Quick, buy your ear plugs now before there’s a run, as this years Damnation Festival hits Leeds on Nov 2 – Dean Vipond will be at the front playing air ocarina …
Don’t look now. No, really, don’t. Something emerges from the sewers. Some kind of indescribable, fetid miasma. It hangs, motionless in the air. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the tiny black particles start to move in a funereal march, oozing through the streets, to gather on Leeds University Campus. A tower forms, impossibly high. A writhing, horrific cathedral, casting shadow in all directions. To look upon it is to look into the abyss. To hear it is to hear to hear the interminable, despairing scream of our inevitable oblivion. But don’t worry, there’s also beer.
Yes, it’s that time of year again folks! The crowning jewel in the thinking person’s heavy metal calendar: Damnation Festival. Where novelty facial hair is for life, not just for Movember. And once again, it’s a corker of a line-up, with a dazzling selection of international bands lurking in the extreme metal underworld. This year sees bands hailing from Sweden, Greece, France, Germany and Poland, as well as plenty of UK talent. Oh, and Norway, of course.
Intriguingly there are a quite a few newish bands on the bill, from artists better known from other projects. Yorkshire’s Vallenfyre, an old school death metal band, was formed by Gregor Mackintosh, of Paradise Lost (who are practically famous, by metal standards). Voices is the new band from members of notable UK black metal act Akercocke. Crippled Black Phoenix comprise members of Mogwai and the late (very) lamented Iron Monkey. Twilight of the Gods is something of a supergroup tribute to ye metal of olde, from various metal alumni (Primordial, Cradle of Filth). God Seed is the new band from two of the most notable members of Norway’s Gorgoroth. Fronted by the enigmatic, intimidating figure of Gaahl. This will be a must-see event.
There are lots of lesser-known bands on the bill too – the first half of the bill is great for hoovering up a load of new favourite bands. I’m particularly looking forward to Sabbath enthusiasts Black Magician to kick off my day.
Of all the delicacies on offer though, my most anticipated is Romania’s Negura Bunget (no, I can’t pronounce it either). A unique band, whose startling, eerie 2007 release, Om, is still a regular spin at Vipond Towers. They use lots period folk instruments to bolster their black metal sound, which really adds to the atmosphere. If you need me, I’ll be down the front, playing air ocarina.
With all the political and economical turmoil happening in their homeland, I’ll be surprised if Greece’s fabulously-monikered black metal veterans Rotting Christ don’t turn in a devastatingly raging performance.
A new experiment with the stage times means we no longer have to make difficult decisions about which headliner to watch. Now we get to see both! Headlining the second stage is Sweden’s colossal Cult of Luna. With skiploads of granite-shattering riffs, they’re my bet for the ‘causing the most punters permanent hearing damage’ award.
Of course, the main attraction this year is the return of the almighty CARCASS. Undisputed legends of death metal, they’re back to lay waste to Leeds. They may be greyer of beard these days, but their vicious new album shows they’ve lost none of their punch in the meantime. The classy musicianship and those inimitable snarled vocals sound as good as ever. Having been a fan for 20 years, this’ll be my first time seeing them, and I’m sure it’ll be a bloody feast.
All this sonic warfare, for less than the price of the cheapest Nickelback ticket at Leeds Arena. And Nickelback don’t even wear corpsepaint.