ArcTanGent Festival 2025: The Review – Thursday

Clashing together the intensely technical precision of Animals As Leaders, the stoney prog metal punch of Baroness and the unhinged stage presence of Converge, St Louis, Missouri’s The Gorge bring their uncategorisable metal sound over the pond for not only their Arctangent debut but their first European show. The Gorge’s live show presents a band of two halves with frontman Phil Ring mediating between the quartet’s ferocious early noughties metallic hardcore inspired energy and their intricate, sweep picking guitar acrobatics. Few bands are able to put together the complex instrumentals that The Gorge play so effortlessly, let alone match their electric stage performance. – TB

Back on the main stage, it’s time for the first set from We Lost The Sea. With a short pause between each band member walking on stage as Mark Owen plays the opening riff to ‘If They Had Hearts’, it’s clear the Aussie post rock icons are well aware of the hype surrounding their name this weekend, something that becomes fully justified as they delve into the rest of the track and the proceeding ‘A Dance with Death’. With a setlist composed mostly of material from A Single Flower, We Lost The Sea reaffirm their name as one of the most immersive names in post rock with this wonderful set. As their set spans motifs of triumph, despair, optimism and all other emotions adjacent, the group’s penchant for post rock that continuously escalates blooms sounds absolutely phenomenal this afternoon, with ‘Blood Will Have Blood’ and ‘A Beautiful Collapse’ seeing all gathered utterly lost in their work. There’s no gimmicks, shoehorned genre surnaming, no dependence on visual aspects – just a mastery of post rock presented flawlessly. – DH

This being only their second set outside of North America, it is an exciting time to be in the Chicago based band Snooze. Playing cuts exclusively off their well regarded record I KNOW HOW YOU WILL DIE, they are received with open arms by all in attendance. Bringing high energy and a nailed down rhythm section that is reminiscent of the likes of Rolo Tomassi they deserve all the praise they have been receiving. Math-core heavy track Á Mysterious Voice’a standout from the quartet. – AV

Photo Credit:

Abbi Draper (abbidraperphoto)

ArcTanGent is known for its wide breadth of bookings from across the alternative rock spectrum over the years, but there are of course the legends that return time and time again that will always pull a crowd and entertain. Of course Mukilteo, Washington chaos demons The Fall Of Troy fit that description. Playing their epic and undoubted classic record Doppelgänger in full, it is never going to be a sub-par performance. From the moment they kick full pelt into, Í Just Got This Symphony Goin’’ to cheekily playing ‘F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X.’out of order as a closer rather than third, they and the audience do not let up for a second. Singing every lyric and ridiculous riff. They have stayed in the collective hearts and minds of all those witnessing, one of the best to do it. This is one of the sets of the weekend that brings nothing but pure joy and happiness. – AV

The madcap joy doesn’t stop in the Bixler though. The group’s second ever show outside of their home country, the best way to describe Vianova would be to compare them to Jamiroquai if he spent a weekend at the now defunct Tech-Fest and if he was also somehow very, very German. Yes, from that alone it’s clear that this isn’t for everyone, but the punters under the tarp of this tent are loving it. An ideal alternative to the steady patience of Pelican, the Berlin quartet (who are most suited and booted for the occasion) are punchy, asinine and daft, but all in a way that’s ultimately endearing and inarguably talented. It’s all quite obnoxious, and a large portion of the ATG demographic may just scoff at this proposition and what Vianova offer, but the band go down an absolute treat for the modest gathering in this tent this afternoon. – DH

Following an outpouring of sludge courtesy of King Buzzo and peers, something a bit more delicate awaits over in the Yohkai. Arguably one of the few scant math rock bands on the lineup this year, Tangled Hair’s blend of withdrawn and tender mathy emo sounds wonderful, and as proven with second track ‘I’m Calmer Than You Are’, oddly danceable. Much like their previous appearances at Fernhill Farm, the London band are an utter delight to watch, their intricate math rock wondrously counteracting the array of more musically punishing and haunting acts on the bill today. This isn’t a set of forefront aggression, quite the opposite in fact; Tangled Hair are 50 minutes of humble dexterity. They may have been given a short straw by clashing with the mighty Kylesa, but this set and its respective turnout show there’s still plenty of demand for math rock at this festival. – DH

Photo Credit:

Jez Pennington (@JezPennington)

Entering the Yokhai stage to Black Sabbath’s ‘Sweet Leaf’, Kylesa mark their return to the UK with their ArcTanGent debut after almost a decade on hiatus. While their roots lie firmly in the same doomy ground as contemporaries such as Baroness and Mastodon there’s an urgent, punk infused tinge to Kylesa’s performance, clad in denim and leather, equipped with dual guitars and a snarling DIY attitude. Living up to their reputation as one of their scene’s most eclectic voices, the Savanna, Georgia based quartet deliver a blazing return to the stage full of progressive exploration and thunderous speed metal riffing. Closing out with their 2009 hit ‘Scapegoat’, Kylesa make it crystal clear that they’re back and as lively as ever. – TB

As for Tayne back in the PX3, the London based trio bring an industrial Nine Inch Nails sound to the weekend that certainly scratches that certain itch. Playing tracks from their new album LOVE plus some new material, they are the energy drink needed to keep the day going. From drummer Ardo’s hard hitting to vocalist/bassist Matt’s brutal yet haunting vocal delivery along with some mesmerising head spinning (he’s clearly been lifting weights with that neck) they are continuing to prove why even though their sound might be an outlier to most bands in the ‘scene’they are to be taken seriously. The new material, showcasing what could shape up to be an excellent follow-up to their last record. – AV

As for Arab Strap, opening with ‘Allatonceness’ the Scottish duo Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton backed by their live band certainly do “grab your attention” as Aidan recalls in his lyrics. A bit of a left field booking for ATG, but somehow perfect in the same breath. As the sun sets, with beautiful rays illuminating the fields, their weirdo electronic come indie music with at moments deeply disturbing but real lyrics are perfect. An inspiration for the likes of Sugar Horse and other ATG favourites. Aidan’s soothing timbre whilst delivering lyrics of dead bodies in ‘The Turning of Our Bones’ a particular…highlight? Lowlight? Regardless, they grab the audience’s consciousness as they work through songs that describe misery yet want you to slow dance into the night. – AV

Photo Credit:

Jez Pennington (@JezPennington)

And now, tonight’s headliner; a band that’s a direct contrast to the stereotypical notion to what a festival headliner should be. Illumined in the lowest light possible and with the audience literally in complete darkness, Godspeed You! Black Emperor are a curious band and even more curious headliner. After all, to say ArcTanGent is the only major camping festival able (or more specifically, willing) to host them wouldn’t too much of an exaggeration. However, it’s clear why ArcTanGent have paid what is said to be a large sum to fly them in for this exclusive set.

Long requested since their last appearance in 2016, Godspeed You! Black Emperor are utterly magnificent. Performing material from last year’s No Title as of 13 February 28,340 Dead, tonight the collective feel almost immediate despite their expansiveness and the fact they open with the 10 minute ‘Hope Drone’. No, there’s been no major changes to their delivery as a unit, but as the band sail through their set, there’s a palatable sense of gravity and urgency to their sound tonight. Of course given how these tracks were written with thoughts of the ongoing Palestinian genocide heavy on the mind, such a sense of imperativeness is to be expected, but still, their glacial delivery seems more immersive then ever before. It’s impossible not to be totally engrossed by the band’s progression through their set or haunted to the point of possession as Godspeed perform this material with the focus and patience such art requires.

Understandingly though, it’s the final act of both ‘Moya’ and ‘BBF3’ that proves to get the biggest reaction. As their projectionist presents visuals lambasting the cruelty of the industrial prison complex and the inherent folly of man, this closing arc is one of misery, but one simply enthralling. Come the end, as the band filter off stage in silence, one can only feel a weird sensation of being host to two contrasting emotions simultaneously. On one hand, this has been a set of abject bleakness, one a product of the ills of man. On the other, it’s impossible not to be somewhat lifted by witnessing musical art performed with genuine humanity and without flaw. Either way, this has been a headline set that can only be performed by this band, and only at this festival. – DH