASTIES and MOUNTAIN CALLER have joined this year’s festival.

Speaking about the lineup shuffle, festival organiser Gavin McInally says, “as tough as it is for us, the bands and the fans to be losing these amazing American acts we were excited to see perform at Damnation, we believe we’ve replaced them with some of the best UK talent available. GODFLESH are long overdue a return to Damnation, having levelled the place a decade ago and CONJURER can do no wrong, having become a British sludge heavyweight since their Damnation debut in 2016. We knew it was unlikely that we’d hold on to all the American bands so we put it to the fans who they’d like to see on our stages come November, and GREEN LUNG, ABDUCTION, VIDEO NASTIES and MOUNTAIN CALLER were hugely popular choices, so we’re delighted to have been able to secure them.”

Speaking about performing at this year’s festival, CONJURER says, “the last time we played Damnation, Gavin was taking a chance on a band that truly weren’t ready for the opportunity – we are beyond excited to be given the chance to return and make good on the faith the team have shown us. Damnation is a one-of-a-kind event and, as it’s already sold out, we don’t need to say that to bullshit you into buying tickets. See you there.” GREEN LUNG adds, “we’ve been to Damnation many times as fans (CARCASS in 2008 a particular highlight) so it’s an honour to be invited to grace the stage. This will be our first UK festival appearance after the release of our second album, so expect a whole new set!”

VIDEO NASTIES says, “we’re made up to be joining such a stacked line up. This will be our first show in Leeds so we look forward to getting up close and personal with you all bright and early. Grace us with your hangovers and let’s have a little dance.” ABDUCTION says, “ABDUCTION is proud to summon a transcendental void ceremony from the abyss of the Cult Never Dies Stage. Fresh offerings will meet the howling past to align, once again, the balance of the universe.” And MOUNTAIN CALLER adds “we couldn’t believe it when we were asked to play Damnation 2021. That lineup is one of the strongest we’ve ever seen and we are deeply honoured to be part of it.”