FESTIVAL PREVIEW: Damnation Festival 2017

October 25, 2017 James Weaver

Damnation Festival, the one day extravaganza of all things heavy returns for another year with a lineup that is as varied as it is extreme. With the festival selling out back in September, a record-breaking achievement for the festival, it proves testament to just how much of a must-attend event Damnation has become for metal fans worldwide. Now, just under two weeks away, anticipation is building so let Distorted Sound break down this year’s lineup to give you the rundown on who you should see at this year’s festival!

Following the success of utilising a triple headliner on the main stage at last year’s event, 2017’s edition of Damnation Festival returns with a triple blow of three big names of contrasting styles and genres gracing the Jagermeister Stage. From the doom-laden riffs of PARADISE LOST, the whirlwind thrash of SODOM and the monolithic soundscapes from BLOODBATH‘s brand of death metal, each will deliver a set that boasts the length and production of a headliner and really, this is the icing on the cake of a festival that boasts so much quality. And whilst the headliners will have certainly shifted a majority of tickets, there are a handful of bands on offer at this year’s event that just warrant your utmost attention. On the back off the wonderful Motherblood, GRAVE PLEASURES headline the Tone MGMT Stage, offering something somewhat different than churning death metal of BLOODBATH and WARNING will whip up a storm by performing their iconic Watching From A Distance in its entirety in a UK exclusive show. Following their rather gutting cancellation last year, NAILS will finally make their appearance at Damnation in what will be a set of adrenaline-pumping action!

Scratch beneath the surface however and you’ll find that this year’s Damnation Festival is packed full of quality bands throughout the day. For those who crave things heavy and extreme, Damnation Festival more than has you covered. With DYING FETUS‘ uncompromising sonic assaults, the musical savagery of LENG TCH’E or grindcore legends AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED and VALLENFYRE‘s engulfing wall of sound, there is more than enough hard-hitting bands on offer to keep adrenaline levels high throughout the day. That, and with the slamming riffs of DISENTOMB or the technical trickery of PSYCROPTIC and BEYOND CREATION for example, it’s clear that Damnation Festival has made sure all bases are covered.

Whilst Damnation Festival certainly has death metal covered in abundance, there is still a variety of acts on offer if the guttural vocals become a tad too tedious. From PALLBEARER‘s wide pallet of sounds, DRAGGED INTO SUNLIGHT‘s utterly visceral live sound or the progressive metallers LEPROUS who perform at Damnation in support of the sensational Malina, each will surely capture your attention throughout their performances. With black metal being rather thin on the ground at this year’s Damnation Festival, WIEGEDOOD and the hotly anticipated performance from MYRKUR will surely give performances that satisfy the cravings for all things black metal.

Yet, for all the extreme and heavy bands on offer at Damnation Festival, there is a wonderful array of bands that offer something slightly different at this year’s event. Whilst priding itself of death, doom and black metal, Damnation has proved year in, year out that a sprinkling of progressive, post-metal and, quite frankly, unique acts can work wonders; just look at CULT OF LUNA‘s spellbinding set last year. This year is no different and 2017’s lineup is reinforced with some truly wonderful bands that will offer a unique performance. From AGENT FRESCO‘s utilisation of a wide array of musical influences, the warming embrace of PSYCHEDELIC WITCHCRAFT, post-metallers WREN representing home-grown talent or the soaring vocal melodies found with THE GREAT DISCORD, for those who want to be captured in moving and awe-inspiring performances then Damnation more than has you covered.

Every year Damnation Festival delivers the best that extreme music has to offer and 2017’s event is no different. With a stacked lineup throughout the day, there is something for everyone who craves the heavy and we can’t wait to get back into the action once again. Let us know in the comments who you are most looking forward to at this year’s festival!