As we pour out of the venue into the reality that is the non-space otherwise known as Limehouse, we come to our senses, and go our separate ways, all sharing the knowledge we’ve witnessed a band who remain at the height of their powers. Some will be returning the following night to do it all again. Others will hold this evening long in the memory. I know I will.

Eager to build on the momentum (and success) of round one, Ripcord Fest is back! It seems like this will be a biannual event going forward which means twice the bands, twice the fun and twice the ringing ears per annum. Embracing not only the ethos of the first festival but also of the label as a whole, it’s a celebration of the UK’s fertile underground scene with a marked focused on post-metal, post-rock and math-rock.

I fully expected my plan to go awry pretty quickly, but I was wrong. Nothing went wrong; nothing was significantly delayed. There were no tantrums.  Technical issues were dealt with promptly and efficiently. I even found time to sneak in an extra band. Eighteen out of seventeen can’t be bad.

This was truly a night to remember that saw not only a phenomenal, legendary and historic performance from Acid Bath, but also because Green Lung and Conan were in such good form, proving that British metal is in such a healthy place too.

It’s beautiful and ugly, wild and utterly captivating, and it genuinely verges on the realms of “see this band before you die”. So go do that (see them live, that is – not die).

There’s a palpable sense of loss and wonder in these songs but also power, a primal force that sweeps up band and crowd alike until they’re all one unified swirl of hair, bobbing heads and raised fists. It’s another demonstration of what black metal is capable of in the right hands, not just a spirit of defiance but also one that can bring light.

Bruit made quite a noise, Arcane Roots blossomed, Oathbreaker stayed true to their word, Pupil Slicer diced with doom, and Cult of Luna and Julie Christmas were absolutely life changing. 

Hello IAN. Welcome back Psychonaut, Igorrr and Agent Fresco. Amazing to meet you at last, Cardiacs. Farewell Svalbard and Fernhill Farm. Jody and Nick relive the best of the first two days at ArcTanGent 2026.

It’s a sprawling, hypnotic labyrinth of sound and getting lost in it almost seems to be the point, an overwhelming barrage of jazz-doom-hardcore excess too out there to even try to comprehend; instead, the audience are content to just come along for the ride and see where it takes them.

Not everything runs smoothly. Sometimes life gets in the way, you lose track of time, and suddenly you’re on a distillery tour. At least, that’s the reason that Chepang’s Scottish show is running slightly behind schedule; but if there’s one thing that …

They’re one of the most forward-thinking and genuinely innovative bands at work in the UK, and getting to see them hammer out a performance like this for the princely sum of sod all feels like Christmas come early.

I’ve never been to a gig in Nottingham before. I’ve never even been IN Nottingham before. Never had any reason. I’m from rural South-East Scotland, after all. And then I hear about this multi-venue alternative rock and metal thing. This, I think, needs further investigation.

Maud the moth brought her dark beauty to a chapel and transformed it into a cathedral of sound. . .

Three bands – one brand new, one new-ish and building a solid reputation, and one revitalised old favourite. Three sets of the highest quality. One brand new promoter of alternative heavy music. One excellent and well-filled little venue. One happy crowd. Let’s call that a win, shall we?

If it’s August it must be ArcTanGent, and this year’s iteration, with an astounding line-up of one-offs and headliner coups, is perhaps more brilliant and bewildering than ever. Jody Dunstan and Nick Dunn are your guides, with a raft of personal picks to cut a path through the long grass and the inevitable stage clashes.