FESTIVAL REVIEW: Radar Festival 2023
Since its humble origins, Radar Festival‘s mission objective has to provide festival billings that cater to the more niche areas of the heavy music spectrum with the festival celebrating all things prog, post, mathrock and more. After establishing themselves down in Guildford, this year’s edition of Radar Festival is their leap of faith. A new city, a much larger venue and a jaw-dropping lineup across three days spear-headed by headliners SLEEP TOKEN, IGORRR and PERIPHERY and a stacked undercard. Team Distorted Sound ventured to O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester to experience the biggest Radar Festival to date! Here’s what went down.
Friday – July 28th
FORAGER – Second Stage
Who better to get this years iteration of Radar Festival well and truly underway than homegrown upstarts FORAGER. The self declared grunge-punk outfit possessed all the nostalgic swagger of the 90’s nu metal scene, hyping up the crowd with a selection of adrenaline fuelled bangers from their freshly released Who Wants It? EP. One of the true marvels of Radar Festival is being able to discover a diverse range of hidden gems scattered amongst the weekend and if FORAGER is anything to go by then the chances to find your new favourite band just increased dramatically.
Rating: 8/10
EXPLORING BIRDSONG – Main Stage
Liverpool’s EXPLORING BIRDSONG have been a firm favourite of ours here at Distorted Sound and after a period of hibernation, largely enforced by the pandemic years, Radar Festival presents a wonderful opportunity for the piano-led prog rock trio to make a triumphant return. And a triumph it is indeed. From start to finish, the band hold the collective crowd in a spell as they dazzle with gorgeous keys, gentle percussion and jaw-dropping vocals from Lyndsey Ward. A truly captivating performance that showcases just what a special talent this band are.
Rating: 9/10
THE FIVE HUNDRED – Second Stage
THE FIVE HUNDRED brought a phenomenal brutality to balance out the lighter embellishments of the more progressive parts of the day. Intense to the level of almost violent, they whipped the crowd into submission with their massive vocals, huge guitars and stomping riffs. Opening with Black Dogs might tell you just how intense and immersive the set was. Many fans will have been elated at their frothing, colossal set, and those who had yet to be turned on to their sound were swiftly captivated. The room throughout the weekend was packed, but there was no chance of getting into the heat of the centre, such was the enthusiasm of the fans. Our Demise and Walls of Jericho were absolutely slammed, the palpable energy completely set everyone up for the amazing weekend ahead. THE FIVE HUNDRED are not to be messed with, and never to be missed.
Rating: 7/10
A.A. WILLIAMS – Main Stage
Although the weekend at Radar Festival hosts many a heavy band, but A.A. WILLIAMS operates in a different level of heaviness. Much beloved within heavy music circles thanks to her tranquil soundscapes, her placement on Radar‘s bill doesn’t feel out of place, but for the unacquainted, especially those congregated towards the back of Victoria Warehouse‘s large confines, the illusion doesn’t quite take hold. But for those front and centre, they are starstruck as A.A WILLIAMS and her bandmates conjure a truly captivating atmosphere that straddles between the atmospheric and the euphoric.
Rating: 7/10
FLOYA – Second Stage
FLOYA may have been at a tricky time of day, when people are inclined to go foraging for food, or need a short rest. However, they clearly piqued interest with their dreamy synth influenced rock. There was less bite than some of their Radar Festival lineup counterparts for sure, but the bounce and joy exuded from their set was very welcome. While still a very fresh band after establishing themselves in 2022, their hit The Hymn and many other songs in their set were very well received, as people soaked up their fresh take on EDM infused alt rock. A softer moment in the day, but with a keen set of listeners, FLOYA brought the sense of summer that was missing from the skies.
Rating: 7/10
UNPROCESSED – Main Stage
Proceedings are well and truly underway and next up is German tech metal trailblazers UNPROCESSED. The Main Stage is filling up nicely in anticipation and the quartet are welcomed by a rapturous applause. Despite navigating some technical gremlins which caused issues in distinguishing their crystal clear guitar tones amongst the additional instrumentation, the band were at their imperious best, rifling through fan favourites like Rain and Deadrose with the utmost precision. The guitar duo of frontman Manuel Gardner Fernandes and Christoph Schultz performed a whole host of ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ fret acrobatics and left the crowd in a state of sheer admiration. Before you knew it their 30 minute slot flashed in front of your eyes and it was onto the next course!
Rating: 9/10
GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT – Main Stage
GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT evoked an intensity and concentration across the crowd as people flocked to the Main Stage to witness their highly concentrated post-rock. Beautiful arrangements through Spectres and Adrift, right through to All is Violent, All is Bright were very well received. There’s a much more contemplative element to GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT than some more erratic and frantic acts on through the Radar Festival lineup. While that clearly isn’t going to be to everyone’s inclinations, their consistently tight playing and cosmic sounds, combined with the spectacular light show were heavenly. A sway and scan through the crowd was apparent, through the likes of tracks Suicide By Star and the sinisterly tinged finale From Dust To The Beyond. A beautiful set, albeit not the most physically captivating, there’s no doubt that what GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT has brought to Radar Festival was a sense of wonder.
Rating: 8/10
AVIANA – Second Stage
Starting a set with Rage, a song that sets a scene of malevolent fury, AVANIA play with fervent energy throughout their performance. Again, the Second Stage was bouncing to the spitting, tension raising song. Transcendent pushed into some of the most aggressive vocals and hardest dynamic ranges of the weekend. Infusing drum and bass, industrial EDM and metalcore, songs like Illuminated and Curriculum lean into the classic tropes of metalcore. Nevertheless, it’s a set that pushes a lot of energy and ticks a lot of boxes. Oblivion and Obsession shows more of a djent influenced side of the band that clearly impressed newcomers, and overall left the packed room pumped.
Rating: 6/10
HAKEN – Main Stage
Dominating the stage regardless of size, HAKEN have mastered the balance between crowd interaction and engaging in their technical wizardry perfectly. With Mountains reaching ten years old this year, the back-to-back of several tracks from that record was a huge treat. Classics Atlas Stone, In Memoriam and Cockroach King where balanced with heavy hitters Taurus and Sempiternal Beings from their latest album Fauna. The result is a stacked set that captivated completely. Confidence, cheer and excitement exude from frontman Ross Jennings, while the collective balance the intense juggling act of backing vocals and playing these incredibly intricate arrangements. Considering the headliners on this day especially, the crowd may have been hard to win round, but as usual HAKEN managed to solidify themselves as prog rock elites.
MONUMENTS – Second Stage
Given Radar Festival‘s no clash schedule, a horde of spectators await progressive metallers MONUMENTS on the much more confined setting of Radar‘s second stage. For other bands, such a crowd could allow for nerves to creep in and derail their impact, but MONUMENTS are a well-oiled machine, and as such, their headlining set on the festival’s second stage is nothing short of monumental. Largely comprised of material from last year’s In Stasis, the band wow from the off with set opener Cardinal Red incites sheer bedlam in the pit whilst the likes of older cuts like Degenerate and I, The Creator are met with delirious glee. With a big soundscape, the intimate confines of the festival’s smaller stage could have suffocated their sound, but the band are tight as anything and ensure that their bid for main stage slot in the years to come is bulletproof.
Rating: 9/10
SLEEP TOKEN – Main Stage
The rise of SLEEP TOKEN has been short of meteoric. An enigma for heavy music, the band’s ascendancy has skyrocketed in recent months and their horde of fans are rabid to say the least. Perhaps it could be down to the mysterious allure that surrounds SLEEP TOKEN but they have a quality musical arsenal to back the hype. As such, they take to the stage to headline Radar Festival‘s first day with the biggest crowd of the entire festival awaiting them. And they do not disappoint. Not one bit.
From the moments the crooning tones of set opener Chokehold unfolds, SLEEP TOKEN have ensnared their swarming congregation as Vessel and his hooded cohorts cast a wonderful spell and from there, the band run a victory lap to merit the hype that surrounds them. Material from this year’s Take Me Back To Eden sound absolutely stunning in the live environment, with Aqua Regia being one particularly strong highlight and Granite is sure to be a live staple for years to come. Elsewhere, Atlantic shimmers in aural beauty as Vessel dispatches his gorgeous vocals with aplomb and a one-two finale of The Night Does Not Belong To God and The Offering ends the set in the most grandest of fashions. Make no mistake, there is no ceiling for SLEEP TOKEN and it will be fascinating to see just how high this special band can soar.
Rating: 10/10
Saturday – July 29th
GRAYWAVE – Second Stage
GRAYWAVE has a strong set, with her moody atmospherics and aggravated energy. Sitting beautifully in that strange ethereal zone the likes of ALICE IN CHAINS and DEFTONES before them, GRAYWAVE teeter between enraged, moody and other worldly. With their EP Rebirth, the wealth of lush reverb and spacious emotional depth in songs like Build live is very enjoyable. The energy of that can, however, be a little hard to fully immerse yourself in, but there’s definitely a lot to appreciate here. The crowd certainly feel like they’ve understood the tone, and in the same break as GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT and A.A. WILLIAMS, GRAYWAVE are in good company for more spacey songs through this festival.
Rating: 6/10
HARBINGER – Main Stage
HARBINGER have been a firm favourite for Radar Festival attendees, having graced the stage at previous editions of the festival, alongside numerous supports slots and appearances at brethren festival UK Tech-Fest. At Radar Festival 2023, the band are graced with a main stage slot and they do not disappoint, blowing the cobwebs from anyone still struggling from the previous day. Hefty riffs curtsey of guitarists Charlie Griffiths and Ben Sutherland keep the pit moving and new-ish vocalist Dilan Alves leads the line with aplomb; dispatching a range of gutturals and ear-piercing shrieks with the utmost ease. A fine wake up call for a Saturday afternoon.
Rating: 8/10
TIBERIUS – Second Stage
For all that Radar Festival is a serious festival showcasing the more elaborate end of the heavy music spectrum, sometimes, all you need is good old silly fun and Scottish outfit TIBERIUS deliver in spades. Sure, their music sits comfortably within the progressive metal sub-genre, but on stage, the band are having the time of their lives as guitarist Chris Foster spends more time shredding in the crowd than on stage and a particularly humorous on-stage dualling banter with a security guard and vocalist Grant Barclay keeps the energy soaring. A superb set from a band that left grins beaming from ear to ear.
Rating: 9/10
ALLT – Main Stage
Another super high-quality set of musicians, ALLT have been one to catch at any gig in recent years. For Radar Festival, they brought their dangerous sense of mystique and malice in full force. Boasting eerie, almost crooning vocals that erupt into perilous blast beats and technical grooves, it’s a packed-out set. The best thing about ALLT is the mixture of vocal styles, from gritty shouts, to deep roars and sombre cleans, Robin Malmgren is the perfect frontman. That’s not to say that the rest of the team aren’t also just as commanding, throwing down some heavy riffs and monstrous tones. A band that can feel orchestral, mysterious and brooding, they’ve a solid crowd of headbangers at their mercy.
Rating: 7/10
PUPIL SLICER – Main Stage
PUPIL SLICER have been one of the UK’s shooting stars in recent years, with their soaring ascension through the underground refusing to take the foot off the gas. At Radar Festival, the band arrive with the utmost confidence, especially with the sublime new album Blossom under their collective belts, and for any PUPIL SLICER aficionado; they do not disappoint. Nasty, cacophonous riffing erupts from the main stage as Kate Davies snarls with the most vigorous venom at every opportunity. Thermal Runaway still remains as an absolutely colossal track in the live arena, whilst a vicious one two punch of Martyrs and Wounds Upon My Skin close the set in the most exhilarating of fashions. There is no stopping this band from becoming a juggernaut of UK metal.
Rating: 9/10
WHEEL – Second Stage
A solid performance from WHEEL, the Finnish prog outfit. From the gentle start of Impervious and the polyrhythms of Movements, the beautiful arrangements dance and flicker between serenity and haunting. It’s a set of great atmosphere, the passionate vocals and the charged drums heightened by the tight instrumentation. It’s notable that WHEEL, while being absolutely slap bang in the pocket of progressive music, play with space and slower moments a lot. The calm groove of some songs favouring otherworldly tranquillity over bombastic assaults of sound. It might not be for those looking for the more intense bands of the weekend, but the nods to post-rock, coupled with the ominous tones definitely hit the spot for the those looking for layered, laid back and furtive music this weekend. A solid stage presence overall, WHEEL absolutely drew in newcomers and fans alike with their set.
Rating: 7/10
THORNHILL – Main Stage
As the day wears on, THORNHILL inject a good energy with some solid metalcore. It’s not perhaps the most captivated crowd of the weekend but it’s worth noting that people were clearly flagging a little by this point, and THORNHILL’s efforts weren’t unacknowledged. There’s plenty of enjoyment of standout record The Dark Pool’s material in the way of Views From The Sun, Coven and Lily & The Moon. However, while many fans were of course very happy to hear the band’s latest songs from 2022’s Heroine, and songs like The Hellfire Club, Hollywood and Raw went down well enough, but weren’t necessarily what a wider audience may have been familiar with. Nevertheless, a strong end to the set was with their phenomenal Where We Go When We Die, which is both well received and well performed.
Rating: 6/10
DREAM STATE – Second Stage
Rewind the clocks several years and post-hardcore crew DREAM STATE were on course to take the UK rock music by absolute storm. Just like many promising bands, the pandemic years were not kind and the band were left on the brink following the departure of several key members. But, just like how a phoenix rises from the ashes, DREAM STATE have come back from the brink and their set at Radar Festival is euphoric from start to finish. Led by the enigmatic Jessie Powell, the band exude energy from the moment opening song Comfort In Chaos kicks off, and from there, the adrenaline never ceases to dip. The likes of Taunt Me and newest single Chin Up Princess go down a treat and the way in which Powell feels comfortable in delivering older tracks such as Hand In Hand or White Lies is a masterstroke. DREAM STATE are back with a vengeance and it feels so deserved.
Rating: 10/10
PERTURBATOR – Main Stage
Synthwave has a special place in the heart of heavy music fans and although the style may lack the obtuse heaviness of other bands that occupy our world, it still has a justified seat at our table. As such, the placement of French synthwave act PERTURBATOR as sub-headliner to IGORRR on Radar Festival‘s second day makes perfect sense and for the throng of people congregated, what transpires is a masterclass of aural immersion. Satanic imagery dances with hefty strobes as mastermind James Kent invokes a soundscape that is part Cyberpunk, part Blade Runner. The pulses of the likes of Future Club washes over the crowd with the utmost ease whilst the up-tempo Excess has many a folk swaying to the intoxicating rhythms. Those that might cry at synthwave’s presence on festival lineups like this look away, it’s here to stay and has more than earned its stripes.
Rating: 9/10
HEART OF A COWARD – Second Stage
Like many bands on this year’s Radar Festival‘s bill, HEART OF A COWARD are firm favourites in the UK scene. As such, their headlining set on the festival’s second stage is swarming with people and the band do not disappoint. New vocalist Kann Tasan leads the line with the utmost conviction as opening salvo of Collapse ignites the set with sheer bedlam as a cacophony of hefty riffs and breakdowns incites bedlam in the pit. From there, the band roll out djent-toned riff after riff as the energy surges and bodies wash over the barrier like a wave. Material from upcoming album, This Place Only Brings Death, sound colossal but nothing can compare with the sheer weight of Deadweight which have the Radar Festival faithful screaming “I DON’T GIVE A FUCK!” in unison. A solid set from a reliable name in UK metal.
Rating: 8/10
IGORRR – Main Stage
Unquestionably the most divisive headliner of the weekend, IGORRR are a chalk and cheese band if ever there was one. For some, their blend of hardcore EDM, symphonic folk and various core-adjacent metals will simply have been too much of a Frankenstein’s Monster. For others, it was a wild and refreshing experience that has some incredible vocal performances and captivating stage presence. From Paranoid Bulldozer Italiano straight into Spaghetti Forever, this was either a breathtakingly confusing thing of beauty, or something you needed to get away from. Nervous Waltz, Camel Dancefloor, Polyphonic Rust all went down phenomenally with the crowd that immersed themselves in the lunacy. Divisive in every sense, you’d be forgiven for not knowing if IGORRR take themselves seriously with their interwoven genre blending and operatic theatrics, or if it’s all meant to be one big joke. It’s very probable that it’s something in the middle, but the trick is to not think about it too hard; the crowd fully embraced their role of a madcap village, set loose to the folly and revelling in it. Very Noise finishing off the set was clearly the right choice; a crescendo of utter insanity, it’s a big performance with big ideas that leaves the crowd satisfied and a little unhinged. If you got it, it was well worth the wait to see them.
Rating: 9/10
Sunday – July 30th
FORLORN – Second Stage
Having formed during the pandemic years, there’s a lot riding on UK metallers FORLORN to make good on the online buzz surrounding them. Fortunate then, that their set on the final day of Radar Festival is awe-inspiringly brilliant. The self-described ‘Midsummer metal’ collective blend crushing post-metal and ethereal Pagan moments to leave the Radar crowd stunned. Vocalist Megan Elliott blesses the stage with a serene ritual before the band unleash carnage with opening number Redeem, Release and the crowd are hooked. The band ebb and flow between gargantuan heaviness to passages of aural tranquillity with the utmost ease and the likes of Old Wounds and Emotionless prove that FORLORN are destined for bigger stages than the small confines of Radar‘s Second Stage. This is a special band and we cannot wait to see where FORLORN go next.
Rating: 9/10
I BUILT THE SKY – Main Stage
It’s often hard to win a crowd on pure instrumental music, even in a progressive environment. However, I BUILT THE SKY drew in a great number to witness – and we’re not being dramatic here – all the notes being played, over both guitar and keys. Joined by David Parkes on drums and keyboardist Rohan Sharma, these studio tracks are executed with an ethereal joy and zeal. Complex and interlaced, the instrumentation is always colourful and almost hard to comprehend how technical it is, such is the fun all three are having on stage. After a long period of not seeing him over here, it was a real pleasure for a UK crowd to witness this set from the Aussies. A special performance with Andy Cizek for The Fire Inside was a great way to end the set. If there were any newcomers to the magic of I BUILT THE SKY who came for that one song, doubtless they’ve found a wealth of new inspiration in this spectacular performance.
Rating: 8/10
LAKE MALICE – Second Stage
Brighton’s LAKE MALICE have enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent months with a slew of singles and numerous live appearances. At Radar Festival, the band capitalise on their recent momentum with a performance that exudes copious amounts of energy, EDM and riff-laden breakdowns. The likes of Black Turbine and Bloodbath are ferocious in the live setting with vocalist Alice Guala dispatching her vocals with excellent enthusiasm, matching the intensity of her bandmates. It’s a blistering and high-octane set from a band that are set to continue to take the UK alternative world by storm.
Rating: 8/10
LONG DISTANCE CALLING – Main Stage
Being the band unlucky enough to find themselves performing just before the first ever UK performance of THE CALLOUS DAOBOYS was always going to struggle to encourage attendees to gravitate towards the main stage but the post-rock instrumental troupe certainly held their own, presenting the crowd with enthralling atmospherics and powerful melodies from all corners of their back catalogue. Squeezing their expansive arrangements into their short time on stage was always going to be a challenge but the tracks they did select were gratefully received and provided a pocket of escapism before the carnage that was due to unfold on the second stage.
Rating: 8/10
THE CALLOUS DAOBOYS – Second Stage
By this point in the festival, if you hadn’t gotten the vibe that these bands are not the usual kind of extreme, THE CALLOUS DAOBOYS will have really turned your head. All members are astounding with their energy, from guitarist Maddie Caffery’s menacing euphoria to Carson Pace projecting is voice right at the barrier, the whole band are a chaotic symphony. As one of their first UK shows, the wonderfully bonkers arrangements of Die On Mars and Blackberry DeLorean and constantly chop/change style of the entire set was like peeping into euphoric insanity. With Sweet Caroline singalongs, charged strings of all kinds – including violins, constantly changing time signatures and thrilling enthusiasm, this is just a snippet of the madness of THE CALLOUS DAOBOYS. Absolutely not a band for everyone, but if their mad brand of mathcore tickled your ear, it was a supreme performance to witness.
Rating: 9/10
CALIGULA’S HORSE – Main Stage
The first UK set of shows in five years, it was a privilege to see CALIGULA’S HORSE at what felt like their absolute best. Textured, lush songs from start to finish, with The Tempest setting the scene and Slow Violence, and Marigold being an especially stand out moment. CALIGULA’S HORSE have always had a huge sound that spans from fierce grooves to visceral euphoria. That energy was palpable, and the wonderfully fluid songs are interlaced with the best crowd back and forth of the weekend. Vocalist Jim Grey made the crowd his own with welcoming charisma, then blew everyone away with effortless as the band made easy work of some incredible prog rock.
Rating: 9/10
GHOST IRIS – Second Stage
GHOST IRIS are always a good time, and at Radar Festival there’s no exception to the rule. Through their groove and melody, they’re both aggressively captivating with their hardcore songs. The set is fairly varied with a mixture of lighter, atmospheric moments and hard, cut throat riffs, GHOST IRIS are engaged and ready to dominate. The impressive level of technical playing, samples and with a wide vocal range, the room is thoroughly in the Danes’ grip. The band seems capable of whipping up a storm, and commanding the audience to bounce, mosh and chant like the best of them. It’s clear that while they’re still a band on the rise, their clearly going from strength to strength as they conquer each stage they command. If you love well-crafted hardcore, then GHOST IRIS absolutely ticked all the right boxes for you this weekend.
Rating: 7/10
TEN56. – Main Stage
News hit social media earlier in the day that TEN56. had fallen victim to vehicular difficulties and their opportunity to hit the Main Stage of Radar Festival looked to be slipping through their grasp. Along came their saviour, known only as Terry to salvage the day, contributing to the meticulous operation which enabled the band to hit the stage only 17 minutes after arriving at the Victoria Warehouse. Hammering through tracks from their recent effort Downer Part.2 with barbaric precision, the metalcore bruisers undoubtedly left their emphatic stamp on the weekend.
Rating: 8/10
RESOLVE – Second Stage
Following on from the raucous performance of their fellow countrymen, the French outfit reaped the benefits of a turbo charged crowd putting some serious bounce into proceedings. RESOLVE brought a mixture of new, hot-off-the-press tracks and favourites from their Between Me And The Machine album to the table and their explosive brand of metalcore had the crowd eating out of the palm of their hands. Whilst not usually voiced in conversations about the most popular bands in their genre this set will have got them in front of many newcomers to their offering and will hopefully set them in good stead for their impending new album.
Rating: 9/10
VOLUMES – Main Stage
VOLUMES were always going to be a great shout to type people for the solid slabs of prog royalty set for the Main Stage. Their groove and energy sways from playful to ferocious, injecting whatever temperament they desired into the crowd. With a sound that ranges from their most progressive sounds in FBX and Void play with that crisp, modern progressive metal sound that fans love. Always engaging, the moments with more room to breathe like Feels Good and Happier? were as well received as their denser songs. With such great interactions from all members with the crowd, it was clear that the audience appreciated the breadth of VOLUMES back catalogue that was played. Finale Wormholes, went down a storm, perfectly setting up the crowd for the last few hours of intensity ahead.
Rating: 8/10
LOATHE – Second Stage
Just a few weeks prior, Liverpool’s LOATHE graced the Main Stage of this very venue supporting breakout metal stars SPIRITBOX. At Radar Festival, the band are confined to the much more intimate confines of the Second Stage to close out the action on the festival’s last day. And although the setting is much up close and personal, the band utilise the lack of room to dispatch a set that is truly exhilarating. A thumping opener of Aggressive Evolution incites utter chaos as bodies surge over the barrier as vocalist Kadeem France looks on with glee whereas the likes of New Faces In The Dark and Gored are met with rapturous cheering from the swelling crowd. But, as those who have experienced LOATHE before, they aren’t just a one-tricky pony. The ethereal Two-May Mirror not only provides respite to those in the pit, the band soar through the shoe-gazey rhythms and serene vocals from France, making it one of the standout moments of the entire set. At this point, we’ve run out of superlatives to describe LOATHE and at Radar Festival, they once again prove why on course to become a national treasure.
Rating: 9/10
PERIPHERY – Main Stage
Another headliner that fans from far and wide came a-flocking to witness, PERIPHERY absolutely dominated the Sunday evening. A powerhouse of progressive wizardry, opening with Muramasa was a sure sign it was going to be an incredible set. The crowd could barely contain themselves, the waves of people bouncing and shouting along was the most jubilant of the weekend. From Micha Mansoor and Jake Bowen absolutely shredding strings and throwing themselves around, to Matt Halpern dominating the kit, PERIPHERY are on absolute top form. Even with Mark Holcomb missing, there’s not a beat missed through Icarus Lives! and Marigold, and the crowd knows every word. It’s an electric atmosphere, there’s jubilance, banter, insane technical playing; Reptile is incredible, but it’s hard to pick a stand out track as the entire set really set the room on fire. Spencer Sotelo sounds better than ever, with the likes of Dracul Gras and Zagreus sounding phenomenal. Fans were left utterly elated with the finale of Four Lights and Stranger Things. PERIPHERY have wrapped up Radar Festival with the spirit of utter elation and acceptance, curiosity and enthusiasm. If next year’s final headliner is as well received, it’s gonna be mental.
Rating: 9/10
Words: James Weaver, Laura McCarthy, Dan McHugh
Check out our extensive photo gallery of all the action at Radar Festival 2023 from Serena Hill Photography here:
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