Top 10 bands you must watch at ArcTanGent 2025
ArcTanGent is back. The UK’s premier destination for math rock, post-metal, and all things experimental returns to Fernhill Farm from tomorrow, and once again, the lineup is stacked. Whether you’re here for crushing doom, genre-bending chaos, or cinematic soundscapes, this year’s edition has something for everyone. With so much on offer, we’ve picked ten essential bands you absolutely cannot miss.
WARDRUNA – Arc Stage, Wednesday – August 13th
A booking that raised eyebrows when it was announced, but one that makes perfect sense the more you think about it. WARDRUNA are masters of atmosphere, and their ritualistic Nordic folk is the kind of immersive experience that transcends genre. As Wednesday’s headliners, they’ll be opening the festival with a set that promises to be as spiritual as it is sonically powerful.
This is not your typical ArcTanGent fare, but that’s exactly why it works as we saw with HEILUNG in 2023. With their deep connection to Norse tradition and use of ancient instruments, WARDRUNA offer something completely different. A meditative, cinematic performance that will set the tone for the weekend in a way no other band could.
KYLESA – Yohkai Stage, Thursday – August 14th
They said it would never happen. After nearly a decade away, KYLESA are back, and they’re bringing their sludge-psych hybrid to Fernhill Farm. For many, this will be the first chance to see the Savannah trio since their hiatus, and anticipation is sky-high. And having experienced their performance at Inferno Metal Festival in April, we can attest to their power live.
Known for their dual drummers, swirling guitar textures, and thunderous low-end, KYLESA were always a band that pushed the boundaries of heavy music. Their return to the UK is a big deal, and ArcTanGent is the perfect setting for their comeback. Expect a career-spanning set that reminds everyone why they were so sorely missed.
GREEN LUNG – Arc Stage, Friday – August 15th
In a UK festival exclusive booking, and their festival debut, GREEN LUNG at ArcTanGent is going to be special. One of the UK’s most exciting heavy bands, their blend of occult rock, doom, and classic metal has earned them a devoted following, and on the back off bigger shows and with a new album on the way, their stock is only rising.
Live, they’re a force of nature. Big riffs, bigger choruses, and a theatrical flair that makes every set feel like a ritual. Their ArcTanGent debut is long overdue, and you can bet they’ll make it count. If you’re into folklore, fuzz, and face-melting solos, this is the one.
ITHACA – Arc Stage, Friday – August 15th
This one’s going to hurt. ITHACA are bowing out, and ArcTanGent will host their final ever show. Following their emotional farewell performance in London earlier this year, this set marks the end of a band that has reshaped UK heavy music with honesty, fury, and heart.
Expect a performance that’s equal parts celebration and closure. Their blend of metallic hardcore and soaring melody has always hit hard, but this time, it’ll carry even more weight. If you’ve ever screamed along to They Fear Us, this is your last chance to do it live.
AHAB – Bixler Stage, Saturday – August 16th
Doom doesn’t get much deeper than this. German funeral doom legends AHAB are making their ArcTanGent debut, and it’s going to be devastating. Known for their oceanic themes and glacial tempos, their music is less a performance and more a descent – slow, sorrowful, and utterly crushing.
This is a rare UK appearance from a band that doesn’t tour often, and for fans of the slow and heavy, it’s a dream booking. Don’t expect movement. Don’t expect crowd surfers. Just close your eyes and let the waves pull you under.
ROLO TOMASSI – Arc Stage, Saturday – August 16th
Twenty years in, and ROLO TOMASSI are still one of the most forward-thinking bands in the UK. Their evolution from mathcore chaos to cinematic post-everything has been nothing short of remarkable, and their return to ArcTanGent feels like a homecoming.
This year marks their 20th anniversary, and they’re celebrating with a special set that promises to span their entire career. Whether you’re here for the early chaos or the later elegance, this is a band that never stops moving forward – and always delivers live.
THE CALLOUS DAOBOYS – Arc Stage, Saturday – August 16th
If you like your music chaotic, unpredictable, and just a little bit unhinged, THE CALLOUS DAOBOYS are your new favourite band. Riding high on the success of their latest album, I Don’t Want To See You In Heaven, the Atlanta mathcore crew are making their ArcTanGent appearance as a UK festival exclusive, and it’s going to be wild.
Impossible to pigeonhole into a singular genre, their live shows are a blur of breakdowns, screams, and absurdist humour, and they’ve quickly become one of the most talked-about bands in the scene. Miss them at your peril.
MAYBESHEWILL – Yohkai Stage, Friday – August 15th
A staple of the UK post-rock scene, MAYBESHEWILL are no strangers to ArcTanGent, but every time they return, it feels special. Their cinematic instrumentals, political urgency, and emotional weight make them a perfect fit for the festival’s more introspective moments.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer, their set is guaranteed to be a highlight and it always proves to be a reflective experience. Expect big crescendos, bigger feelings, and a crowd swaying in unison. Bring a mate. Bring a lighter. Bring your heart.
SWAMP COFFIN – PX3 Stage, Saturday – August 16th
Heavy, filthy, and absolutely relentless, SWAMP COFFIN are bringing the sludge. The Rotherham trio have been tearing up the UK underground with their uncompromising sound, and their ArcTanGent debut is set to be one of the weekend’s most punishing sets.
This is sludge at its most primal: thick riffs, guttural vocals, and a live presence that feels like being hit by a freight train. If you’re looking for something raw and bleak, SWAMP COFFIN are the band to watch.
LOWEN – Yohkai Stage, Thursday – August 14th
Heavy, hypnotic, and completely unlike anything else on the bill. LOWEN have been carving out a space of their own in the UK underground, blending doom metal with Middle Eastern melodies to create something truly distinctive. Their Thursday slot on the Yohkai Stage is a perfect fit, early enough to surprise, late enough to leave a mark.
Live, they’re all about atmosphere. Thick riffs, haunting vocals, and a slow-burning intensity that builds and builds. If you’re looking for something that pushes beyond genre while staying rooted in heaviness, LOWEN are essential viewing.
ArcTanGent will take place at Fernhill Farm on August 13th-16th 2025.
For more information on the festival like their official page on Facebook.
