“Blur reality to make it real.”
The world’s undisputed official “nerd metal” festival, ArcTanGent, has gathered its biggest line-up for its 10th monumental year. Best known as a home for “post” and “math” styles of rock and metal, it’s a fest that pulls acts from far and wide in an effort to stump even the most music-obsessed attendees. Bands that are selected are always uncommonly eccentric, either innovating within their genre, or defining it. As a mature festival, they’ve looked further and higher for their headliners, and this year the fest bagged the legendary Mogwai for their first appearance. Meshuggah and Explosions in the Sky are also huge headliners. On a sadder note, the performances from Three Trapped Tigers and Tokky Horror are tipped to be their last. Our attending writers compiled their personal list of unmissable acts, big and small, which we discuss below.
Cover photo: Joe Singh on behalf of ArcTanGent festival.
Curse These Metal Hands
A project born within ArcTanGent‘s holy grounds: Curse These Metal Hands are a rare and special commodity (and not just a Peep Show reference) brought to you by equal parts of Sludge Metal underdogs ‘Conjurer‘ and Post-Rock Collective ‘Pijn‘ – forming an oddly gleeful amalgamation that perfectly translates the feeling of watching the sun rise on a new day into glorious post-metal format. As previously stated, however, Curse These Metal Hands performances are few and far between. With live sets cropping up exclusively to the UK thus far and only a handful total since the project’s inception, this year’s ATG might be your only chance if you desire some more uplifting riffage. Jack Crosby-Griggs
Unpeople
Emerging in mid-2023 from the ashes of ‘Press-To-Meco‘ and signing to Sharptone Records shortly after, unpeople have wasted no time in convincing troves that they are the next big thing when it comes to alt rock. Their flagship self-titled EP showcases some of the freshest and most consistently infectious hooks on offer, with these air-tight grooves translating blissfully into a live setting. Do yourself a favour and witness something truly special before their inevitable headlining dates start crashing ticket retail sites: which, considering the fact that the band have already opened for the likes of Metallica within less than a year in the public eye, it’s more than likely… Jack Crosby-Griggs
Healthyliving
Healthyliving are a lot less weird than the projects its members come from. Singer Amaya López-Carromero solos as Maud The Moth, where her albums rival the esotericism of Kayo Dot. Guitarist Scott McLean plays black metal in Falloch and Ashenspire. It’s exactly this un-weirding that makes them a safe bet: undeniable talent and skill applied to concise songs. The results are gothic rock masterworks. In December last year they toured the UK as a live band for the first time, drawing enthusiastic crowds. Even more prestige was earned at Roadburn and Core in 2023, and they’re supporting Explosions In The Sky in Glasgow a few days before their ArcTanGent slot. Dobbin T
Kaonashi
Standing as one of the strangest bands on a line-up of decidedly strange acts, Pennsylvania’s Kaonashi seem to have collectively pricked up the ears of the UK public over the past year with their oddball brand of mathy post-hardcore, featuring some of the most left-field vocal compositions you’ll hear within this space. Having been passively aware of the band since 2016’s Never Home, and later becoming a more involved fan after 2018’s Why Did You Do It?, Kaonashi have been one of my most anticipated sets of the weekend since the line-up was announced, and I believe their unique, frantic and downright chaotic energy will resonate greatly with ArcTanGent’s crowd, and prove to be one of the most memorable sets at the festival. Maximo David
Textures
Possibly one of the most exciting reunions in recent memory comes from Dutch progressive metal titans Textures, whose five-year hiatus from the world left many budding tech-metal fans yearning for more. Now hitting the festival circuit as part of their grand reintroduction to the metal public, the djent pioneers’ iconic sound seems more relevant and powerful than ever, especially given the relative ubiquity of the genre in the modern landscape of heavy music. Their set seems to largely be a career-spanning onslaught of tech-metal classics, ranging from 2006’s Drawing Circles, all the way through to their 2016 swansong Phenotype, in what is almost certain to be one of the most groove-laden sets of the weekend. Maximo David
Ihsahn
Vegard Sverre Tveitan (Ihsahn) has been one of the more influential composers in black metal for over three decades now, starting his career as the frontman and main composer of critically acclaimed Emperor. Since 2006 Ihsahn has been releasing solo material with more of a progressive spin on black metal, the most recent of which being a self-titled album that was released in February of 2024. Ihsahn has consistently enraptured listeners in visceral black metal contrasted with flavourful and massive orchestral arrangements, leaving us with music with an unfaltering commitment to creativity and innovation. His set at ArcTanGent will be his first UK performance since his latest release, and definitely a performance you won’t want to miss. Kieran White
Sigh
For 35 years, Japanese black metallers Sigh have continued to surprise audiences with their cacophonous black metal sound combined with more avant-garde elements not usually seen in such extreme metal. Sigh’s latest release Shiki continues their adventure into the avant-garde without compromising their animalistic strain of heaviness. Their set at ArcTanGent is one on their first UK tour since 1995, and one of the first UK shows with this Avant-Garde sound Sigh is now known for. The amalgamation of Japanese instrumentation and ravenous black metal will certainly be an exciting show for both fans of Sigh seeing them for the first time, as well as festival goers unbeknownst to this fantastic band. Kieran White
Meshuggah
Coming off the back of an immense headline set at Bloodstock in 2023, it’s ArcTanGent’s turn to host the Swedish progressive metal giants Meshuggah. Meshuggah have continued to be trailblazers in their field even after a career spanning the better part of four decades and nine studio albums, the most recent of which being Immutable which was released in 2022. Consistently pinned as one of the most important bands in metal history, their blend of complex polyrhythms and crushing 8 string guitar riffs are sure to be a crowd pleaser and immense to witness. This headline appearance is Meshuggah’s only UK performance of 2024 so if seeing this band is on your bucket list, ArcTanGent is the place to be. Kieran White
Codex Serafini
Sussex mystics Codex Serafini have been on bills with fellow doom, psych, experimental bands, and have always been the oddball. They do saxophone-driven doom metal for personal introspection and collective seance, performing in crimson cloaks and enough haze to set off venue fire alarms (the latter might be weather-dependent for ArcTanGent). Their LP The Imprecation Of Anima features three whirling epics, “Mujer Espritu” being a live staple, but their live sound also contains a lot of spontaneity. Codex Serafini is the closest you’ll come to seeing The Mars Volta at ArcTanGent. Dobbin T
Vower
VOWER, a supergroup formed from the ashes of some of the most revered and beloved acts within the UK underground in Black Peaks, Palm Reader and Toska, have been making waves across the UK over the past few months – and for good reason. An undeniably electrifying outfit, that seems to embody much of what made their individually beloved projects so universally acclaimed, for the once-heartbroken fans of their former bands, VOWER almost seems too good to be true. With appearances scheduled or having already transpired across the UK since their debut just a few short months ago, they’ve been making a significant impact. It seems, though, that there is no more fitting place for VOWER than ArcTanGent, and their set will almost certainly go down as an audience favourite. Maximo David
ArcTanGent 10 begins on Wednesday 14th August.