FESTIVAL REVIEW: Fortress Festival 2026

Some festivals seem to impress with their lineup every year. Fortress Festival, who has impressed year after year with their UK exclusives and worldwide live debuts, has managed to somehow book their most varied lineup yet for this year, which includes a debut live show from GALLOWBRAID as a headliner, as well as numerous other debuts and sole performances for the two-day event. Due to this, it is no surprise to see why this year the black metal gathering was sold out yet again. But is this fully justified? This is everything that went down at the festival this year.

Saturday – May 30th

GROZA – Main Stage

On the Saturday, our coverage was exclusive to the festival’s main stage, the Grand Hall, and kicking the first day of the festival is German band GROZA, who are gracing Fortress Festival with the first exclusive set of the festival. When the hooded, masked four-piece takes to the stage, reality sinks in. Although the sun is beaming brightly outside in Scarborough, inside of the Scarborough Spa, which is where the two-day festival is held, it is a stark reminder that despite the warm and sweaty main hall, the music is freezing cold. Musically, the German outfit are tight, but do not engage with the crowd that are so desperate to see the first rarity act of the festival. The light show the band provides matches the blast beats throughout the performance, making for an overwhelming first concert of the festival, but one that equally wets the appetite for more dark and melancholic music.

Rating: 7/10

MESARTHIM – Main Stage

The following band on the main stage is MESARTHIM, and instantly upon their set opener, it is obvious that the band is unlike any other black metal band out there currently. The members, who are anonymous, get onstage dressed in robes once again, but this time, the vocalist, who is outstanding throughout the performance, is masked. The mask itself is epic, as it has LEDs on it and the swirling white image on the mask never fades. Another aspect of this Australian band that stands out is the kind of black metal they play. At times, this performance is a rave, and at others, the music sounds like the exact opposite. What never changes though, is how engaging this show is, despite not having any crowd engagement. The result is a thoroughly enjoyable set that surprises, engages and gets those in attendance in a partying mood, which is exactly the opposite of what one would expect at such a festival of this nature.

Rating: 8/10

OSSAERT – Main Stage

The following band on the main stage is OSSAERT, marking another UK exclusive performance. The first band with a more traditional black metal look, covering their face with corpse paint, the Dutch band deliver the most intense performance so far. Music wise, despite the uber fast paced nature of most of their songs, it is the melancholic, atmospheric vibe which gives off more old school black metal vibes, further adding to the image the band are clearly portraying. Their light show is just as intense as the previous two bands, but this time, the focus is on darker colours which makes OSSAERT look menacing, which results in an epic performance that is both creepy and entertaining. It is at this point though, where the sound on the main stage starts to get problematic. Throughout this set, the bass sounds way too loud and dominates the mix which does ultimately affect the performance as this mix issue is too obvious.

Rating: 6/10

AKERCOCKE – Main Stage

The next band is one of the more anticipated of the day. Other than UK and worldwide exclusive sets, Fortress Festival is also known for album playthrough performances, and AKERCOCKE is the first of the festival. After a rather bizarre intro video, the band, dressed in suits, arrive and play the entirety of their 2003 album Choronzon in one of the best sets of the day. The energy is non-stop and this feeds into the crowd, as this is the only set which gets the crowd to form a moshpit, and there is the only crowd surfer of the festival at one point too. Despite the fact that the lighting is not the most colourful and the bass is still too dominant in the mix, the stage presence, and crowd control more than makes up for this, and the result is easily one of the best sets up until this point, despite the strange, out of place intro.

Rating: 8/10

DØDHEIMSGARD – Main Stage

There are some sets that stick with you, if it gives you chills or you get to witness one of your favourite songs live, in person, or whatever it may be. What DØDHEIMSGARD achieved at Fortress Festival was nothing sort of sensational. Playing their 2023 album Black Medium Current in its entirety, they get over an hour for this performance, and this performance has it all. It is creepy at times, heavy, but also poetic. For this show, the band acquire a three person choir, and a keyboardist, and these additions, especially the choirs are fully noticeable throughout the set, with one of the singers getting to perform solo towards the end of the concert. The true highlight though, is frontman Yusaf ‘Vicotnik’ Parvez. At times he headbangs like there is no tomorrow, and at times he tells the story of each song through his movements. This is evident especially in the final song, which is introduced as a funeral, and it is at this point, where to finish the full performance, Parvez grabs a bracelet of sorts made out of yellow flower petals, scatters them around him, and raises his hands in surrender in one of the most surreal, symbolic and poetic endings to a set you will ever see, and one that every member of the crowd will remember for the rest of their lives.

Rating: 10/10

OLD MAN’S CHILD – Main Stage

After DØDHEIMSGARD, the time has come for the headliners for the night, OLD MANS CHILD. Fronted by one of the most legendary guitarists in all of metal, Galder, this set contrasts what came just before it as with DØDHEIMSGARD, their show was all about the dark, brooding atmosphere, and the headliners bring all of the energy. With no time to waste, Galder leads his fellow band members into an hour of pure adrenaline. Each member poses for the crowd and plays each track to utter perfection. There really is not much this set faults in. The sound is slightly lackluster once more, but this does not take anything from how fun this set is. With speeches in between tracks and some hidden gems in the setlist, this set is the perfect way to end day one of the festival, and leaves everyone fully satisfied from witnessing history throughout. With much more to follow.

Rating: 9/10

Sunday – May 31st

A FOREST OF STARS – Main Stage

After resting up, The sun arose once more atop the breathtaking scenery that surrounds Scarborough, and with another walk across the bridge connecting the main entrance to the town to the Fortress Festival venue, the scene is set for the second day of the festival, in which the theatre stage hosts a wide array of dungeon synth acts, as this was the theme of choice for this year. The day however, starts on the main stage with A FOREST OF STARS. This avant garde black metal band has some of the most unique visuals of the entire couple of days. This is not the only thing that makes them stand out though, the use of a violin helps create a sense of fantasy to the performance making for a black metal set unlike any other. What does let this set down is how overpowering the vocals are, and how at times strange they can sound making for a contrasting performance of excellent musicality with vocals that are very hit-or-miss.

Rating: 7/10

PORTCULLIS – Theatre

Kicking off the proceedings on the Theatre stage is PORTCULLIS, stepping in to replace ATLANTEAN SWORD who withdrew due to health issues. Creating a one man show is never easy, and this unique act combines synths, guitars and drums to create a sound which is so surreal to hear considering this is just one person. The musicality is obviously next level, but it is the crowd that really helps make this performance feel special. The audience devours everything they hear, and rightfully giving him a thunderous ovation at the end. It is worth noting that the visuals, whilst they work very similarly to how the screens on the main stage operate, the lighting is far less sophisticated, which works better as it makes both the room, and performances feel even more intimate and special than they already are.

Rating: 8/10

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS – Main Stage

After PORTCULLIS, the time has come to return to the main stage, as ABIGAIL WILLIAMS take the stage barely 10 minutes afterwards. This set continues with the main bass problems from the day before it, but this is not where the problems end. Halfway through their set, technical difficulties seemingly happen to both guitars forcing the band to stop playing mid track. Roughly three to four minutes after this, the American band return to flawlessly finish their performance, albeit with a brief delay. Apart from this, the performance is top notch with incredibly intricate guitar parts and drum fills. Despite facing these setbacks, this performance is thoroughly thought through with an epic light show, and laid back big screen visuals making sure that the focus is on each individual musician.

Rating: 6/10

EMYN MUIL – Theatre 

The time has come once again to return to the theatre as EMYN MUIL go onstage minutes after the main stage act wraps up which is a recurring theme on this day. This set is nothing sort of goosebump inducing. As soon as this show begins, the room gets transported into another realm out of this world. The three-piece know how to put on a show that is both haunting yet engaging. Once more, there are no speeches between songs, but there are instrument switches. Halfway through their set, their percussionist whips out a guitar to add another eerie element to the music which goes down incredibly well with the attendees. Towards the end of the set, the percussion returns to deliver an epic end to one of the best performances of the festival.

Rating: 9/10

VINTERLAND – Main Stage

After this, the time has come once more to run to the main stage, as by the time we get to the main stage, VINTERLAAND already have their intro tape playing. Once the band fully take to the stage, there is a fuzzy look to this set, as the use of smoke is used to cover the stage along with the lighting. This matches perfectly with the freezing cold atmospheric kind of black metal that the outfit is world-renowned for. The stage presence, of what is seen is out of this world with each member commanding that huge stage and commanding movement from the fully packed room, with very little to no response unfortunately apart from the typical headbanging. This is a band that personifies what black metal truly is, and this performance proves it.

Rating: 9/10

OLD SORCERY – Theatre

After VINTERLAAND, OLD SORCERY is set to play his debut gig. Once more, this set is exceptional. Adorned in a witches hat on top of his head, he entrenches everyone into his spell. During this performance, a pin drop can be heard as the packed room is completely silence for the Finnish sensation. Obviously with a debut gig, mistakes can happen, and at times, this is noticeable but the wizard handles these setbacks effortlessly, and better than most who perform more than him. As a matter of fact, these spells are so effective you do not even realise when he leaves the stage. This shows once again as to how daunting a debut gig can be, even if the mastermind behind this dungeon synth project is no stranger to music.

Rating: 8/10

MORTIIS – Theatre

At this point, and after dinner, the time has come for possibly the most anticipated sets of the year for the theatre room. MORTIIS really needs no introduction, the former EMPEROR member acquires a queue that lasts for over an hour, which goes to show how popular the musical genius is to this day. The venue is absolutely rammed once we get inside, and as expected, the Norwegian legend delivers an exceptional set. Sometimes, a percussionist joins him for live shows but this is not the case. We get yet another one man show, and this is without a doubt the correct decision as MORTIIS, who is called Havård Ellefsen, clearly shows how talented and incredibly skilled he is throughout the course of the 50 minutes he receives. By the end of this show, the dungeon synth legend is only the second act to get a standing ovation, which is fully deserved.

Rating: 9/10

GALLOWBRAID – Main Stage

Once MORTIIS finishes, there is only 10 minutes before the headliners, and final band of the festival get onstage. Another worldwide live debut, GALLOWBRAID, who already have a cult following pack the room by the time they take to the stage. With a very brief intro, the band instantly rips into a ferociously melodic yet rapid set. At one point early on in the set, frontman Jake Rogers announces that we are getting a couple of new songs that have never been heard live or in studio recordings yet to what is the most deafening reaction of the entire weekend. These songs are breathtakingly melodic yet violent and haunting at the same time. The band did mess up the start to the second new track which did not get a title when it was introduced, so the song had to be started over again in a mistake which is very surprising to see happen to a headliner, but once the band recovers, they play a song which masterfully combines clean and harsh vocals alike to create a irresistibly catchy almost metalcore sounding black metal track. Clearly though, the crowd does not care about this mistake at all, and by the time the set finishes, the crowd peaks in volume. The main highlight of this set is hearing the title track from Ashen Eidolon in person in a moment so surreal, most of the attendees would never have ever expected to witness. Regardless, after this rollercoaster of a set, Fortress Festival drew the curtain over it, for the fourth year.

Rating: 7/10

With EMPEROR announced for the fifth anniversary next year, and with the promise that more huge announcements are coming up, this festival is really setting itself up to be the elite black metal festival in Europe. The performances this year have been outstanding and getting to see some of these bands who have performed this year is mind-blowing. This is not a one-off as previous years and the fifth anniversary will surely continue this trend of shocking people with the booked artists and bands, proving that this is one unmissable weekend, which will stay that way for years, and possibly decades to come.

Check out our photo gallery of all the action from this year’s Fortress Festival from Duncan McCall here: 

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