FESTIVAL REVIEW: Damnation Festival 2025

Intending to deliver an abundance of extreme metal goodness on a cold November weekend, Damnation Festival has carved itself a special position to occupy in the wider metal scene. It’s organic and natural growth, while remaining firmly rooted to the underground and a fiercely loyal community behind it, for extreme metal fans, Damnation is like Christmas. 2025 sees the festival celebrate its staggering 20 year anniversary – and in fitting fashion – Damnation this year is bigger, by an extra additional day, bolder, and heavier than every before with arguably one of the strongest lineups we’ve seen for years. Strap yourselves in, it’s quite the ride.

Saturday – November 8th

DEVASTATOR – Holy Goat Brewing Stage

Damnation Festival 2025 is officially under way and the Holy Goat Brewing Stage is already teeming with metal hungry patrons awaiting the arrival of blackened thrashers DEVASTATOR. Wielding a huge scythe is one way to make a first impression! Ripping their way through speed-injected tracks such as Worship The Goat, Spiritual Warfare and Black Witchery, the Derbyshire outfit didn’t take long to incite the first circle pits of the day. Their high intensity offerings certainly got the crowd warmed up for what was sure to be a stacked series of performances.

Rating: 8/10

OVERHEAD, THE ALBATROSS – Pins & Knuckles Stage

Cork’s OVERHEAD, THE ALBATROSS may be one of the more ‘lighter’ bands on the Damnation bill, but they have carved a special affinity amongst this end of the heavy music spectrum. And what we’re treated to is a masterclass of emotional heaviness. Benefiting from the striking visual backdrops, set opener Your Last Breath encapsulates everything about this uniquely wonderful band, gorgeous instrumentation, tension that ebbs and flows, and a spoken word deliver that leaves the hairs raised on the back of the beck. It’s astonishing stuff – if perhaps a little early in the day for such emotional weight – but as the band expertly dispatch the likes of At Sea – albeit a shortened version – and Hibakusha, the latter bleeding effortlessly into I’ve Got A Few Years Left, it’s clear that the bar for quality across the weekend is set insanely high right from the off.

Rating: 9/10

NECROT – Holy Goat Brewing Stage

Californian death metal trio NECROT wasted little time in making the Holy Goat Brewing Stage their own personal stomping ground, with a sea of mighty manes windmilling along in unison to their brutal assault. Bounding between ferocious blast beats and monstrous riffing the likes of Cut The Cord, Stench Of Decay and Drill The Skull were gratefully received by their faithful followers. The day has barely begun and the standards have already been set at a remarkably high level.

Rating: 8/10

CASTLE RAT – Pins & Knuckles Stage

New York’s CASTLE RAT have enjoyed a massively successful breakout year, with their fantasy-driven trad/doom metal winning many plaudits across the world, including here at DS with the band gracing our cover of DS124. Although their earlier Desertfest London appearance in the sweaty confines of The Underworld is a way more intimate way to experience the Rat Queen and her cohorts, the band feel right at home on the much larger Damnation Festival main stage. Material from this year’s The Bestiary works a treat, the on-stage theatrics and commanding stage presence from band mastermind Riley Pinkerton is highly immersive, while Dagger Dagger sounds immense. A highly entertaining set from a band with a very bright future ahead.

Rating: 8/10

DEADGUY – Holy Goat Brewing Stage

With DEADGUY already laying waste to The Bread Shed at Night Of Salvation, there was a heightened sense of anticipation to see what the New Jersey natives had up their sleeves for the main event. Mixing a selection of tracks from 2025’s Near-Death Travel Services and 1995’s Fixation On A Co-Worker showed just how timeless their arsenal has become. Frontman Tim Singer possesses such effortless levels of charisma that you don’t want to consider blinking. 30 years in the business and still captivating everyone in attendance is an impressive feat indeed.

Rating: 8/10

MESSA – Pins & Knuckles Stage

Italians MESSA have enjoyed newfound attention this year with The Spin being lauded as one of 2025’s best. As such, there is great anticipation for the band at Damnation‘s main stage and we’re treated to an excellent display of psych-laden riffy doom with a set comprised entirely from their latest effort. Fire On The Roof is an electric opener as the thundering chorus gives us our first taste of Sara Bianchin‘s stellar vocals. The likes of The Dress and Immolation see the band swing from alluring jazz-laden psychedelia to doomy passages that have enough weight to land nicely with the Damnation faithful. An excellent set to ease in, rather an ignite, the afternoon’s action.

Rating: 8/10

DIMSCÛA – Eyesore Merch Stage

The unfortunate cancellation by CRIPPLING ALCOHOLISM provided a golden opportunity for another band to seize their moment, enter Berkshire based post-metal collective, DIMSCÛA. After being heaped with praise from founder Gavin McInally they were thrown into the spotlight overnight and were welcomed by a capacity crowd eagerly awaiting their arrival onto the Eyesore Merch Stage. Performing their highly regarded debut release Dust Eater in full, the quintet transformed the crowd into a sea of emotional wrecks with their abrasive, emotionally charged offerings. This sentiment was amplified further when guitarist Adam Campbell-Train dedicated final track On Being and Nothingness to his tragically departed daughter. The future looks incredibly bright for this talented bunch and the response they received will not be quickly forgotten.

Rating: 9/10

ORBIT CULTURE – Pins & Knuckles Stage

Equipped with one of the most formidable stage setups of the weekend, it was clear ORBIT CULTURE had zero intention of doing anything by halves. The Swedes wasted little time getting stuck into a slab of tracks off their shiny new Death Above Life album, proving that the potent production values translate very well into a live environment. The bellowing growls of Niklas Karlsson echoed through the sizeable B.E.C as North Star of Nija and Vultures of North were insatiably devoured by the rabid crowd. It was crystal clear for all in attendance exactly why they are currently one of the hottest properties on the circuit and are tearing their way through Europe like a chainsaw through butter.

Rating: 8/10

HIGH ON FIRE – Pins & Knuckles Stage

Matt Pike is stoner metal royalty. The SLEEP and HIGH ON FIRE figurehead has been prolific in heavy music for decades and ten years after last gracing the festival, he returns with his HIGH ON FIRE bandmates. With Damnation Festival‘s main stage at near capacity, the MOTÖRHEAD of stoner metal arrive like rolling thunder and bombard the crowd with a cacophony of riffs that rarely lulls. Flanked by the signature Orange amps, the likes of Rumors of War and Snakes for the Divine have the aural weight of a battering ram, benefiting from having CONVERGE‘s Ben Koller on the drums. It’s a fast and ferocious set that is as over as fast as it begins. 27 years into their career, they’re showing no signs of slowing down. Hail HIGH ON FIRE. Hail the riff.

Rating: 8/10

PANZERFAUST – Holy Goat Brewing Stage

There’s some special brewing in Canada’s black metal scene and PANZERFAUST are stirring the pot. The Canadian horde have been have active for twenty years, but since 2019, the band have been hitting unprecedented heights through their vicious The Suns of Perdition album series. On their Damnation Festival debut, PANZERFAUST are lethal and utterly menacing in their conviction. Stalingrad, Massengrab sees early surges of adrenaline as the band’s thundering percussion and punchy riffs hits like a ten ton hammer, while Occam’s Razor (taken from last year’s stellar The Suns Of Perdition – Chapter IV: To Shadow Zion) sounds fucking colossal, with the hypnotic chants, swirling riffs and devilish snarl all leaving a lasting mark. White hot intense and utterly menacing, PANZERFAUST embody the essence of black metal’s sharpened edges, and it’s execution is nothing short of spectacular.

Rating: 10/10

DEAFHEAVEN – Pins & Knuckles Stage

Californian blackgaze powerhouse DEAFHEAVEN have firmly established themselves as one of the most intriguing bands in the modern metal landscape. Whilst mostly being heralded for their seminal Sunbather album they have proven countless times that they’re far more than a one trick pony. With a setlist justifiably stacked with tracks from recent release Lonely People With Power, the innovative outfit stunned the hefty crowd with their crushing yet equally ethereal performance with frontman George Clarke managing to seamlessly transition between gracefully spinning around the stage and screaming like a demonic banshee. The one-two punch of Doberman into Magnolia provided a particular highlight as they cemented themselves as one of the most impressive acts to perform across the weekend.

Rating: 9/10

WORMROT – Holy Goat Brewing Stage

Being one of the most anticipated performances of the weekend, it was little surprise that there was barely a millimetre of space to be found surrounding the Holy Goat Brewing Stage before Singaporean grindcore royalty WORMROT had even made their arrival. Even fellow noisemakers PIG DESTROYER didn’t want to miss out on the spectacle with their side stage presence later being acknowledged by frontman Arif Suhaimi. Watching the original trinity meticulously blast their way through a set including Behind Closed Doors, Fallen Into Disuse and Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Grind was like experiencing a rite of passage. A truly devastating outing befitting of such a momentous occasion.

Rating: 9/10

PERTURBATOR – Pins & Knuckles Stage

Synthwave’s cross-pollination into the world of metal is peculiar, but by god it’s been a wonderful surprise. Just as the more progressive-leaning RADAR Festival welcomed the likes of THE MIDNIGHT and CARPENTER BRUT, PERTURBATOR is very much becoming a staple on the metal festival circuit. Having played RADAR, ArcTanGent, and now at Damnation, James Kent’s blend of darksynth turns the festival into a synth-laden dystopian rave. And it’s bewilderingly brilliant to experience. Reinforced with some neat onstage hydraulic platforms, Future Club feels like you’re transported to the streets of Night City while moments of euphoria and synth-laden bliss – especially from new album Age of Aquarius – sees hands raised in the air as the lights dance above. It’s heavy in its own unique way, and a perfect palate cleanser for the day one’s final stretch.

Rating: 9/10

GAEREA – Holy Goat Brewing Stage

At this point, we’re running out of superlatives to describe GAEREA. The masked Portuguese collective’s rise has been meteoric, especially for black metal, and recent performances at the likes of Fortress Festival in Scarborough and Inferno Metal Festival in Norway have cemented GAEREA as an incendiary force. On their Damnation Festival debut, and headlining the Holy Goat Brewing Stage no less, GAEREA are business as usual, dispatching their immersive and ferocious black metal with theatrical aplomb. A one-two punch of Hellbound and Submerged – both taken from upcoming album Loss – ignite the set like a powder keg, while they make the most of the bigger stage, utilising striking visuals to make an even greater impact. At this rate, nothing can stop their rise.

Rating: 9/10

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY – Pins & Knuckles Stage

The fact that CORROSION OF CONFORMITY’s headline slot was also a European exclusive appearance added an extra sense of grandeur befitting the 20th anniversary of Damnation Festival. Whilst the crowd had begun to thin out with tiredness and fatigue defeating even some of the most battle hardened, the North Carolina faithful were embraced with open arms. Commencing the set with Wiseblood double header Bottom Feeder and King Of The Rotten was the ideal way to get the festivities under way. Plenty of singalong opportunities continued to follow in the form of Who’s Got The Fire, Albatross and Clean My Wounds as their silky smooth, blues-tinged riffs eased into your ear canals. Announcing that they have been working on new material due to make an arrival in 2026 was the cherry on the very satisfying cake.

Rating: 9/10

Sunday – November 9th

HIDDEN MOTHERS – Meliora Stage

Damnation Festival has built a reputation of fostering a collective and welcoming community that sits at the festival’s core, and after much tongue-in-cheek baiting over the years via the festival’s official forum page on Facebook, Sheffield’s HIDDEN MOTHERS finally have their day at Damnation. Tasked with kicking off day two, and likely many a heavy head, the band’s fusion of conventional post-hardcore with a blackened underbelly works a treat. The likes of Death Curl, Violet Sun and Defanged shimmer and rage all the same, leaving a lasting impression and getting day two of Damnation off to a flyer.

Rating: 8/10

CONJURER – Lou’s Brews Stage

Having already amazed with their performance at Friday’s Night Of Salvation with a full run-through of 2018’s breakthrough Mire, CONJURER returned for another round of brutality. Considering they were the openers on the Lou’s Brews Stage on Sunday afternoon the floor was already crammed with a sea of bodies. The utterly jarring shift in introductory/title track to the freshly unleashed Unself immediately set the tone for what was to follow. The monstrous vocal talents of duo, Brady Deeprose and Dani Nightingale combined with the indefatigable windmilling of Conor Marshall offered a jaw-dropping spectacle as they plowed through their set with relentless intensity. It was also heartwarming to hear a rapturous applause when Dani dedicated Let Us Live to the LGBTQIA+ community.

Rating: 9/10

DIN OF CELESTIAL BIRDS – Meliora Stage

Instrumental post-rock quintet DIN OF CELESTIAL BIRDS show that you can never have too many guitars, with their triple-tiered riff work building vivid soundscapes. It was immediately evident to see how much this occasion meant, with each member grinning, smiling, and thanking the crowd throughout. As well as treating all in attendance to a host of new, yet to be released material, they dazzled with a strong selection of tracks from 2023’s The Night Is For Dreamers, closing with the emotive I Love You But It’s Killing Me. A much-appreciated opportunity to catch your breath and mentally prepare yourself for the madness due to ensue as the day progressed.

Rating: 8/10

ONSLAUGHT – Lou’s Brews Stage

Bristolian thrashers ONSLAUGHT recently experienced the triumphant return of iconic frontman Sy Keeler to their ranks. If this wasn’t enough of a reason to further celebrate their appearance at Damnation Festival they have also reached the 40th anniversary of debut album Power From Hell. Armed with a set featuring classics such as Thermonuclear Devastation, Angels Of Death and Death Metal neatly tipped off with with a tribute to Lemmy in covering MOTÖRHEAD‘s Iron Fist, it took the quintet mere minutes to turn the floor of the B.E.C into a warzone. With fret-melting solo’s in abundance, it was clear to see that they still have plenty of fuel left in the tank.

Rating: 8/10

STAMPIN’ GROUND – Cult Never Dies Stage

After submitting to the powers of persuasion of founder Gavin McInally (who could be spotted crowd surfing during their set at Night Of Salvation), hardcore bruisers STAMPIN’ GROUND returned to the hallowed halls of Damnation Festival once more. With frontman Adam Frakes-Sime intending to keep the clean-up crew busy by insisting the crowd see how many teeth they can leave on the venue floor, the Cheltenham wrecking crew power through their adrenaline fuelled highlight reel of Pain Is Weakness (Leaving the Body), Everybody Owes A Death and The Symmetry of Hatred, inciting a wall of death which reaches all the way back to the sound desk on their quest for violence. Of course, no set would be complete without the legendary Officer Down, enlisting the services of Jeremy Gomez from TED MAUL to leave one final, emphatic boot-print on the foreheads of all in attendance.

Rating: 9/10

PRIMORDIAL – Lou’s Brews Stage

Irish black metal juggernauts PRIMORDIAL have held a long affinity with Damnation Festival and on their fourth appearance, they are utterly colossal. Making the most of the larger stage setup – with all the production bells and whistles – the band are razor-sharp and their impact takes your breath away. It helps when you have sprawling epics like As Rome Burns and To Hell or the Hangman in your locker, while frontman AA Nemtheanga is on scorching form, delivering his vocals with the utmost conviction and conducting the crowd effortlessly. It may be ten years since they last graced the Damnation stage, but on this form, PRIMORDIAL put down a claim for set of the weekend. Magnificent stuff.

Rating: 10/10

PSYCHONAUT – Meliora Stage

It feels like people are finally starting to wake up to the spellbinding technical prowess possessed by Belgium’s PSYCHONAUT. Their sublime new album World Maker is turning heads and despite enduring considerable personal obstacles they are rewarded with a hefty crowd at the Meliora Stage for their perseverance. With a setlist spanning all three albums the trio brilliantly showcased a wealth of melody, heaviness and mind-bending dexterity as the crowd are fixated on their every move. The dual vocal displays from Stefan De Graef and Thomas Michiels whilst simultaneously navigating their intricate instrumental compositions were nothing short of spinetingling. ArcTanGent founder James Scarlett also bestowed them with his favourite performance of the weekend, deservedly so!

Rating: 10/10

PIG DESTROYER – Lou’s Brews Stage

Fresh off the back of terrorising their way around Australia and New Zealand, Virginian grindcore veterans, PIG DESTROYER were in razor sharp form. 50 minutes allows them ample time to plow through sizeable chunks of albums Prowler In The Yard, Terrifyer and Book Burner (with The Diplomat being dedicated to the late Tomas Lindberg) with their signature chaotic intensity. Frontman J. R. Hayes’ grisly shrieks, samplist Alex Cha flailing his equipment over his head like a lunatic and drummer Adam Jarvis beating his kit to within an inch of its life were all the evidence required to show that this destructive collective are still a force to be reckoned with.

Rating: 8/10

HELLRIPPER – Cult Never Dies Stage

The speed of HELLRIPPER‘s trajectory up the pecking order has been almost as blisteringly quick as their blackened thrash itself. And at Damnation, HELLRIPPER drop an atom bomb and ignite sheer bedlam from the very first note. An opening salvo of All Hail The Goat, Black Arts & Alchemy and Goat Vomit Nightmare sets the tone for the set: fast, punchy riffs and an intensity that is relentless. Helmed by James McBain, who is on fine form, the band’s blackened bite leaves a lasting mark, and as wave after wave of bodies cascade over the barrier and the pits swirl, metal has never felt this good.

Rating: 9/10

ANAAL NATHRAKH – Lou’s Brews Stage

If the apocalypse had a soundtrack, it would be ANAAL NATHRAKH. Harbingers of chaos, the band set Damnation ablaze as the likes of In the Constellation of the Black Widow and Forging Towards The Sunset drag you to the depths of hell, while there’s something almost hauntingly beautiful in music this horrible. Whether that’s Feeding the Death Machine being dedicated as a poignant tribute to AT THE GATES‘ Tomas Lindberg or chilling snarls that echo in Forward!‘s ferocious outing. The perfect remedy to shake off any early onset of festival fatigue.

Rating: 8/10

NORDIC GIANTS – Meloria Stage

The mystifying duo, NORDIC GIANTS are not known for their interactions with the crowd. What they are synonymous with is crafting mesmerizing, immersive experiences and that is exactly what they brought to the table. A string of enthralling visuals were displayed during their performances which breathed layers of colour and emotion into their compositions. Every set of eyes were firmly gripped to what was unfolding as various topics including technology, ethics and humanity were covered during their evocative presentation. To some, they may have felt like a particularly niche addition to a predominantly extreme offering of metal artists, but their intriguing display of escapism was a welcoming change of pace.

Rating: 8/10

THE HAUNTED – Lou’s Brews Stage

Swedish stalwarts THE HAUNTED have experienced extensive periods of radio silence in recent years but since the release of Songs of Last Resort earlier this year they have returned with a reinvigorated sense of purpose. This was on show for all to see as they cleverly weaved newer material amongst surefire crowd pleasers in the form of 99, All Against All and No Compromise. The lethal combination of riff generals Patrik Jensen and Ola Englund tore through the set like a buzzsaw alongside a commanding vocal performance from Marco Aro. As they approach 30 years in the business it is clear to see that they are still adored, receiving roaring cheers throughout.

Rating: 8/10

SPECTRAL WOUND – Cult Never Dies Stage

We’ve mentioned that there’s something special brewing in the Canadian black metal scene and just as PANZERFAUST demonstrated the previous day, Quebec’s SPECTRAL WOUND are one of the frontrunners. Buoyed by last year’s vicious Songs Of Blood and Mire and appearances at Inferno Metal Festival and Incineration Festival, anticipation for SPECTRAL WOUND is at fever pitch. And what follows is a self-assured and razor-sharp performance from one of black metal’s brightest burning new stars. From set opener and devilishly sharp Fevers & Suffering through to A Coin Upon The Tongue, SPECTRAL WOUND rarely let the intensity drop, pummelling the crowd with bout after bout of icy riffing and snarling screeches from the commanding Jonah Campbell. And in Aristocratic Suicidal Black Metal, SPECTRAL WOUND have arguably one of the catchiest songs in black metal, and live, it’s a treat. Make no mistake, SPECTRAL WOUND are the real deal.

Rating: 9/10

AMENRA – Lou’s Brews Stage

There’s something akin to a religious experience watching AMENRA live. The West Flanders collective have built their reputation on highly immersive and oppressive soundscapes, and live, it’s amped to tremendous heights. Against the backdrop of the huge Damnation main stage and a throng of bodies, the band twist and contort as the likes of Salve Mater, A Solitary Reign, and De evenmens resemble hulking behemoths. As the band ebb and flow from passages of devastating heaviness through to moments that are so aurally fragile, with the only disturbance is the hum of chatter from the nearby bars, it’s moments like this that cement Damnation‘s brilliance. Moments of pure heavy bliss that only a festival of this ilk can conjure.

Rating: 10/10

WIEGEDOOD – Cult Never Dies Stage

Credit where credit is due, WIEGEDOOD don’t do things by halves. The Belgian black metallers are billed for a set spanning close to two hours as they perform the entirety of De Doden Hebben Het Goed trilogy. It’s a relentlessly punishing set, in both time and length, and it’s made all the more brutal by clashing directly with WARNING and NAPALM DEATH. As such, there’s revolving door of attendees that filter through as the set rolls on, but for WIEGEDOOD, they continue the bombardment with little let-up. For some, it’s a bit too much, but for the diehards, it’s a perfect encapsulation of Damnation‘s ethos, a set that will live long in Damnation folklore.

Rating: 8/10

NAPALM DEATH – Lou’s Brews Stage

And so, we turn to NAPALM DEATH to close the curtain on Damnation Festival‘s birthday bash. It’s a fitting headliner to reflect just how far the festival has grown in 20 years, and for the band themselves, Damnation is their biggest-ever headline show. Although the reality is slightly different, with many attendees opting for early doors, NAPALM DEATH beat those still standing into submission. It helps when their arsenal for musical destruction contains the likes of Suffer the Children, When All Is Said and Done, Prison Without Walls, and their DEAD KENNEDYS cover Nazi Punks Fuck Off. They may be without veteran bassist Shane Embury, but the intensity still packs enough power to level the building. Close to their 45 year anniversary, but you wouldn’t know it, a ferocious and grindtastic way to draw a close on Damnation Festival 2025.

Rating: 8/10

Words: James Weaver, Dan McHugh

Check out our photo gallery of the action at this year’s Damnation Festival from Sarah Tsang here: 

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