FESTIVAL PREVIEW: UK Tech-Fest 2022

June 29, 2022 James Weaver

Since its emergence back in 2011, UK Tech-Fest has become a staple for those who crave heavy music of the more progressive and experimental kind. Bolstered by the fact the festival community is extremely close-knit and share an admirable bond, the festival is a lovely little highlight in the packed festival season calendar. As festival season enjoys its first full-on return since the wake of the pandemic, UK Tech-Fest is back with a bang. Boasting a stupidly strong lineup, with little to no clashes, for those attending this year’s festival it will be more of an endurance test rather than internally debating who to watch. So with that in mind, let us here at Distorted Sound guide you with the bands we believe you should check out at UK Tech-Fest 2022!

Thursday’s pre-party at this year’s UK Tech-Fest isn’t any less impressive than the main event, with bountiful quality bands scattered across the festival’s two stages. From progressive-leaning EXIST IMMORTAL to deathcore bruisers BOUND IN FEAR, who both headline each stage respectively, American progressive outfit ARTIFICIAL LANGUAGE or a bountiful offering of homegrown talent like CONFESSIONS OF A TRAITOR, RED METHOD, KARYBDIS and SERTRALINE kick off UK Tech-Fest with a bang!

Friday’s billing boasts melodeath veterans SCAR SYMMETRY, whose headlining slot is a natural fit for the UK Tech-Fest faithful, whilst seasoned festival veterans HARBINGER arrive on a headlining slot on the second stage on the back of their wicked mini-album A Letter To Anguish. A triple whammy of BETRAYING THE MARTYRS, HACKTIVIST and TEN56. will kick the party into full swing whilst sets from the likes of SEETHING AKIRA, TIBERIUS, FRONTIERER and BORDERS earlier in the day will all surely bring memorable performances to the festival.

Saturday’s billing at UK Tech-Fest is quite frankly ludicrous. THE OCEAN COLLECTIVE arrive as main stage headliners which will draw literally everyone present at Newark Showground to the hanger, South African slammers VULVODYNIA will incite sheer chaos, and UK breakout metallers VEXED look certain to cement their status as one of the most exciting bands present with their venomous live presence led by Megan Targett. Combine that with the likes of tech-laden death metallers KRYSTHLA, German experimental outfit THE HIRSCH EFFEKT, emerging metalcore troupe THECITYISOURS, or Mancunian prog metal outfit BLIND SUMMIT, there is quite simply so much quality on offer to sink your teeth into.

The final day at UK Tech-Fest carries on the trend of boasting a stacked and diverse lineup throughout the day. Irish instrumental veterans GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT will close the festival in fine fashion whereas breakout noise-makers PUPIL SLICER will further bolster their status as one of the most visceral bands the UK has to offer. Throw in sets from the likes of metalcore aces NOVELISTS, the obnoxiously silly but brutal PARTY CANNON, a heroes return in the form of MARTYR DEFILED as well as festival favourites ARCAEON, A TITAN, A DEITY and NOVENA, there is plenty of action to end your festival on a high.

Welcome back UK Tech-Fest, we have missed you dearly.