Distorted Sound’s Top 5 Bands to see at ArcTanGent 2018

August 15, 2018 Dan O'Brien

The time is upon us once again where fans of all things post, hardcore, experimental and in some cases just downright weird descend on a tiny field south west of Bristol to experience the magnitude that is ArcTanGent. Over the past five years the festival has grown into the UK’s number one showcase of all things exciting, experimental and extremely intense. From MONO to THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, ArcTanGent has seen it at all and this year’s offering has outdone the previous year’s lineups resulting in arguably the best billing to date.

With so many bands on this year’s staggering lineup, it would be rude not to give some honourable mentions, so here are those phenomenal bands that were just pipped to the post.

The mighty OHHMS are bringing their sludgy brand of heaviness to the eager masses mid afternoon Friday, so make sure you catch them for a ace live show and a riff or two that will bend your mind inside out.
ZEAL & ARDOR prove to have some serious staying power and with their ever expanding stage show it would be rude not to see what the results of the slamming together of Norwegian black metal and African American slave chanting. If nothing else it will be interesting.
A rare UK show for Massachusetts based duo GIRAFFES? GIRAFFES! will be a treat for those fans of THE MARS VOLTA but played by a fifth of the members. It really is staggering how many notes these two play just for a two piece.
Post hardcore pioneers GLASSJAW seems the perfect band to close the Friday night at ArcTanGent. Armed with new material from last years criminally underrated Material Control as well as the greatest hits from Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence and Worship And Tribute this will probably be the singalong to end all singalongs. Just make sure you watch out when Siberian Kiss decimates most of the South West.

Without further ado, here are the five bands you have to see at this year’s ArcTanGent:

ROLO TOMASSI

Starting off with a band that is finally and most importantly deservedly getting their dues. After almost a decade of being the critically acclaimed but commercially shunned, ROLO TOMASSI are finally being showcased as the true experimental pioneers they are. With the release of their last album Grievances ROLO TOMASSI finally put themselves on the table as the UK’s number one mathy post metal purveyors of ethereal beauty and their new record Time Will Die And Love Will Bury It has cemented them as one of the most consistent and fascinating bands that Great Britain has to offer. With ArcTanGent being essentially a home game for them we can see nothing but ROLO TOMASSI stealing the Friday, if not the entire weekend.

BLACK PEAKS

Despite only preparing to release their second album, BLACK PEAKS are quickly becoming one of the most buzz worthy bands in the UK. After their spelling binding debut album Statues resulting in the band supporting DEFTONES at Wembley Arena, all eyes are on the band to follow it up in style. New singles Home and Can’t Sleep have certainly pointed in the direction of this being another step forward for the band and ArcTanGent will hopefully see them showcase why BLACK PEAKS are so in demand and on the tips of peoples tongues.

BOSS KELOID

From one of the most in demand bands in the UK to a band who should be. 2018 was the year where BOSS KELOID finally announced themselves on the UK scene after killing the underground doom/sludge scene for years. Signing to Holy Roar Records and following up the superbly titled Herb Your Enthusiasm with the equally majestic Melted On The Inch, the Wigan-based five piece are prepped to take their brand of hypnotic tinged psychedelic doom to ArcTanGent and we will be surprised if many are not won over by their sonic masterclass.

Jamie Lenman

Jamie Lenman was built to play 2000 Trees and ArcTanGent, there is no other way to put it. Never has an act been more suited to playing such a festival and there is not an atom in our bodies that thinks that his performance on the Friday will be greeted like a Champions League victory lap. Armed with two stellar solo albums and possibly a few cheeky REUBEN songs as well, Jamie’s set will be a celebration of one of the best songwriters ever to grace the UK in front of the most appreciative audience possible.

CONJURER

For all things post and experimental that will be happening across the weekend, ArcTanGent also showcases the best in what could best be described as the sound of a gorilla ripping your face off would make. If that sounds like your bag, then step forward CONJURER. Easily the best break out band of the year, the band will provide an avalanche of riffs until your eyes water, and don’t worry if you’re not a fan of that one, because there is going to be another 500 coming your way within the same song. If a sonic overload of nastiness is on your agenda this weekend then you would do a whole lot worse than CONJURER.

And that rounds off out top five bands to see at this year’s ArcTanGent Festival! Who are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments below!